• SideChannel is focused on providing top-tier security guidance services at manageable cost through its team of expert vCISOs and vCPOs
• The company’s experts provide clients with risk assessments that ensure cybersecurity compliance and guide them in the development of effective cybersecurity programs
• Most corporate board members and top managers do not have cyber-related expertise, yet they are required to oversee and address their company’s cyber risks
• To bridge the information gap, boards and management need the guidance of security experts such as CISOs
• Through its team of vCISOs, SideChannel is providing affordable cybersecurity-oriented services that meet the critical needs of company management and boards

A large proportion of company board members, as well as managers, are not cyber experts, yet they are mandated to understand and make strategic decisions regarding cyber risk and solutions. In particular, various studies have revealed low confidence levels in the ability of boardroom directors to fully be aware of a company’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities. For instance, a 2022 PwC study noted that only 33% of directors feel their board truly understands the company’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities (https://ibn.fm/C59KD). Similarly, a recent WSJ Pro Cybersecurity Research report found that only 30% of directors rate their board’s ability to oversee a cyber crisis highly (https://ibn.fm/knIH0).

Boards, together with high level management, can nevertheless improve their abilities to recognize and address cyber risks. To achieve this, board members need access to security expertise, along with robust information and reporting, and active engagement with company leadership. Moreover, company boards need to better support their organizations in establishing effective cybersecurity risk management programs, according to the findings of the PwC report.

The report lays out four main proposals intended to help boards better undertake their cyber risk oversight role: ensure cyber risk is embedded in the company’s strategic decisions and culture; understand the cyber risk management program; monitor cyber resilience; and rethink the board’s cyber oversight approach. Central to the effectiveness and success of these proposals is the role of Chief Information Security Officers (“CISOs”).

For instance, the report recommends that CISOs should have a seat at the table whenever boards are addressing strategic decisions and the company’s plan. CISOs should also help boards assess current and emerging risks and track the progress of the risk management programs. Finally, boards should hold private sessions with CISOs who will walk the directors through top risks, risk mitigation programs, and more using digestible and clearly articulated points.

Unfortunately, hiring skilled full-time in-house CISOs can be prohibitively expensive, especially for small and mid-sized businesses (“SMBs”). In addition, good CISOs are in high demand, making it hard to find, hire, and retain one. To deal with this, boards need to play an efficient oversight role and, in cases where they do not have the necessary expertise, have a constantly available source of expertise.

For SideChannel (OTCQB: SDCH), a company founded with the belief that all companies deserve top-tier security guidance at a manageable cost, this suggests a huge need for affordable cybersecurity-related expert services.

SideChannel has a team of expert virtual CISOs (“vCISOs”) and virtual Chief Privacy Officers (“vCPOs”) who help companies build resilient cybersecurity and privacy programs, respectively. Leveraging years of actual enterprise experience, SideChannel’s vCISOs provide clients with risk assessments that ensure cybersecurity compliance and help them develop a strategic vision, allocate resources, and create protocols to maintain an effective cybersecurity program.

And when called upon, SideChannel’s vCISOs can brief investors, boards, and company management. Speaking in a recent interview with Bell2Bell’s Stuart Smith (https://ibn.fm/Sz3fN), SideChannel CEO Brian Haugli attributed this to the trust built between its team of experts and its clients. In fact, the company has seen that trust increase over time. “Technically, we’re a third-party vendor, but we’re trusted so much that we are talking to the investors, maybe the private equity (‘PE’) team behind the company, and definitely the board in the leadership about what to do. We are also in front of our customers’ customers, telling them about the security posture because they are asking about it,” Haugli explained (https://ibn.fm/K4gKn).

It is common knowledge that addressing cyber risk is increasingly challenging for companies and their boards, as the threat environment becomes more complex. SideChannel is providing access to expertise through experienced vCISOs, a dependable and consistent source of critical information and experience, enabling companies and boards to understand the cyber environment, develop and track the progress of cybersecurity programs, and embed elements of cyber risk mitigation into all of their strategic decisions and plans. When it comes to cybersecurity, a few steps now can prevent a world of regret later.

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

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

• Hillcrest Energy recently debuted the commercial prototype of its ZVS inverter technology
• The company revealed that its traction inverter can lead to powertrain efficiency gains of up to 13%; in practice, a gain of 1% could help drive a reduction in battery size by 2%
• In a recent investor briefing, Hillcrest forecasted that its inverter could help automotive OEM’s reduce material costs by close to $700 per electric vehicle
• Cost savings have increasingly become a focus of EV OEM’s, with vehicles selling for less than $55,000 eligible for a series of Government grants and rebates under the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act

In 2009, sales of electric vehicles in the United Kingdom touched a grand total of 55 cars (https://ibn.fm/4M9b2). Today, over 20 million EVs may be found on the road in distant corners of the globe, with the count expected to nearly quadruple to 77 million by 2025. The common denominator for these vehicles lays deep within their chassis. At their heart, each of those 77 million electric vehicles will contain a high-voltage battery, by far the vehicle’s most expensive component, and the fundamental driver of a veritable global race by battery manufacturers and automakers alike, to ethically source their materials and crank up production to meet exploding demand.

A recent study carried out by Reuters forecasts automakers will spend upwards of $1.2 trillion in developing and producing EVs through 2030 (https://ibn.fm/fLI1D). A significant proportion of that investment will be devoted to the production of better, more efficient batteries.

Electric luxury vehicle maker, Lucid Motors for instance produced just under 7,200 vehicles in 2022 – a figure commensurate to a mere two day of Tesla’s 2022 production. Nevertheless, the automaker has gained several plaudits for the record-setting, 830-kilometre driving range of its flagship Air Grand Touring Performance sedan. What makes that figure even more remarkable is that automakers using the same 2170 format battery cells commonly eke out a mere 267 mile of range on average – less than half of Lucid’s Air Grand sedan. A significant proportion of that outperformance may be directly attributed to Lucid’s highly efficient powertrain and inverter systems (https://ibn.fm/yTIHe).

Hillcrest Energy Technologies (CSE: HEAT) (OTCQB: HLRTF), a clean technology company focused around developing transformative power conversion technologies, has recently announced the completion of its 800-volt, 250-kilowatt Zero Voltage Switching (“ZVS”) traction inverter commercial prototype (https://ibn.fm/hrFv0). In a series of tests, Hillcrest’s ZVS inverter was shown to generate powertrain efficiency improvements of up to 13%. To put that into perspective, current research suggests that every 1% improvement in efficiency can reduce battery size by 2%. If that were to hold true, then Hillcrest’s technological breakthrough effectively holds the potential to make EVs cheaper, lighter, and better performing (https://ibn.fm/sRwS3).

Hillcrest Energy have delved deeper into the potential efficiency gains which may be attained by their ground-breaking product; in a recent investor briefing, the company revealed that the ZVS traction inverter could generate up to $700 in material cost savings per electric vehicle for automotive OEM’s (https://ibn.fm/bEXmH). In effect and assuming a manufacturing run of 100,000 vehicles, an automaker could generate up to $70 million in cost savings – a figure which would further increase for vehicles using multiple motors and traction inverters (i.e., the Kia EV6 GT, Tesla Model S and BMW i4 M50 all operate using two or more electric motors).

Although increasing electric vehicles’ potential driving range whilst maintaining their battery size constant (or potentially, even downsizing them) has been the primary driver underpinning Hillcrest Energy’s developmental efforts thus far, driving down costs has not been far behind. Cost savings have increasingly become a priority within the electric vehicle manufacturing sector. Under the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”), potential EV buyers may be eligible for a series of tax credits when acquiring electric vehicles costing less than $55,000. Similarly, the IRA has introduced a new $4,000 EV tax credit for used electric vehicles which sell for under $25,000. As such, any automotive part which can assist an auto manufacturer in lowering its cost structure – and by extension, its average selling price, may ultimately be conducive to higher sales going forward.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.HillcrestEnergy.tech.

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

• California-based sustainable bed and bath comfort brand Coyuchi Inc. has established its brand not only on the luxury of its products, but the organic sourcing of the textiles it uses
• Consumers increasingly are scrutinizing the sourcing of their home decor products in search of evidence they are friendly to earth’s climate and responsibly produced
• Coyuchi’s management team brings experience in corporate function and an enthusiasm for sustainability in the company’s sourcing and partnerships
• The company launched a Reg A+ investment offering last year that led to a capital raise topping $1 million

One significant driver in choosing fabrics for home decor these days is determining where they are sourced. “Homeowners, more than ever, are paying close attention to what their home fabrics are made of and where they have come from,” a recent report drawing on decorator’s insights states (https://ibn.fm/eKQUm).

Luxury bed, bath, and apparel product company Coyuchi devotes its corporate purpose to being “responsible beyond the thread” — using cotton and linen certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (“GOTS”) respected as the most rigorous around the world, and extending beyond that to product use and recycling considerations.

“When Coyuchi was founded 30 years ago, the original founder — her goal was to bring organic cotton into the textile industry for home goods, and we’ve really taken that mission to heart,” Coyuchi President and CEO Eileen Mockus said during a recent interview with the Bell2Bell podcast (https://ibn.fm/GGr0I). “And (we) are finding ways to expand on it and continuing to look at the whole process of what we do.”

In addition to Sejal Solanki (Chief Marketing Officer), Marcus Chung (Chief Operating Officer), Gabriela Bermudez (Controller), and Priyadarshi Sinha (VP of Technology), Mockus leads an experienced team of sustainable fashion design enthusiasts.

Design Director Whitney Thornburg arrived in the industry from an education career where she developed and taught fashion design curriculum in sustainable practices and creating circular systems. After two years-long seasons working for a San Francisco clothing label, she joined Coyuchi in 2019.

Director of Sustainability and Sourcing Margot Lyons played a direct role in Coyuchi’s achievement of full circularity — a term describing the use of design, recycling, reuse, remanufacturing and refurbishment to create a closed loop system that eliminate waste and maximize the reuse of resources (https://ibn.fm/LEIn9). Lyons has been with the company for over a decade as it has built a wide reputation for luxury and responsibility, working with Coyuchi’s strategic partners to ensure the company’s standards for product sustainability are achieved. The effort led to Coyuchi’s first fully circular product — the Full Circle Recycled Cotton Blanket and Throw — in 2021.

Brand Marketing Director Julie Wells and Director of Operations Izzie Ali have similarly brought a drive for sustainable and eco-friendly business practices to the company with their arrivals during the past year, drawing on international educations as well as their experiences in North American industry.

Together, Coyuchi continues to maintain and expand their earth-friendly brand. The company’s Impact Report 2021 outlined Coyuchi’s goals for achieving Net Zero emissions by 2025 and becoming Net Positive by 2030, working under the direction of the Coyuchi Climate Council and in collaboration with a network of partners and non-profits around the world (https://ibn.fm/XxLqw).

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

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

• DehydraTECH(TM) is suitable for use with a wide range of product formats, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and over-the-counter capsules, pills, tablets, topicals, oral suspensions and more
• The patented technology increases the speed of onset, bioavailability, brain absorption, and reduces drug administration costs
• Lexaria currently has multiple R&D programs – yielding successful results and further opportunities for additional study models

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator of drug delivery platforms, is increasing bioavailability and improving the way that active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) enter the bloodstream by promoting more effective oral delivery with its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology. DehydraTECH is suitable for use with a wide range of product formats, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and over-the-counter capsules, pills, tablets, topicals, oral suspensions and more.

Most recently, a company announcement indicates that a just-completed DIAB-A22-1 diabetes study has produced at least three positive outcomes, including weight loss in obese diabetic-conditioned animals and shown improved triglyceride and cholesterol levels (https://ibn.fm/5micP). The animals tested in the study showed these dramatic changes in as few as three days when dosed with DehydraTECH-processed cannabidiol (“CBD”), aligned with other study work pointing to CBD’s known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Lexaria is pleased that relatively low dosages of DehydraTECH-CBD seem to support real improvements in the lab animals’ day-to-day health and find encouragement in the positive findings from its first diabetes study.

In addition to DIAB-A22-1, some of Lexaria’s previous R&D programs include:

• HYPER-A21-1 – a rodent study demonstrating significant enhancement in CBD delivery using DehydraTECH with more CBD delivered into the bloodstream and brain tissue
• HYPER-A21-2 – a rodent study demonstrating the strongest CBD absorption results ever recorded
• HYPER-H21-1 – Human clinical study evidencing a rapid and sustained drop in blood pressure with excellent tolerability using DehydraTECH-CBD
• HYPER-H21-2 – Human clinical Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction study with evidence of up to a 23% decrease in blood pressure confirming a reduction in arterial stiffness
• HYPER-H21-3 – Human clinical Pulmonary Hypertension Clinical Study intended to support Lexaria’s plan to seek FDA approvals
• HYPER-H21-4 – Human clinical study exhibiting exceptional safety and tolerability with statistically significant evidence of lowered blood pressure in patients and showed great absorption levels and potential novel mechanism of action in reducing blood pressure
• VIRAL-C21-3 – In vitro screening assay completed using primate cell line, VERO-E6, determining that remdesivir and ebastine processed with DehydraTECH were effective in inhibiting the COVID-19 virus
• VIRAL-A20-2 – A rodent study showing a three-fold increase in oral delivery of anti-viral drugs
• VIRAL-MC21-1 – research concluded that DehydraTECH processing and formulation technology does not create a covalently bonded new molecular entity or change in chemical structure
• VIRAL-A20-3 – A rodent study demonstrating significant enhancement in anti-viral drug delivery using DehydraTECH-enabled Colchicine with possible benefits of treating COVID-19 and mRNA vaccine side effects
• NIC-A21-1 – DehydraTECH-oral nicotine delivery peaked in the bloodstream 10x and 20x faster than controls, with peak levels achieved 10x higher than controls
• PDE5-A21-1 – DehydraTECH-sildenafil delivered 74% more drug at 4 minutes than the control
• EPIL-A21-1 – DehydraTECH-CBD has demonstrated performance enhancements compared to one of the world’s leading anti-seizure medications, Epidiolex(R)

Since 2014, Lexaria has been developing its patented DehydraTECH technology, which has yielded 28 granted patents and many more pending in countries worldwide. DehydraTECH’s evidenced benefits include the improved speed of onset, increased bioavailability, increased brain absorption, and reduced drug administration costs. As more research becomes available from Lexaria’s ongoing R&D programs, the company will provide updates.

Lexaria operates four subsidiary companies, focusing on different commercial opportunities in their respective industries:

• Lexaria Pharmaceutical Corp. investigates new products for hypertension, antiviral treatments, epilepsy, some pharmaceutical applications of nicotine and other drug classes
• Lexaria Nicotine LLC investigates oral non-combusted tobacco-derived nicotine product formats
• Lexaria Hemp Corp. pursues business-to-business opportunities with cannabinoids
• Lexaria Canpharm ULC operates a state-of-the-art Health Canada licensed laboratory capable of developing novel cannabinoid and other formulations for potential commercialization

Lexaria sub-licenses the company’s DehydraTECH technology for the delivery of fat-soluble active molecules and drugs.

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

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

• CNS recently enrolled the first patient in Spain in its ongoing global trial evaluating its lead drug candidate, Berubicin, for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”)
• This milestone is the culmination of years of meticulous planning and execution
• The enrollment of this first patient follows the opening of 37 clinical trial sites of the 59 sites selected across the United States, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland

CNS Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CNSP), a clinical stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel treatments with a focus on brain cancer, glioblastoma and neuro-oncology, just enrolled its first patient in Spain, marking a key milestone in its GBM clinical study. Considered a potentially pivotal global trial for the company, the study seeks to evaluate Berubicin, the company’s lead drug candidate, for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”), an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer.

In what the CEO, John Climaco, regarded as an “encouraging enrollment pace,” CNS is on track to conduct its planned interim analysis set for mid-2023. This recent enrollment of the first patient in Spain is a major highlight of this progress (https://ibn.fm/peyQi).

“We continue to rapidly build momentum with patient enrollment across our clinical trial sites in Europe,” noted Climaco.

“We sincerely appreciate the institutions, clinicians and staff that are contributing to the conduct of this trial, and are extremely grateful to the patients that choose to participate,” he added.

In 2007, a prior developer released partial results from its Phase 1 clinical trial of Berubicin among patients with primary CNS malignancies (https://ibn.fm/VwP1V). Results, which showed 44% of patients exhibiting a clinical response, demonstrated a durable complete response, along with a stable disease in heavily pretreated patients. Results from this study would set the stage for subsequent research by CNS, leading up to the dosing of the first subject in the US in the third quarter of 2021 and the first subject in Europe in November 2022 at a site in France (https://ibn.fm/weOO6).

The enrollment of the first patient in Spain affirms CNS’ commitment to the study and highlights the years of meticulous planning and execution which have culminated in this huge milestone for the company. It followed the opening of 37 clinical trial sites of the 59 sites selected across the United States, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland, all in a move to better understand the treatment of recurrent GBM.

CNS believes Berubicin to be the first anthracycline to appear to cross the blood-brain barrier. While it has shown incredible potential in the treatment of brain-related illnesses, CNS is exploring its potential for the treatment of other diseases, including metastatic pancreatic and ovarian cancers, as well as CNS lymphomas. By doing so, it looks to tap into the growing brain tumor therapeutics market, which is expected to hit $3.4 billion by 2025, up from $2.25 billion in 2019.

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

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

• McEwen Mining, a diversified gold and silver producer with operations in the Americas, owns 52% of McEwen Copper and its Los Azules Project in San Juan, Argentina
• McEwen Copper has reported initial exploration and solid delineation results that have similarities to world class porphyry copper deposits in Chile and Peru
• Exploration results (AZ22174) include 1,052 m of continuous copper mineralization to the end of the hole implying extensions of the deposit to the north and at depth
• Delineation results (AZ23191) revealed copper continuity in the core of the deposit, with some of the highest grades reported to date
• McEwen Copper will release an update of results from its extensive drill program of more than 25,000 m in 75 new holes in the near future

McEwen Copper, the base metal developer 52% owned by McEwen Mining (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX), recently reported infill and step-out exploration drilling results at its 100%-owned Los Azules Project in Argentina. Los Azules, a large porphyry copper-gold-silver deposit with considerable growth potential, has many characteristics comparable to world-class deposits in South America. Interestingly, while its ultimate depth and lateral extent are unknown, the project is already ranked as the world’s 9th largest undeveloped copper project (https://ibn.fm/7ettb).

The reported assay results include one drill hole from exploration and one from the delineation. The exploration program targets increasing known mineralization further to the north and at depth. The delineation program seeks to reduce geological and resource modelling risk prior to a planned 2024 feasibility study. The company’s initial exploration hole, AZ22174, was drilled to a depth of 1,128 m, with visible copper mineralization observed along its entire core length during logging. Assaying results include a 1,052 m intercept averaging 0.29% copper (“Cu”), 0.05 g/t gold (“Au”), and 1.0 g/t silver (“Ag”). Within this intercept a high-grade core returned 480 m of 0.42% Cu and also included a 26 m sub-interval of early mineral porphyry and quartz veinlets averaging 1.46% Cu (https://ibn.fm/Xsg9w).

Mineralization along the drill hole is more prevalent below 500 m, where more than 66% of the overall contained copper in the hole (480 m grading 0.42% Cu) resides. According to McEwen Copper, the results from AZ22174 reinforce its belief in deposit extensions likely occurring to the north and at depth.

“Exciting results in hole AZ22174 highlight the potential of exploration to create additional value for McEwen Copper, and continuity of mineralization in the infill program is de-risking our mineral resource.” commented Michael Meding, Vice President and General Manager of McEwen Copper.

Meanwhile, the delineation program continued in hole AZ23191, which lies 50 m north of Section 36 (see Figure 2 of the January 26 press release; https://ibn.fm/5c8Rc) near the center of the deposit. Assay results grading 1.39% Cu over 236 m, including a 42 m sub-interval with grading 2.78% Cu are among the very best intercepts reported on the project to date. Assays along the final 31 m of the hole remain pending. Such a high grade intercept occurring proximal to a lower grade hole in the core of the deposit (AZ22180), is indicative of the structurally controlled nature of mineralization. Overall, grades are highest where structural control is strongest.

The exploration and delineation drilling program restarted in October last year, and covers more than 25,000 m in 75 new holes. The program, which is designed to (a) demonstrate extensions of the Los Azules project to the north, south, and at depth, (b) provide metallurgical, hydrological, and geotechnical data to facilitate mine design, and (c) increase infill drilling to upgrade the Cu, Au, and Ag resource classification to measured and indicated, is on course. Since January 2022 and the third week of February 2023, McEwen Copper had completed more than 30,000 m of drilling. The company expects to release a more comprehensive update of results from the drilling campaign soon.

McEwen Mining is a diversified gold and silver producer with operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina. The company also has significant exposure to copper through its 52%-owned McEwen Copper, owner of the Los Azules project in Argentina and the Elder Creek project in Nevada.

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

• Ucore is a company engaged in the exploration for and separation and scalable production of REEs in Canada and the US
• The company is focusing on a section of the REE supply chain where China has taken control of rare earth oxide production: the midstream
• Ucore is focused on finding US-allied friendly feedstocks upstream, processing them, and then feeding them to customers downstream that want to find an ex-China solution to be able to make things work for them
• The company’s RapidSX is a more competitive REE processing technology that improves the efficiency of the conventional solvent extraction process, resulting in better throughput and other allied benefits

Scientists have continuously explored the potential of rare earth elements in various fields, and have long established them as nation-critical. Just recently, a team led by Professor Ranga Dias discovered a new superconducting material that “works at both a temperature and a pressure low enough to actually use it in practical situations,” according to an article in the Independent (https://ibn.fm/SRCOv). The material is made by mixing a rare earth metal called lutetium with hydrogen and a small part of nitrogen and leaving these elements to react for two or three days at high temperatures.

To acquire its superconducting properties, the material, nicknamed ‘reddmatter,’ must be compressed to about 145,000 psi and heated to 20.5°C. But according to the article, these conditions are vastly less intense than other similar materials, which is why Andrew Griffin, the author, believes the material has reached “a breakthrough that scientists have been chasing for more than a century, in making a material that is able to transmit electricity without resistance and pass magnetic fields around the materials.”

‘Reddmatter’ is just the latest example of the potential of rare earth elements (“REEs”), which are currently 17 in total in Mendeleev’s periodic table. REEs are considered strategic resources because they are rare (in that they require significant processing), valuable, non-substitutable, and difficult to imitate. As raw materials, they are indispensable in a wide range of sectors, including energy, agriculture, and national defense, among others (https://ibn.fm/be8xp).

With each passing day, the demand for REEs continues to rise, yet the natural reserves remain limited and largely concentrated in China. In fact, as of December 2022, China accounted for 63% of the world’s REE mining, 85% of REE processing, and 92% of rare earth magnet production, according to Politico magazine (https://ibn.fm/Tfp0q).

However, Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF), a company engaged in the exploration for and separation and scalable production of REEs in Canada and the US, is out to ensure that China’s dominance does not leave vulnerable those North American companies that are particularly reliant on these critical rare earth elements. This comes at a timely juncture, especially considering the degrading China-US relationship.

To achieve this, Ucore is looking at the means of REE processing used in China and trying to find better ways to do that in North America, thereby taking back control of the supply chain. According to the company’s November 2022 investor presentation, the REE supply chain comprises three main segments – the upstream, midstream, and downstream – with each made up of two supply nodes. The upstream consists of REE ore and REE mineral concentrate production, the midstream features the production of REE chemical concentrate and REE oxides, and the downstream is made up of the manufacture/production of REE metals and alloys and REE-based magnets and components (https://ibn.fm/ECbL3).

“Where Ucore is very focused on is in the middle of this supply chain market. It’s the midstream. It’s the part where China has taken control of rare earth oxide production, which then gets turned into metals and alloys and eventually permanent magnets. And once you have permanent magnets, you’re controlling the entire industry,” said Ucore Chairman and CEO Pat Ryan in a presentation published on the company’s website (https://ibn.fm/ONpB5).

“So, Ucore is focused on finding US-allied friendly feedstocks to the left – upstream – [processing the feedstocks], and then feeding them into customers downstream that want to find an ex-China solution to be able to make things work for them. That mid-market is where China has taken control. That’s where Ucore will make a difference. No one’s doing what you’re doing. We are taking advantage of recreating the mid-market in North America, which is crucial to recreating the supply chain,” Ryan continued.

Ryan further stated that North American OEMs are looking for ex-China solutions, which has brought them to its doorstep; as a result, Ucore is engaged in ongoing discussions with them. UURAF, therefore, plans to leverage strategic partnerships with these North American companies, both on the upstream and downstream ends of the supply chain spectrum, to disrupt China’s dominance.

Meanwhile, the company has “westernized” REE processing, making it more competitive. In May 2020, Ucore acquired Innovation Metals Corp., which has innovated the RapidSX(TM) process, a derivation of the conventional solvent extraction (“SX”) separation and recovery process. RapidSX improves the efficiency of SX through physical means, resulting in better throughput and, consequently, a smaller plant footprint, lesser reagent use, lower capital expenditure, and lower energy consumption.

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

• Fr8Tech aims to revolutionize the commercial trucking industry by introducing logistics and transportation technology catered to moving freight within the USMCA region more efficiently and cost-effectively
• The update includes several new features and improvements, including real-time tracking and monitoring of shipments, which will allow shippers to see exactly where their freight is at all times and receive notifications for delays
• Fr8Tech projects that during 2023, it will hit revenues between $36 million and $42 million, compared to preliminary 2022 revenue of approximately $26 million to $27 million

Freight Technologies (NASDAQ: FRGT) (“Fr8Tech”), a technology company developing solutions to optimize and automate the supply chain process, providing an AI and machine-learning platform, Fr8App, for B2B cross-border shipping in USMCA regions, has announced the launch of a major update for its transportation management system, Fr8TMS 3.0. This platform upgrade aims to revolutionize the commercial trucking industry by introducing advanced logistics and transportation technology to move freight within the USMCA region, focusing on cross-border shipping.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the ongoing disruption in U.S.-Chinese trade relations has strengthened Mexico’s status as the largest trading partner of the U.S., with cross-border annual freight spending estimated at $385 billion (https://ibn.fm/XO12n). Fr8Tech’s wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary aligned automation of its Fr8App platform with Mexico’s CFDI 4.0, a new standard for digital tax receipts which became mandatory in January 2023.

“We are excited to introduce this new update to the Fr8TMS, which will revolutionize the commercial trucking industry. The new features and improvements will make it easier for shippers to move their freight, and it will also benefit carriers and drivers by connecting them with shippers looking to move their freight,” said Javier Selgas, CEO of Fr8Tech (https://ibn.fm/Cirj8).

The update for Fr8TMS includes several new features and improvements, including better real-time tracking and monitoring of shipments, which will allow shippers to see exactly where their freight is at all times – receiving notifications if there are delays or issues with the shipment. A new rating system for carriers will allow shippers to compare the performance of multiple carriers to make better-informed decisions about which carrier to use for their shipments.

Fr8Tech’s Fr8App platform and mobile app connect shippers, carriers, and drivers – making it easier for freight to be moved within the USMCA region. It boasts a streamlined booking process, improved search and filtering options, and the new transportation management system for easy access, making it easier for shippers to find and book the right freight at the right price.

Fr8App is easy to use and begins with creating an account on the company’s website. Once registration is completed, an Fr8App representative reaches out to ensure that all necessary information has been provided and to provide support in setting up the initial shipment. Once an account has been created, the next steps include the following:

• Logging into the online account and scheduling the shipment, which includes the pickup and delivery locations, generating a cost estimate. Once approved, the shipment can be confirmed with a single click
• Once the shipment is confirmed, truck drivers can view the shipment information and choose to accept the job. The driver then collects the cargo at the agreed-upon time, and the shipper receives regular updates and tracks the shipment as it progresses
• The truck driver will take pictures to confirm successful delivery at the final destination. Shippers can reserve loads up to two weeks in advance, with a minimum notice period of 24 hours

Fr8Tech projects that during 2023, it will hit revenues between $36 million and $42 million, compared to preliminary 2022 revenue of approximately $26 million to $27 million. The Fr8App team is dedicated to the continuous improvement and evolution of its platform to meet the needs of its customers. The company is confident that the new update will make Fr8App more valuable for shippers, allowing them to save time and money on their freight operations.

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

121 Mining Investment Las Vegas (28-29 March) offers junior resource companies and investors from the mining spectrum a unique platform to connect and network for future growth and key business prospects.

The CEOs from 55 vetted natural resource companies are heading to bustling Las Vegas to present project updates and meet over 150 investors for two days of 1-2-1 meetings.

These meetings will run alongside a content-packed conference schedule, covering topics such as the energy transition, the gold outlook, precious metals investment strategies, uranium, and the impacts of megatrends on metals and mining investing.

Qualified investors are able to attend the event free of charge. Attending investors will not only be able to schedule 1-on-1 meetings with leading mining company CEOs and hear analysts and stock pickers present, they will also be able to enjoy the fantastic networking Las Vegas has to offer. All attendees are also invited to 121 Las Vegas networking drinks at Circa’s Legacy Club rooftop bar on March 28th from 17:00.

If you are unfamiliar with 121 Group, they are the world’s leading dedicated mining investment event series, organising summits worldwide. Their portfolio includes events in London, New York, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and Las Vegas.

Whether you are an investor looking for exciting new projects, or a mining company hoping to raise capital and make new connections, 121 Mining Investment Las Vegas is THE premier forum to make it happen.

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

DealFlow Events is pleased to announce its upcoming event, The Venture Debt Conference, taking place March 31 in New York City. This conference couldn’t have come at a better time for executives interested in loan strategies for VC-backed and emerging growth companies. This event will discuss in detail the effects that the Silicon Valley Bank failure will have on the venture debt market by the top experts in the space.

The use of venture debt has been gaining in popularity as emerging growth companies grapple with a more challenging market for equity venture capital. Many debt products such as term loans, revenue-based financing, receivables financing, and equipment financing fall under the broad moniker of venture debt, but despite the popularity of these products, for many, venture debt remains an unfamiliar form of financing.

Hosted by DealFlow Events, this full-day forum addresses the growing interest in using venture debt to complement venture capital and to discuss alternative financing with companies unfamiliar with these investment strategies. Companies interested in obtaining venture debt can attend the event for free.

The conference will feature speakers and panel discussions from industry experts, including Troy Zander, Barnes & Thornburg, John Borchers/Decathlon Capital, Spring Hollis/Star Strong Capital, John Markell/Armentum Partners, Steve Kietz/Reliant Funding, Dolph Hellman/Orrick, Thomas Ritchie/Biz2Credit, Catherine Jhung/Hercules Capital, Melissa Winder/Lighter Capital, Kai Tse/Structural Capital, David Spreng/Runaway Growth Capital, Alidad Vakili/Foley & Lardner, Peter Frank/i80 Group, Dan Devorsetz/Horizon Technology Finance, David Teten/Versatile Venture Capital, and Brent Bertino/Trinity & ESW Capital.

Corporate sponsors of The Venture Debt Conference include Armentum Partners, Barnes & Thornburg, Horizon Technology Finance, DLA Piper, RRBB Accounting & Advisors and IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork).

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest trends in the venture debt market, as well as gain valuable insights into fundraising strategies. In addition to the conference program, attendees will also have access to a variety of networking opportunities, including a networking reception and one-on-one meetings with venture debt providers.

About The Venture Debt Conference

The Venture Debt Conference addresses the growing interest in using venture debt to complement venture capital while offering a forum to discuss alternative financing to companies that may not be familiar with these investment strategies.

To learn more, please visit https://ibn.fm/7LYir

Contact: Charlie Napolitano (516) 876-8006 ext. 20 charlie@dealflowevents.com