Commercial Banks, Consulting Firms, Venture Capital Firms, and Specialty Lending Firms attended the Venture Debt Conference taking place in New York City on March 31st, 2023. This was the largest conference dedicated to non-dilutive financing strategies for developing growth businesses.

The Venture Debt Conference was held to increase knowledge and awareness about the new financing products available for SMEs. It offered a great opportunity for networking and discussing non-dilutive loan strategies for emerging and VC-backed growth companies.

The full-day conference addressed an increasing interest in using venture debt to supplement venture capital. The industry experts shared their insights into alternative financing with businesses unaware of these investment strategies. Besides a synopsis of the venture debt financing available, the conference offered case studies from industry leaders on their experiences of working with SMEs and what this association has meant for their business. Attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions from the financing teams after the event.

Venture Debt Driving Business Growth

In light of economic challenges, a complex fundraising environment, and downward pressure on valuations, fast-growth companies are looking for alternative funding options as a bridge to their next round of equity financing and to drive growth. Early-stage businesses without broad historic financials may struggle to contact traditional bank financing in the same manner as more established companies.

Venture debt is a form of non-dilutive, flexible financing offered to startups to prolong their implied cash runway and fund existing working capital requirements until their next round of equity financing. The use of venture debt has gained a reputation as evolving growth companies stay private longer and pursue innovative forms of financing to diminish dilution. Many debt products, such as revenue-based financing, term loans, equipment financing, and receivables financing, fall under the wide moniker of venture debt. Venture debt tends to continue evolving as a striking financing option for new venture-backed businesses.

The Venture Debt Conference was focused on innovative, fast-growing SMEs and mid-caps seeking to hasten their advancement and invest in research and development. The event was personalized to allow attendees to gain insights into the specific support the businesses can get under this program. It also provided a great opportunity to engage directly with representatives of the banks, CFOs, and CEOs of creative start-up companies, professional service firms, venture capital funds, and others.

To learn more, please visit https://venturedebtconference.com/

Interested participants can register for the upcoming Spac and Reg A conferences hosted by DealFlow:

• SPAC Conference, June 28-29, Westchester Country Club | Rye, New York (https://ibn.fm/2g8yN)
• Reg A Conference, June 30, Westchester Country Club | Rye, New York   (https://ibn.fm/Fm9bx)

• Zacks recently released a research report covering Lexaria Bioscience, a global innovator in drug delivery platforms
• The report discusses the company’s ongoing research and development (“R&D”) programs, forecasting penetration into global markets for hypertension, oral nicotine delivery, and antiviral product categories
• Lexaria is targeting conditions with significant market potential, including hypertension, diabetes, dementia, and seizures
• These programs position the company for entry into collaborative opportunities to support further growth and provide growth capital

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, featured in a recently released research report from Zacks Small-Cap Research (“SCR”) (https://ibn.fm/XI5mO). The report considers the potential approval and commercialization of products processed with the company’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery platform technology that increases drug bioavailability, and ongoing research and development (“R&D”) activities, including recent revelations that the platform technology may offer a new mechanism of action, to support a $14.00 share valuation (https://ibn.fm/Q4rQJ).

“DehydraTECH offers several attractive features: substantial improvement in bioabsorption in terms of time to measurable plasma levels and AUC (area under the curve), brain permeation, taste masking, and side effect reduction. As DehydraTECH does not employ a covalent bond, [it] is not a new molecular entity and can rely on previously conducted safety and efficacy data to obtain regulatory approval,” the report reads.

The report highlights the company’s accomplishments during the current financial year 2023, which began September 1, 2022, acknowledging the considerable ground Lexaria has traversed with its research and development (“R&D”) activities. For example, the lead R&D program seeks to investigate DehydraTECH-processed cannabidiol (“CBD”) for the treatment of hypertension; five human clinical trials have been conducted to date, yielding positive results.

These results come amid increasing interest from big pharma. In early 2023, for instance, AstraZeneca (NASDAQ: AZN) initiated a bid to acquire CinCor Pharma, Inc., a US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatment for resistant and uncontrolled hypertension as well as chronic kidney disease. Though the bid is yet to be accepted, according to a disclaimer on AstraZeneca’s website (https://ibn.fm/E0Hxh), the juggernaut’s interest, Zacks’ report explains, “accentuates the unmet need for effective control of hypertension and provides a healthy backdrop for further work by Lexaria in this area.”

This additional work comes in the form of an expected Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)-approved Phase 1b clinical study. Accordingly, Lexaria intends to submit its Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for the hypertension program mid-year, with the study expected to commence in the second half of the year, according to the report.

In addition, Lexaria’s efficient use of capital has allowed it to expand its R&D into new preclinical work, including efforts evaluating DehydraTECH-CBD as a potential treatment for diabetes, dementia, and seizures. And as is synonymous with all its R&D programs, these efforts are not only strategic but also influenced by an ever-present market need.

The company took an interest in the seizure space following the FDA’s approval of GW Pharmaceuticals’ Epidiolex, acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a CBD oral solution for the treatment of seizures in children with Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet syndrome. This marked the first time a drug containing an active ingredient from the cannabis plant had received approval. With regulatory approval in the bag, Epidiolex would go on to generate $750 million in revenues in 2022, a figure that will likely increase to over $1 billion by 2024. This success spurred Lexaria to perform its own studies evaluating the efficacy of DehydraTECH-CBD for seizures. In results released in November last year, the company established that DehydraTECH-CBD worked faster and better at lower doses than Epidiolex (https://ibn.fm/svWzC).

Regarding dementia, the report underlines that although there are several approved drugs, they have had limited benefits, lacked the clear-cut benefit desired, or resulted in adverse side effects. “This leaves the dementia field wide open for therapies that can either slow or improve the symptoms of dementia,” the report continues. For its part, Lexaria intends to capitalize on this gap and has initiated a study evaluating the potential therapeutic use of DehydraTECH-CBD in dementia.

The company is also evaluating other DehydraTECH-processed candidates, including oral nicotine, antivirals, PDE5 inhibitors, hormones, and more. Of these focus areas, the report projects penetration into global markets for hypertension, oral nicotine delivery, and antiviral product categories.

“While still early stage, these programs could be excellent partnership opportunities that will support further growth and potentially provide growth capital,” the report concludes.

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

• MULN delivers initial Class 1 EV cargo vans to two customers: the University of North Carolina and MGT Lease Company
• UNC Charlotte ordered Mullen’s Class 1 EV cargo vans for use across its 1,000-acre campus
• Mullen’s Class 1 is a “perfect entry point for us,” said MGT executive

In the first of many anticipated deliveries, Mullen Automotive (NASDAQ: MULN) announced that its Class 1 EV cargo vans have been delivered to two customers: the University of North Carolina (https://ibn.fm/xMMun) and MGT, a growing commercial vehicle sales and leasing company (https://ibn.fm/AUvfZ). The vehicle orders were fulfilled with the support of the Randy Marion Automotive Group.

“Following our first commercial trade show, the National Truck and Equipment Work Truck Week in Indianapolis, it is exciting to continue our momentum with the Mullen commercial lineup and celebrate our first fleet deliveries,” said John Schwegman, chief commercial officer of Mullen, who noted that the 100%-electric vans are a “fantastic use case for university campus delivery applications.”

UNC Charlotte ordered Mullen’s Class 1 EV cargo vans for use across its 1,000-acre campus, which serves a student population of more than 29,500. The university plans a variety of uses for the vans, including campus delivery and facility services. “UNC Charlotte is committed to helping create a more sustainable environment, including developing and implementing a comprehensive plan designed to reduce carbon emissions,” said T. J. Woods, the university’s transportation, warehouse and logistics manager.

Mullen also delivered four of its Class 1 EV cargo vans to one of its first commercial EV fleet customers, MGT Lease Company. A growing commercial vehicle sales and leasing company, MGT reported annual revenue of more than $70 million in 2022 and is projecting $100 million revenue in 2023. The company specializes in last-mile segments, including package delivery and retail, as well as vocations such as plumbing and electrical.

“Mullen’s Class 1 is a perfect entry point for us,” said MGT managing partner Thomas Gavlik. “The Class 1 segment no longer has internal combustion engine options from the major OEM brands and certainly does not have any Class 1 EV options. One of the biggest opportunities we see is the Class 3 cab-chassis segment, with the potential to upfit and offer unlimited options for commercial customers.”

Mullen CEO and chair David Michery stated that the company looks forward to “the continued adoption of EVs in place of standard ICE vehicles.” He noted that the company is seeing growing interest in its commercial EV offerings. “It’s great to have MGT as one of our first commercial customers,” Michery said. “We look forward to growing our relationship with MGT across our entire platform of commercial EV vehicles.”

Mullen Automotive is a Southern California–based automotive company building the next generation of premium electric vehicles that are affordable and made entirely in the United States. With an end-to-end ecosystem that supports owners from test driving to financing and servicing through a unique hybrid dealership model, customers are supported through every aspect of EV ownership.

For more information about the company, visit www.MullenUSA.com.

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

• Global governments pushing for the electrification of homes, businesses, and transportation networks
• Graphite conducts electricity efficiently, used in battery electrodes, motors, generators, and as lubricant in the manufacture of switches and circuit breakers
• RFLXF owns the option to acquire 100% interest in the Ruby Graphite project in Montana, USA
• RFLXF’s project portfolio includes the ZigZag Lithium Property in Ontario and the Ruby Graphite Project in Montana
• Drilling for the Ruby Graphite Project expected to commence Summer 2023

In late 2022, the White House unveiled its New Innovation Agenda with plans to electrify homes, businesses, and transportation networks (https://ibn.fm/iJlBy). The EU has similar plans with its Electricity Financing Initiative (https://ibn.fm/flC0p), along with India (https://ibn.fm/vpkCL), and Latin America and the Caribbean (https://ibn.fm/odXOR).

Critical to the transition is graphite — an important material that conducts electricity efficiently, making it an optimal choice for numerous electrical engineering applications. Reflex Advanced Materials (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF), a strategic minerals company, focuses on locating and developing economic properties in the advanced materials and strategic metals space, and intends to position itself as North America’s premier graphite supplier to the technology industry.

Graphite is an essential material used in battery electrodes for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and portable electronic devices. Graphite is also used to produce electrical contacts and brushes for motors and generators, in addition to its use as a lubricant in switch and circuit breaker manufacturing.

Demand for graphite is projected to grow from $14.83 billion in 2021 to $25.70 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period (https://ibn.fm/Lb2SV). RFLXF aims to meet that demand by sourcing and developing properties for its project portfolio, which currently includes the Ruby Graphite Deposit in Montana and the ZigZag Lithium Property in Ontario.

The ZigZag Lithium Property comprises eight mining claims spanning roughly 2,710 hectares in Ontario’s Thunder Bay Mining Division. The Ruby Graphite Deposit is a low-cost, rapid re-entry opportunity in mining-friendly southwest Montana. Reflex holds mining rights for 755 hectares with 96 federal lode mining claims at the Ruby project, and recent samples assay at 95.8% to 98.4% total carbon. In addition to the Ruby property in Montana, Reflex recently reported their partnership with American Energy Technologies Co. (“AETC”) to develop metallurgical test work with the goal of creating a technical support data package for Reflex’s target customer base, U.S. Federal agencies and qualification programs with hi-tech customers in the battery and battery storage business (https://ibn.fm/PXcT1).

RFLXF announced the submission of its permit application for the Ruby project in March 2023 with plans to start drilling in the summer of 2023. The company aims to drill 3,500 meters at an average core depth of 130 meters with targets identified using historical data from original mining operations and the 43-101 technical report dated January 31, 2023.

The push for electrification by global agencies and governments has the potential to completely redefine the business and residential landscape. As a result, the demand for highly-conductive materials like graphite is projected to increase — and Reflex aims to fortify its position to meet that demand.

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

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

• As cyber-attacks increase in sophistication and frequency, the need for solutions to protect sensitive data has never been greater
• Data443 continues its string of success, securing two additional contracts with fintech clients; appears poised to expand its market footprint to include insurance, rating agencies, and large and small banks
• Data443 appears ahead of the curve in EFT/MFT, positioning the company for continued growth

Data443 Risk Mitigation (OTC: ATDS), the “All Things Data Security” software company recently announced two contract wins from large fintech clients, growing relationships within the financial technology sector based upon their commitment to keep sensitive data safe and secure in an increasingly digital world (https://ibn.fm/2hXT8).

The first win is the additional contract from a leading global organization that provides services in the merchant, banking and capital market solutions marketplaces. This powerhouse client is a major player, processing a staggering 75 billion transactions per year. With a total transaction value of more than $9 trillion annually, the client has been confident in Data443’s ability to handle its enterprise file transfer for more than 15 years.

This success is only the beginning of Data443’s winning streak. The company has also secured a contract with another long-time payment technology and services client that annually transfers over 10 million sensitive files for thousands of merchants, issuers, and consumers. In the payments space, data security is vital as any breach or leak could have devastating consequences both in terms of monetary losses and irreparable damage to reputation and trust. “Today’s announcement continues a trend of growing momentum in our client renewals, enhancing our sales and emphasizing driving recurring revenue. The response from our clients has been overwhelmingly positive when pursuing contract renewals, leading to a very full sales funnel that can meaningfully contribute to growing our top line over the next several months”, said Jason Remillard, CEO and founder of Data443 as he announced this achievement.

Data443’s Data Placement Manager processes thousands of sensitive data files hourly, making it a reliable and essential part of clients’ operations. The company apart is not only providing cutting-edge technology, but flexible pricing options such as pay-per-file-transfer that help businesses bypass prohibitive costs that often hinder their access to innovation. “Our goal is to eliminate the cost barrier to allow businesses to focus on more strategic architectural choices,” Remillard explained.

As the digital age advances, cyber-attacks and data breaches have become a major threat to businesses across different sectors and sizes. In 2022 alone, 1.2 billion records were compromised in just the top 35 global breaches (https://ibn.fm/eeApt). A lack of adequate security measures to protect sensitive information can lead to astronomical costs. A recent IBM study shows that the cost of a data breach averaged $4.35 million in 2022, hitting an all-time high (https://ibn.fm/U7wLS). Given the massive amounts of confidential data it stores, the financial sector is especially vulnerable as a prime target for cybercriminals. Here, the loss of trust from customers and investors can be devastating. Still, despite increasing data security risks, solutions currently available on the market tend to be fragmented and slow to deploy, often failing to detect and defend when they are most needed.

With companies like Data443 Risk Mitigation, businesses can breathe a little easier. Designed to bring businesses peace of mind, knowing that their sensitive data is in safe hands, the company’s solutions aim to deliver a secure, audited, and operationalized capability to transfer sensitive data. As a result, businesses can move their data quickly and efficiently without having to worry about the logistical challenges of managing and maintaining their own data infrastructure.

With two impressive wins under its belt, Data443 has shown yet again that it is a force within the data security and privacy space. The company is focused on expansion of its market footprint to include other financial sectors – such as insurance, rating agencies, and large and small banks – which are now recognizing the need for rapid, managed data movement capabilities.

Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. (ATDS) Investor Relations
Matthew Abenante
ir@data443.com
919-858-6542

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Data443.com.

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

“We have the potential for two world-class deposits.” 

• • Eloro Resources Executive VP of Exploration, Bill Pearson was recently featured on a corporate update carried out by Focus Communication
  • Pearson updated investors on the company’s ongoing exploratory drill work within their flagship Iska Iska project as well as their adjoining Casiterita property
  • With over 85,000 metres of drilling carried out in Iska Iska between September 2020 and November 2022, Eloro’s recent findings have suggested that the potential resources within the Santa Barbara area of the Iska Iska deposit are significantly greater than anticipated
  • Going forward, the company expects to publish their NI43-101 mineral resource assessment for their Santa Barbara deposit

Eloro Resources (TSX: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) (FSE: P2QM), an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec, was recently featured in a corporate update carried out by Focus Communications (https://ibn.fm/VcLEv). Bill Pearson, Eloro Resources’ Executive VP of Exploration was a guest of the show and elaborated on the latest drill results from the company’s ongoing drilling activity within the Santa Barbara High-Grade Zone in addition to providing guidance on the company’s next steps.

Since acquiring an option to purchase a 100 percent interest in the nine square kilometre, high prospective Iska Iska Property, which hosts a major silver-tin polymetallic porphyry-epithermal complex, Eloro Resources has carried out over 85,000 metres of diamond drilling activity across 122 holes between September 2020 and November 2022. Initial findings have been promising; as Pearson explained, holes DSB-50, DSB-51 and DSB-52, the southernmost holes tested to determine the potential south-southeastern extension of the high-grade one at Santa Barbara, each returned well mineralized intersections over 100m core length. Along with noting that the drill holes explored within the Santa Barbara Deposit’s south-southeastern extension have been notable rich in zinc values, Pearson also suggested that the three holes effectively expanded the strike extent of the Santa Barbara High-Grade Zone to between 1,100m and 1,200m, thus significantly expanding the potential pittable resource.

Eloro Resources have simultaneously been carrying out exploratory drill work at their Mina Casiterita property, located to the immediate southwest of Iska Iska. Having previously hosted artisanal mining activities in the early 1960’s – with approximately 70 tons of tin extracted at the time, Eloro have sought to identify the potential rich tin veins currently running through the property with over 3,300 metres of drilling carried out to date.

In the coming weeks and months, Eloro Resources anticipates that it will publish the inaugural NI43-101 compliant mineral resource of the Santa Barbara High Grade Zone and surrounding mineralized envelope, subject to an assessment which is currently underway. With drilling and geophysical surveys now taking place to explore the potential major tin porphyry target south of Iska Iska as well as on the Casiterita property to the southwest, Pearson reaffirmed his confidence that Eloro Resources had the “potential to [uncover] two world-class deposits” with “one likely in the bank at Santa Barbara.”

Pearson’s update provides further impetus to the positive fundamental drivers supporting Eloro Resources’ business case. With the company having uplisted to the Toronto Stock Exchange main board in recent months, successfully closed on a recent capital raising exercise, and set to benefit from continued strong demand for silver and tin amidst the global transition towards renewable energy resources, Eloro Resources looks well-positioned to capitalize on the current economic climate.

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

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

• D-Wave is the first commercial supplier of quantum computing solutions, delivering value to customers through practical quantum applications
• D-Wave has a portfolio of use cases showcasing how its quantum annealing applications can apply to the real-life problems found in a range of industries, including manufacturing and logistics
• DENSO and SavantX have demonstrated how D-Wave’s technology has improved operational efficiencies for manufacturing and logistics through quantum-hybrid applications

As the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computing solutions, D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) is focused on delivering value to customers through practical quantum applications for a range problems, including those related to manufacturing and logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, scheduling, fault detection, and financial modeling. D-Wave has unlocked commercial use cases for common optimization problems faced by most industries. D-Wave’s relentless pursuit of practical quantum computing has resulted in its technology being used today by some of the world’s most advanced enterprises, including more than two dozen Forbes Global 2000 companies.

Annealing quantum computing delivers optimal solutions to combinatorial optimization problems with many variables and constraints. There is a broad array of opportunity areas for quantum computing within manufacturing – ranging from chemistry and materials science to automotive and mobility, supply chain optimization, logistics, and more. Forward-thinking manufacturing, logistics, and mobility businesses have an opportunity to advance their offerings as early adopters of quantum that can accelerate time-to-value and realize business benefits much earlier with faster and smarter decision-making, enhanced risk management, lower operational costs, and higher revenue.

DENSO Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced automotive technology, systems and components for most of the world’s automakers, completed proof-of-concept work to optimize control of Automated Guided Vehicles (“AGVs”) on its factory floors. These robotic transports move materials around the factory using automated guidance systems. Together with D-Wave’s quantum computing solutions, DENSO narrowed down and ranked the optimal number of paths AGVs could take around the factory, then focused on reducing traffic congestion across the ecosystem. The quantum-backed solution showed a 15% improvement in routing of AGVs using D-Wave technology vs. classical computers.

SavantX has demonstrated how it can optimize logistics by developing the HONE (Hyper Optimized Nodal Efficiency) Engine, which uses proprietary data science and quantum computing to represent optimized solutions for use at the second largest container terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, Pier 300. With the quantum-backed HONE engine, SavantX improved Pier 300’s cargo handling efficiency by 60%. Turnaround times for the trucks picking up cargo containers was improved by 12% (https://ibn.fm/JeGaL).

D-Wave’s use cases in manufacturing represent scenarios where optimization applications are well suited for the quantum-hybrid approach, including multi-car paint shop optimization, traffic routing and mobility, and employee scheduling. Many more applicable use cases exist across a vast problem space, such as airport personnel scheduling, electric car charging station placement optimization, port scheduling/planning, and packing and placement of goods in shipping containers. D-Wave’s manufacturing use case stories can be found at https://ibn.fm/LKZSJ.

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

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This article contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, which are subject to a number of risks. Forward-looking statements in this article include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the release and performance of the Advantage2 processor. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this article will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, various factors beyond management’s control, including general economic conditions and other risks; customer acceptance of our products and services; and the uncertainties and factors set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company with the SEC on February 13, 2023, as well as factors associated with companies, such as D-Wave, that are engaged in the business of quantum computing, including anticipated trends, growth rates, and challenges in those businesses and in the markets in which they operate; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us; risks related to the performance of our business and the timing of expected business or financial milestones; unanticipated technological or project development challenges, including with respect to the cost and or timing thereof; the performance of our products; the effects of competition on our business; the risk that we will need to raise additional capital to execute our business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that we may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that we are unable to secure or protect our intellectual property; volatility in the price of our securities; the risk that our securities will not maintain the listing on the NYSE; changes in applicable laws and regulations; the effect of pandemics, geopolitical events, natural disasters, wars, or terrorist acts on our business or the economy in general; and the impact of inflation. Furthermore, if the forward-looking statements contained in this article prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In addition, you are cautioned that past performance may not be indicative of future results. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not place undue reliance on these statements in making an investment decision or regard these statements as a representation or warranty by any person we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this article represent our views as of the date of this article. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this article.

• A well-known ransomware group of hackers recently infiltrated one of the UK’s largest business process outsourcing and professional services companies, exfiltrating clients’ personal data and offering it for sale
• Preventing such attacks is the aim of cybersecurity solutions provider SideChannel Inc., whose flagship offering includes outsourcing virtual chief information security officers that can provide clients with advisement on a contract basis
• The company’s managed services under its SideChannel Complete package hinge on the technological prowess of its Enclave microsegmentation tool, which helps limit system users to network areas they’re authorized to use
• SideChannel intends to continue expanding its Enclave-centric managed services in the coming months to provide clients with a growing array of powerful solutions

Cybercrime constitutes one of the few categories of moral harm in which the victim is routinely shamed or blamed for the destructive actions of others, leading to a sense of embarrassment in reporting such incidents, as was perhaps exemplified in the recent ransomware attack on business process outsourcing and professional services company Capita.

Capita is one of the largest companies of its kind in the United Kingdom, and its services are used by the country’s government. When it suffered a data breach last month that apparently prevented access to some of its internal applications and led to the shopping of clients’ personal and financial information, Capita initially avoided revealing that it had suffered a cyberattack and that any client data had been compromised, according to a SecurityWeek report on the incident (https://ibn.fm/AnqWM).

Massachusetts-based cybersecurity services and technology provider SideChannel (OTCQB: SDCH) is driven to help companies defend themselves against cyberattacks, emphasizing the importance of always keeping security systems current and comprehensive to avoid falling victim to similar incidents and having to deal with the expense of trying to recover from such breaches as well as the reputational loss.

In the Capita case, the hackers were apparently hoping to find a buyer for the data rather than demanding that the victim pay a ransom, but in many such incidents the companies’ operating systems are essentially held hostage unless they pay off the hackers in amounts that may reach into the millions of dollars.

“We see Fortune 500s having easy access to large (cybersecurity) providers but, really, the middle market is over a million companies, and who’s working with them?” SideChannel CEO Brian Haugli said during a company webcast on SideChannel’s portfolio (https://ibn.fm/bIqSA). “The same risks exist at (larger) enterprises that exist at mid-market and vice versa.”

SideChannel specializes in outsourcing virtual chief information security officers (“vCISOs”) on a contract basis to companies that need help with cybersecurity but are unable to hire a full-time CISO. 

 The rollout of the company’s SideChannel Complete managed service program served as a “turnkey” event that allows SideChannel to “have an entire program of technology, processes, and even people” that empowers clients while “they don’t have to look at hiring full-time staff that could be costly or going through a talent-acquisition pipeline,” Haugli told Proactive Investors in an interview last month (https://ibn.fm/DOtaP).

“We are very excited about how the uptake has really taken off this last year,” Haugli said, adding that the company is anticipating adding further managed services capabilities during the coming months.

At the heart of SideChannel’s Complete managed service offering is a microsegmentation tool called Enclave that provides the company’s solution for network segmentation, which ensures that only authorized personnel have access to specific systems they’re authorized to use without lateral movement across the network as part of a “zero-trust” approach to cybersecurity.

Enclave is also available to clients to use on their own as a software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) tool on a subscription basis if they prefer to rely on their own governance.

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

• Inflating air pollution levels are increasingly contributing to rising respiratory infections and mortality rates around the world
• A key source of air pollution is derived from methane emissions, released by organic waste products
• RNG has emerged as a solution by which captured methane can be turned into a carbon neutral energy source
• EverGen Infrastructure has rapidly emerged as one of Canada’s leading RNG suppliers, with an ambitious long-term growth plan

India’s capital, New Delhi is a teeming metropolis and home to upwards of 25 million people; it is also one of the most polluted cities in the world. In 2019, government authorities forecast that over 1.67 million people had passed away across the country due to air pollution – largely a result of acute respiratory infections, including lung diseases, COPD, asthma add bronchial infections. In Delhi alone, it is estimated that air pollution could contribute to as many as 30,000 fatalities per annum and driving $36.8 billion in economic losses. Yet, Delhi’s air pollution conundrum is not solely due to industrial activity and construction work, factors which have often been pinpointed as the primary contributors to India’s pollution problem. Rather, a major factor contributing to Delhi’s pollution woes is far closer to home – the cooking fuel used by millions of households across the city (https://ibn.fm/trzox). At least 100 million people across India today depend on cow dung cakes and other biomass sources for cooking; methane, the chief emission released by organic waste has been found to be nearly 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of trapping heat within the earth’s atmosphere (https://ibn.fm/upCmA).

According to the International Monetary Fund (“IMF”), global greenhouse gases must be cut by 25 percent to 50 percent from 2019 levels by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5-2 degrees Celsius – the central goal of the Paris Agreement. Methane accounts for approximately 30 percent of the increase in the global temperature since industrialization; last year, methane emissions rose to record levels for a second year in a row. In November 2021, amidst the COP 26 forum taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, 125 countries signed up to the Global Methane Pledge, with participants joining the pledge agreeing to take voluntary actions to contribute to reducing methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030.

Renewable natural gas (“RNG”), a form of refined biogas, has emerged as a potential solution to global efforts towards arresting rising methane emissions. When organic waste decomposes, it naturally releases biogas – a greenhouse gas containing carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. Companies such as EverGen Infrastructure (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQX: EVGIF), a British-Columbia based natural gas operator, have made containing methane emissions their core corporate mission. Through a combination of acquiring, developing, building, owning, and operating a portfolio of RNG, waste-to-energy and related infrastructure projects, EverGen has looked to combat climate change and help the communities within which it operates to strive for a more sustainable future.

EverGen Infrastructure’s RNG is derived from biogas, which is captured from decomposing organic waste found in landfills, food waste, agricultural waste matter and wastewater treatment plants; the waste feedstock is supplied to an anaerobic digester which in turn contains bacteria that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. The resulting biogas is captured and cleaned to create carbon neutral or carbon negative RNG, which can be piped through the existing North American gas pipeline grid. Meanwhile, the liquid and solid digestate matter which results as a byproduct of the RNG production process can be recycled into fertilizer form.

The company has recently elaborated on its ambitious growth plan, publicizing its goal to own over 20 RNG-generating facilities across Canada within five years; meanwhile and with four revenue generating RNG assets already in operation, the company reiterated their ambition to grow their cumulative gross RNG generating capacity to 480,000 gigajoules of energy per annum going forward – the equivalent of providing clean energy to nearly 90 million households. Through their operations, EverGen seek to both, reduce carbon emissions and organic waste whilst providing homes and businesses with a novel source of renewable energy.

“We are a renewable natural gas energy company. We’re a developer, owner and operator of projects that take organic waste and convert that organic waste into renewable energy in the form of renewable natural gas RNG,” stated Chase Edgelow, Co-Founder and CEO of EverGen. “If you look back at the benefits of bringing in other sources of energy 20 years ago, there wasn’t one silver bullet for the electrical grid to be as renewable as it is today, with wind, solar and hydro,” he continued. I think renewable natural gas can hold its own, and at the same time solve a massive waste problem and emissions problem from waste.”

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

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

• Latest research shows that renewable energy from wind and solar is cheaper than electricity from coal, oil, or methane gas, dispelling any lingering doubts about their ability to compete on cost with traditional fossil fuels
• The clean electricity sector is soaring, generating 39% of global electricity in 2022, a new record high; solar remains the fastest-growing electricity source for 18 consecutive years, growing by 24% in 2022
• Companies like GeoSolar appear poised for growth as greater demand for cleaner energy creates opportunities for the sector and evidence shows that investing in renewables is not just good for the environment, but also makes financial sense

A world powered by renewable sources once seemed like a distant dream, but it is gradually becoming a reality thanks to companies like GeoSolar Technologies (“GST”), a Colorado-based climate technology company that seeks to lead Americans toward a more sustainable living.

Despite barriers to widespread electrification, including lack of adequate infrastructure, high costs, and technological challenges, the world is inescapably transitioning towards a more electrified future – and going by the latest research, the future of electricity is increasingly green (https://ibn.fm/gCUog). The fourth annual Global Electricity Review, recently published by Ember, shows that together, all clean electricity sources generated 39% of global electricity in 2022, hitting a new record high (https://ibn.fm/4HZi2).

Ember’s study also reports that the sun and wind provide more and more of our electricity. Last year, they produced a record amount, collectively reaching a 12% share of global production, increasing from 10% in 2021. This international energy think tank argues that in 2023, wind and solar could be the driving force thrusting the world into a new era of declining fossil fuel production. Of the two, solar generation has been particularly gaining traction, as it rose by 24% in 2022. Nothing short of remarkable, the sector maintained its position as the fastest-growing source of electricity for no less than 18 consecutive years.

Although the renewable energy sector has been steadily growing for years, promising a more sustainable future for our planet, fears around its ability to compete on cost with traditional fossil fuels have remained. However, as the price of renewable technologies plummeted in recent years, driven by advancements in technology and increased investment, evidence is emerging to support the growing belief that renewable energy is not only an environmentally beneficial option but a financially viable one as well. A recent report from Lazard is the latest in a growing line of findings that have shattered the lingering fears. This renowned advisory firm showed that electricity generated from renewable sources is now cheaper than power from coal, oil, or methane gas – and it remains so by every metric analyzed, including the cost of energy, cost of energy and firming, the marginal cost of energy, and cost of capital (https://ibn.fm/PfOQ5).

As both the government and consumers prioritize renewable energy, driving demand for sustainable solutions, opportunities for innovative companies like GeoSolar Technologies will continue to grow. Poised to capitalize on the greater public awareness and pressure to transition to cleaner energy sources, GeoSolar Technologies seeks to establish itself as a key player in the industry. As a pioneer in the green home space, the company aims to spearhead the green revolution in building sustainability by helping Americans live in carbon neutral homes of the future.

Its innovative SmartGreen(R) Home system, which can be deployed in both newly built and existing residences and commercial buildings, seeks to harness energy from the sun and earth to provide power without using fossil fuels. This patent-pending integrated system allows homeowners to heat, cool, cook, power, and purify their homes using sustainable energy sources, offering a greener and cost-effective alternative to traditional energy sources.

While the end of the fossil fuel age may not happen overnight, the world is on the brink of a clean power era as the momentum shifts toward a more sustainable future. Bursting onto the green energy scene, solar has emerged as the shining star of the renewable energy sector and is increasingly used to power homes, businesses, and transportation. Aiming to offer Americans access to low-carbon, climate-resilient living through green home packages, GeoSolar seeks to capitalize on this rapidly expanding market.

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

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