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Is Fractional Real Estate Investing The Future Of Gen Z Portfolios?

Benzinga

By Austin DeNoce, Benzinga Technological innovations and shifting priorities among the younger generation are driving significant changes in the world of finance, including public markets. Representing about 20% of the U.S. population, Generation Z is at the forefront of this transition, rewriting the rules of investing as they enter the workforce and shape their financial future. More specifically, this generation is moving away from traditional investment strategies, embracing alternative and fractional investments as key to achieving financial independence and security. Exploring Alternative Investments The traditional investment landscape is dominated by stocks and indexes like the S&P 500, but it’s losing its allure with Gen Z. The past year alone saw economic uncertainty weigh on many traditional markets, prompting these young investors to seek alternatives. From the tangible assets of real estate, artwork and precious metals to the digital world of cryptocurrencies, Gen Z is diversifying its portfolios with a keen eye on higher returns and hedging against inflation. However, alternative investments can come with certain challenges – such as adequate liquidity and different flavors of market regulation – that can require a more nuanced and thoughtful investment strategy. That said, these concerns seem to be outweighed by their advantages and alignment with Gen Z’s financial reality. Gen Z’s Financial Snapshot Gen Z's current financial standing provides much-needed context for understanding its transition into unconventional assets and investment strategies. Perhaps one of the most important factors to consider is that 46% live paycheck-to-paycheck. Meanwhile, 43% are juggling multiple jobs, and 3 out of 10 are feeling financially insecure, with 26% doubting their ability to save enough for retirement. Finally, while their parents may have had their sights set on a house at the age of 30, 22% of Gen Z are simply aiming for financial independence by that age, underscoring a generation with far less money to invest than the generations before them. The Allure Of Fractionalized Investments Within this context, it should be no surprise that fractionalized investment is a concept that resonates strongly with Gen Z. The lower barrier to entry into the investment world by breaking down traditionally large capital requirements into custom, bite-sized investments isn’t just appealing, it’s often the only option for a less cash-flush generation. However, fractional investing also aligns perfectly with Gen Z's values of accessibility and technological ease, opening up a world of owning a small slice of a company, an artwork or a piece of real estate to an entire generation – right from their phones. Groundfloor: Fractionalized Real Estate Investment Real estate investing is frequently seen as the bastion of the wealthy, but it’s now within reach of the average investor thanks to platforms like Groundfloor. This innovative platform allows for fractional investment in real estate, a move that aligns seamlessly with Gen Z's appetite for alternative investment avenues and lower barriers to entry. With just a few clicks, anyone can start investing in a diverse selection of properties across various locations, enabling exposure to a tried and true asset class previously uninvestable to those without access to large pools of capital. With Groundfloor’s focus on providing more options and diversification, it’s empowering a new wave of real estate investors, and the company boasts a 10% average return and more than $1 billion invested on its platform during the decade it’s been in business. The Future Of Finance Generation Z is charting a new course in the world of investing, with their preference for alternative and fractional investments reflecting a broader shift that values optionality, technological integration and accessibility. As financial realities steer Gen Z away from traditional financial paths, its evolving approach offers a glimpse into the future of investing – one that is inclusive, varied and ripe with innovations to meet their needs. As they continue to navigate this evolving landscape, their choices will undoubtedly shape the future of financial products, with innovators like Groundfloor ready to facilitate their evolving financial goals. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

January 26, 2024 08:50 AM Eastern Standard Time

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How Super League Enterprise Is Helping Shape The Future Of Web 3.0 With 3D Engagement

Benzinga

By Austin DeNoce, Benzinga Immersive experiences are everywhere around us. The lines between reality and virtual reality are blurrier and more valuable with each passing year, and more and more companies are diving into the digital world headfirst. Super League Enterprise (NASDAQ: SLE) is one of those companies as a leader in crafting engaging virtual experiences. The company leverages its substantial user base to forge connections between global brands and the Web 3.0 and gaming community by harnessing the power of immersive technologies to captivate and connect with a generation that increasingly can only be found in a digital world. The buzz around creating immersive online experiences may be lost on older generations that have been relatively slower entering new digital frontiers, but younger generations have fully embraced 3D engagement. Super League Enterprise’s Immersive Media Expansion The pioneer in immersive web activations and user engagement today boasts over a billion monthly impressions and over 120 million active players. The company’s mission is to help brands embrace 3D engagement as a fundamental component of Web 3.0, which it believes is the inevitable way digital advertising dollars will be directed in the future for deeper engagement with new audiences. During 2023, the company was a leader in building immersive 3D experiences across major digital platforms, including Roblox (NASDAQ: RBLX), Minecraft which is owned by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Fortnite, Sandbox and Decentraland. The company's strategy focuses on helping brands connect with large audiences in those established 3D environments. Its creator-friendly tools also help transform owned web domains through custom 3D experiences. Tools For 3D Engagement As brands shift digital advertising to make Web 3.0 connections with Generation Z and Alpha, Super League provides creators with a content development platform packed with enough proprietary IP to be an end-to-end operating system for the 3D Web. Super League reports that last year turned out to be a year of strong momentum for the company, highlighted by accelerated growth, streamlined operations and the largest contract in the company’s history – leading to record annual revenues of approximately $25 million. This highlights their growing role in the metaverse and digital engagement strategies. The company has partnered with brands like Barbie from Mattel Inc. (NYSE: MAT), Patrick Star (NASDAQ: PARA) and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) to connect brands with gaming communities through immersive experiences. Heading into 2024, the company reports more global brands are navigating into Web 3.0 with a planned ramp-up of ad spending in the nascent marketing channel. “Super League is uniquely positioned to be the omni-channel solution for 3D engagement in the arena where brands in the near future will likely spend the majority of their digital advertising,” said Ann Hand, CEO of Super League. “Our capabilities as a platform for short-term advertising campaigns are evolving and our deals are getting much larger as customers discover the value in deeply immersive experiences that deliver revenues that are more recurring and forecastable.” As an example, Super League in 2023 launched the Hamilton Simulator, a Web 3.0 experience that attracted an audience of 6.5 billion for an interactive discovery of the epic Broadway saga’s groundbreaking music. The company reports that the experience went viral with over 1 million visits in the first two weeks, surpassing the top session time of Roblox experiences at an average of 21 minutes. Pioneering Immersive Media The landscape of media is quickly changing, forcing brands and creators to adopt new strategies to engage with a younger audience that increasingly socializes online. Industry giants like Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) have already begun making investments in immersive experiences, and as the shift into the digital world increases with innovations in the metaverse or other similar technologies, immersive media is becoming critical for brands seeking to capture the attention of the next generation. Super League believes it is on track to be a gold standard for creating multi-layered, persistent 3D Web solutions in a market it expects will reach $56 billion this year. The company has pioneered immersive activations and player engagement for close to a decade simply responding to the demand for a scalable, integrated publishing platform for immersive web experiences. Platforms to help brands leverage their IP in new and creative ways constitute a growing sector of the media industry. In this new landscape, Super League's approach is clear: equip brands with the knowledge and tools to create engaging digital experiences that drive higher audience engagement and more effective advertising campaigns. Super League Is Upping Its Game Last year, the company integrated generative AI technologies into its creative process tools for significant improvements in content development, color inspiration, image adjustments, audio generation and script refinement. It was an evolution for the company’s already robust content visualization and production solutions capabilities that it believes increases internal efficiencies and opportunities for continued, sustained new business and revenue growth. Super League Enterprise is capitalizing on the shift toward immersive digital environments. In 2023, it reduced its operating costs by 33% while serving some 100 brands and IP owners to successfully raise gross proceeds of $24.8 million and secure $4 million in accounts receivable. It last announced preliminary revenue for the fourth quarter that showed it grew 32% year over year to a company record of approximately $9.4 million. With additional cash from recently secured financings, it’s confident it is now more than ever in a position to drive significant revenue growth leading to profitability. The company's proprietary creator tools and vertically integrated publishing engine could position it as a promising player in the transition to a more interactive and immersive online world. Ultimately, Super League's growing list of partnerships and commitment to innovation in connecting brands with Web 3.0 and gaming communities highlight their strategic approach to audience engagement and advertising in the new dawn of immersive media. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

January 26, 2024 08:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

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InMed Pharmaceuticals Has Multiple Milestones Coming Up In 2024, With A Focus On Three Conditions With An Unmet Need

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga Cannabinoids are having a moment in treating everything from Alzheimer’s to ocular diseases and InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: INM) seems to be at the center of it all. The leader in cannabinoids and cannabinoid analogs pharmaceutical research, development, manufacturing and commercialization hit key milestones in advancing its cannabinoids-based treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and epidermolysis bullosa in 2023 with more inroads to come in 2024. Take Alzehimer’s for starters. The disease is a big and growing problem afflicting about 6.7 million people 65 and older in the U.S. By 2060 it’s projected that 14 million people in the U.S. will suffer from the degenerative neurological disease. Treatments exist to address the symptoms related to memory and cognitive function and in some instances slow the rate of cognitive decline, but none have been able to reverse disease effects. Making An Impact InMed hopes to change that with INM-901, a rare cannabinoid analog the company says has the potential to target several biological pathways associated with Alzheimer’s. Previous industry research has shown cannabinoids hold promise in not only slowing the progress of Alzheimer’s but potentially reversing its effects thanks to their neuroprotective and regenerative properties. InMed’s data from preclinical i n vivo studies released last year showed INM-901 improved cognitive function and memory, locomotor activity, anxiety-based behavior, sound awareness and neuronal function. INM-901 also displayed neuroprotective effects by reducing cell death in an amyloid-beta-induced cytotoxicity study. To further evaluate INM-901 in 2024, InMed has initiated longer-term, six-month preclinical studies in behavior models. At the same time, the company is gearing up to launch more advanced preclinical studies, encompassing drug distribution, metabolism, active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug product formulation/manufacturing. Cannabinoids Can Protect Eyes Another big disease InMed is going after is age-related macular degeneration or AMD, which is a common cause of vision loss and potential blindness in people over 50. Based on 2019 estimates, AMD afflicts 19.8 million people or 12.6% of Americans 40 and up. Globally it affects 35% of people 74 and older. As it stands, there is no cure for AMD although treatment can prevent or slow the progression of the disease. Left unchecked patients may lose central field vision in the affected eye within 24 months of disease onset. INM-089, InMed’s ocular program for AMD launched in November is showing promise in changing that. Preclinical studies showed the potential for the drug to preserve retinal function, proactively protect the retinal cells that are responsible for vision and enhance the thickness of the outer nuclear layer of the retina where photoreceptors are situated, InMed said. Coming off those positive results, InMed is engaged in advanced preclinical studies and drug product formulation work, and it plans to launch Investigational New Drug studies in mid-2024. The goal is to file an Investigational New Drug application with regulatory authorities in the first half of 2025. “As we embark on 2024, we are placing increased emphasis on proprietary small molecule drug development candidates in our pharmaceutical pipeline with two exciting new programs addressing critical unmet medical needs,” said InMed CEO Eric A. Adams. “Our focus on developing proprietary cannabinoid analogs over the past two years has started to pay dividends, evident in their utilization in these two new preclinical programs.” Dermatology Program Additionally, last year, the company successfully completed a phase 2 clinical trial in the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa or EB, a rare genetic skin disease marked by fragile skin that can lead to extensive blistering and wounding. Data from a phase 2 clinical trial of INM-755 showed a positive indication of enhanced anti-itch activity for INM-755 cannabinol cream versus the control cream alone, warranting further development. InMed thinks INM-755 holds promise for further advancement in the treatment of chronic itch and other related ailments and is currently seeking partnerships for continued development. Supplier To All In addition to developing its own treatments, InMed is a key supplier of rare cannabinoids as ingredients to the health and wellness market. The company’s BayMedica unit focuses on being a low-cost/high-quality manufacturer of certain non-psychoactive rare cannabinoids and an ingredients supplier to brands within the health and wellness industry. In 2023, the company said the unit experienced “significant” year-over-year revenue growth, and it is making moves to capitalize on revenue-generating opportunities in 2024. To that end, BayMedica is embracing a distributor model to expand coverage across the U.S. InMed is betting consumer brands will use more rare cannabinoid ingredients in 2024 – and InMed will be ready to provide them. “BayMedica continues to drive robust year-over-year revenue growth. The foreseeable future looks promising for the health and wellness segment as demand for minor cannabinoid ingredients continues to gain momentum,” said Adams. Cannabinoids hold promise to treat and potentially cure several diseases. InMed seems to be at the forefront of these groundbreaking advances. If 2023 is any indication, investors may want to watch for more milestones out of InMed this year and beyond. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

January 26, 2024 08:40 AM Eastern Standard Time

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How Laser Photonics Helps Drive Safety And Efficiency In Maritime, Aerospace And Nuclear Industries With Cleaning And Marking Lasers

Benzinga

By Faith Ashmore, Benzinga The global laser cleaning market is projected to grow to $12 billion by 20 25, and the global laser marking market to grow to more than $5 billion by 2030. As technology continues to advance, demand climbs for better and more efficient industrial lasers across a wide range of industries. The aviation, aerospace, defense, shipbuilding and nuclear power sectors are particularly forward-looking in pursuit of improvements. The United States government and the Department of Homeland Security recently approved multiple programs regarding industrial laser use, signaling their current and future value in aerospace and military manufacturing. A pioneer in responding to such needs, Laser Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ: LASE) is a leading global developer of industrial laser systems, specializing in integrated laser cleaning solutions and laser marking and engraving. Their high-powered CleanTech laser systems eliminate surface corrosion and coatings from a wide variety of materials without causing harm to the surface beneath. In addition to surface cleaning and conditioning, other applications include pre-welding preparation and post-welding treatment. Technology that qualifies as CleanTech uses no harmful chemicals or substances while achieving fast and accurate cleaning results. Their advanced productivity and safety features serve to secure their reputation as a safer, more efficient option while ensuring operators are protected from the hazards of traditional systems. In global manufacturing, Laser Photonics reports that the value of its MarkStar direct parts marking, UID engraving and deep engraving technology is continuously expanding. Such practices pay for themselves quickly as they streamline traceability, production flow control, inventory control and renewal, service marking, product quality validation as well as long-term product liability and reliability monitoring. In the aviation and aerospace industry, Laser Photonics' maintenance-free laser equipment and systems play a significant role in streamlining manufacturing and repair processes from MarkStar direct parts marking, UID and deep engraving to their newest CleanTech laser cleaning systems. On top of corrosion and coating removal, cutting-edge CleanTech laser cleaning technology can be utilized by professionals in the aerospace industry to clean fixtures, perform selective paint removal on rivets, clean landing gears, clean landing strips and more. Laser Photonics’ solutions are also valuable to the maritime industry, shipbuilding and ship maintenance and repair processes. Its revolutionary CleanTech cleaning technology offers a safer alternative to environmentally harmful practices like sandblasting, chemical cleaning, and abrasive blasting. By also eliminating the health risks of traditional methods, laser cleaning has become a disruptive solution in these industries. The global maritime industry is expected to grow from $2.6 billion in 2023 to $3.7 billion by 2028. Nuclear decontamination and decommissioning is another domain where Laser Photonics’ laser CleanTech and MarkStar systems provide cost-effective, time-efficient, environmentally friendly and safe industrial cleaning and marking methods. Principally based on waste elimination, eco-friendliness is another major benefit of CleanTech laser cleaning. Unlike traditional cleaning and marking methods, there is no secondary waste generated during use. Furthermore, laser cleaning eliminates the need for hazardous consumables, ensuring the safety of operators who would otherwise be exposed to harmful substances. Laser Photonics’ laser cleaning and marking technologies can be customized to the unique needs of operators in any industry or application, providing a tailored solution for anything from nuclear facility maintenance to battery manufacturing. The company’s CleanTech and MarkStar technologies offer safe, effective, eco- and operator-friendly solutions to challenges posed to manufacturing professionals worldwide. Laser Photonics continues to innovate in each sector and on each application, helping high-demand industries grow more profitably and safely. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

January 26, 2024 08:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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NexWafe Expands to the US to Reshore Solar Wafer Production

NexWafe

NexWafe GmbH (NexWafe) has established a U.S. subsidiary to evaluate the development of multi-gigawatt-scale solar wafer production in the U.S. with an initial target production volume of six gigawatts (GW). The North American operation will leverage NexWafe’s EpiNex™ production technology from the company’s 250 megawatt (MW) first commercial facility, which is under construction in Bitterfeld, Germany. As part of this expansion, NexWafe appointed solar industry veteran Jonathan Pickering as Vice President of Business Development for North America to spearhead U.S. operations. The U.S. solar industry has tremendous growth potential. 2023 was the nation’s largest year of solar installations, reaching 33 GW of solar installations. Average annual growth of solar installation of 14 percent is expected between 2023 and 2028. In line with the goals of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), NexWafe’s U.S. expansion is a strategic move to reduce vulnerabilities in the solar-wafer supply chain, which remains subject to China’s market dominance and potential geopolitical disruption. The company is actively working on securing strategic partnerships, assessing potential manufacturing locations and the associated regional incentives, and securing offtake agreements for domestic wafer supply. Along with other solar supply chain manufacturers, NexWafe will work with the Administration to leverage IRA incentives to realize the company’s vision of gigawatt-scale wafer manufacturing in North America. As a front runner in bringing solar wafer production to the U.S., NexWafe further demonstrates its commitment to the energy transition. “Silicon wafers are critical materials for the energy transition, and Jonathan’s leadership will be key as we embark on establishing gigawatt-scale wafer manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Davor Sutija, CEO, NexWafe. “His extensive experience and proven expertise in solar technology complement the strength of our established leadership team.” Pickering was previously President of JA Solar Americas, and a former Vice President at Applied Materials. His experience spans the solar value chain from solar wafer and solar cell processing equipment to solar module manufacturing and commercial solar project development. “Multiple top-tier solar companies have committed to advanced PV cell and module manufacturing at a multi-gigawatt scale across the U.S. But now we see a significant bottleneck in the supply chain for a domestic source of silicon wafers,” said Jonathan Pickering, VP of Business Development, North America, NexWafe. “Our breakthrough EpiNex direct ‘gas-to-wafer’ manufacturing process targets this exact opportunity. We are developing a gigawatt-scale facility to manufacture high-performance. American-made, thin silicon wafers to serve our U.S. customers, and we can do so while achieving a 60 percent reduction in the carbon footprint compared to today’s technology.” About NexWafe GmbH NexWafe GmbH designs, develops and is ramping into production a proprietary process to produce ultra-thin, high-efficiency, monocrystalline, low carbon footprint solar wafers to make photovoltaics more sustainable and efficient. Fully compatible with conventional solar cell manufacturing, NexWafe offers a 60 percent reduction in energy consumption during manufacturing. NexWafe’s continuous, direct gas-to-wafer manufacturing process also minimizes waste, resulting in wafers that are less expensive than conventional wafers. NexWafe’s in-line, ultra-scalable process leapfrogs current barriers in the cost reduction roadmap and inherently supports the industry’s extraordinary growth as the transition to solar power accelerates worldwide. The company was spun out from Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in 2015 and is a member of the Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Alliance, Solar Power Europe, and the European Solar Manufacturing Council. For more information, please visit https://www.nexwafe.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn. Contact Details Jenna Beaucage +1 508-340-6851 nexwafe@rainierco.com Company Website https://www.nexwafe.com

January 26, 2024 08:10 AM Eastern Standard Time

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PEL 83 Exploration Campaign Update – Second Significant Light Oil Discovery at Mopane-1X

Custos Energy

Custos Energy (Pty) Ltd. (“Custos” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide the following update regarding the ongoing exploration campaign on blocks 2813A and 2814B located in the heart of Namibia’s Orange Basin, emergingas the one of the world’s most prospective oil and gas regions. The blocks are governed by Petroleum ExplorationLicense 83 (“PEL 83”) which is operated by a subsidiary of Galp Energia (“Galp”) of Portugal. Custos is a 10% working interest owner in PEL 83 as is NAMCOR, the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia. Further to the previous updates provided on January 2 nd and January 10 th, Galp, together with its partners NAMCOR and Custos, has successfully and safely drilled, cored, and logged a deeper target (AVO-2) of the Mopane-1X well in block 2813 governed by PEL 83. In AVO-2, Galp has also discovered a significant column of light oil in reservoir- bearing sands of high quality. The rig is expected to be relocated to the Mopane-2X well location to evaluate the extent of the Mopane discoveries, after which a Drill Stem Test (“DST”) is expected to be performed in Mopane-1X. Galp and the JV Partners will continue to analyze the acquired data during the coming weeks to assess the commerciality of the discoveries. PEL 83 is located immediately north of PEL 39 home to Shell’s basin opening discoveries at Graff- 1, La Rona-1 and Jonker-1. Additionally, it is located north and west of PEL 56 where TotalEnergies announced is giant oil discovery at Venus-1. “The continuing success of the initial exploration campaign, including a second light oil discovery at Mopane-1X, further demonstrate the scope and potential of PEL 83. We extend our further congratulations to our partners Galp and NAMCOR on this second discovery.” said Knowledge Katti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Custos. “This isanother significant milestone for Custos positioning us for further growth and continued success underpinned by ourunmatched position in the heart of the basin.” he added. “The announcement of this significant additional discovery is further testament to the hard work and dedication of the partnersinvolved, as well as another demonstration of the potential for further growth in our oil industry. With this discovery, we are one step closer to harnessing the full potential of this campaign. We wish Galp and its partners Custos Energy and Namcor success with theremaining drilling campaign.” said Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commission for the Ministry of Mines and Energy. “We are proud to have achieved this milestone.” she added. ABOUT CUSTOS ENERGY: Custos is a Namibian independent oil and gas exploration company focused on attracting investment and expertise to the Namibian offshore industry. Founded over a decade ago by Mr. Knowledge Katti, Custos continues to develop its portfolio with international partners for the benefit of all Namibians. Contact Details Knowledge R Katti +1 475-477-9410

January 26, 2024 06:17 AM Eastern Standard Time

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TeamViewer adopts Almer AR headsets to take remote support from desktop to reality

Almer

The popular global leader in remote IT support TeamViewer has signaled its shift to augmented reality (AR) having struck a strategic partnership with AR startup Almer. This news comes hot on the heels of Apple’s entry into the AR market with the launch of their Vision Pro headset next month. The Almer Arc headset enables collaboration with remote individuals as if they were physically present and augmentation of the wearer's environment with relevant information for pointing out objects in reality. Almer is also announcing the launch of Arc 2, it’s latest headset which features a 25MP camera, beamforming microphones, built-in speakers, and a holographic see-through screen with 8-hours battery life. As opposed to Apple’s Vision Pro, the Almer Arc 2 is a mere 138 grams, 4 times lighter. Thanks to the completely transparent display of the Arc 2, it can be employed in mission critical task and changing environment, while the Vision Pro is for a static interior environment. This partnership will enable TeamViewer to expand into untapped opportunities with industrial companies. Meanwhile, Almer will be able to scale its operations and advance AR adoption. Mei Dent, Chief Product & Technology Officer at TeamViewer: “Approximately 80 percent of the global workforce does not work at a desk but at a company’s frontline, and most of them currently benefit very little from digital transformation. There is immense potential for efficiency and productivity gains by enhancing the frontline work with digital tools and connecting this huge part of the global workforce to their companies' backend system. Our joint offering with Almer allows companies to explore how Augmented Reality opens new opportunities for business and operations and massively increases the speed of their digitalization efforts.” Almer was founded in 2021 by Sebastian Beetschen and Timon Binder. Sebastian was working on the Hololens 2 at Microsoft Research and felt the AR opportunity extended beyond clunky helmet-like apparatus. He felt he could make a more compact, comfortable, and affordable AR device and teamed up with Timon, a former jet fighter pilot, who recognized the potential. Timon brought his experience with AR jet fighter helmets that led to the creation of the Almer Arc headset. Sebastian Beetschen, CEO and co-founder of Almer commented: “Our headset is much like a jet fighter visor, mounted directly in front of your eyes, featuring a transparent, see-through screen. The Almer Arc is a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-use AR headset. When a problem arises, the frontline worker takes the Almer Arc and contacts a remote expert, who can see and hear what the worker experiences. The expert identifies the issue, highlights objects, and displays documentation in the worker's view, simulating a collaborative, in-person experience.” Today, Almer has 21 customers, including Switzerland's largest defense contractor, which uses the Almer Arc to service fighter jets remotely in the US, as well as several international machine manufacturers. Almer is venture backed startup having raised $7.6m to date from strategic investors including engineering giant Stena and manufacturing leaders Helbling among others. The Almer team consists of top talent from the fields of computer vision and microtechnology, from renowned Swiss institutes of technology, ETH and EPFL. On the launch of Arc 2, Sebastian Beetschen commented: “We have learned a lot on how to make the headset super adaptable and users can set their preferences on how they wear it. Something new entrants like Apple still have to learn. Not only this, Arc 2 comes with an improved wide angle 25MP camera that can see and understand everything that you see and zoom into tiny details as never before. This makes it possible to understand the environment and assist, enabling superhuman capabilities”. The global augmented reality market* is projected to grow from $62.75 billion in 2023 to $1,1 trillion 2030, at a CAGR of 50.7%. Within this trend, the market for AR headsets is exponentially increasing over the next few years and is set to hit $120 billion in 2026. Initially, Almer is focusing on the Swiss industry and will soon expand into the neighboring DACH region before going global. Sebastian Beetschen added: “The cost saving potential of using AR to service all installed machines for the 10 largest tooling-machine manufacturers in DACH alone accounts for £7.9 billion per year**. So, the opportunity is very real”. * Fortune Business Insights, Technology / Augmented Reality (AR) Market and Grand View Research, Augmented Reality Headsets Market, Industry Report ** According to Acceliox, a machine hour in the sheet metal industry costs approx. 150 CHF/h and has downtimes (machine malfunction, adjustment, waiting for pre-material,...) of about 100 hours per month. This results in approx. 15'000 CHF downtime costs / month (180’000 CHF / year). According to Acceliox, approx. 5% of the planned and unplanned downtime can be eliminated with the Almer remote support, resulting in cost savings of approx. 9’000 CHF / machine and year. About Almer Almer Technologies is a Swiss startup that develops, reality augmenting (augmented reality) glasses that can display information to the user in reality. Thanks to this digitalization, industrial companies, laboratories, and logistics centers can make better use of technology and thus massively increase their efficiency. About TeamViewer TeamViewer is a leading global technology company that provides a connectivity platform to remotely access, control, manage, monitor, and repair devices of any kind – from laptops and mobile phones to industrial machines and robots. Although TeamViewer is free of charge for private use, it has more than 630,000 subscribers and enables companies of all sizes and from all industries to digitize their business-critical processes through seamless connectivity. Against the backdrop of global megatrends like device proliferation, automation and new work, TeamViewer proactively shapes digital transformation and continuously innovates in the fields of Augmented Reality, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. Since the company's foundation in 2005, TeamViewer's software has been installed on more than 2.5 billion devices around the world. The company is headquartered in Goppingen, Germany, and employs more than 1,400 people globally. In 2022, TeamViewer achieved a revenue of around EUR 566 million. TeamViewer SE (TMV) is listed at Frankfurt Stock Exchange and belongs to the MDAX. Further information can be found at www.teamviewer.com. Contact Details Almer Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://almer.com/

January 26, 2024 06:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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1TourismWorld 2024: Charting the Future of Global Tourism & Hospitality

1BusinessWorld

1TourismWorld, the premier global platform for tourism and hospitality innovation, is excited to announce its 2024 Global Tourism & Hospitality Conference. Scheduled to take place virtually from February 12th to 16th, this event promises to be an unparalleled gathering of industry leaders, experts, and visionaries. The 2024 conference will cover a wide range of topics crucial to the future of tourism and hospitality. Each day is dedicated to a different theme, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the industry: - Day 1: Focus on hotels, restaurants, travel management, and innovative trends in hospitality. - Day 2: Delve into the evolving world of cruise travel, including innovations in cruise ship technology and design. - Day 3: Explore the latest in airlines and aircraft technologies, highlighting industry trends and safety protocols. - Day 4: Discover advancements in yachting, including design trends and sustainability in luxury yachting. - Day 5: Discuss the future of travel management, destination insights, and sustainable practices in tourism. Keynote speakers include industry leaders like: · Chip Rogers, President & CEO, American Hotel & Lodging Association, on “The State of the Hotel Industry” · Dimitris Manikis, President & Managing Director EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts sharing "Global Perspectives in Tourism and Hospitality" · Stuart Greif, EVP - Strategy & Innovation, Forbes Travel Guide on the topic "Exploring Horizons: Consumer Travel Trends and Destinations" · Judy Chen, Vice President of Development - Dream Hotels, Hyatt Hotels Corporation on the topic: “The Dynamic Evolution of Lifestyle Hotels and Private Members' Clubs” · Lisa Bauer, President & CEO, Starboard Cruise Services, “Curating Unforgettable Journeys: How Teams at Sea Make the Difference” · Annette Cardenas, President, Skål International on “Building Bridges” The business and entrepreneurial leaders presenting will provide valuable insights into various aspects of the industry, from the evolution of luxury all-inclusive hotels to the dynamics of short-term rental markets. The 2024 1TourismWorld Conference is a must-attend event for professionals seeking to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving world of tourism and hospitality. It offers a unique opportunity to engage with global trends, network with peers, and gain insights from the industry's best. For more information and to register for the conference, please visit: https://1businessworld.com/1tourismworld-conference/ All news and content distribution in partnership with News Direct. About 1TourismWorld: 1TourismWorld is a leading global platform dedicated to advancing the tourism and hospitality industry. Through its annual conference and other initiatives, 1TourismWorld brings together industry stakeholders to share knowledge, foster innovation, and drive the industry forward. About 1BusinessWorld 1BusinessWorld is a global business ecosystem, network and marketplace that provides entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals with the information, tools, resources and connectivity needed to succeed throughout their company’s growth journey, toward a better business world. Our vision is based on the reality that we live, work and do business in one global interconnected business environment, and hence our motto: “One World, One Business World”. Our mission is to encourage and support global communication and collaboration among entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesses. 1BusinessWorld Contact Details 1BusinessWorld Media Enquiries +1 212-220-6677 info@1businessworld.com Company Website https://1businessworld.com

January 25, 2024 06:39 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Ecolomondo's Shares-For-Debt Agreement Approved By TSXV

Ecolomondo Corporation

Montreal, QC – TheNewswire -- January 25, 2024 -- Ecolomondo Corporation (TSXV:ECM) (OTC:ECLMF) (the “ Company ” or “ Ecolomondo ”), a cleantech company that designs, builds, operates and commercializes Thermal Decomposition turnkey plants using its proprietary Thermal Decomposition Process (“ TDP ”) recycling technology,   announces that market authorities, TSX Venture Exchange (the “ TSXV ”), has accepted for filing the Company's proposal to issue 25,917,430 common shares of the Company (the “ Common Shares ”), retroactively to January 2, 2024, to settle outstanding debt of $3,498,853.   The Company announced on January 3 that, subject to prior TSXV approval, 3212521 Canada Inc., a company controlled by the Company’s controlling shareholder, President, CEO and Director Elio Sorella, has agreed to convert previous loans made to the Company, totalling $3,498,853 as at January 2, 2024, into voting Common Shares at the price of 13.50 cents, which is the closing price of 18 cents on January 2, 2024, discounted by 25%, in accordance with TSXV policies. The press release also informed that the controlling shareholder intended to advance a further amount of up to $1 million, with a term of one year having an interest rate of 8.5% per annum, to fund the Company well into the commercialization of the Hawkesbury facility.   This transaction constitutes a “related party transaction” under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“ MI 61-101 ”) and Policy 5.9 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions of the TSXV. Pursuant to MI 61-101, the Company will file a material change report providing disclosure in relation to each "related party transaction" on SEDAR+ under Ecolomondo’s issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements available under MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on sections 5.5(a) and (b) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves the controlling shareholder, is not more than the 25% of the Company's market capitalization, and no securities of the Company are listed or quoted for trading on prescribed stock exchanges or stock markets. Additionally, the Company is exempt from minority shareholder approval requirement in section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.7(1)(a) as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves the controlling shareholder, is not more than the 25% of the Company's market capitalization.   Immediately prior this transaction, Elio Sorella owned, directly and indirectly, 142,081,270 Common Shares of the Company, which represented 75.27% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Issuer on a non-diluted basis. Elio Sorella also owns 1,377,429 stock options to acquire 1,377,429 Common Shares, which represented 75.45% on a partially diluted basis. Following this transaction, Elio Sorella owns, directly and indirectly 167,998,700 Common Shares of the Company, which represent 78.25% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis and 78.39% on a partially diluted basis.   The Company is settling the incurred debt into Common Shares as it does not have cash on hand in order to satisfy the repayment of its debt. This transaction was approved by the disinterested directors of the Company.   This additional financing aligned with the recent Restructured Loan with Export Development Canada, announced on January 2, attests the commitment of the key investors in the Company.   These two key events were instrumental and should allow the Company to bring the Hawkesbury TDP facility to commercial operations.   The Company believes that once fully ramped-up and fully commercialized, the Hawkesbury plant is expected to be the cornerstone of the Company’s global expansion.   This news release is being issued pursuant to National Instrument 62-103, persons who wish to obtain a copy of the early warning report to be filed by Elio Sorella in connection with this transaction may obtain a copy of such report from www.sedarplus.ca or by contacting the persons named below.   WEBINAR. The Company will have a webinar on February 8. Click Image To View Full Size You can register with the following link: https://globalonemedia.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_26U3-TtdTlO36b2QKUVJGg#/registration   About Ecolomondo Corporation Ecolomondo Corporation is a Canadian cleantech company that prides itself after its proprietary Thermal Decomposition technology TDP which is headquartered in Québec, Canada. It has a 25-year history and during this time has been focused on its development of its technology and the deployment of TDP turnkey facilities. TDP recovers high value re-usable commodities from scrap tire waste, notably rCB, oil, syngas, fiber and steel. Ecolomondo expects to be a leading player in the cleantech space and be an active contributor to the global circular economy. Ecolomondo trades in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol (TSXV:ECM) and in the United States under the symbol (OTCQB:ECLMF). To learn more, visit www.ecolomondo.com   About the Hawkesbury Plant – A 2-Reactor TDP Facility The Hawkesbury facility building is 46,200 sq.ft and has an impressive indoor clearance of 28 feet. It is state-of-the-art and houses 4 main production departments, tire shredding, thermal decomposition, recycled carbon black refining and oil fractionation. Once fully operational, this facility is expected to process 1.3M of scrap tires per year and produce 8.7M lbs of recovered carbon black, 34,608 barrels of oil, 2.9M lbs of steel, and 2.6M lbs of process gas.   About the Shamrock Project – A 6-Reactor TDP Facility Processing capabilities for the Shamrock facility is projected at 5.5M per year of end-of-life tires, yielding approximately 35.1M lbs of recovered carbon black, 128,100 barrels of oil, 11.9M lbs of steel, and 10.6M lbs of syngas; roughly three times the size of the Company’s Hawkesbury (Ontario) plant output. Facility construction is expected to begin by the third quarter of 202 4 with completion expected by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025. Projected cost to build is approximately US $93 million.   Our Mission, Vision & Strategy Ecolomondo’s mission is to be a contributing participant in a dynamic Circular Economy and to increase shareholder value by producing and supplying large quantities of recovered resources to be re-used in the manufacture of new products. Ecolomondo’s vision is to be a leading producer and reseller of recovered resources by building and operating TDP facilities, strategically located in industrialized countries, close to feedstock, labor and offtake clients. Our strategy is to become a major global builder and operator of TDP turnkey facilities, for now specializing in the processing of ELTs. Our intent is to expand aggressively in North America and Europe. Our experience and modular technology should help us get there faster and better. We plan to keep performing ongoing research and development to ensure that Ecolomondo remains technologically advanced.   ISCC Certification   A confirmation of the Company’s successful process lies in the recent International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (“ISCC”) for its Hawkesbury TDP facility, another step forward that should help improve demand for TDP. ISCC is a Global Sustainability Certification System and offers chain-of-custody certification systems to ensure traceability and feedstock identity, which can add commercial value to the Company’s end-products as they remain traceable in the supply chain. ISO Certification The Company has obtained ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 & ISO 45001:2018 certification of its Integrated Management System (IMS), which acknowledges Ecolomondo’s commitment for quality, environmental impact and health and safety at work.   Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) On the social aspect the Company plans to measure global health and safety, injury rate and gender diversity, and finally in the corporate governance aspect, the Company is measuring ethics and anticorruption, ESG reporting and board independence.   About TDP The TDP process is technically proven and more advanced than most other pyrolysis technologies. Over the years, our Technological teams were able to overcome all uncertainties that plagued most competitors especially in the s e areas: pre-filtration, reactor cooling, reactor rotation, water recycling, processing of rCB, (hydrocarbon removal), mass monitoring, heat curve development, humidity and water removal, safety testing, system automation, emissions control and monitoring.   TDP is Environmentally Friendly – CO 2 Reduction By producing rCB, TDP reduces GHG emissions by 90% versus the production o f virgin carbon black. The production of rCB at the Hawkesbury and Shamrock facilities are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 22,400 and 67,200 tons per year, respectively. Please follow Ecolomondo on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.   Twitter: https://twitter.com/EcolomondoECM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EcolomondoECM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecolomondo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecolomondoecm/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ecolomondo Ecolomondo Corporation Contact Eliot Sorella Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ecolomondo Tel: (450) 587-5999 esorella@ecolomondocorp.com www.ecolomondo.com   Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although Ecolomondo believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Ecolomondo disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.   Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

January 25, 2024 06:06 PM Eastern Standard Time

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