Lead Investor Steven Freidmutter Joins IQPay’s Advisory Board

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, Oct 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – IQPay an innovative force in the fintech landscape, is elated to announce that Steven Freidmutter has officially joined its advisory board. Adding to this significant appointment, Freidmutter is also stepping in as the lead investor for IQPay, marking a milestone in the company’s journey.

Steven Freidmutter brings to IQPay an impressive track record of experience, presence and credibility. Freidmutter’s journey continues to defy conventions. His recent appointment as a partner and founding advisory board member of the Boston-based VC fund Erez Capital is a testament to his unwavering dedication to innovation and progress. With a resume that includes affiliations with renowned entities such as Entrepreneurship Village in Nigeria and notable African startups like AmpGlobal, Shiprazor, and BoxCommerce. Freidmutter’s expertise is nothing short of monumental. As an LP of Launch Africa Ventures, his investment footprint extends to over 120 startups across more than 25 African countries. Steven’s passionate involvement in the continent further extends to sports with his partnership with the Cape Town Tigers, a South African professional basketball team.

His zest for life and commitment to projects bigger than himself have rendered this phase of his career to be the most prolific. Describing his journey, Freidmutter states, “While I battle daily with staying alive, somehow this has been my most prolific chapter… Having projects bigger than myself has kept me engaged and optimistic.”

IQPay recognizes the gravity of this partnership. Steven commitment to invest in Africa, his support for women-led initiatives align with IQPay’s mission and vision.

“We’re thrilled to have Steven join our team. His insights and guidance have already proven invaluable, and we anticipate a fruitful collaboration ahead,” said Michelle Ruiz, CEO of IQPay. “Steven’s extensive expertise and experience will enhance IQPay’s offerings, and we’re confident that this partnership will significantly amplify our efforts to scale and cement our value in the global payment landscape.”

About IQPay

IQPay is a cutting edge facial recognition payment system and is incorporated in the USA and South Africa and was founded in 2022 by Michelle Ruiz (CEO) and Yannick Ruiz (CTO) with the mission to empower consumers and businesses by transforming the landscape of digital transactions with their state-of-the-art technology.

For more information contact visit www.iqpay.co.za or contact info@iqpay.co.za.

Golden Investment Opportunity For Golden Heaven (GDHG) ?

United States, Oct 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Golden Heaven Group Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ:GDHG) is a Cayman Islands-based company that operates amusement parks, water parks, and related facilities in China. Established in 2020, it went public on NASDAQ in April 2023. The company operates six amusement parks throughout China and plans to expand its operations significantly, becoming a regional leader in the sector.

Their head office is in Nanping, a city recognized as the “birthplace of the Chinese amusement park industry,” and collectively the company has 426,560 square meters of operational land. GDHG’s portfolio of attractions are strategically located in southern China, accessible to around 21 million people. In addition to amusement parks, GDHG has complementary offerings including restaurants and food stalls, which also positively contribute towards revenue.

Following their IPO in April, where shares were priced at $4, we’ve witnessed a 254% surge in the share price – this can be seen in Figure 1. This suggests growing investor interest, potentially driven by GDHG’s growth potential, industry positioning, and expansion plans, despite the challenges posed by the market conditions.

Figure 1: GDHG share price since IPO – Created at TradingView

Technicals

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a technical indicator that provides insights into the momentum and potential overbought or oversold conditions of a financial asset. RSI values above 70 typically suggest overbought conditions, indicating a possible price correction or reversal to the downside, while values below 30 indicate oversold conditions, suggesting a potential buying opportunity or a price rebound. As we can see from the below, GDHG currently has an RSI value below 70, while the moving average sits above 70 suggesting overbought conditions. However, this is by no means conclusive. Investors should also consider the company’s positive momentum and valuation metrics.

Figure 2: Relative Strength Index – Created at TradingView

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is a popular technical indicator used to assess the strength, direction, and potential reversals in the price trends of financial assets. It achieves this by comparing short-term and long-term moving averages, with the MACD line representing the difference between these moving averages and the signal line showing the smoothed version of the MACD line. Crosses between these lines can signal buy and sell opportunities, while the MACD histogram helps identify changes in momentum, offering valuable insights for traders and investors. Currently we can observe that the MACD line and the smoothed version of the MACD line have just crossed. However, momentum is yet to turn fully.

Figure 3: Moving Average Convergence Divergence – Created at TradingView

Bollinger Bands are a technical indicator that provides insights into the volatility and potential price levels of a financial asset. They consist of three lines: a middle band, which is typically a simple moving average, and two outer bands that are derived from standard deviations. The width of the bands expands and contracts in response to price volatility. When prices approach or touch the outer bands, it suggests overbought or oversold conditions, potentially signalling a reversal or correction. As we can see, the orange line, representing the moving average, currently sits in the middle of the range, inferring, given the positive momentum, that there could be more to the rally.

Figure 4: Bollinger Bands – Created at TradingView

High Risk, High Reward

None of the three of these metrics suggest the amusement park owner’s bull run will come to an end, however it’s clear momentum is slowing. This is partially supported by valuation metrics, although it’s by no means conclusive. GDHG currently trades at 23.1 times trailing twelve-month (TTM) earnings, representing a 52% premium to the consumer discretionary sector. However, compared to international peers, it doesn’t appear excessively expensive – for instance, US giant Six Flags Entertainment Corporation trades at 21.5 times TTM earnings. However, it’s worth highlighting that Cedar Fair is much cheaper, trading at just 7.4 times TTM earnings.

This premium can be attributed to GDHG’s remarkable earnings per share growth and the positive sentiment surrounding the sector’s growth in China. In the first half of 2023, the company’s revenues exceeded RMB 140 million, marking a 6% increase from the same period in 2022. Gross profit for H1 2023 also improved, reaching RMB 101 million, a 7.5% increase from H1 2022, with a gross margin of 71.37%, up 1.02 percentage points from the previous year. Net income saw a significant 12% year-on-year increase, and earnings per share surged impressively by 135.1%, reaching RMB 1.05 in H1 2023 compared to RMB 0.45 in H1 2022.

The amusement park market is also forecast to grow significantly, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% between 2022-2027. The anticipated growth will be fueled by several factors, such as the increasing disposable income of Chinese consumers, the ongoing urbanization of the country, bringing more customers within range of the parks, and the rising trend of family tourism.

In conclusion, GDHG appears a high risk, high reward investment. Stock float suggests high volatility, but the share price rally is support by continued positive momentum, and no warning signs from the technical data.

By Rickie Wang

China Power (02380.HK) Shows Hard Power in Energy Transition with 6 Original Technology Achievements

HONG KONG, Oct 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – ZhiTong Financial APP news – October 29, 2023, Energy Sustainability Technology Innovation Forum, hosted by China Electricity Council (CEC) and China Industry University-Research Institute Collaboration Association (CIUR) and organized by China Power International Development Limited (China Power), was held in Beijing, and was attended by more than 300 representatives from politics, academia, finance, industry, media and other sectors. The forum focused on two themes, “ensuring energy security and driving future energy development with innovation”, exploring development paths for energy transition and sustainable development.

During the forum, four academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) delivered keynote speeches on energy security and technological innovation from their research perspectives, and shared their forward-looking insights on energy transition and innovative development.

Mr. He Xi, Chief Engineer (New Energy) of SPIC and Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Power, said that technological innovation is the lifeblood of an enterprise and China Power has accelerated the breakthrough of technological innovation and continues to demonstrate its responsibility as a sci-tech based central energy enterprise, solve the key and difficult problems in the process of building new power systems and serving and ensuring the country’s energy security on the new journey, and realize the goals of rapid clean energy development.

At the forum, China Power launched six technological innovations that are highly representative of the industry and lead the trend of industrial transformation.

(1) Digital twin technology based on AI big data computing, developed by XYZ Storage Technology, enabling the development of new energy storage industry with digital intelligence; (2) full-color micro-painting technology, developed by Colorfulead Power, providing new full-color options for architecture/environment and PV power integration and PV module reuse; (3) “Energy Cube” and technological solutions, developed by Qiyuan Core Power, compatible with more than 95% of the battery swap stations and 92 brands of electric vehicles on the market and creating a community of transportation and energy integration; (4) fire extinguishing agent for electrochemical energy storage stations and high-security fireâ€‘fighting coolant technology, developed by Sinopower New Materials Technology, providing all-round and full-time guarding for batteries in energy storage power stations and realize intrinsic safety; (5) new power distribution system with “photovoltaic, energy storage, direct current and flexibility”, developed by Xinyuan Guochen, realizing mutual power aid between transformers and improving power distribution equipment utilization and power supply reliability; and (6) five robot products, developed by China Power Yuchuang, applicable to different job scenarios of the electric power industry and empowering the transformation and upgrading of the traditional production modes with AI.

In fact, China Power’s technological innovation has always been at the forefront of the industry, with notable achievements in energy storage, color PV power, and green transportation. In 2023, for example, the smart energy storage and control operation platform developed by XYZ Storage Technology was put into operation, enabling China’s first 100 MW grid-side energy storage power station to access the cloud platform through the Internet. The first full-color PV power generation signage system and street lighting system have been demonstrated and applied in Tongzhou District and Fangshan District. The first unmanned battery swap station for heavy-duty trucks in Xinjiang has been built up to create the first smart and green mine model project in South Xinjiang.

China Power embraces both technological innovation and energy transition, to improve the operational efficiency of energy and comprehensively enhance the level of digital intelligence, and continuously increase the installed capacity of clean energy for the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. As disclosed in the half-yearly report 2023, China Power has a consolidated installed capacity of 32,941.2 MW, with clean energy (hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas power and biomass power) accounting for 66.35%, a significant increase of 15.6% year on year.

China Power’s installed clean energy capacity has increased rapidly thanks to the fact that, as SPIC’s listed flagship clean energy company, China Power has received strong support from its controlling shareholder, SPIC, which has continued to invest in clean assets. In August 2023, for example, China Power announced the acquisition of five new energy companies with a total of 9.27 GW wind and PV power capacity from SPIC for a consideration of CNY 10.785 billion, which is the industry’s largest investment in new energy by a listed company.

It is noted that China Power’s shareholders and controlling shareholder have been supporting its development, and have increased their shareholdings in China Power through the secondary market. According to China Power’s announcement on October 25, 2023, SPIC increased its shareholding in China Power in the past year by 346 million shares, to 62.82%. In addition, SPIC plans to further increase its shareholding in China Power in the open market before June 30, 2024, with a total amount of not more than HK$ 2 billion. This fully demonstrates the controlling shareholder’s long-term commitment to China Power, as well as its firm confidence in China Power’s prospects, or brings reverie for the subsequent asset injection action.

While China Power continues to lead the industry in the clean energy market, it is also actively returning to its shareholders. In January 2019, China Power established a dividend policy to declare and pay cash dividends of not less than 50% of the annual net profit of shareholders. The policy has been consistently implemented. In fact, according to the dividend payout ratio for 2018-2022 (excluding 2021), the average payout ratio is as high as 82.3%.

At the forum, China Power not only demonstrated its strong scientific and technological achievements, but also provided the outside world with more channels to understand its power. Following the state policy, leading the industry in terms of assets and technological innovation, promising a high dividend payout ratio, China Power has opened its growth space while the controlling shareholder continues to increase its shareholding and inject assets to improve performance expectations. China Power is undoubtedly a high-performing “white horse stock”. However, there is a lack of liquidity in the Hong Kong stock trading market at the current stage, and high-performing stocks are also short of digging up and guiding. China Power, with a price-to-book ratio of only 0.7, has a large space for valuation return.

H World Attends Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific 2023

HONG KONG, Oct 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – From October 23rd to 25th, the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (“HICAP”) 2023 was successfully held in Singapore. This conference focused on the dynamics and future prospects of the hospitality and travel industry in the Asia-Pacific region, discussing topics related to emerging travel trends, new developments in the hotel industry, and economic investment opportunities. It provided insights into the latest market trends and anticipated future directions for the industry. The conference was attended by nearly a thousand industry professionals and esteemed industry leaders. Ms He Jihong, the Chief Financial Officer of H World Group Limited(“H World” or “the Group”), and Mr Murphy Zhu, President of Asia Pacific, were invited to attend the conference and delivered speeches on the Group’s business and the development of the travel industry.

He Jihong highlighted that from the opening of the first Hanting Hotel 18 years ago, H World has become one of the fastest-growing hotel groups in the world and is currently ranked 6th in the world. H World has rapidly recovered from the impact of the Covid-19. Particularly during Chinese New Year this year, the RevPAR of Legacy-Huazhu (refers to H World’s business in China) rebounded to 140% of the 2019 level. In Q3 2023, Legacy-Huazhu’s RevPAR recovered to 129% of the 2019 level. Speaking about the Chinese economy and the tourism industry, He Jihong emphasized a new consumer trend where individuals of all age groups prioritize “experiential consumption”, which allows them to seek happiness through relatively small budget. H World’s portfolio consisting of over 90% limited-service hotels, is well-suited to meet these consumer needs. In addition, the anticipated rebound of business travel in China further contributes to the favorable outlook for H World’s business.

Regarding customer loyalty programs, He Jihong stated that H World has consistently embraced technological innovation. With their in-house operational system and analytical tools, the Group has significantly enhanced its ability to attract and retain loyalty members. Currently, more than 80% of their bookings come from their proprietary platform, with over 70% of them being made by loyalty members. The Group has a membership base of over 200 million and the number is expected to increase further next year as they work on building a robust ecosystem.

Furthermore, He Jihong emphasized that H World’s management and franchise model played a crucial role in the Group’s rapid growth. By providing a complete supply chain and assigning on-site hotel managers to manage franchised hotels, H World ensures consistent brand quality and revenue while simplifying operations for franchisees, realizing the Group’s rapid expansion to form a network effect, which is expected to open more than 1,000 hotels in the coming year.

During the “A Spotlight on East Asia – Opportunities and Challenges” session, Murphy Zhu also shared the recovery status of H World Group. The domestic consumption in the service industry increased by 21% compared to last year during the October Golden Week period, with tourism, lodging and restaurant businesses being the key drivers. As of September 30, 2023, H World operated 9,157 hotels with 885,756 rooms in operation in 18 countries. For Legacy-Huazhu, the like-for-like comparison with the mature hotel (6,500 hotels) RevPAR saw an increase of 41% compared to last year in Q3 2023, while the blended occupancy rate reached 86%. DH continued its promising business recovery trend and its RevPAR recovered to 107% of the 2019 level. In Q3 2023, H World has a pipeline of 2,970 projects. These solid pipeline results endorse the Group’s growth trends in 2024. Additionally, CJA, a subsidiary of H World, operates more than 200 apartments with 30,000 units in China, creating a strong synergy between hotels and apartments with their extensive network of over 9,000 hotels. In the future, with the accelerated urbanization in China and rapid development of extended-stay segment, H world will be able to create added value for owners and investors.

ASEAN Operational Excellence & Business Transformation Summit 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – CT Asia is honoured to host the ASEAN OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE & BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION SUMMIT 2023, the biggest ever premier event for Transformation & Operational Leaders.

Taking place on the 28th & 29th November 2023 at the Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur, this summit brings together global Operational leaders from diversified mega industries to discuss and explore solutions to the diverse challenges faced by the overall operations management process.

Optimizing operations is essential for organizations to reach their goals, and operation management plays a critical role in ensuring this success by assessing all aspects of the business including costs, customer satisfactions and processes efficiency. Hence this Summit focuses on the strategies, processes, people, as well as digital transformation with the goal of streamlining operations through modern technologies such as Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Generative AI, to achieve business continuity and excellence. It’s designed to provide attendees with in-depth insight into Operation Management and its potential to help organizations improve their performance by finding a balance between costs, inputs, and outputs to advance the mission and vision of the organization.

Themed “REINVENTING ENTERPRISE OPERATIONS BY RE-IMAGINING STRATEGY, PROCESS, PEOPLE THROUGH MODERNIZE TRANSFORMATIONS” the event will be packed with sessions panel discussion and keynote speeches from top industry leaders, giving attendees a unique opportunity to ask questions and gain experts knowledge.

The ASEAN INDUSTRIAL OPERATION MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE is a must-attend! Don’t miss out on this unparalleled opportunity to revolutionize the way your organization operates. Seats are limited and HRDF claimable, so hurry and secure your spot right away.

REQUEST FOR BROCHURE & RESERVE YOUR SEAT: https://www.aiomc.com/request

The website has full details of the program. Interested parties can visit WEBSITE

For further enquiries, please contact:
Amina +60 1161888699| amina@cteventasia.com

EDUtech Asia: Uniting Education Leaders for a Digital Future

SINGAPORE, Oct 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Asia’s most prominent education leaders are set to converge at the highly anticipated EDUtech Asia 2023 conference, slated to take place on 8th and 9th of November at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore. This prestigious event will feature 400 education leaders from schools and higher education establishments across Asia, taking the stage to share insights and best practices on shaping the digital future of education.

Opening the conference on 8th November is Dr. Bart Rienties, Professor of Learning Analytics at the Institute of Educational Technology of The Open University in the United Kingdom. He will share insights from 10 years of large-scale implementation of digital learning at the Open University, including what has worked, what has not, and evidence from over 100 studies on the use and effectiveness of learning analytics. He will also discuss how to effectively support the key stakeholders in learning analytics: educators and learners. Addressing the hottest topic of the moment is Professor Rose Luckin, Professor of Learner Centred Design at the UCL Knowledge Lab in London, and Founder of EDUCATE, the UK’s leading research accelerator programme for education technology. She will discuss the impact of AI on the education system and the need for changing assessment practices.

Day two will feature Dr Bronwyn Stuckey, Director of Innovative Educational Ideas, who will explore how we can cultivate positive cultures and communities through gameplay. Professor Robert K. Kamei M.D. of Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore will then provide insights on learning and how educators can apply the science of learning to become a strategic learners. Dr. Kwek Leong-Chuan, Principal Investigator at the Center for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore will help attendees why is important for educators to prepare the current generation of learners for the upcoming quantum technologies revolution. Finally, Dr Jeremy Fox, CEO – Asia-Pacific of Generation: You Employed will provide compelling success stories and insightful strategies for tackling the hurdles and take advantage of the opportunities in the Asia’s education-to-employment arena.

Alongside the premium conference, the free-to-attend exhibition will feature 100 show & tell presentations delivered by educators, a start-up village, and over 30 hours of tech showcases presented by our partners. 150 EdTech solution providers, including Lenovo, Microsoft, Intel, Classin, Google, GSA Education and more, will be at the event to showcase how they are transforming education in Asia.

“More schools and educational institutions than ever before are deploying EdTech solutions,” says Sharon Roessen, Managing Director of EDUtech Global and Chief Operating Officer, Terrapinn. “At EDUtech Asia, we are excited to welcome educators and education leaders back together, to not only get updated on the latest pedagogies, but also to explore and experience the latest EdTech solutions available and how they implement them successfully in their institutions.”

More than just a conference, EDUtech Asia is a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exploration of ground-breaking educational solutions. Attendees will have the opportunity to dive deep into the latest pedagogies and experience first-hand the transformative power of EdTech.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to learn from the world’s leading experts in education and technology. Join us at EDUtech Asia to explore the digital future of education.

EDUtech Asia 2023 will take place at Sands Expo, Singapore on 8th and 9th November 2023.

EDUtech Asia 2023 will take place at B2 Halls D, E, F, Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore on the 8-9 November 2023.

For more information on EDUtech Asia 2023, please visit: https://bit.ly/3MjY6IB

To register for the premium conference: https://bit.ly/3MjY6IB
To register for your free visitor pass: https://bit.ly/3SjKhxz
To request for a press pass to the event, please contact: jessica.foong@terrapinn.com

EDUtech Asia:
Date: 8-9 November 2023
Conference opening hours: 08:50 – 18:00
Exhibition opening hours: 09:30 – 18:00
Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

About Terrapinn

Terrapinn events inspire and transform business.

We’ve been sparking ideas, innovations and relationships that transform business for over 30 years. Using our global footprint, we bring innovators, disrupters and change agents together. Discussing and demonstrating the technology, strategies and personalities that are changing the way the world does business.

Whether you’re looking to make new connections, introduce products or inspire change in your industry, we invite you to join us as agitators of change.

Terrapinn – spark something.

www.terrapinn.com

For more information please contact Jessica.foong@terrapinn.com

Academic Labs Showcases Innovative Courses, Attracting Key Investor with Community-Powered Model

SINGAPORE, Oct 27, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Academic Labs, an innovative new AI and blockchain education platform, has unveiled its first set of demo courses focusing on highly relevant tech topics like layer 2 blockchain, ChatGPT, and crypto investing strategies. These cutting-edge courses showcase Academic Labs’ unique methodology of incentivizing content creators and delivering fun, gamified learning experiences.

Academic Labs was conceptualized and founded by Kingston Kwek, a well-regarded crypto and tech entrepreneur from Singapore, for which he is also the owner and the chief visionary officer (CVO). In this interview, Kwek explained why Academic Labs’ bottoms-up, community-driven approach makes it stand out in the nascent world of blockchain education.

“Academic Labs is a unique first-mover Web 3 social experiment in the use of blockchain in education,” said Kwek. “It will address the current lack of educational materials and platforms for AI and crypto education based on Web 3 technologies.”

Kwek highlighted that by rewarding content creators with native Acad tokens, Academic Labs can crowdsource high-quality, localized materials tailored to individual markets. “We have started the ball rolling through our first three videos to set the standards for the subsequent videos,” he said.

According to Kwek, these demo courses on layer 2 blockchain, ChatGPT, and crypto investing strategies provide sophisticated learners a taste of Academic Labs’ potential. By incentivizing the community to create more in-depth follow-up courses, the platform can scale up to offer hundreds of short, engaging videos on cutting-edge topics.

“As the scale and sub-topics of the videos expands, Acad will eventually cross-paths with more crypto projects and crypto fund managers and exchanges, which will gave Acad many more potential joint venture projects with other crypto projects and crypto fund managers and exchanges, to add to the value of Acad and its business partners,” said Kwek.

The three demo videos cover layer 2 blockchain technology, ChatGPT, and crypto investing strategies. The layer 2 blockchain video provides an overview of how layer 2 solutions can improve blockchain performance for applications like crypto payments, NFTs, and gaming. The ChatGPT video explains the AI’s advanced conversational abilities, based on reinforcement learning algorithms that mimic human responses. And the crypto investing video outlines key factors like technology, tokenomics, and community sentiment to evaluate the investment potential of new cryptocurrencies.

While simple overviews, Kwek emphasized these demo videos are just a starting point to showcase Academic Labs’ methodology and set quality standards for future content. As the library expands, the topics covered can become more specialized and in-depth, creating hundreds of focused, engaging 3-10 minute videos.

For example, future videos could provide laser-focused dives into using layer 2 solutions specifically for gaming or NFT projects. Or give in-depth looks at specific NFT communities like the Bored Ape Yacht Club. This ever-growing, crowdsourced library will establish Academic Labs as a go-to destination for short-form education on cutting-edge AI, crypto, and blockchain topics.

Strategic angel investors like Kwek also highlight the promising vision behind Academic Labs. “As the scale and sub-topics of the videos expands, Acad will eventually cross-paths with more crypto projects and crypto fund managers and exchanges, which will gave Acad many more potential joint venture projects with other crypto projects and crypto fund managers and exchanges, to add to the value of Acad and its business partners,” he explained.

As an influential Singaporean business leader, Kwek’s backing signals strong confidence in Academic Lab’s community-powered model to revolutionize blockchain education. The platform’s incentives will empower legions of content creators worldwide to develop localized materials that perfectly meet demands in niche markets.

This crowdsourced, collaborative approach allows Academic Labs to rapidly scale up and cross-promote with major players across the crypto space. Joint ventures with other projects, exchanges, and investors will create a positive feedback loop, enhancing the value of the Acad token and the earning potential for content creators on the platform.

With its laser focus on highly relevant subject matter, innovative model to crowdsource quality localized content, and support of key strategic investors, Academic Labs aims to become the premier destination for short-form, cutting-edge education on AI, crypto, and blockchain technologies. As Kwek summarized, the platform represents “one of the few exciting altcoin projects in the market” and has major potential in the next bull cycle.

About Academic Labs

Academic Labs is an innovative company at the forefront of educational transformation. With a focus on harnessing the power of blockchain technology, AI, and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), Academic Labs has developed a groundbreaking educational platform that aims to make learning more engaging, effective, and accessible for everyone.

Social Links
Telegram Group: https://web.telegram.org/k/#@academic_labs
Telegram Channel: https://web.telegram.org/k/#@academiclabs
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/academic-labs/
X: https://x.com/Acad_Labs
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/academic_labs

Media Contact
Terry Tan, Academic Labs
Email: Terry@academic-labs.org
Website: https://academic-labs.org

REDEX Group raises $10M Series A funding led by Aramco Ventures

SINGAPORE, Oct 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – REDEX, Asia’s leading Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) solutions provider, announced today the successful completion of a USD 10 million Series A funding round.

REDEX’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition towards renewable energy. The new funding will allow the company to expand beyond Asia, and to further innovate in streamlining and digitizing the issuance and trading of RECs.

Aramco Ventures led the investment, along with notable new investors from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Aramco Ventures is the corporate venturing subsidiary of Aramco, the world’s leading fully integrated energy and petrochemical enterprise.

“REDEX is well positioned as the leading marketplace for I-RECs, which will enable renewable energy markets in many parts of the world. We look forward to collaborating with the REDEX team to extend this capability into new geographies,” said Bruce Niven, Executive MD, Strategic Venturing at Aramco Ventures.

Established in 2018, REDEX Group is a first-mover RECs player in Asia, offering a full suite of RECs management solutions covering asset registration, verification, trading, and retirement.

“We are witnessing tremendous growth in the adoption of RECs by brand owners striving to be 100% renewable, both for themselves and their supply chains,” said Jen-Wee Kang, Founder and CEO of REDEX. “The demand for green energy is very real, and the number of RECs issued and retired is more than doubling year on year. Building on the trust we have established with key players in the ecosystem, REDEX is well-positioned to play a leading role in the exponential growth of RECs adoption globally.”

As a concept, RECs are very simple – the instrument traces one’s power consumption to renewable energy sources. Its simplicity is precisely why the instrument is the most convenient and practical way for companies to achieve Scope 2 neutrality.

RECs are endorsed and adopted by RE100, the main consortium of leading brand owners committed to 100% renewable electricity. The consortium was originally formed in 2014 by 13 corporate partners. Today, RE100 has more than 400 members who consume around 400 TWh of power.

REDEX believes there is great potential to apply RECs creatively in the industrial sector, like for green aluminium, steel, and cement – commodities that are covered in the starting phase of Europe’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

In April, the company announced that it was the first API-integrated Platform Operator Account on I-REC, the world’s largest RECs registry. In June, REDEX also announced its partnership with China Southern Grid, supporting the grid operator in its role as an I-REC Issuer in China.

About REDEX Group Pte Ltd

REDEX Group Pte Ltd operates Asia’s leading trading platform for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The company offers a one-stop ecosystem for RECs, supporting clients through the full RECs lifecycle – asset registration, production verification, marketplace, and retirement. As an early mover in Asia with a proven track record, REDEX is developing practical and innovative solutions to meet the clean energy needs of corporates globally. The company’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition towards renewable energy.

For more information, please visit https://redex.eco/

About Aramco Ventures

Aramco Ventures is the corporate venturing subsidiary of Aramco, the world’s leading fully integrated energy and petrochemical enterprise. Headquartered in Dhahran with offices in North America, Europe and Asia, Aramco Ventures strategic venturing programs invest globally in start-up and high growth companies with technologies of strategic importance to its parent, Aramco, primarily supporting the company’s operational decarbonization, new lower-carbon fuels businesses, and digital transformation initiatives. Aramco Ventures also operates Prosperity7, the company’s disruptive technologies investment program.

For more information, please visit www.aramcoventures.com

Media Contact:
enquiry@redex.eco

Dr. Daniel Pascheles Rejoins Molekule Consulting as Strategic Advisor

MIAMI, FL, Oct 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – In a significant development that promises to shape the future of Molekule Consulting, we are thrilled to announce the return of Dr. Daniel Pascheles as a Strategic Advisor.

Dr. Pascheles, with an illustrious career spanning over 30 years in the biopharmaceutical competitive and strategic intelligence sector, is poised to bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Molekule. His previous roles include leading Competitive Intelligence & Strategy functions at industry leaders Merck & Co./MSD and Aventis, in addition to serving as CEO of Molekule Consulting.

“Dr. Pascheles’ return-to-Molekule marks a thrilling, new chapter in our shared story. His homecoming is not just a reunion, but a renewal of our mutual commitment to excellence and innovation. Welcome back, Dr. Pascheles!” expressed David Alderman, President & CEO at Molekule Consulting.

In his pivotal role as Strategic Advisor, Dr. Pascheles will employ his vast industry expertise and strategic prowess to shape and foster Molekule’s trajectory of growth and value journey into the future.

“I am thrilled to be back!” remarked Dr. Pascheles. “It is with great excitement that I rejoin the dynamic and growing team at Molekule, and I eagerly anticipate contributing to the company’s ongoing success.”

For further details on this exciting development, please contact David Alderman at dalderman@molekuleconsulting.com; +1 305.504.3030.

About Molekule Consulting:

Molekule Consulting provides best-in-class strategic intelligence and is solely dedicated to the biopharma sector. We shape the path forward with our strategic intelligence, driving transformative changes across the biopharmaceutical landscape.

Our purpose is clear: to provide high-impact, actionable insights that catalyze growth and foster innovation for biopharmaceutical brands, franchises, and businesses. Our clientele encompasses industry titans, robust mid-sized companies, and ambitious newcomers within the global biopharmaceutical realm.

Interested in learning more about Molekule Consulting’s biopharmaceutical-focused strategies and market intelligence? Dive deeper here: www.molekuleconsulting.com

Contact Information

David Alderman, President & CEO, dalderman@molekuleconsulting.com +1 305.504.3030

GMG Provides Commercialisation Update on Energy Savings Coating THERMAL-XR(R)

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia–(ACN Newswire – October 30, 2023) – Graphene Manufacturing Group Limited (TSXV: GMG) (“GMG” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide a business update on the commercialisation progress of THERMAL-XR® powered by GMG Graphene.

GMG has now received forward orders of over AU$400k for THERMAL-XR® from various distributors and customers worldwide. Most of the value of these orders is conditional on the in-country approval for the THERMAL-XR® to be imported from Australia and sold into that country for the product’s initial launch.

The Company also continues to progress negotiations with a wide range of distributor and direct industrial end-use customers for a range of applications and hopes to make further announcements soon.

Preparations for the early 2024 product launch in the USA by Nu-Calgon are advanced with marketing, sales and customer engagement activities well progressed supported by continuing demonstrations of successful energy savings results. A recent demonstration project in Texas achieved an estimated 36% energy savings result, as per Figure 1. The air conditioner serviced was a 30-ton Aaon packaged rooftop air-conditioning system, as per Figure 2.

Figure 1.0 Energy Consumption Reduction from Thermal-XR® Service

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8082/185596_gmg1en.jpg

Figure 2.0 Air Conditioning Equipment for Texas Demonstration Project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8082/185596_gmg2en.jpg

THERMAL-XR® is progressing through the USA Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval process to import and sell in the USA. All the required documentation has been submitted, and the EPA has assigned a case number as part of the thorough evaluation of the product’s safety and environmental impact. The Company believes the potential approval will be received in Q4’23.

To support distributors, and advance the adoption and ease of explanation for THERMAL-XR® GMG has developed an online virtual tour of the THERMAL-XR® Demonstration Centre on its website:
www.graphenemg.com/graphene-products/thermal-xr/virtual-tour/

GMG has also successfully passed Stage One (Gap Analysis) of the ISO 9001 accreditation process and is on track to complete the final stages and receive full accreditation for ISO9001, for Quality Management, in H1 2024. GMG sees ISO 9001 accreditation as an important table stake to become a commercial manufacturing operation for our energy saving and energy storage products while also providing a structured basis for continuous improvement for our company’s operations and customer satisfaction.

GMG’s Managing Director and CEO, Craig Nicol, commented: “The progress GMG is making is exciting. End customers and distributors are now starting to generate notable revenue for the Company, and our THERMAL-XR® product is now starting to be recognised as being an energy-savings solution for Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, Cooling and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) equipment as well as a range of industrial applications. We continue to build capabilities to support these expected increased sales by upgrading our production facilities including our quality management systems.”

GMG’s 4 critical business objectives remain to:

Produce Graphene and improve/scale the production process
Build Revenue from Energy Savings Products
Develop Next-Generation Battery
Develop Supply Chain, Partners & Project Execution Capability

About THERMAL-XR® powered by GMG Graphene:

THERMAL-XR® COATING SYSTEM is a unique method of improving the conductivity of corroded heat exchange surfaces and improving and maintaining the performance of new units at peak levels. The process coats and protects heat exchange surfaces while improving and rebuilding the lost corroded thermal conductivity and increasing the heat transfer rate by leveraging the physics of GMG Graphene, resulting in an efficiency improvement and a potential power reduction.

THERMAL-XR RESTORE® is powered by GMG Graphene. PATENT PENDING

About GMG www.graphenemg.com

GMG is a clean-technology company which seeks to offer energy saving and energy storage solutions, enabled by graphene, including that manufactured in-house via a proprietary production process.

GMG has developed a proprietary production process to decompose natural gas (i.e. methane) into its elements, carbon (as graphene), hydrogen and some residual hydrocarbon gases. This process produces high quality, low cost, scalable, ‘tuneable’ and low/no contaminant graphene suitable for use in clean-technology and other applications. The Company’s present focus is to de-risk and develop commercial scale-up capabilities, and secure market applications.

In the energy savings segment, GMG has focused on graphene enhanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC-R”) coating (or energy-saving paint), lubricants and fluids. In the energy storage segment, GMG and the University of Queensland are working collaboratively with financial support from the Australian Government to progress R&D and commercialization of graphene aluminium-ion batteries (“G+AI Batteries”).

For further information please contact:

Craig Nicol, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of the Company at craig.nicol@graphenemg.com, +61 415 445 223
Leo Karabelas at Focus Communications Investor Relations, leo@fcir.ca, +1 647 689 6041

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “intends”, “expects” or “anticipates”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “should”, “would” or will “potentially” or “likely” occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as “forward‐looking statements”, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the progression of end-user engagement in the United States, the official NuCalgon launch and the timing thereof, the impact of case studies on establishing the North American user experience with THERMAL-XR®, the advancement of GMG’s ISO 9001 accreditation and the timing and benefits therefrom, the progression of THERMAL-XR® through the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval process, and the recognition of THERMAL-XR® as an energy savings alternative for HVAC-R equipment.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, assumptions relating to the timing and benefits of the expected official NuCalgon launch, the impact of case studies on establishing the North American user experience with THERMAL-XR®, that positive energy savings results will drive user engagement in the United States, that GMG will obtain its ISO 9001 accreditation on the expected timeline and derive the expected benefits therefrom, that THERMAL-XR® will progress through the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval process on the expected timeline, and that recognition of THERMAL-XR® as an energy savings alternative in the HVAC-R market is increasing. Additionally, forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of GMG to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the expected official NuCalgon launch will not occur in early 2024 or at all, that the Company’s case study will not help establish a North American user experience with THERMAL-XR®, that THERMAL-XR®’s energy saving results will not drive user engagement as currently expected by management, that GMG will not obtain its ISO 9001 accreditation in H1 2024 or at all, that THERMAL-XR® will not be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency by Q4 2023 or at all, that THERMAL-XR® will not be seen as an energy savings alternative in the HVAC-R market, risks relating to the extent and duration of the conflict in Eastern Europe and its impact on global markets, the volatility of global capital markets, political instability, the failure of the Company to obtain regulatory approvals, attract and retain skilled personnel, unexpected development and production challenges, unanticipated costs and the risk factors set out under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual information form dated October 18, 2022 available for review on the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/185596