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DEEM Enterprises partners with World Champion Fantasy’s PlayerX to bring Esports Competition & NFL athletes to Atlantic City in January 2024

World Champion Fantasy

DEEM Enterprises, the development group holding the MOU to redevelop the forthcoming Renaissance at Bader Field project, today announced its first family-friendly esports competition, set to take place in January 2024 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City with World Champion Fantasy (WCF), a leading technology company developing PlayerX, the world’s next generation online esports platform. The event will bring together gamers and NFL athletes including JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, and Kurt Benkert. Teams composed of world-class esports professionals, amateurs, and NFL athletes will form competing teams to create nonstop excitement during a two-day event hosted by DEEM and WCF. Gamers, enthusiasts, fans, and families can expect live entertainment, celebrity appearances, musical performances, and immersive experiences from sponsors. The event will bring together thousands in person and virtually. This is the first of many events in the long-term strategic partnership between DEEM and WCF. “DEEM is pioneering a transformation in the motorsport arena,” said Erick Feitshans, CEO of DEEM Enterprises. “In today's evolving landscape of platforms, sports, and entertainment, we're observing a unique confluence where fan-first immersive experiences and entertainment converge — where pro athlete meets amateur, digital intersects with in-real-life (IRL), and motorsport blends with esports. DEEM stands at this crossroads, poised to lead. Partnering with WCF and leveraging PlayerX, we're amplifying Atlantic City's distinct offerings and past legacies with the innovative future of Renaissance at Bader Field. Our collaboration is set to elevate these dynamic intersections into the global spotlight through an unmatched event experience.” The event focuses on utilizing WCF’s groundbreaking product, PlayerX, an innovative platform that combines live video and data to offer an immersive esports experience. PlayerX enables users to assemble a dream team of esports athletes to compete, watch live streams, review stats, and analyze the performance of their favorite teams and players. “WCF has always had our eye on Atlantic City – it’s the perfect location to host esports competitions and draw on passionate individuals from the vast Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia metro areas. Our game-changing technology in PlayerX will be the backbone of our first family-friendly esports event with DEEM,” said Mike Vela, founder and CEO of WCF. DEEM and WCF will stream the event live. Global participants can expect watch parties, integration between physical and virtual programming, celebrities, and much more. This event will be a first-of-its-kind in a series of esports events, further solidifying the partnership between DEEM and WCF and their investment in Atlantic City. The companies will release more details in the coming months. “Perhaps what’s most exciting is sharing my passion for esports with so many people and families of all ages. PlayerX has the ability to unite people – from the amateur to the professional to the NFL athlete, all of whom share that same passion for playing esports. PlayerX balances everyone’s abilities by providing the right tools for a player to win or watch. Hosting our first event with DEEM in Atlantic City will showcase this physically and virtually. It will be electric,” Vela said. About Renaissance at Bader Field Renaissance at Bader Field is a planned $3.2 billion dollar, net-zero carbon LEED Platinum community to be built upon Bader Field that will transform the Atlantic City, New Jersey economy. The fundamental design approach of this new world-class motorsport community is rooted in resilient and sustainable design methodologies, including a microgrid concept for energy generation and distribution that utilizes clean hydrogen and will serve as a model for future self-sustaining projects worldwide. This new community will act as a catalyst for the financial rebirth of Atlantic City by attracting new job-creating industries, increasing the city’s tax base, and diversifying businesses throughout the city. Most importantly, this immense development will foster and promote the core values of equity and empowerment and will serve the citizens of Atlantic City. Visit www.deem-enterprises.com for more information. About World Champion Fantasy World Champion Fantasy is the next generation of fantasy sports as the first platform of its kind pairing best-in-class technology and UX with the most exclusive content in esports. We are at the future of fantasy and at the forefront of the evolving esports industry creating an immersive real-time interactive competitive experience, live data and video feeds all on one platform. For more information on World Champion Fantasy, please visit www.playerx.gg. Contact Details Mike Adorno +1 801-319-6153 madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://worldchampionfantasy.com/

September 20, 2023 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

A Nuclear Renaissance Is Reviving Long Stagnant Uranium Markets – Sprott ETFs Is Giving Investors Multiple Forms Of Exposure To The Heavy Metal

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga Uranium is one of the latest metals to see its price surge on clean energy demand. The key fuel in nuclear power plants had been declining for decades, but a recent renewed interest in nuclear power as a clean energy source to help economies transition to a fossil fuel-free future has revived investor interest. Uranium prices are up more than 19% since the start of the year as of this writing, trading above $58 per pound in August – the highest it’s been since April of last year, according to data from Trading Economics. Nuclear Power Is The Not-So-New Clean Energy Rising Star The recent surge in uranium prices has been driven largely by recent policy shifts that have made nuclear energy a higher priority as nations work to meet sustainability goals as quickly as possible. Earlier in August, for example, Sweden said it needs to triple its nuclear power capacity over the next decade in order to keep up with rising electricity demand in the country. In the United States, tax credits and investment initiatives in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act have clearly indicated the renewed focus on nuclear energy in the country. Joining Sweden are the UK, Canada, Japan and France which have each announced plans to ramp up uranium supply in efforts to reduce the world’s dependency on Russian uranium. The news has made some investors wonder why all the sudden interest in nuclear energy is cropping up now. But those in the industry are saying it’s actually always been here. “Nuclear is one of those silent contributors,” said Nuclear Energy Institute’s Director of Markets and Policy Benton Arnett in a recent episode of Sprott Radio. “A lot of folks don’t realize it’s producing 20% of our national electricity consumption here in the U.S. and has been doing that very quietly for decades.” It’s a similar story in other countries renewing their focus on nuclear. The reason it’s captured so much attention now is precisely because it’s already fairly well established in the countries that are reinvesting in it. “It is the largest carbon-free generator of power in the [United States.],” Arnett said. As the impacts of climate change have spurred a sense of urgency in the clean energy transition, nations are looking for a faster path away from fossil fuels. While renewables like wind and solar are still key in the long term, nuclear is the energy source that’s already providing a large quantity of clean power for many around the globe. Scaling that up would be a faster solution than building new renewable capacity from scratch. Scaling Up Nuclear Could Push Uranium Into A Supply-Demand Crunch As nations around the globe build new nuclear power plants, uranium – the key fuel supply needed for nuclear energy – is seeing record spikes in demand. In fact, the world’s existing uranium mines were already falling short of demand even before that demand spiked. According to the World Nuclear Association, production in recent years has only met 90% of current nuclear power plant needs. “The number that we’re focused on is trying to hit 150 million pounds or more,” said Sprott Asset Management CEO John Ciampaglia in a Bloor Street Capital interview. “That’s what we think is the annual replacement rate for the world’s existing nuclear power plants.” Getting to that target replacement rate will mean new investments from miners in the exploration and development of new uranium mines, a process that typically takes years. In the meantime, uranium prices could keep shooting higher as growing demand quickly outpaces the capacity of existing uranium mines. Sprott Offers Four Ways To Trade Bullish Uranium Assumptions Sprott has been a leader in precious metals – investing for decades – so expanding into energy transition themes was a natural fit as uranium, lithium, nickel and other metals have become key to so many clean energy projects. The company currently offers four funds for investors who are bullish on uranium and want to gain exposure to the growing market: Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: URNM), Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (NASDAQ: URNJ), Sprott Energy Transition Materials ETF (NASDAQ: SETM), and the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust. The first two are focused on uranium miners. While these stocks have felt the pressure of rising interest rates and the high costs of investing in new exploration and development activity, they’ve still managed to pull off healthy gains of over 9% year-to-date, as of this writing. Juniors, meanwhile, climbed nearly 12% in the three-month period ending in July – though they’re still down slightly since the start of the year. Likewise, shares of URNM have rallied 26% since June as of this writing while Sprott’s juniors ETF soared 35% in the same period. The Physical Uranium Trust is the world’s largest physical uranium fund — it “invests and holds substantially all of its assets in uranium in the form of U3O8”, with the goal of providing “a secure, convenient and exchange-traded investment alternative for investors interested in holding uranium.” SETM provides pure-play access to a range of critical minerals necessary for the global clean energy transition including uranium. 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

September 20, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

After $8.8 Million IPO, Hanryu Rolls Out Multiple Revenue-Generating Upgrades To FANTOO, The Fandom App Connecting The Growing Global Audience Of K-Culture Fans

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga Hanryu Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HRYU) has had an eventful few weeks after its IPO closed last month, generating about $8.8 million in gross proceeds. In total, the company has raised approximately $53million over multiple fundraising rounds to date as its popular fandom social media app FANTOO grows to a user base of over 26 million and the company unveils a series of upgrades and new features slated to roll out in the coming months. Here’s a look at some of the milestones from the past month and how Hanryu is leveraging those to add new revenue potential to its popular fandom app. What Is FANTOO? Hanryu first launched FANTOO in 2021 as an all-in-one social media platform for K-culture fans worldwide. As K-pop, K-dramas and other forms of entertainment from South Korea continue to gain a growing international audience, there still hasn’t been a single dedicated destination so far where fans could go for any and all fandoms they are part of. Moreover, language barriers were a major hurdle preventing people with a shared fandom from connecting over the music, show or film that they love. FANTOO – with its real-time translation technology across 17 languages and features that allow users to create or join clubs built around any fandom – finally created a way to unify this global audience in one platform. For fans, it’s a way to find community and friendship even if they live somewhere with few other K-culture fans nearby. For Hanryu, it’s an exciting revenue opportunity with the massive advertising potential of a site with millions of dedicated fans. But advertising is just one of the revenue channels Hanryu is building through the platform. It also generates revenue from ticket sales to live shows and transaction fees on the buying and selling that happen in the eBay -like (NASDAQ: EBAY) shop section of FANTOO. The Future Of FANTOO Just days after the closing of its IPO, Hanryu announced the launch of version 2.0 of FANTOO. The upgraded app adds powerful data analytics to help deliver personalized content based on interest settings and the communities in which a user is engaged. It also makes a few updates to the interface to make it more user-friendly and intuitive. “Version 2.0 is also a more robust platform for revenue generation through multiple streams,” said Hanryu CEO Kang Chang Hyeok. “We look forward to releasing additional features and system improvements in the future." One of those future improvements is an AI-powered conversational virtual assistant. Later in August, Hanryu announced that it had partnered with Saltlux Inc. (KOSDAQ: 304100), the company behind Talkbot, an intelligent chatbot. Together, the companies will develop a virtual assistant for FANTOO built on technology similar to Talkbot that can guide users through the platform, make recommendations based on users’ interests and deliver personalized news and updates about their fandom. Slated to launch before the end of this year, the FANTOO virtual assistant is just the beginning. Later, Hanryu plans to use AI voice synthesis and deep learning tech to let users customize the voice of their virtual assistant to sound like their favorite artist or actor – or even themselves. Earlier this month, Hanryu teased even more new chat features coming to the app soon, including emoji purchasing, friend recommendations and club chat rooms where members can join in on club-wide conversations with like-minded fans from around the world – all with the convenience of real-time multilingual translation. A similar open chat room will give users a way to connect with users from other fandoms as well. Alongside the new chat room features, FANTOO will also soon have enhanced private chats where users can talk over an encrypted channel as well as video call functionality so fans who connect through the app can have “face-to-face” conversations with each other. “FANTOO is not just a space for fandom, but it is a place for fans with the same interests to meet and form relationships through chatting,” Hyeok said. “We expect these additional new features, including both the current and planned future upgrades, will increase revenue generation through FANTOO." 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

September 20, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Most Important Things Everyone Should Know Before Investing In Gold IRAs

Benzinga

By Faith Ashmore, Benzinga When it comes to planning for a secure retirement, it is essential to explore all available avenues. Traditional investment options like stocks and bonds have their merits, but there is another store of value that often goes overlooked – gold Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). A gold IRA is a type of self-directed retirement account where the holder invests in physical gold instead of conventional assets such as stocks, bonds or mutual funds. Here are five things you need to know about gold IRAs. Harnessing Tax Advantages For Optimal Gains One of the most significant advantages of gold IRAs lies in the attractive tax benefits they offer. Depending on the type of gold IRA you open, you can enjoy favorable tax treatment either during the contribution phase or when you eventually withdraw your funds. For traditional IRAs and Simple Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs, contributions are not taxed, providing an immediate advantage for investors. In contrast, Roth IRAs tax contributions but offer the promise of tax-free withdrawals. Additionally, traditional and SEP IRA contributions are tax-deductible, further enhancing their appeal to investors seeking to maximize their gains. Shielding Your Assets From The Ravages of Inflation In times of economic uncertainty, where the value of the dollar can fluctuate unpredictably, gold presents a historically reliable hedge against inflation. History has shown that gold prices tend to rise when the dollar's value declines, making it an attractive long-term investment. Gold values have proven resilient against interest rate fluctuations, offering stability and solid returns. By incorporating gold into your retirement portfolio through a gold IRA, you can shield your portfolio from the erosive effects of inflation, ensuring that your wealth retains its value over time. A Safe Harbor Amidst Market Turmoil? In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, financial markets are prone to sudden swings and unexpected turbulence. Stock and bond investments can be particularly vulnerable, experiencing significant volatility during economic downturns. However, gold prices have historically displayed a tendency to hold steady during periods of economic turmoil, making gold IRAs an oasis of stability in an uncertain landscape. Strategic Diversification For Sustainable Returns Many experts say the key to successful investing lies in building a well-diversified portfolio, leveraging the strengths and advantages of different asset classes. While high-risk, high-reward investments have their place, a prudent and balanced approach is essential. Gold, as a more conservative asset, plays a crucial role in creating a diversified investment portfolio. While gold very often won’t witness rapid appreciation, the metal is effective at mitigating risk and enhancing stability – preventing extreme losses during turbulent market conditions. By incorporating gold IRAs into your investment strategy, you can strike the optimal balance between growth and security, multiplying the potential for sustainable returns. Choosing The Right Gold IRA Firm – An Option To Consider One leading IRA worth considering is offered by Preserve Gold, a U.S.-based precious metals firm with 0 BBB complaints and excellent reviews. The company specializes in helping individuals and families diversify and protect their wealth through tangible precious metals. The firm provides a selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars. Preserve Gold distinguishes itself through its focus on three core principles: integrity, transparency and consistency. These principles serve as the company’s foundation for long-lasting customer relationships and reinforce the company's commitment to providing trustworthy and reliable services. To ensure a smooth and secure purchasing process, Preserve Gold offers an informed and easy way to acquire precious metals. The company's knowledgeable team assists clients in making educated purchasing decisions while prioritizing security and ease of transaction. A gold IRA can be an excellent addition to a retirement portfolio. It offers numerous benefits that can help you protect and grow your savings over time. When deciding to invest in a gold IRA, having a trusted partner like Preserve Gold is key to achieving your financial goals. 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

September 20, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Has ARKK Been Oversold? Traders Are Doubling Down On A Potential Innovation Recovery With This Leveraged ETF

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga ARK Innovation ETF (NYSEARCA: ARKK) was an investor darling in the first year of the pandemic with its robust portfolio of COVID-era winners like Zoom (NASDAQ: ZM). But the disruptive tech ETF took a beating in 2022, falling more than 67% throughout the year. However, this year, ARKK seems to have begun a slow and arduous recovery, gaining over 40% year-to-date despite a widespread selloff this summer. Still, it’s far from its 2020 peak of over $150 per share, and some bullish investors believe the partial recovery this year is a sign that the ETF is ready to regain its former glory. Here’s what’s behind that bullish outlook. A Potential Upcoming Pause In Rate Hikes As Economic Data Gives Cause For Optimism Investors remain optimistic that the Federal Reserve will pause interest rate hikes at its upcoming meeting on September 20. In August, key economic indicators were largely mixed but still suggested that inflation was cooling overall. While consumer prices rose from 3% in June to 3.2% in July, core inflation – consumer prices with food and energy prices stripped out– declined slightly from 4.8% in June to 4.7%. And it’s that core inflation that the Federal Reserve wants to see come down to its 2% target. If interest rate hikes are paused, the macroeconomic tailwind this month could add more lift to ARKK which has already begun recovering some of its August losses. Despite Investor Exodus, ARKK Still Has A Potentially Promising Growth Portfolio ARKK may have missed the explosive AI-generated growth of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), but the top 10 holdings are dotted with underdog growth stocks. For example, the app and game developer platform Unity Software (NYSE: U) just landed a deal this summer to use Unity’s gaming software in Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) upcoming virtual reality headset, Apple Vision Pro. Zoom, the video communications platform that’s been relatively neglected by investors after its pandemic-era boom, has been building up a stockpile of cash that now sits at about $6 billion. It’s planning to use that to grow its enterprise vertical, one of its most successful segments. It’s also spending some of that on new AI-enhanced features, like the new AI Companion, a built-in AI-powered assistant that can catch you up on meetings if you’re late, auto-generate meeting summaries, and even give you feedback on your conversational and presenting skills. You Can Potentially Magnify Your Bullish ARKK Views With the AXS 2X Innovation ETF For investors who see the summer tumble as a hiccup in ARKK’s overall upward trajectory, AXS Investments has designed a unique leveraged ETF just for you. The AXS 2X Innovation ETF (TARK) seeks 200% of the daily performance of the ARK Innovation ETF. That 2x leverage gives investors a chance to turn the ETF’s slow and rocky recovery into more substantial gains. That added leverage does increase the risk of using TARK, so it’s important to use it for short-term trades, such as the potential upswing following the Fed’s upcoming meeting. But when used carefully, TARK is a useful tool for traders who are staunchly bullish on disruptive tech and see the periodic panicked selloffs as an opportunity to find yield. 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

September 20, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

First Human Clinical Trials Of A Potentially “Game-Changing Broad Spectrum Antiviral” Are Progressing Successfully – Drug Could Treat COVID, RSV And Many Other Respiratory Viruses

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga As COVID cases begin to rise again, heralding the beginning of another COVID wave, new variants have appeared leading this wave. EG.5 (“Eris”) is currently in the majority in the U.S.A, but a very different variant, BA.2.86 (“Pirola”) is already rising in the number of cases. BA.2.86 carries more than 30 changes in its spike protein, as well as changes in other proteins. Scientists believe it is questionable whether the newest booster vaccine shots would be effective for this one. The newest vaccines are “single-agent” targeting the XBB variant. It is not known how effective the approved drugs (mainly Paxlovid - Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE)) would be against this new variant, and further on, as the virus keeps changing. It is now clear that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is here to stay, and that it will keep changing as it continues to learn to avoid vaccines and antibodies and our own immune systems and continues to learn to resist existing old-fashioned drugs. Even without new variants, for clinically vulnerable patients COVID has always continued to be a terrifying reality. In light of this, the broad-spectrum antiviral that is based on a novel nanomedicines platform being developed by one emerging drug company could be promising. NanoViricides, Inc (NYSE American: NNVC ) announced that it has made progress on its Phase 1a/1b clinical trial of NV-CoV-2, a novel antiviral drug candidate that has the potential to treat all strains of the coronavirus. The clinical-stage biotech reported that the safety and tolerability parts of the trial testing the antiviral in healthy subjects is nearly complete and it’s now preparing for the efficacy and dose optimization part of the trial with COVID patients. NanoViricides Broad Spectrum Antiviral Could Change How We Treat Viral Infections So far, NanoViricides has built a robust foundation of promising preclinical research that demonstrates the unique antiviral platform’s potential to treat not just COVID-19 but a wide range of other common and hard-to-treat viral diseases like other coronaviruses, RSV, shingles, herpes, rabies and the flu. The reason it could have such broad applicability is because the NanoViricides platform was specifically designed to target a particular binding site that’s common across many viruses and doesn’t change even as a virus mutates. Essentially, the nanoviricide platform mimics the binding site on a human cell that a virus would normally target in order to infect that cell. Then it seeks out the virus and when the virus binds to the nanoviricide instead, the drug candidate immediately engulfs the virus, where it’s unable to infect the patient’s cells or reproduce. The First Of These Drugs Is Now In Human Phase 1a And 1b Clinical Trials The Phase 1a/1b clinical trial includes single-ascending dose (SAD) and multiple-ascending dose (MAD) safety and tolerability studies in healthy subjects. NanoViricides reported that 26 of the 36 volunteers in the SAD study and 17 of the 36 volunteers in the MAD study have already completed the program. And so far, the early data looks promising. Neither adverse events nor serious adverse events have been found to date in either study. "The excellent safety and tolerability of NV-CoV-2 in both formulations in the clinical trials is consistent with the results of pre-clinical animal studies, giving us confidence that our preclinical animal studies can be expected to be predictive of human clinical trials,” said NanoViricides Executive Chairman and President, Anil R. Diwan, Ph.D. Ongoing Phase 1a And 1b Clinical Trials Will Give First Indication Of Nanoviricides Efficacy In Humans With that baseline of safety and tolerability, the next part of the trial is to enroll COVID patients in the trial and start evaluating whether the positive preclinical effectiveness results for the drug will translate to human trials. Once this trial is finished, NanoViricides plans to seek permission to move into phase 2 clinical trials from multiple regulatory agencies worldwide. Of note, the same drug was found to be effective in pre-clinical studies against another important respiratory virus, RSV. Such a broad spectrum antiviral effectiveness is reminiscent of the development of antibiotics against bacteria. This could be a game-changing development in antiviral therapeutics. 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

September 19, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

FAMILY QUEST ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES AS NEW INDUSTRY LEADER IN LIVE EVENT ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES

Family Quest

Family Quest Entertainment, a new live event organization specializing in family entertainment and education, launched today as the parent company for Jurassic Quest and Brick Fest Live. Backed by L2 Capital, Family Quest Entertainment named longtime entertainment executive Jeff Munn the company’s first CEO. Munn was most recently the CEO of Jurassic Quest and will now oversee all properties under the Family Quest Entertainment umbrella. The announcement coincides with the 10th anniversary of Jurassic Quest, which has hosted over 10 million guests in more than 250 cities throughout North America since it launched in September 2013. “With a portfolio that includes the highest attended dinosaur exhibition in North America and the number one attended brick event for families, Family Quest Entertainment is already garnering paid attendance numbers that position us as one of the top family touring companies,” said Munn. “We plan to expand Jurassic Quest and Brick Fest Live into new markets, offer new experiences, and bring positive family memories to even more fans worldwide. We will be adding even more properties to Family Quest Entertainment in 2024.” Munn added, “Our goal is to create engaging moments and interactive opportunities through entertainment. We are proud that Jurassic Quest is the largest, most scientifically realistic dinosaur experience on the continent, and Brick Fest Live unlocks imagination and creativity through hands-on engagement. We will continue to prioritize edutainment throughout Family Quest Entertainment.” L2 Capital acquired Jurassic Quest in 2019 and added Brick Fest Live earlier this year, setting the stage for the launch of Family Quest Entertainment. Across the properties, Family Quest Entertainment projects more than 3 million attendees in 2024 and will continue to expand partnerships, which currently include local and regional sponsors along with national brands such as eBay, State Farm, and T-Mobile. Notable figures about each property: Jurassic Quest: 250+ North American cities played Over 10 million tickets sold in 10 years Over 2 million social media followers Brick Fest Live: 57 U.S. cities played in 67 venues Over 1.1 million attendees since 2014 Owns Guinness World Record for the Largest LEGO Mosaic of a LEGO minifigure As part of the announcement, Family Quest Entertainment named Tyler Semerdjian Chief Marketing Officer, Amanda Gabelman Vice President of Brand & Experience, and Andriana Magness Vice President of Tour Development & Routing. Semerdjian worked as the VP of Marketing for the San Diego Seals in the National Lacrosse League before joining the organization in July 2023. Gableman spent over 12 years at Feld Entertainment and more than four years at the Harlem Globetrotters before joining Jurassic Quest in 2021. Magness worked for VStar Entertainment Group for over 15 years in their booking department prior to joining Jurassic Quest in 2020. “Under Jeff’s leadership and an incredible team with unmatched industry experience, Family Quest Entertainment will create countless memories and learning opportunities for millions of families every year,” said L2 Capital Partner Lorin Cassidy Wolfe. “We look forward to growing our platform globally.” Munn spent over three decades of his live events career with the Harlem Globetrotters, where he served in various executive capacities, including Chief Operating Officer. He was named CEO of Jurassic Quest in August 2022 and held that position for 13 months until his role was expanded as the CEO of Family Quest Entertainment. About Family Quest Entertainment Family Quest Entertainment produces and presents unique interactive family experiences that entertain and educate. Its properties are designed to create memorable moments that spark joy for families around the world through the power of imagination and discovery. Its current brand portfolio includes Jurassic Quest and Brick Fest Live, which have collectively entertained millions of families in over 250 cities. Family Quest Entertainment is owned by L2 Capital Partners. For more information, visit www.familyquestentertainment.com or LinkedIn. About Jurassic Quest Jurassic Quest is the largest and most realistic dinosaur experience in North America and part of the Family Quest Entertainment portfolio. Since 2013, Jurassic Quest has entertained over 10 million fans in over 250 cities with an up close and personal look at the giants that once ruled the Earth. Developed with leading paleontologists, each dinosaur is brought to life using realistic likenesses, movement, and sound. Jurassic Quest is a leader in edutainment, bringing the classroom to life for families, educators, and dinosaur fans of all ages. For more information and tickets visit www.jurassicquest.com. About Brick Fest Live Founded in 2013, Brick Fest Live is the number-one attended brick event for families worldwide. As part of the Family Quest Entertainment portfolio, Brick Fest Live produces events in venues across the United States, in addition to selling licensed LEGO® merchandise at each of its brick-themed events and through various e-commerce channels. The Brick Fest Live experience brings a fresh perspective to family-friendly events by celebrating LEGO® products and the lifelong love for brick-building. Its shows include over 1 million bricks on display, as well as several hands-on activities and attractions that provide families with fun, safe, educational, and interactive environments designed to inspire, educate, and entertain. About L2 Capital Partners L2 Capital (www.L2Capital.net) is a lower middle market private equity firm in Devon, PA and Miami, FL that has delivered market leading returns since 2010 by investing in niche lower middle market leading consumer and business services companies. L2 executes a differentiated operations-focused strategy by targeting founder and entrepreneur-led businesses that are at an inflection point where L2's breakthrough growth framework and direct operating expertise can quickly accelerate market share gain. Contact Details Eric PR & Marketing, LLC Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://familyquestentertainment.com/

September 19, 2023 07:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Blackbird chasing "enormous, fast-growing opportunity" with new product

Blackbird PLC

Blackbird PLC (AIM:BIRD, OTCQX:BBRDF) CEO Ian McDonough speaks to Proactive's Thomas Warner after the technology company presented its latest product to investors at a special event in Shoreditch. McDonough explains that the product, called elevate.io, is an innovative web-based end-to-end editing and audio creation platform designed for the creative industry. He says the platform's standout feature is real-time global collaboration for editors, which addresses a key challenge faced by creators. McDonough emphasises the unique advantage Blackbird has been able to garner from its core codec, highlighting that it enabled the rapid development of the new product. He says initial reactions from investors were highly positive and says there is immense potential growth in the $250 billion creative economy. Blackbird is targeting a $20 billion market for tools and services within this sector, projected to grow at a CAGR of 20-25% over a decade. He says Blackbird is chasing an "enormous, fast-growing opportunity" with the new product that is expected to launch early in the new year. Additionally, Blackbird's announced earlier this week the signing of a new contract with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the Summer Games in 2024. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

September 18, 2023 09:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Pivot To Agri-Food Sector Pays Off For Sadot Group, Inc As Company Reports First Profitable Quarter In Q2 2023

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga In November of last year, Sadot Group Inc (NASDAQ: SDOT) pivoted from being primarily a restaurant and food service brand to becoming a global agri-food supply chain operator, sourcing agricultural products from producing regions and delivering them to markets around the world. Nine months later, it marked its ninth consecutive month of generating at least $45 million in monthly revenue. And in its second-quarter earnings released in August, it reported its first profitable quarter in its history, with quarterly revenue rising to $160 million. How Sadot Group Pivoted From Food Service To Global Agri-Food Supply Chain In November 2022, the company formerly known as Muscle Maker, Inc. formed Sadot LLC, marking the official strategic pivot into the global agri-foods supply chain sector. Since then, the company’s focus has been on becoming a leader in providing sustainable solutions that address food security issues around the world. “By broadening our perspective, we seized the opportunity to venture into new markets and businesses within the global food industry. This move not only offers significant financial prospects but also generates social and environmental value," said Sadot Group Inc. CEO Michael Roper. Its trading operations, housed under Sadot Agri-Foods, source food and feed products like soy, wheat and corn from key producing regions and deliver them to buyers across Central & South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. As this vertical grows, the company also plans to add logistics and transportation services as well as carbon monitoring and carbon credits. Its farm operations, housed under Sadot Farm Operations, take it a step further and actually produce those major food crops along with high-value crops like mango and avocado at the company’s farms in southern Africa. At the end of August, it added over 4,900 acre s of farmland in Zambia to its operations. The acquired farmland has the potential to harvest over 1,300 acres of corn, 775 acres of soybean, 270 acres of wheat, 180 acres of avocado and 50 acres of mango. Its first wheat harvest as Sadot-owned farmland is expected this month or early October. While its trading and farm operations mark the biggest changes and the biggest drivers of the company’s recent transition into profitability, Sadot Group hasn’t completely abandoned the food service sector where it got its start. Instead, the Company began a significant overhaul of its operations and structure to cut costs and improve revenue. That includes re-franchising the company-owned Pokémoto and Muscle Maker Grill locations, while exploring strategic options for Superfit Foods. There are currently 34 Pok é moto locations, 10 company-owned units plus 24 franchises. For Muscle Maker Grill, there are 3 company-owned locations plus an additional 10 franchised locations. The Company will focus on franchising its successful Pok é moto concept as a way to generate royalties from the brand while maintaining an asset-light business model with lower operating expenses. It has since sold 57 new franchise agreements that are expected to open in the near future. “These actions will allow us to strengthen our balance sheet and reallocate funds towards growing the agri-foods supply chain business, reinforcing our commitment to increasing shareholder value by focusing on our path to profitability, market diversification, and a strengthened brand presence," said Roper. The Multi-Million Dollar Success Of Sadot Group’s Revamped Business Strategy In the second quarter of 2022, before the formation of Sadot LLC, Muscle Maker Inc. reported a net loss of $1.8 million. One year later, Sadot Group completely flipped the script, reporting a net income of $190,000 for its second quarter of 2023. While cutting operating costs and overhead has been key, that transition into profitability was largely driven by record revenue growth coming from the company’s new trading and farming operations. Its quarterly earnings grew from $3 million in Q2 2022 to $160 million in Q2 2023, and nearly all of that came from its agri-food vertical which completed 21 transactions for the quarter, averaging $7.5 million each. 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

September 15, 2023 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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