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Announcing Blocktober #24: Hong Kong’s month convening flagship Web3 events

Web3 Harbour

Web3 Harbour, a nonprofit industry association for the advancement of a decentralized internet and economy, and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the government department responsible for foreign direct investments into Hong Kong, today announced Blocktober #24, a first of its kind strategic public-private collaboration that will bring three weeks of world-class events and experiences dedicated to Web3 innovation and exploration to Hong Kong from October 14 to November 1, 2024. Hosted by Web3 Harbour with InvestHK as a strategic partner, Blocktober #24 will feature anchor events organized by global Web3 leaders that examine and advance the state of decentralized technologies, while dozens of community events will allow builders from around the world to connect, share, and collaborate on Web3 initiatives. Many of Hong Kong’s world-renowned restaurants, bars, galleries, and public spaces will also open their doors to the Web3 community, as the city becomes a sandbox for cultural transformation through technology. Over 50,000 global attendees are expected to convene in Hong Kong for Blocktober. Mr Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said, “Hong Kong recognises and stands ready to embrace the positive impact of Web3 technology. We are fully committed to fostering a progressive and open environment for the Web3 ecosystem to thrive in a sustainable and responsible manner. This reflects our belief in its capacity to transform different industries and real-world applications.” Mr Gary Liu, Chair of Web3 Harbour and the Co-founder and CEO of Terminal 3, added, “There is growing momentum for Web3 innovation across Asia, and Blocktober presents a unique opportunity for builders from around the world to collaborate and learn over multiple weeks of events and activities. Blocktober is an incredible collaboration between Hong Kong’s Web3 community and many global industry leaders, which highlights the importance of this city as a hub for blockchain technology and its applications.” Three flagship events will be part of the anchor schedule for Blocktober #24. The city’s annual Hong Kong FinTech Week, one of the largest and most influential fintech events in Asia led by InvestHK, will take place from October 28 to November 1. It will bring over 30,000 attendees together with global top industry leaders, regulators, investors, and entrepreneurs to discuss the latest trends and innovations in fintech. Chainlink SmartCon, the industry-leading convergence point for the worlds of blockchain and finance, will make its Hong Kong debut and cap off Blocktober #24’s final week with a full stack of speakers, workshops, experiences, and hacker events. In addition, Animoca Brands will host an inaugural event celebrating Web3 gaming and culture, which will bring together technologists and creatives for discussions and experiences around Web3’s potential as a catalyst for global change. Ms Alpha Lau, Director-General of InvestHK, said, "The intersection of Web3 technologies with diverse sectors such as fintech, art, gaming and entertainment ushers a new era of experience and innovation. Hong Kong is an international financial centre and one of the three largest art markets in the world, making the application of Web3 highly complementary. As a value-adding super connector, we are well positioned to bring these cross-disciplinary applications to life, showcasing how blockchain and Web3 technologies can redefine the financial and cultural landscape." Todd Barr, Chief Marketing Officer at Chainlink Labs, said, “This year’s SmartCon will be monumental. Chainlink and the blockchain industry are at a key inflection point, with DeFi and TradFi converging into the new arena of onchain finance. As an international financial center and a hub of Web3 innovation, Hong Kong is the perfect fit for SmartCon. We’re excited to headline Blocktober’s Onchain Finance Week with an experience that showcases the converged future of global markets.” Mr Yat Siu, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, commented, “Web3 and the digital property rights that it empowers continue to change culture around the world. Animoca Brands is excited to join Blocktober #24 and celebrate these impactful innovations, and to host global builders and creatives in our hometown of Hong Kong.” Other anchor events and organizers for Blocktober #24 include: CoinDesk- The global crypto news leader has announced an expansion of its flagship crypto conference, Consensus. In addition to its annual event, CoinDesk is launching Consensus Hong Kong, set to debut in February 2025. Leading into Consensus Hong Kong, CoinDesk will convene Web3 leaders and communities during Blocktober #24 to discuss and advance the impact of blockchain technology. ETH HK- Organized by Scroll, a zero-knowledge EVM Layer-2, ETH HK will bring together the Ethereum community across Asia to drive further innovation in the ecosystem. Solana Foundation- The Solana Foundation – a non-profit foundation dedicated to the decentralization, adoption, and security of the Solana network – will host a three day Hacker House that will provide opportunities for builders to gather, learn, and collaborate with the Solana community. Smart Contact- Web3 Harbour’s flagship series of leader deep-dives and gatherings returns during Blocktober #24 to connect and inspire builders from around the world. Blocktober #24 will also coincide with the StartmeupHK Festival curated by InvestHK, a week-long series of events focused on various industry sectors and activities for startups, investors, industry leaders, tech enthusiasts and government officials to exchange ideas, make connections and chart a course for the future. Guided by the theme ‘A Future Unlimited’, the Festival will run from October 21 to 25. Mr King Leung, Global Head of Financial Services and Fintech at InvestHK, said, "Blocktober will showcase a rich tapestry of sectors, highlighting the versatile nature of Web3 technology. The series promises to match the energy from our thriving Web3 ecosystem with exciting events and experiences, together with our flagship events, the Hong Kong Fintech Week and the StartmeupHK Festival. It is a testament to our position as a hub for rich innovation, finance, arts and creativity.” For more information on Blocktober #24, and to stay updated as more events and details are announced, please visit: https://www.blocktober.xyz. About Web3 Harbour Web3 Harbour is a nonprofit association based in Hong Kong dedicated to engaging and representing Web3 builders, investors, users, and leaders to promote a pro-innovation, pro-collaboration, and truly inclusive environment for the development of the decentralized internet and virtual asset economy. The association's core activities convene stakeholders from across sectors for open knowledge-sharing, upskilling, critical discourse, and networking. Contact Details Web3 Harbour Web3 Harbour Team blocktober@web3harbour.org

March 14, 2024 08:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

NAFA’s Innovations Showcase Returns to I&E 2024 with an Exciting Lineup

NAFA Fleet Management Association

NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) is thrilled to announce the return of the highly anticipated Innovations Showcase at its 2024 Institute & Expo (I&E). Following its successful debut last year, the Innovations Showcase is back, bigger and better, set to once again transform the Expo floor into a dynamic innovation zone. This immersive experience, scheduled for April 23rd and 24th, invites I&E attendees to explore and interact with the latest products and updates from leading companies in the fleet management industry. "The Innovations Showcase is a testament to NAFA's commitment to advancing the fleet management profession through innovation and education,” said Mike Camnetar, CAFM, NAFA Board President. “We were overwhelmed by the positive feedback from last year and are proud to bring this interactive experience back to I&E. It's a unique opportunity for our members to engage directly with the latest advancements in the industry and recognize excellence through the People’s Choice Award." This year's showcase will feature an impressive lineup of companies known for their forward-thinking and innovative solutions. Attendees will have the chance to explore new products and services from: Car IQ Check Out Our Ramps Chevin Fleet Solutions Clean Fuels Alliance America Collective Data Fleetio MoveEV NovaCHARGE Inc RTA The Fleet Success Company Samsara Sortimo of North America Spring Free EV Each participating company will present their cutting-edge products and services, offering attendees a firsthand look at the future of fleet management. The Innovations Showcase features two awards – the Innovative Product of the Year Award and a People's Choice Award, celebrating the creativity and ingenuity of exhibitors. For the People’s Choice Award, attendees can vote for their favorite innovation. The winners of both awards will be announced before I&E closes. Don’t miss out on this highlight of I&E 2024 – join NAFA to experience innovation in action and contribute to shaping the future of fleet management. I&E attracts thousands of fleet professionals from a variety of fields, including corporate, government, public safety, utility, education and more. The three-day conference offers a blend of education, impactful conversations, networking opportunities, and products and services from the industry’s leading suppliers. Learn more and explore the full I&E schedule here. Prospective exhibitors are encouraged to secure their space early to ensure prime placement in the I&E Expo Hall. For more information about reserving an exhibit booth, please visit NAFA’s website. Sponsorship opportunities can be secured here. This year’s current sponsors include Bestpass Inc., FASTER Asset Solutions, Geotab, Holman, Legend Fleet Solutions, Merchants Fleet, Motive, Samsara, Shell Fleet Solutions, Stellantis, U.S. Bank Voyager, WEX and Wheels, Inc. NAFA Fleet Management Association is the membership organization for professionals who manage the mobility requirements of vehicle fleets that include commercial, public safety, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for corporations, governments, universities, utility fleets, and law enforcement in North America and across the globe. NAFA’s members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 4.8 million vehicles that drive an estimated 84 billion miles each year. NAFA’s members control assets and services well above $122 billion each year. For more information, please visit www.nafa.org, and communicate with NAFA on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. Contact Details Keaveny Hewitt +1 919-622-5276 khewitt@onwrdupwrd.com Company Website https://www.nafa.org/

March 14, 2024 02:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time

PEL 83 Exploration Campaign Fourth Update – Significant Light Oil Discovery at Mopane-2X

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, emerging as the one of the world’s most prospective oil and gas regions. The blocks are governed by Petroleum Exploration License 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 previous updates provided in January, Galp, together with its partners NAMCOR and Custos, has successfully drilled the Mopane-2X well to its designated depth on PEL 83. Drilling operations encountered a significant column with light oil in reservoirs of high quality. The AVO-3 exploration target, the AVO-1 appraisal target and a deeper target were fully cored and logged. The AVO-1 appraisal target found the same pressure regime as in the Mopane-1X discovery well located around 8 km to the east, confirming its lateral extension. The rig will now return to the Mopane-1X well location to conduct a drill stem test until early April. Galp 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 east of PEL 56 where TotalEnergies announced its giant oil discovery at Venus-1. “The continuing success of the exploration campaign, including a third light oil discovery and the appraisal results at the AVO-1 reservoir 8 km away from the 1X location, further demonstrates the scope and potential of PEL 83. We extend our further congratulations to our partners Galp and NAMCOR.” said Knowledge Katti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Custos. “This is another significant milestone for Custos positioning us for further growth and continued success underpinned by our unmatched position in the heart of the basin.” he added. “The announcement of another significant discovery and the appraisal success at the upper target is further testament to the hard work and dedication of the partners involved, 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.” said Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commission for the Ministry of Mines and Energy. “We are proud to have achieved this milestone.” she added. On behalf of Custos Energy (Pty) Ltd., “Knowledge R. Katti” Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 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. Together with the Knowledge Foundation, Custos is committed to creating a better and sustainable future for all especially the stakeholder communities where we are present. We believe that understanding and addressing the interest of our communities is critical. We are particularly focused on contributing to and ensuring the full spectrum of support and opportunity for the youth of Namibia. We are proud to be the first local company to make a discovery in Namibia together with our partners. Contact Details Custos Energy Knowledge R Katti +1 475-477-9410

March 14, 2024 02:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

BYND Cannasoft Enterprises Inc. Announces Closing of $7.0 Million Underwritten Public Offering

BYND Cannasoft Enterprises

ASHKELON, Israel and VANCOUVER, British Columbia – TheNewswire – March 14, 2024 - BYND Cannasoft Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:BCAN) (CSE:BYND) (“BYND Cannasoft” or the “Company”) an Israeli-based integrated software and cannabis company, today announced the closing of a firm commitment underwritten public offering with gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $7.0 million, before deducting underwriting fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The offering consisted of 116,666,667 Units, each consisting of one (1) Common Share or Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase one Common Share, one (1) Series A Warrants to purchase one (1) Common Share per warrant, and two (2) Series B Warrants to purchase, each to purchase one (1) Common Share. The public offering price per Unit is $0.06 (or $0.0599 for each Unit with a Pre-Funded Warrant, which is equal to the public offering price per Unit with a Common Share to be sold in the offering minus an exercise price of $0.0001 per Pre-Funded Warrant). The Pre-Funded Warrants will be immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until exercised in full. The initial exercise price of each Series A Warrant is $0.09 per common share or pursuant to an alternative cashless exercise option. The Series A Warrants are exercisable immediately and expire 30 months after the initial issuance date. The initial exercise price of each Series B Warrant is $0.102 per common share. The Series B Warrants are exercisable immediately and expire 60 months after the initial issuance date. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes and working capital. In addition, the Company has granted Aegis Capital Corp. ("Aegis") a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the total number of Common Shares and/or Pre-Funded Warrants and/or Series A Warrants and/or Series B Warrants sold in the offering, solely to cover over-allotments, if any. On March 14, 2024, Aegis partially exercised its over-allotment option by purchasing 52,500,000 Series A and Series B Warrants. Aegis Capital Corp. acted as the sole book-running manager for the offering. Louis A. Brilleman, Esq. acted as U.S counsel to the Company and Owen Bird Law Corporation acted as Canadian counsel to the Company. Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. acted as U.S. counsel to Aegis Capital Corp. A registration statement on Form F-1 (No. 333-277464) previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 28, 2024, as amended, was declared effective by the SEC on March 11, 2024. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. A final prospectus describing the terms of the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus may be obtained, when available, by contacting Aegis Capital Corp., Attention: Syndicate Department, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 27th floor, New York, NY 10105, by email at syndicate@aegiscap.com, or by telephone at +1 (212) 813-1010. Before investing in this offering, interested parties should read in their entirety the prospectus, which provides more information about the Company and such offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About BYND Cannasoft Enterprises Inc. BYND Cannasoft Enterprises is an Israeli-based integrated software and cannabis company. BYND Cannasoft owns and markets "Benefit CRM," a proprietary customer relationship management (CRM) software product enabling small and medium‐sized businesses to optimize their day‐to‐day business activities such as sales management, personnel management, marketing, call center activities, and asset management. Building on our 20 years of experience in CRM software, BYND Cannasoft is developing an innovative new CRM platform to serve the needs of the medical cannabis industry by making it a more organized, accessible, and price-transparent market. The Cannabis CRM System will include a Job Management (BENEFIT) and a module system (CANNASOFT) for managing farms and greenhouses with varied crops. BYND Cannasoft owns the patent-pending intellectual property for the EZ-G device. This therapeutic device uses proprietary software to regulate the flow of low concentrations of CBD oil, hemp seed oil, and other natural oils into the soft tissues of the female reproductive system to potentially treat a wide variety of women's health issues. The EZ-G device includes technological advancements as a sex toy with a more realistic experience and the prototype utilizes sensors to determine what enhances the users' pleasure. The user can control the device through a Bluetooth app installed on a smartphone or other portable device. The data will be transmitted and received from the device to and from the secure cloud using artificial intelligence (AI). The data is combined with other antonymic user preferences to improve its operation by increasing sexual satisfaction. Commercialization of the EZ-G device is subject to receipt of regulatory approvals. For Further Information please refer to information available on the Company’s website: www.cannasoft-crm.com, the CSE’s website: www.thecse.com/en/listings/life-sciences/bynd-cannasoft-enterprises-inc and on SEDAR+: www.sedarplus.ca. Gabi Kabazo Chief Financial Officer Tel: (604) 833-6820 e‐mail: ir@cannasoft-crm.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When used in this press release, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward‐looking statements. Those forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's expectations for the growth of the Company's operations and revenue. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual circumstances, events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company’s actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to such risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including future financial performance, unanticipated regulatory requests and delays, final patents approval, and those factors discussed in filings made by the company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including (without limitation) in the company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022 and annual information form dated March 31, 2023, which are available under the company's profile at www.sedar.com, and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year then ended that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2023. Should one or more of these factors occur, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward‐looking statements, except as required by law. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward‐looking statements.

March 14, 2024 12:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time

PEL 83 Exploration Campaign Fourth Update – Significant Light Oil Discovery at Mopane-2X

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, emerging as the one of the world’s most prospective oil and gas regions. The blocks are governed by Petroleum Exploration License 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 previous updates provided in January, Galp, together with its partners NAMCOR and Custos, has successfully drilled the Mopane-2X well to its designated depth on PEL 83. Drilling operations encountered a significant column with light oil in reservoirs of high quality. The AVO-3 exploration target, the AVO-1 appraisal target and a deeper target were fully cored and logged. The AVO-1 appraisal target found the same pressure regime as in the Mopane-1X discovery well located around 8 km to the east, confirming its lateral extension. The rig will now return to the Mopane-1X well location to conduct a drill stem test until early April. Galp 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 east of PEL 56 where TotalEnergies announced its giant oil discovery at Venus-1. “The continuing success of the exploration campaign, including a third light oil discovery and the appraisal results at the AVO-1 reservoir 8 km away from the 1X location, further demonstrates the scope and potential of PEL 83. We extend our further congratulations to our partners Galp and NAMCOR.” said Knowledge Katti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Custos. “This is another significant milestone for Custos positioning us for further growth and continued success underpinned by our unmatched position in the heart of the basin.” he added. “The announcement of another significant discovery and the appraisal success at the upper target is further testament to the hard work and dedication of the partners involved, 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.” said Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commission for the Ministry of Mines and Energy. “We are proud to have achieved this milestone.” she added. On behalf of Custos Energy (Pty) Ltd., “Knowledge R. Katti” Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 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. Together with the Knowledge Foundation, Custos is committed to creating a better and sustainable future for all especially the stakeholder communities where we are present. We believe that understanding and addressing the interest of our communities is critical. We are particularly focused on contributing to and ensuring the full spectrum of support and opportunity for the youth of Namibia. We are proud to be the first local company to make a discovery in Namibia together with our partners. Contact Details Knowledge R Katti +1 475-477-9410

March 14, 2024 12:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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CDFI Coalition Marks 30th Anniversary of CDFI Fund

CDFI Coalition

Members of the CDFI Coalition gathered in Washington, DC, this week to mark the 30 th anniversary of the CDFI Fund with a keynote address by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), panel discussions and the release of a report highlighting the three decades of successes celebrated by the CDFI movement. Coalition members, legislators and Administrations officials held panel discussions on New CDFI Certification Requirements, Cybersecurity and AI, Financing CDFIs and Community Development, Opportunities in Climate Financing, and Challenges and Opportunities for new CEOs of Color. The report is based on data from the Coalition’s survey of its members. Highlights of the report and the 30 th Anniversary of the CDFI Fund include: Seventy CDFIs responded to the survey, making $22.5 billion in loan originations and $185 million in EQ2 and equity investments. This financing created or sustained more than 500,000 jobs and 105,000 units of affordable housing, over 150,000 community facilities and 437,000 business. The CDFI industry has grown significantly since its infancy in 1994. 1,462 CDFIs have been certified to work in low-wealth communities nationwide as of January 2024. These CDFIs have assets totaling more than $200 billion and outstanding portfolios of more than $150 billion. Certified CDFIs include 573 loan funds, 516 credit unions, 161 depository institution holding companies, 197 banks or thrifts, and 15 venture capital funds in rural and urban areas in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. In FY 23, CDFI Fund Financial Assistance recipients financed more than 126,000 businesses, provided funding for more than 76,000 affordable homes, and originated more than $57 billion in loans and investments. Thirty years ago, only a handful of CDFIs had been funded with philanthropy and other support, and their success provided the roadmap for the 1994 legislation and the impetus for the CDFI fund. One of the more unexpected successes of the CDFI movement and the CDFI fund are the offshoots that they have supported and enabled. Significant new programs were built on the CDFI infrastructure and commitment created in 1994 by the Riegle Act. “The CDFI 30 th Anniversary Report contains numerous success stories from CDFIs around the nation about how the credit, the products and the technical assistance they have made available have been transformative in their communities,” said CDFI Coalition spokesperson Bob Rapoza. For example: CDFI Program Financial Assistance (FA) Awards – The CDFI Fund makes FA awards to both large and small certified CDFIs. CDFIs use FA awards for lending capital, loan loss or capital reserves, operations, or development services. Award recipients must match their FA award dollar-for-dollar with non-federal funds. The Native American CDFI Assistance Program, launched in 2001 to encourage investing in Native Communities by supporting the creation and expansion of Native CDFIs -- which in turn help to create jobs, establish, or improve affordable housing, and provide appropriate financial services and counseling to community residents. The number of Native CDFIs has increased from 14 in 2001 to 66 in 2024. The New Markets Tax Credit Program, authorized in 2000 to stimulate private investment in low-income communities. The CDFI Fund has made 1,563 allocation awards totaling $76 billion to date. New Markets tax Credit investments have created more than one million jobs that cost the federal government less than $20,000 per job. The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, authorized in 2010 to empower the Treasury Department to guarantee notes or bonds issued at no cost to the federal government to support CDFI lending and investment activity. Since 2013, the CDFI Fund has guaranteed nearly $2.5 billion in bond authority through the program. The Capital Magnet Fund, administered by the CDFI Fund, provides grants on a competitive basis to CDFIs and other non-profit organizations to finance affordable housing and related economic development efforts for low-income families and communities. The Capital Magnet Fund has generated $20 additional investment for every $1 of award funding and created more than 63,000 affordable homes. The report also highlights the power of CDFIs, their investors and stakeholders in responding to our nation’s racial equity challenges as well as the Great Recession and the COVID 19 Pandemic. For example: CDFIs served as economic shock absorbers, providing flexible and patient capital, rigorous risk management, and commitment to the projects in their communities and the sustainability of their borrowers. When traditional lenders pull back from economically distressed communities, policymakers look to CDFIs to fill the void. Recognizing the power of CDFIs, during the height of the pandemic, Congress made an investment in 2020 through appropriations for three temporary programs to support CDFIs, totaling $12 billion, including $1.25 billion for what became the Rapid Response Program, $1.75 billion for increased investment in low-income communities of color, and $9 billion for an emergency capital investment program for CDFI’s certified depositories and MDIs. CDFIs used those new resources to provide a wide variety of financial services to support the recovery of underserved markets under siege from COVID-19. In addition to stabilizing businesses, CDFIs financed initiatives to expand access to healthy food, health centers and hospitals, affordable housing, shelters, treatment centers, and other businesses and community facilities on the front lines of the pandemic. Private sector corporations and foundations have also recognized the efficacy and power of CDFIs. For example, between 2020 and 2022, in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and the ongoing pandemic, the eight largest US banks made $9.2 billion in commitments to CDFIs. This commitment and the increased federal support allowed CDFIs to expand their efforts and launch new initiatives in communities of color. “As we look forward to the next 30 years, we know that CDFIs are going to continue to be a major force for bringing access to credit to low-income communities and individuals across the nation. They will be pivotal in our collective efforts to eliminate racial wealth gaps and increase opportunities for people and communities of color,” Rapoza added. CDFIs continue to innovate, to solve problems, to finance opportunities and to make sure that lending capital and technical assistance is available to all communities in our nation. In doing so, they acknowledge there is a newer and burning challenge – how CDFIs can support reducing the carbon in our atmosphere and ensure that low-income communities and communities of color can access the same opportunities, tools and resources that will help mitigate the impact of climate change on our communities and economy. “The confidence of Congress and the Administration in providing such a key role to CDFIs under the Green House Gas Reduction Fund is a wonderful testament to the positive impact and reach of CDFIs in our most underserved communities,” said Rapoza. “We know that CDFIs will bring their innovative cultures, their commitment to serving low-income communities and communities of color, and their experience leveraging federal and philanthropic resources with private capital to make such a difference in America’s communities.” DOWNLOAD THE CDFI FUND 30 TH ANNIVERSARY REPORT About the CDFI Coalition Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are lenders with a mission to provide fair, responsible financing to rural, urban, Native and other communities that mainstream finance doesn’t traditionally reach. The CDFI Coalition, formed in 1992, is the unified national voice of community development financial institutions. Our mission is to encourage fair access to financial resources for America’s underserved people and communities. Through its member organizations, the Coalition represents CDFIs working in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This national network of CDFIs includes community development loan funds, community development banks, community development credit unions, microenterprise lenders, community development corporations and community development venture capital funds. The CDFI Coalition coordinates industry wide initiatives to increase the availability of capital, credit and financial services to low-income communities across the nation. For more information, visit www.CDFI.org Contact Details Greg Wilson +1 571-239-7474 gregwilsonpr@gmail.com

March 14, 2024 11:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

International Graphite secures funding deal with Comet

INTERNATIONAL GRAPHITE LIMITED

International Graphite Ltd (ASX:IG6) managing director and CEO Phil Hearse joins Proactive’s Jonathan Jackson to talk through a strategic funding arrangement aimed at solidifying IG6's share register and addressing speculation about the security of International Graphite shares held by Comet. This agreement involves a $1.5 million loan from International Graphite to Comet, coupled with the provision for International Graphite to appoint a majority on Comet's board. The arrangement is designed to prevent a potential sell-down of Comet's 40 million shares in International Graphite when they are released from ASX escrow on April 7, 2024. Hearse highlights the mutual benefits of this deal, expressing confidence in the positive impact on shareholder value and the share price stabilisation for International Graphite. This move also enables International Graphite to focus more intently on its role in the renewable energy sector, with significant developments expected in the near future. “International Graphite shares are a major asset for Comet,” Hearse said. “The imminent expiration of the escrow period, in conjunction with Comet’s recent de-listing from the ASX, has fuelled concern that Comet may be compelled to sell down its investment in International Graphite to recapitalise its business. “Stabilising Comet’s financial position and appointing a majority to the Comet board removes the ‘overhang’ that we believe has contributed to the recent decline in the International Graphite share price and provides the catalyst for a rebound." Contact Details Proactive Investors Jonathan Jackson +61 413 713 744 jonathan@proactiveinvestors.com

March 14, 2024 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

Open Campus ushers in new era of learning by empowering lifelong learners with control over their educational identity and data

Terminal 3

Open Campus, the pioneering community-led Web3 education protocol dedicated to transforming the education sector, announced today a significant milestone: more than 100,000 learners worldwide have now claimed their Open Campus ID. Launched on 23 January 2024, Open Campus ID is a decentralized identifier that empowers learners by providing full control over their educational identities, reputations, and data. The Open Campus ID system facilitates the creation of unique online profiles, along with the issuance of on-chain educational badges and credentials, setting a new standard for digital learning and identity management. Yat Siu, the co-founder of Animoca Brands and a member of the EDU Foundation Council, said: "The core mission of Open Campus is to empower the next generation of lifelong learners. With Open Campus ID, educational credentials will be verifiable and immutable on blockchain, affirming individual skills and experiences to employers and institutions. Learners will have full control over their academic achievements, driving forward a new era for decentralized education." Open Campus ID is secured by Terminal 3’s trusted data platform and cryptographic applications. During user onboarding, personally identifiable information is encrypted and decentrally stored across a network of independent nodes. Institutions then gain use-access to data with a learner’s permission, but only in a privacy-preserving environment where data is never exposed, copied, or transferred. This high level of security is achieved through structured encryption and zero-knowledge cryptography, allowing enterprises to verify personal information without ever seeing the underlying data. “Personal user data, including one’s learning history, achievements, and credentials, should be self-sovereign,” said Gary Liu, Co-founder and CEO of Terminal 3. “Open Campus ID will allow educational credentials to be freely composable while remaining fully private, creating more trust and security in the talent market.” Holding an Open Campus ID will grant learners with a unique.edu identifier, allowing individuals to store their user profile and educational data in a self-sovereign and decentralized vault. Users can control and manage their academic certifications, skills, and achievements, prove their identity in a privacy-preserving manner with verifiable credentials, and unlock access to all Open Campus educational content. Learners can claim an Open Campus ID now and access their Student Dashboard here: https://id.opencampus.xyz/. About Open Campus Open Campus is a community-led protocol for educators, content creators, parents, and students. It puts decisions about learning back into the hands of educators and their students by fostering a collaborative environment, enabling teachers to create materials that appeal to the exact needs of students. Additionally, Open Campus recognizes the achievements of teachers and content creators who help students seek new knowledge, opening new revenue streams for effective educators around the world. Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Telegram | Discord | OC Alliance | Open Campus ID About Terminal 3 Terminal 3 is a Hong Kong-based Web3 startup building user data infrastructure for a decentralized future. The company’s solutions are an alternative to centralized data storage that deprives users of privacy and saddles enterprises with compliance and security concerns. Terminal 3 leverages decentralized storage and zero-knowledge proofs to empower an equitable Web3 where user data is freely composable while remaining fully private and secure. The company’s founders are successful corporate executives and entrepreneurs, who have built, scaled, and transformed some of the world’s most important companies. Terminal 3 is also backed by world-class investors including 500 Global, CMCC Global, Consensys Mesh, Bixin Ventures, BlackPine, DWeb3, Hard Yaka, and Bored Room Ventures. Contact Details Open Campus Open Campus Press info@opencampus.xyz

March 14, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Clique raises $8M in Series A to revolutionize compute

Clique

Clique, a pioneering infrastructure company powering secure and robust data computing for blockchains, announced today its successful Series A funding round of $8 million led by Polychain Capital to build a heterogenous compute coordination network that revolutionizes the way both on-chain and off-chain applications access compute and data. The round also had participation from prominent investors like Bankless, Robot Ventures, Santiago R. Santos, Balaji Srinivasan, and other notable angels such as the founders of Lido, Polygon, Scroll, Berachain, Monad, Gitcoin, Axiom, Succinct, and Uniswap Foundation. This latest funding round aims to power Clique's mission of enabling efficient and optimal compute resource allocation for applications that have different preferences. By utilizing a diverse range of compute vendors specializing in areas like verifiable compute with zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP), confidential compute trusted execution environments (TEE), AI-based compute with GPUs, and many others, applications can optimize for various parameters like trust, privacy, security, performance, and cost. Founded by Kevin Yu and Jaden Yan, Clique has emerged as a trailblazer in the blockchain space, being the first to productionize oracles that can handle private data in a secure and trust-minimized manner off-chain with technology such as ZKPs and TEEs. To date, Clique has enabled over US$3,500,000,000 in on-chain transactions through the use of their protocol. The company has played a pivotal role in bootstrapping on-chain user data for prominent ecosystems like Arbitrum, Optimism, Linea, Mantle, and Ronin, among others. It has served over 750k end users in the Web3 space and established partnerships with over 500 businesses, including industry leaders such as Sony Music US, Trip.com, Aave, Eigenlayer, Sushiswap, Velodrome, Synthetix, and many more. Introducing the Clique Compute Coordination Network The Clique Compute Coordination Network organizes various off-chain compute resources, allocating them as needed by both general applications and smart contracts. This includes co-processors for performing verifiable compute on top of on-chain data, oracles for bringing in data from any internet data source, and specialized hardware for privacy, AI, and secure computation. This allows applications to access different compute resources and data easily, with the ability to adjust for preferences around trust, privacy, performance, and cost. “Today, there exist many compute providers in both the blockchain and non-blockchain worlds. Each of them has different optimization goals. Trying to integrate those diverse compute supplies to form standardized, schedulable computing services and match them with the appropriate compute demand is a crucial issue to be tackled. What Clique builds exactly enables this interconnection and intercommunication of computing power, potentially empowering a much more vibrant digital economy in the era of AI transformation.” Said Kevin Yu, co-founder of Clique. Joining the Clique Developers and protocols interested in leveraging and integrating with Clique's SDK (Software Development Kit) are encouraged to reach out to the team at hello@clique.tech. To learn more about Clique and its groundbreaking technology, visit its website at clique.tech or follow the project on Twitter at @Clique2046. For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact: Website: clique.tech Twitter: https://twitter.com/Clique2046 Substack: https://substack.com/profile/124411026-clique Contact Details Clique Jaden Rafael Yan jaden@2046inc.xyz

March 14, 2024 09:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Open Campus ushers in new era of learning by empowering lifelong learners with control over their educational identity and data

Clique raises $8M in Series A to revolutionize compute