SINGAPORE, June 19, 2023 — Portal Gate, a compliant and privacy-centric DeFi infrastructure stack with a decentralized dark pool at its core, has closed a US$1.1m seed funding round led by Apollo Crypto with participation from UpsideDAO, Greythorn Asset Management, Comma3 Ventures, Gandel Invest, Rebase D. Ventures, Fork Ventures, founders of Ren Protocol, zCloak Network, Pellar Technology and other angel investors in Web3.

Founded in late 2022, Portal Gate’s mission is to build compliant and private DeFi infrastructure to facilitate more efficient on-chain trading for institutions. The first iteration is privacy pools that obfuscate links between wallets and the core product will be a decentralized dark pool providing users with the ability to transact on-chain with hidden prices and order sizes. As Web3 moves towards a more regulated regime, Portal Gate is leveraging zero-knowledge based compliance oracles to complete both off-chain and on-chain permissioning. 

The funding will be used to scale the core team, launch privacy pools on mainnet, and accelerate the development of the decentralized dark pool.

‘We are extremely bullish on the intersection of privacy and compliance in DeFi. Portal Gate has identified specific pain points for institutional on-chain participants. As a multi-strategy fund, we will be one of the first users of Portal Gate,’ said Henrik Andersson, CIO of Apollo Crypto. ‘Some of the best projects started in bear markets. A decentralized dark pool is technically challenging and remains a missing piece of necessary infrastructure. We have known the core team for many years, they are some of the top builders in this space with the right combination of experience.’

‘Currently, on-chain transactions are all in lit pools where trades are being front-run by MEV bots, leaking alpha. Without a dark pool, it is difficult to trade on-chain with large orders.’ said Jemma Xu, Founding Contributor.

Portal Gate’s core contributors have been long-term builders and investors in digital assets since 2016-2017. The dark pool core developers are founders of one of the leading Web3 cross-chain protocols that secured a TVL of over US$1bn without any security breaches.

Portal Gate’s privacy pool is targeted for mainnet launch in Q3.

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About Portal Gate
A privacy-centric DeFi stack allowing compliant users to trade on-chain whilst preserving their anonymity.

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SOURCE PG Foundation Ltd

• TDK Ventures entschied sich für London als Standort für sein erste Büro in Europa
• Der neue 150-Millionen-USD-Fonds EX1 (EX = Energiewende) mit mehreren Kommanditgesellschaftern wird sich auf in Europa und Nordamerika ansässige Start-ups für Elektrifizierung und Dekarbonisierung konzentrieren
• Die Mission und die Werte von TDK Ventures, in Klima-Tech-Start-ups zu investieren, stimmen mit den ehrgeizigen europäischen Zielen überein, Treibhausgasemissionen um 50 % zu reduzieren und bis 2050 Netto-Null-Emissionen zu erreichen.

SAN JOSE, Kalifornien, 19. Juni 2023 — Die TDK Corporation (TSE: 6762) gab heute bekannt, dass ihre Tochtergesellschaft TDK Ventures Inc., ihr Risikokapitalarm, in den europäischen Markt expandiert und plant, in Start-ups aus der Region zu investieren. Das Unternehmen wählte London als Standort für seine ehrgeizigen Anstrengungen, Energiewende, Elektrifizierung und Dekarbonisierung in ganz Europa zu fördern. Gleichzeitig wird TDK Ventures seinen 150-Millionen-USD-Fonds EX1 mit mehreren Kommanditgesellschaftern initiieren. Der Fonds wird sich sowohl auf europäische, als auch nordamerikanische Start-ups für die Energiewende in der Start- und Series-A-Phase konzentrieren.

Nach gründlicher Forschung entschied sich TDK Ventures für London aufgrund der tiefen Risikokapitaldichte sowie der dort ansässigen Start-ups und Investmentfonds mit Umweltfokus. Das Unternehmen war außerdem beeindruckt von dem gesamten Venture-Innovation-Ökosystem der Stadt, das unternehmerisch orientierte wissenschaftliche Talente, ein erstklassiges Universitätssystem, erstklassige Klimainvestoren (sowohl für die Früh-, als auch die Wachstumsphase), eine zentrale Lage und Zugang zu starken öffentlichen Märkten umfasst. 

“TDK Ventures hat sich einen guten Ruf für erfolgreiche Investition in sehr innovative Start-ups mit unglaublichen bahnbrechenden Technologien im Bereich der Elektrifizierung und Dekarbonisierung erarbeitet”, erklärte Lord Dominic Johnson, Staatsminister im Department for Business and Trade, der auf 25 Jahre Erfahrung in der Finanzdienstleistungsbranche zurückblicken kann. “Ich wünsche dem Unternehmen viel Erfolg bei seinen Anstrengungen zur Bekämpfung der vielen Klimaprobleme, mit denen wir konfrontiert sind. Ich freue mich sehr, dass das Unternehmen London als Standort für sein erstes europäisches Büro ausgewählt hat, sehe seinem Eintritt in den europäischen Markt entgegen und heiße das Unternehmen in London herzlich willkommen.”

“Weltweit rangiert London sowohl bei der Klima-Tech-Finanzierung, als auch bei der Anzahl der Investoren in den Bereichen Klima- und Energietechnologie an dritter Stelle”, erklärte Nicolas Sauvage, Präsident von TDK Ventures. “Wenn man das gesamte Vereinigte Königreich einbezieht, steigt London bei der letzteren Bewertung sogar auf Platz 2. Der Standort verfügt außerdem über eine unternehmensfreundliche öffentliche Verwaltung, vertraute Steuerregeln und Vorstandsstrukturen und rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen für mit Risikokapital finanzierte Start-ups, um geeignete Verkaufsmöglichkeiten zu bieten. Dies hat uns neben dem Vorhandensein vieler großer Fonds für die Spätphase sowie Wachstumskapitalfonds dazu veranlasst, London als unseren ersten Außenposten in Europa auszuwählen.”

Sauvage fuhr fort: “TDK Ventures ist sehr dankbar für die starke Unterstützung, die wir von der Venture Capital Unit des britischen Department for Business and Trade in den letzten Jahren erhalten haben”.

Die jüngsten Durchbrüche in der Materialwissenschaft und der hochentwickelten Fertigung in der Europäischen Union haben eine Ära für Elektrifizierungs- und Dekarbonisierungsprojekte geschaffen. TDK Ventures hat eine lange Tradition, unternehmerischen Organisationen in diesem Bereich dabei zu helfen, auf die Ressourcen zugreifen zu können, die sie benötigen, um die Produktion zu skalieren und ihre Produkte als Schlüsselkomponenten der globalen Kohlenstoffneutralität zu vermarkten.

“Ich freue mich, dass TDK Ventures London als Standort seines ersten europäischen Büros ausgewählt hat”, sagte Natalie Black, Handelskommissarin seiner Majestät für den Asien-Pazifik-Raum. “Die Einbeziehung von britischen Unternehmen als potenzielle Empfänger in seinen neuen 150-Millionen-USD-Fonds EX1 ist ein Beweis für die Stärke des britischen Technologiesektors, der letztes Jahr 31,3 Milliarden US-Dollar an Risikokapital zur Verfügung gestellt hat, was das Vereinigte Königreich zum drittgrößten Markt der Welt für Technologieinvestitionen macht. Ich freue mich darauf, den Erfolg von TDK Ventures im Vereinigten Königreich bei der Unterstützung unserer Anstrengungen den Klimawandel zu vermeiden zu sehen.”

Um mehr über TDK Ventures zu erfahren, besuchen Sie bitte www.tdk-ventures.com oder wenden Sie sich an [email protected]. 

Informationen zur TDK Corporation 

Die TDK Corporation ist ein weltweit führendes Unternehmen für elektronische Lösungen für die intelligente Gesellschaft mit Sitz in Tokio, Japan. Auf der Grundlage ihres Know-hows im Bereich der Materialwissenschaften begrüßt TDK den gesellschaftlichen Wandel, indem sie entschlossen an der Spitze der technologischen Entwicklung bleibt und unter ihrem Motto “Attracting Tomorrow” bewusst “die Zukunft anzieht”. Das Unternehmen wurde 1935 gegründet, um Ferrit zu vermarkten, ein Schlüsselmaterial für elektronische und magnetische Produkte. Das umfassende, innovationsorientierte Portfolio von TDK umfasst passive Bauelemente wie Keramik-, Aluminium-Elektrolyt- und Folienkondensatoren sowie Magnetik, Hochfrequenztechnologie, Piezoelektrizität und Schutzvorrichtungen. Das Produktspektrum umfasst außerdem Sensoren und Sensorsysteme wie Temperatur- und Druck-, Magnet- und MEMS-Sensoren. Darüber hinaus bietet TDK Stromversorgungs- und Energiegeräte, Magnetköpfe und mehr an. Diese Produkte werden unter den Produktmarken TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics und TDK-Lambda vermarktet. TDK konzentriert sich auf anspruchsvolle Märkte in den Bereichen Automobil-, Industrie- und Unterhaltungselektronik sowie Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie. Das Unternehmen verfügt über ein Netz von Entwicklungs- und Produktionsstandorten sowie Vertriebsbüros in Asien, Europa, Nord- und Südamerika. Im Geschäftsjahr 2023 erzielte TDK einen Gesamtumsatz von 16,1 Milliarden US-Dollar und beschäftigte weltweit rund 103.000 Mitarbeiter.

Informationen zu TDK Ventures 

TDK Ventures Inc. investiert in Start-ups, um Innovationen in den Bereichen Materialwissenschaft, Energie/Strom und verwandte Bereiche zu fördern, die normalerweise in Risikokapitalportfolios unterrepräsentiert sind. Das 2019 als hundertprozentige Tochtergesellschaft der TDK Corporation gegründete Corporate-Venture-Unternehmen hat die Vision, die digitale und energetische Transformation von Segmenten wie Gesundheit und Wellness, Transport der nächsten Generation, Robotik und Industrie, Mixed Reality und den breiteren IoT/IIoT-Markt voranzutreiben. TDK Ventures co-investiert in vielversprechende Portfoliounternehmen und unterstützt diese, indem es technisches Know-how und Zugang zu den globalen Märkten, in denen TDK tätig ist, bereitstellt. Interessierte Start-ups oder Investmentpartner können sich an TDK Ventures wenden: www.tdk-ventures.com oder [email protected].

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SOURCE TDK Ventures

• TDK Ventures selected London for its first European office
• New $150-million (USD) multi limited-partner Fund EX1 (EX = energy transformation) will focus on both European and North American-based electrification and decarbonization startups
• TDK Ventures’ mission and values to invest in climate tech startups align with Europe’s ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and reach net-zero emissions by 2050

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 19, 2023 — TDK Corporation (TSE: 6762) announced today that subsidiary TDK Ventures Inc., its corporate venture capital arm, is expanding into the European market with plans to invest in startups in the region. The company selected London as the site of its first outpost for its ambitious quest to nurture energy transition, electrification, and decarbonization throughout Europe. At the same time, TDK Ventures will initiate its $150-million (USD) multi-LP Fund EX1. The fund will focus on both European and North American-based energy-transformation startups in Seed and Series A stages.

After thorough research, TDK Ventures chose London due to its deep venture-capital density as well as startups and investment funds that focus on the environment. The company also was impressed with the city’s overall venture innovation ecosystem that comprises entrepreneurially minded scientific talent, a world-class university system, top-tier climate investors (both early and growth), centralized location, and access to strong public markets. 

“TDK Ventures has earned a reputation for successfully investing in and supporting highly innovative startups featuring incredible disruptive technologies in the realm of electrification and decarbonization,” stated Lord Dominic Johnson, UK Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade, who is a veteran of over 25 years in the financial-services industry. “I wish them much success in their efforts in combatting the many climate issues that face us. I am thoroughly delighted London was chosen as the site for their first European office and I look forward to their participation in the European market and enthusiastically welcome them to the city of London.”

“Globally, London ranks third in climate-tech funding, and third in the number of climate and energy-tech investors,” explained Nicolas Sauvage, President, TDK Ventures. “The latter ranking rises to No. 2 in the world when all of the UK is included. It also has corporate-friendly governance as well as familiar taxation, board structures, and a legal environment for venture-backed startups to find appropriate exits. This, coupled with the presence of many large-scale, late-stage, and growth-equity funds led us to decide on London as our first outpost in Europe.”

Sauvage continued that “TDK Ventures is very thankful for and appreciative of the strong support we have received from the Venture Capital Unit of the UK Government Department for Business and Trade over recent years.” 

The recent breakthroughs in materials science and advanced manufacturing in the European Union have created a watershed era for electrification and decarbonization projects. TDK Ventures has a history of helping entrepreneurial organizations in this space access the resources they need to scale production and commercialize their products as key components of global carbon neutrality.

“I am delighted that TDK Ventures has chosen London as the site of its first European office,” said Natalie Black, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific. “Including UK companies as potential recipients in its new $150-million Fund EX1 is a testament to the strength of the UK’s tech sector, which raised $31.1 billion in VC funding last year, making the UK the third largest market in the world for tech investment. I look forward to seeing TDK Ventures thrive in the UK in supporting our efforts to tackle climate change.”

To learn more about TDK Ventures, interested startups or investment partners should visit www.tdk-ventures.com or reach out at [email protected]. 

About TDK Corporate

TDK Corporation is a world leader in electronic solutions for the smart society based in Tokyo, Japan. Built on a foundation of material sciences mastery, TDK welcomes societal transformation by resolutely remaining at the forefront of technological evolution and deliberately “Attracting Tomorrow.” It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK’s comprehensive, innovation-driven portfolio features passive components such as ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, as well as magnetics, high-frequency, and piezo and protection devices. The product spectrum also includes sensors and sensor systems such as temperature and pressure, magnetic, and MEMS sensors. In addition, TDK provides power supplies and energy devices, magnetic heads and more. These products are marketed under the product brands TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics and TDK-Lambda. TDK focuses on demanding markets in automotive, industrial and consumer electronics, and information and communication technology. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2023, TDK posted total sales of USD 16.1 billion and employed about 103,000 people worldwide.

About TDK Ventures

TDK Ventures Inc. invests in startups to bolster innovation in materials science, energy/power and related areas typically underrepresented in venture capital portfolios. Established in 2019 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of TDK Corporation, the corporate venture company’s vision is to propel the digital and energy transformations of segments such as health and wellness, next-generation transportation, robotics and industrial, mixed reality and the wider IoT/IIoT markets. TDK Ventures will co-invest and support promising portfolio companies by providing technical expertise and access to global markets where TDK operates. Interested startups or investment partners may contact TDK Ventures: www.tdk-ventures.com or [email protected].

You can download this text and associated images from http://www.tdk-ventures.com/tdk-ventures-expands-into-Europe-will-use-new-150-million-Fund-EX1-to-invest-in-clean-tech-startups/

Contacts for regional media

SOURCE TDK Ventures

With Latest $1 Million Investment In Curlmix by CEO Kim Lewis, the BrainTrust Fund Unveils
One of Beauty and Wellness Industry’s Most Diverse Communities of Investors

LOS ANGELES, June 19, 2023 — BrainTrust Founders Studio, the largest members-only platform dedicated to Black founders of beauty and wellness companies, today announced the BrainTrust Fund, a planned $25 million venture fund. The BrainTrust Fund invests exclusively in early stage companies identified via BrainTrust Founders Studio, whose 120+ members collectively sold more than $100 million in products via 23,000 retail doors and online in the past year. ¹

“We designed the BrainTrust Fund as a ‘blue ocean’ investment opportunity to capitalize on innovation by Black entrepreneurs in beauty and wellness, whom we expect to continue to outperform as leaders of culture and creativity,” said General Partners Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Lisa Stone, citing reports that fewer than 1% of venture capital investors are Black women and fewer than 1% of Black women founders are funded by the venture capital community.²   “The BrainTrust Fund exists so that as the massive, multi-trillion-dollar beauty and wellness marketplace grows, Black founders, supported by Black funders and allies, may participate in creating and selling what shoppers want,” said Bracken-Ferguson and Stone.³

The BrainTrust Fund is:

• Co-led by a diverse team of women who are experienced consumer operators and investors;
• Investing in beauty and wellness companies across 20+ sub-sectors, from fragrance to AI and technology;
• Companies must have at least one Black-identifying founder as a member of BrainTrust Founders Studio, who seeks coaching and advice from investors, and has repeatable revenues of  $1+ million or more.

The BrainTrust Fund also announced a $1 million equity investment into Listener Brands, Inc., the parent company of hair care brands CurlMix and 4COnly created by Founder and Chief Executive Officer Kim Lewis. Listener Brands is the fourth investment by the BrainTrust Fund, joining a portfolio that includes BeautyStat, Thirteen Lune and Uoma Beauty.

“Kim Lewis grew Listener Brands into one of the top five Black-founded hair companies in the US because she’s an extraordinary entrepreneur and, like most Americans, has curly, wavy or coily textured hair and she wanted better products,” said General Partners Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Lisa Stone.⁴ “America’s beauty and wellness buyer is younger, more racially and ethnically diverse than ever before, and shopping for brands that serve their needs and their inclusive, sustainable values at a scale that speaks to a permanent shift, not a fad.” ⁵

“The BrainTrust Fund team’s knowledge of retail, marketing and CPG already have made them valuable investors,” said Founder and CEO Kim Lewis. “As we continue to grow and expand the family of Listener Brands, I’m excited to tap into the expertise of the BrainTrust Fund community.” 

BrainTrust Fund Investor Karla Martin, managing director and global luxury, retail and ecommerce lead for Deloitte, said that leading retailers and corporate acquirers are actively searching for solutions to consumer demand with products that are vegan, clean, and also racially and ethnically inclusive.

“My clients are buying what they cannot build fast enough for today’s consumer,” said Martin. “The notion of beauty has expanded more in the last 10 years than the previous 40, including size, age, race, ethnicity and gender. And those new segments of consumers, and in particular younger consumers, want to feel more connected to the brands they use and want brands with clear purpose. I have two daughters, our kids read labels and they read the news. It’s not going to stop.”

The BrainTrust Fund, anchored by WestRiver Group, includes an accredited investor community that resembles beauty and wellness shoppers by design, fund partners said. Most identify as women (77%) and BIPOC (76%), and all are experienced leaders in today’s consumer marketplace, from beauty, wellness, and consumer packaged goods, to e-commerce, marketing, media, and funding and growing startups. Select BrainTrust Fund investors include: Chidinma Asonye, President, S by Serena; Tara Abraham, Founder and Chairwoman, Accel Inc; Erik Anderson, CEO, WestRiver Group, Valerie Antoine-Gustave, physician; Melanie Bender, CEO, rhode; Delivette Castor, assistant professor; Stephanie Chung, speaker; Jotaka Eaddy, CEO, FullCircle Strategies; Anne French, strategist; Beth Haggerty, Co-founder, Inflection Point Partners; Liz Jenkins, COO, Hello Sunshine; Luvvie Ajayi Jones, author;  Karla Martin, Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP; Pardis Nasseri, CEO and President, PalmTree LLC; Richelle Parham, President, Universal Music Group, Global eCommerce and Business Development; Thai Randolph, CEO, Hartbeat Enterprises; Dee M. Robinson, CEO, Robinson Hill; Bridgette L. Smith, CEO, Founder Playbook; Robert Thomas, CIO, George Kaiser Family Foundation; Igor Vaks, CEO, CreatorIQ; Beth Ward, CEO, Beth Ward Studios; Anne Clarke Wolff, CEO, Independence Point Advisors; and Julee Wilson, Executive Director, BeautyUnited and Beauty Editor-at-Large, Cosmopolitan.

About the BrainTrust Fund:
The BrainTrust Fund focuses on early stage investments in the beauty and wellness sector identified via BrainTrust Founders Studio, the largest platform dedicated to Black founders of beauty and wellness companies. Founder/CEO Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Co-founder/Chief Investment Officer Lisa Stone are two known pioneers in creating consumer products and operating consumer platforms. The Fund targets beauty and wellness companies with at least one Black-identifying co-founder across 20 sub-sectors, from cosmetics to AI and technology. These companies must be members of the BrainTrust Founders Studio that demonstrate traction via $1MM+ in revenue from a market-tested MVP.  www.braintrustfund.com

¹ https://braintrustfoundersstudio.com/2023advance/

² https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/black-representation-in-the-beauty-industry;  https://www.fastcompany.com/90870053/why-latina-and-black-women-founders-dont-receive-vc-funding;  https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/audit/articles/diversity-venture-capital-human-capital-survey-dashboard.html  

³ https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/press-room/statistics-and-facts/; https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Featured%20Insights/The%20Next%20Normal/The-Next-Normal-The-future-of-wellness

⁴ https://www.allure.com/gallery/black-owned-hair-care-brands; https://www.mintel.com/press-centre/beauty-and-personal-care/haircare-brands-should-focus-on-hair-texture-to-get-ahead-in-2021

⁵ https://store.mintel.com/report/us-diversity-and-inclusivity-in-beauty-market-report-2021; https://www.statista.com/statistics/1289101/diversity-and-inclusion-as-the-most-important-beauty-brand-values- in-the-us; https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-census-2020-7264a653037e38df7ba67d3a324fc90d 
                              

SOURCE BrainTrust Fund

CHICAGO, June 17, 2023 — Kennedy Molakal, a 17-year-old student from Adlai Stevenson School, together with Tom Goran Skog, a Norwegian scientist, has launched “I Rescue a Child”, an innovative initiative that utilizes facial recognition technology and public involvement to combat child trafficking globally.

“I Rescue a Child” combines Molakal and Skog’s tech-savvy approach with their passion for protecting vulnerable children. This groundbreaking initiative leverages a custom-built mobile app, integrating facial recognition technology, and securely uploads photos of missing children to the cloud.

Parents who have lost a child can visit any participating charity or college to submit essential information and photographs of their child. These pictures are then securely uploaded to the cloud database, transforming every smartphone user into a potential rescuer.

By capitalizing on the influence of celebrities and public figures to raise awareness, this revolutionary model aims to engage every user to take action. If a user captures a photograph of a child seen begging on the streets or engaged in child labor, the image is uploaded to the cloud. If a match occurs, the child’s parents, law enforcement, and local NGOs are immediately alerted, prompting immediate action.

Once fully operational, the project is projected to rescue over 300,000 children from the clutches of traffickers.

Kennedy Molakal said, “My goal is to rescue one child at a time and bring joy back to their youth. It’s an ambitious goal, but every child we save makes this initiative worthwhile.”

Tom Goran Skog added, “The power of technology will enable every public to be an active savior of any trafficked child. We’re giving the public the tools to be a part of the solution.”

The duo is actively seeking partnerships with NGOs, public volunteers, and social impact organizations to join them in this important fight against child trafficking. Several celebrities and social organizations have already extended support for the initiative. They hope this will impact and save at least 10% of the globally trafficked children. ALCOR Capital is one of the global corporate sponsors for I Rescue a Child. 

SOURCE ALCOR Capital Inc

HONG KONG, June 16, 2023 — Black Spade Acquisition Co (the “Company”) today announced it is transferring the listing of its units, Class A ordinary shares and warrants to the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) from the New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE”). The decision to transfer to the NYSE American was motivated by several factors, including more favorable thresholds for continued listing on the NYSE American following potential redemptions of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares in connection with the vote to extend the deadline by which the Company must complete its initial business combination.

The Company expects to begin trading under its current symbols “BSAQU,” “BSAQ” and “BSAQWS” for its units, Class A ordinary shares and warrants, respectively, at the open of trading on NYSE American on June 21, 2023. The Company will continue to trade on the NYSE until the close of trading on June 20, 2023, and will be delisted from the NYSE in connection with the listing on NYSE American.

About Black Spade Acquisition Co

Black Spade Acquisition Co (“BSAQ”) is a blank check company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a business combination (Special Purpose Acquisition Company). BSAQ was founded by Black Spade Capital, which runs a global portfolio consisting of a wide spectrum of cross-border investments, and consistently seeks to add new investment projects and opportunities to its portfolio. Learn more at: https://www.blackspadeacquisition.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Such statements include, but are not limited to, possible business combinations and the financing thereof, and related matters, as well as all other statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Black Spade Acquisition Co

Oghenekevwe Emadago Will Use the $100,000 O’Shaughnessy Fellowship Grant to Continue Researching and Developing the Girlified Sanitary Pad

GREENWICH, Conn., June 16, 2023 — O’Shaughnessy Ventures LLC (“OSV”), an investment firm that empowers creators, has awarded an O’Shaughnessy Fellowship to Oghenekevwe Emadago. 

Emadago’s company, Girlified LTD, created the Girlified sanitary pad in 2022. It is made from banana fiber and natural cotton and is an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to conventional sanitary pads.

Emadago intends the Girlified sanitary pad to reduce pollution and help girls remain in school and carry out their daily activities.

OSV’s founder and CEO, Jim O’Shaughnessy, commented, “Over the past five years, Oghenekevwe has demonstrated an admirable commitment to positively impacting communities in Nigeria, both in his professional and personal life. We’re delighted to support him in his mission to solve period poverty— in particular, the lack of access to sanitary products —with the Girlified sanitary pad.”

Emadago said, “Don’t only dream big. Be ready to work ‘Big.'”

About Emadago

Emadago is an environmental activist, entrepreneur, and advocate for young women and girls.

Over the past five years, he has worked closely with youths in remote villages in Nigeria, where he discovered the acute problem of period poverty affecting women and girls in their communities and the issue of plastic pollution from conventional sanitary pad use.

His goal in life is to continue impacting his communities and raising investments to build impact-focused businesses that support local youths while championing climate action.

Among other roles, he is currently a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and Chatham House’s Common Futures Conversations. He is also the regional director of the Naza Agape Foundation.

Emadago has a background in physics and speaks four languages fluently.

More information about Emadago can be found on his LinkedIn page.

About the Fellowship Program

OSV launched the Fellowship Program in 2023. It is a one-year program for ambitious people who want to build something great. Fellows receive a $100,000 grant and access to OSV’s network of founders, investors, and experts to support them in bringing their projects to life. 

OSV will award twelve Fellowships in total. Applications for Fellowships are now closed and will reopen on January 1, 2024. Creators interested in learning more can do so via OSV’s website.

About O’Shaughnessy Ventures

OSV is a creative investment firm that empowers and inspires creators to bring their ideas to life. Founded by Jim O’Shaughnessy, a pioneer in quantitative investing, founder of O’Shaughnessy Asset Management, and author of four books on investing, OSV aims to provide financial support and to partner in growing the next life-changing creative ideas. 

OSV combines Jim’s deeply rooted interest in all things art, science, investing, and tech with his long-held desire to establish scenarios designed to help promising creators and their inspiring ideas succeed, regardless of age, location, job history, or level of education. For more information, visit https://www.osv.llc/.

Media Contact:
Ena Gong
O’Shaughnessy Ventures LLC
(917) 355-7420
[email protected]

SOURCE O’Shaughnessy Ventures, LLC

Leveraging state-of-the-art hydrogen creation and combustion techniques, Mach aims to build a new generation of defense technology.

AUSTIN, Texas, June 16, 2023 — Mach Industries, a hardware defense technology company, announced today that it has raised $5.7M in a round led by Sequoia Capital and with participation from Marque VC and Champion Hill Ventures. This represents Sequoia’s first investment in a hardware defense technology company, adding to the firm’s history of partnering with companies that support US national security interests. The money will be used by Mach to bolster its product development and to continue hiring top talent.

Founded by Ethan Thornton, Mach Industries is spearheading a hardware-first approach to defense with cutting-edge hydrogen creation and combustion techniques. Central to Mach’s innovation is the use of a new generation of fuel: hydrogen. This versatile fuel can be easily manufactured in the field using readily available resources, such as electricity or aluminum, and water. Hydrogen is also interchangeable across all Mach systems. Most importantly, hydrogen enables 10x advancements in range and power for projectiles and unparalleled loiter time and speed for aerial systems.

“Hydrogen is a fascinating fuel—it’s really the only way to drive combustion out of electricity. This process allows for flexible energy transfer, and the resulting fuel increases performance on many legacy platforms. The result is a more distributed energy supply chain supporting systems with otherwise impossible capabilities,” said Thornton. “I founded Mach to push the development of these capabilities as I saw their adoption as a necessary step in the future of defense.”

Mach is initially focused on developing a suite of oxyhydrogen defense platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and aerial protection devices. The company’s systems will provide a significant advantage in both logistics and capability.

Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia, expressed his enthusiasm for Mach’s groundbreaking technology and its potential to solve the challenging problem of hypersonic defense, saying:

“Since witnessing the test flight of hypersonic vehicle 2 in 2011 while at DARPA, I’ve been enamored with hypersonic defense technology. Historically, this has been a hard problem to solve due to the extreme velocities and nonlinearities involved, yet Mach is paving the first legitimate technical pathway to overcome these challenges.”

Mach is investing heavily in manufacturing, aiming to establish a vertically integrated supply chain that can deliver advanced systems at an unprecedented scale. Utilizing automation, breakthrough hydrogen technologies, and cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, the company is set on mass-producing robust, attributable systems designed to execute strategically over long distances.

Thornton began his founder journey at the age of 16 when he prototyped small arms applications in his garage. While studying at MIT and pursuing a career in the Air Force through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), Thorton continued to prototype and ideate. This revolutionary technology attracted the interest of Lincoln Laboratory, a research and development center funded by MIT and the Department of Defense. Following this early success, Thornton left MIT to establish Mach Industries. Since then, the company has hired top-tier talent, including fellow MIT classmates, ROTC cadets, military veterans, and critical members of Lincoln Laboratory.

Stephanie Zhan, a partner at Sequoia, added: “Ethan is a force of nature: from his technical depth and genuine obsession with the problem to his bias for action and maturity beyond his years. Defense technology is central to our safety and security, and Mach is a step-function advancement to the state of the industry.”

The company is headquartered in Austin, TX and has a hardware facility in Boston, MA. Today’s funding milestone brings Mach Industries one step closer on its journey to equip the United States and its allies with cutting-edge technology to effectively combat in peer-to-peer conflicts.

About Mach Industries
Mach Industries is building a hardware ecosystem using field-sourced hydrogen to drive better performance out of defense platforms.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Press Relations at Mach Industries
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Mach Industries

The company is the fastest growing brand in immune supplements and is focused on category expansion as they reinvent the medicine cabinet with propolis.

LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2023 — Beekeeper’s Naturals announced today the closing of a $14M funding round, co-led by Devonshire Investors (the private investment firm affiliated with FMR LLC, the parent company of Fidelity Investments) and CAVU Consumer Partners, with participation from Vibrant Ventures and Muse Capital. This follows Beekeeper’s Naturals’ 2020 Series B led by CAVU Consumer Partners.

This investment comes on the heels of Beekeeper’s triple digit YOY growth and retail expansion, increasing from 5,000 to over 18,000 locations in the U.S and Canada in 2022. This capital will continue to fuel the company’s rapid growth in retail and online, while expanding their innovation pipeline. Most recently the brand’s hero product, Propolis Throat Spray, secured the #1 rank in the Cold & Flu category on Amazon and has become the fastest growing brand in the Immune Support Category at mass retail.

“Devonshire’s investment will help support Beekeeper’s Naturals in taking another major step in revolutionizing the medicine cabinet and building the most impactful health care brand in the world,” said Founder, Carly Stein Kremer. “We will continue to invest in brand marketing and product development, as we focus on retail expansion into 2024.”

Beekeeper’s continues to bridge the gap between healthcare and wellness, working with a medical advisory board and creating products based on published science and clinical trials. With nearly 2M bottles of the brand’s Propolis Throat Spray sold, Beekeeper’s remains a cult favorite for immune support, with celebrity investors including Cameron Diaz, Nas, and Lily Collins.

“We are thrilled to be supporting Beekeeper’s Naturals as they accelerate their growth at retail and online,” said Suzanne Agnello, who led the investment for Devonshire Investors. “The company’s propolis and beehive-based products have broad application and are helping reinvent the OTC medicine aisle. We see significant opportunity for the brand to continue its rapid expansion.”

“Beekeeper’s Naturals answers the call of modern consumers who demand cleaner, better-for-you and efficacious alternatives to traditional OTC products,” said Jared Jacobs, Partner at CAVU Consumer Partners and Beekeeper’s Naturals Board member. “We are proud to partner with Carly and Daniel, along with the strong team they have assembled, to reimagine the medicine aisle and help build one of the leading, trusted, natural health & wellness brands.”

Media Contact: [email protected]

About Beekeeper’s Naturals:

Founded by Carly Stein Kremer in 2017, Beekeeper’s Naturals is a leader in the health and wellness category, creating clean, effective products powered by propolis and backed by science. Using unique remedies from the beehive, the beekeeper-led team is committed to providing the cleanest, most powerful solutions to modern health issues including chronic stress, poor sleep, digestive issues and scratchy throats. Unlike competitors, they apply scientific rigor to their product development and commit to third-party pesticide testing to ensure they’re creating natural remedies that actually deliver. They’re also a brand on a mission, prioritizing People, Plant, and Propolis. By working exclusively with sustainable small-scale apiaries, partnering with leading bee research institutions, and prioritizing pesticide-free hive health above all else, Beekeeper’s Naturals works to raise awareness and create a better environment for our world’s most important pollinators—the bees. @beekeepers_naturals.

SOURCE Beekeeper’s Naturals