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Proactive - Interviews for investors
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Welcome to the Proactive podcast channel – the destination for breaking news on growth companies and up to the minute market coverage.
Here we plug you into what’s new and exciting in the world of business.
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Episodes
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'Data wins wars': TMX VettaFi's Axel Belorde on the drone boom reshaping defence and business
2d ago00:07:16Tap to summarizeTMX VettaFi's head of business development for EMEA & Asia, Axel Belorde, spoke with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the structural drivers fuelling demand for drones and autonomous systems across defence, government and commercial markets. Belorde pointed to military modernisation as a key driver, with decision-makers weighing whether to replace ageing equipment or adopt technology offering an asymmetric edge. He also flagged civil applications - policing, border security, disaster response - plus a growing range of commercial uses. Smaller and medium-sized drones, he said, can deliver outsized results relative to their cost, with lighter material and energy demands easing pressure on supply chains versus traditional equipment. Belorde emphasised drones' role as data-gathering platforms, with fleet data combined with satellite and IoT inputs to sharpen decision-making and power operational AI: "Data wins wars and data also wins in terms of deploying operational AI and having good outcomes." On the commercial side, he cited delivery, warehouse management and predictive maintenance — including drones running continuous inventory checks to cut stockouts and free up working capital, and autonomous systems surveying critical infrastructure. His summary: "You don't have to have a human shape for an autonomous system to work" - a drone just needs to be fit for purpose, nimble and cost-efficient to deliver outsized impact. Visit Proactive's YouTube channel for more interviews and videos. Give the video a like, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications so you don't miss future content. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #Drones #DroneTechnology #AutonomousSystems #DefenceTechnology #MilitaryTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #OperationalAI #SupplyChains #SupplyChainResilience #Robotics #Automation #PredictiveMaintenance #CriticalInfrastructure #TMXVettaFi #Proactive
Transcribe →Ukraine GDP growing 4.5% as $589bn reconstruction theme opens up - TMX VettaFi
2d ago00:05:56Tap to summarizeJane Edmondson, head of index product strategy at TMX VettaFi, tells Proactive Investors that Ukraine's GDP - after collapsing 30% in 2022 - is forecast to grow 4.5% this year, and that 90% of companies in the country are now fully operational. She argues that reconstruction is already under way and that investors do not need to wait for a peace deal to begin gaining exposure. Edmondson cites the Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, published jointly by the Ukrainian government, the World Bank, the EU Commission and the United Nations, which put the cost of reconstruction and recovery at approximately $589 billion (around €510 billion) - roughly three times Ukraine's nominal GDP. The largest individual needs are in transportation, energy and housing, each requiring around $90 billion, while Citi estimates foreign direct investment could contribute $87 billion to $145 billion, covering 15 to 25% of total funding needs. She explains how the underlying index for the Defiance Ukraine Reconstruction UAWAR ETF is constructed: companies must either be Ukrainian by domicile or headquarters, or must belong to business segments directly identified in the damage and needs assessment as recovery priorities - including construction and infrastructure, defense, building materials, and energy transition. European companies are favoured over global names for defense and infrastructure given geographic proximity, and global industrial names are included only if tied to recovery areas, with capped weightings. Edmondson names several holdings across categories: Ukrainian drone-software firm Swarmer, telecom operator Kyivstar, and iron ore pellet producer Ferrexpo on the Ukrainian side; and Caterpillar, Vinci, CRH, ABB, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Eaton, Emerson, BAE Systems and Rheinmetall among the international names. She notes that Ukraine's reconstruction plans follow a 'Build Back Better' framework aligned with EU sustainability goals, covering clean energy, sustainable agriculture and green transportation. #TMXVettaFi #UAWAR #UkraineReconstruction #DefianceETF #Ukraine #ReconstructionInvesting #ETF #Infrastructure #EmergingMarkets #ThematicInvesting
Transcribe →Gelion CEO says £2m Mitsui Kinzoku deal will help develop and scale up sulfur battery tech
3d ago00:06:19Tap to summarizeGelion PLC (AIM:GELN, OTC:GELNF, FRA:X0S) CEO Matthew Wood spoke with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company's newly announced funded development and scale-up agreement with Mitsui Kinzoku, and how it fits into Gelion's wider strategy for its Nano-Encapsulated Sulfur (NES) cathode technology. Mitsui Kinzoku, a leading Japanese supplier of metals and engineered materials with an established position in advanced battery materials, will work with Gelion to validate its sulfur-based NES cathode material in both liquid and solid-state battery cells. The agreement includes £2 million of non-dilutive funding, structured as stage payments tied to milestones. Wood said this doesn't represent sales revenue, but payments would be recognised as commercial revenue from FY27 onwards. It also gives Mitsui Kinzoku an option to negotiate manufacturing and distribution rights for Gelion's NES material in certain Asian territories, with terms still to be agreed. "This agreement adds a major global tier one battery materials manufacturer to our partner network," Wood said, adding that while Gelion still has milestones to meet, the deal marks a pathway towards commercial-scale NES production. Wood said the Mitsui Kinzoku tie-up complements Gelion's other recent activity, including IP arrangements with the Max Planck Institute, programmes with TDK, Kinetic and Nissan, and its US entry via an agreement with the National Lab of the Rockies. Looking ahead, he said Gelion remains focused on delivering across its partnerships, with further news flow expected. Visit Proactive’s YouTube channel for more interviews and videos. If you found this interview useful, give the video a like, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications for future content. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #Gelion #GelionPLC #MitsuiKinzoku #BatteryTechnology #EnergyStorage #LithiumSulfur #BatteryMaterials #SolidStateBatteries #NES #NanoEncapsulatedSulfur #BatteryInnovation #CleanTechnology #EnergyTechnology #Commercialisation #AdvancedMaterials #Nissan #Investing #InvestorNews #ProactiveInvestors
Transcribe →Bradda Head Lithium chair: “All systems go” for drilling at Whistlejacket
3d ago00:06:34Tap to summarizeBradda Head Lithium Ltd (AIM:BHL) executive chairman Ian Stalker spoke with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the latest exploration results from the Whistlejacket lithium project and plans for a new drilling campaign. Recent sampling at Whistlejacket identified lithium-bearing spodumene, with channel samples - more representative than grab samples - grading up to 4.24% lithium oxide. The company has also identified five additional prospective areas as its understanding of the project develops. Bradda Head plans to start drilling at Whistlejacket this month, targeting around 5,000 to 6,000 metres of infill drilling that could help progress the project towards an NI 43-101-compliant resource. "We've got the team intact and still ready to kick it off, and we're all systems go. So I think we're in for a nice ride in the next six months," Stalker said. He also discussed Bradda Head's wider US strategy, including its San Domingo project and brine interests in Pennsylvania, where a planned solar project can operate on the surface while the company retains access to its brine rights, with the solar company covering annual renewal fees in the areas where it operates. Visit Proactive’s YouTube channel for more videos, and don’t forget to give the video a like, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications for future content. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #BraddaHeadLithium #Whistlejacket #Lithium #LithiumExploration #CriticalMinerals #Spodumene #Mining #MiningStocks #Exploration #Drilling #BatteryMetals #USMining #SanDomingo #DLE #Proactive
Transcribe →Seeing Machines DMS growth accelerates in Europe
3d ago00:11:19Tap to summarizeSeeing Machines Ltd (AIM:SEE, OTC:SEEMF, FRA:M2Z) CEO Paul McGlone and CFO Martin Ive talked with Proactive about the company’s FY2026 performance, the rapid growth of its driver monitoring systems (DMS) business and the outlook for FY2027. McGlone described FY2026 as a pivotal year as Seeing Machines moved from engineering programmes with automotive customers into large-scale production and higher-margin royalty revenues. Automotive production volumes increased by just under 200% to 4.5 million vehicles during the year, taking the number of vehicles on the road using Seeing Machines technology to more than 8.2 million. Revenue increased by around 45% to just over US$76 million, while the company delivered a profitable second half. McGlone said the improvement was driven fundamentally by increasing royalty revenues and demonstrated the operating leverage within the business model. The executives also discussed the impact of the European Union’s General Safety Regulation. From 7 July, new vehicles in Europe require camera-based driver monitoring technology, which McGlone described as a significant industry milestone and an important driver of the company’s long-term royalty opportunity. Automotive production volumes reached more than 2.1 million vehicles in the fourth quarter, representing a 64% increase from the previous quarter. Ive said automotive royalty revenue increased by around 135% in FY2026 compared with FY2025, excluding a one-off upfront royalty payment. He also highlighted disciplined cost management and positive adjusted EBITDA in the second half. Looking into FY2027, Seeing Machines expects continued royalty growth, further OEM programme launches, expansion of its interior sensing and impairment detection capabilities, growth in Guardian recurring revenue and further development of opportunities in future mobility and autonomous vehicles. Visit Proactive’s YouTube channel for more interviews and company updates. If you found this video useful, give it a like, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications so you do not miss future content. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy
Transcribe →Domestic Metals Corp: 9,000m drill program at Smart Creek starts later this month
3d ago00:07:05Tap to summarizeDomestic Metals Corp (TSX-V:DMCU, OTCQB:DMCUF, FRA:03E0) CEO Gordon Neal tells Proactive's Stephen Gunnion the company is set to begin its maiden 9,000-metre drill program at its Smart Creek copper project in Montana later this month, with first assay results expected by mid-October. Neal said surface geochemistry completed in 2025 returned peak results of 102 grams per tonne gold, 3,800 grams per tonne silver, and 28% copper, which he describes as highly unusual in 35 years of industry experience. Neal highlighted that Rio Tinto's best historical hole at the project - hole 22, drilled in 2022 - returned 109 metres at 0.75% copper but was distal to the centre of mineralization and drilled vertically into a dipping structure. Domestic Metals intends to redrill that target at the correct angle to capture the full width of the mineralised zone. A hydrothermal copper vein rock sample picked up at hole 22 during a recent site visit was estimated at 12% copper by the company's geologist and subsequently tested internally at 38% copper. Neal said the company is vectoring toward what it believes is the porphyry centre of mineralisation, likely in the Sunrise Mine area, using 15 years of accumulated drilling data combined with its own geophysics and geochemistry, which he said overlay each other across the project. The company is fully permitted. Key milestones for investors, according to Neal, include visual core results to be released ahead of assays if significant mineralisation is encountered, with laboratory turnaround currently running three to four weeks. Drilling is set to begin in late August, with core available by mid-September and assay results expected by mid-October at the latest. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #DomesticMetalsCorp #DMCO #copper #gold #silver #porphyry #SmartCreek #juniorminers #miningstocks #resourcesector
Transcribe →Arrow Exploration confirms four zones at Icaco 3, opens up ~10 new drilling locations
3d ago00:02:59Tap to summarizeArrow Exploration Corp (TSX-V:AXL, AIM:AXL, OTC:CSTPF) CEO Marshall Abbott tells Proactive's Stephen Gunnion that the Icaco 3 well has confirmed up to four hydrocarbon-bearing zones in the Icaco extension of the Tapir Block in Colombia, opening almost 10 additional development locations across the Ubaque, Guadalupe and Carbonera C7 intervals. The IC-HZ4 and IC-HZ5 horizontal wells encountered a record Ubaque thickness of over 100 feet, containing 13.7 API crude, with Abbott saying the Ubaque trend extends across the northern part of the Tapir Block, supporting further development drilling. With five new water disposal cellars complete, Arrow is preparing to skid its rig and drill continuously until at least June next year. Abbott said production currently sits above 5,000 boe/d, with the programme expected to push output "well north" of that level. The company remains cash-flow positive above its capex spend, and Abbott said the current oil price environment supports a more aggressive drilling stance. On the Tapir Block licence extension, Abbott said he recently met Colombia's national regulator and Ecopetrol in Bogota, pointing to Arrow's track record of five discoveries, 40 development wells and $127 million invested as evidence it's the type of explorer authorities want. He described dialogue as "very positive," with a decision expected before year-end. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #ArrowExploration #AXL #oilexploration #crudeoil #Colombia #TapirBlock #Icaco #Ecopetrol #energystocks #resourceinvesting
Transcribe →GeoVax targets Q4 phase 3 trial for MVA mpox vaccine with EMA expedited pathway
3d ago00:07:09Tap to summarizeGeoVax Labs (NASDAQ:GOVX) CEO David Dodd tells Proactive that the company is on track to initiate a pivotal phase 3 trial of its GEO-MVA mpox and smallpox vaccine candidate before the end of 2024. The CRO has been hired, trial sites have been identified, and the product has already been manufactured, packaged and released, ready to be administered to humans. Dodd explains that the European Medicines Agency granted GeoVax an expedited regulatory pathway, waiving the requirement for phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials. Instead, the company only needs to conduct an immunobridging study comparing GEO-MVA against Bavarian Nordic's MVA-BN vaccine in healthy adults, measuring neutralising antibodies and conversion rate. The EMA justified this approach because GeoVax's MVA and Bavarian Nordic's MVA were derived from the same parental cell line, making them equivalent at origin, and because of a critical global supply shortage. Dodd describes a market gap of approximately 15 million doses in annual MVA demand versus what was supplied last year, noting that Bavarian Nordic is at manufacturing capacity with no apparent plans to expand. He says GeoVax aims to be the first additional supplier of MVA vaccine globally. The commercial route to market is through government procurement agencies and national stockpiles rather than a traditional drug launch. Dodd identifies stockpile buyers including the US Strategic National Stockpile, the UK biosecurity entity, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the EU through HERA, and Unicef via the Gavi Vaccine Alliance. He notes the vaccine is relevant not only for mpox but also as a defence against the potential weaponisation of smallpox. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #GeoVax #GOVX #biotechnology #mpox #smallpox #infectiousdisease #clinicalstage #vaccinestock #biotech #investing
Transcribe →YieldMax ETFs: covered call spreads targeting 80% upside capture plus monthly income
3d ago00:05:35Tap to summarizeYieldMax ETFs chief strategist Mike Khouw explains how the firm's options-based ETFs use covered call spreads rather than traditional covered calls, targeting roughly 80% participation in outsized upside moves while still generating monthly income for investors. Speaking to Proactive's Stephen Gunnion, Khouw outlined the difference: by selling an upside call and buying a higher-strike call above it, YieldMax avoids capping gains entirely when a stock makes an unusually large move. Khouw describes the range of ETFs launched with HanETF, including YMAG, a diversified fund-of-funds across YieldMax strategies; NATY, focused on defence; CHPY, targeting semiconductors and IT hardware; and MSTY, a single-stock strategy built around Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which he describes as primarily a Bitcoin play run by Michael Saylor. On who these products suit, Khouw said they are designed for investors seeking a balance between equity participation and income - a substitute for the dividend-paying stocks that are less common today. He described them as 'equity light': more equity exposure than a bond, less than a pure stock holding, with some downside volatility reduction built in through the spread structure. Khouw noted that options-based income ETFs currently represent only about 1% of the entire US ETF market, and an even smaller share elsewhere, but expects that proportion to grow materially as ageing demographics push more investors to seek income from accumulated assets and as appetite for alternatives to conventional fixed income increases. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #YieldMaxETFs #YMAG #coveredcall #optionsETF #incomeInvesting #HanETF #MSTY #CHPY #ETFincome #dividendAlternative
Transcribe →Immunic CEO on Q2 progress and Phase 3 MS trial milestones
3d ago00:06:47Tap to summarizeImmunic Inc (NASDAQ:IMUX, FRA:10VA) CEO Erik Lundgren spoke with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company's second-quarter results, its leadership transition and the milestones set to shape the next phase of its multiple sclerosis (MS) programme. Lundgren explained why he joined Immunic, pointing to the potential of lead candidate vidofludimus calcium and the chance to lead the business into two pivotal Phase 3 readouts. Both the ENSURE-1 and ENSURE-2 Phase 3 studies in relapsing MS are fully enrolled and on track to report results by year-end, with the company already engaging health authorities ahead of the data and any subsequent regulatory filing. The interview also covered Immunic's strengthened leadership team, including new chairman Michael Bonney, board member Jon Congleton and chief medical officer Dr Michael A. Panzara - part of a push to build deep MS expertise to support the company's long-term strategy. Lundgren flagged another key goal: launching a Phase 3 study in progressive MS before year-end. "The other big milestone we're really focused on is initiating a Progressive MS study by the end of this year," he said, adding that the programme could widen the market opportunity for vidofludimus calcium and address a significant area of unmet need. On financials, Immunic ended Q2 with around $155 million in cash, providing runway into late next year, with further funding potentially available through conversion of pre-funded warrants following positive clinical data. For more interviews with leading healthcare and biotechnology companies, visit the Proactive YouTube channel. Don't forget to like this video, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications so you never miss future content. Read Proactive's Editorial Policy here: https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/pages/editorialPolicy #Immunic #MultipleSclerosis #MS #Biotech #Biotechnology #ClinicalTrials #Phase3 #VidofludimusCalcium #Healthcare #DrugDevelopment #Nasdaq #Investing #Biopharma #ProactiveInvestors
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