Small Cap

xTAO Announces Proposed Normal Course Issuer Bid

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ - xTAO Inc. (TSXV:XTAO) (OTC:XTAIF) (the "Company" or "xTAO"), a publicly traded technology company focused on building infrastructure for Bittensor and its decentralized AI ecosystem, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the Company to proceed with a normal course issuer bid (the "NCIB") to purchase for cancellation, from time to time, as the Company considers advisable, up to 1,427,609 common shares of the Company ("Common Shares"), representing approximately 5% of the Company's currently issued and outstanding common shares. The proposed NCIB remains subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V").

"The proposed NCIB demonstrates our conviction in the value of xTAO, and provides us with flexibility to act when the market price of the Common Shares does not appropriately reflect the value of xTAO's business," said Karia Samaroo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of xTAO. "Our objective is to allocate capital in the manner that creates the greatest long-term value per share."

Subject to TSX-V acceptance, purchases of Common Shares will be made on the open market through the facilities of the TSX-V, in compliance with regulatory requirements at the prevailing market price of the Common Shares at the time of acquisition. The actual number of Common Shares that may be purchased for cancellation and the timing of any such purchases will be determined by the Company and will depend on prevailing market conditions.

The NCIB will commence on a date to be determined following acceptance by the TSX-V and satisfaction of all applicable commencement requirements, and ...

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VERSES AI Announces New Strategic Direction, Discontinuation of AI Operations, and Pursuit of Strategic Alternatives

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:14:00 +0000

VANCOUVER, BC, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ -- VERSES AI Inc. (CBOE:VERS) (OTCQB:VRSSD) ("VERSES'' or the "Company"), a cognitive computing company specializing in next-generation intelligent software systems today announced that, following a strategic review of its business operations and market opportunities, the Company intends to discontinue its artificial intelligence ("AI") research and development activities and refocus its efforts on evaluating and pursuing alternative business opportunities.

The Company's Board of Directors have determined that a strategic pivot away from AI research and development is in the best interests of shareholders given the Company's limited capital, capital market conditions, the state of our product development, and the timetable to commercialization and revenue.

As part of this strategic pivot, the Company will cease its AI-related operations, including research, development, and related expenditures. This will allow the Company to preserve capital while pursuing strategic alternatives and potential new business initiatives intended to maximize value for shareholders.

"When I was appointed interim CEO in February, the Company was already facing extreme liquidity constraints and a challenging path to product development and revenue. During the past 4 months, we conducted exhaustive fundraising efforts and corporate development initiatives, such as merger with strategic and financial partners, or asset sales that we were unable to close," said CEO David Scott. "After careful consideration, we believe it is in the best interest of our shareholders to stop operations and redirect the Company's focus and resources toward pursuing other opportunities that may better position us to preserve and create shareholder value. We will continue to update shareholders as material developments occur."

The Company has accepted the resignation of James Hendrickson, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Hari Thiruvengada, Chief Technology Officer, as the result of disagreements with the Board of Directors regarding, among other matters, the Company's compensation practices, including the non-payment of earned wages to certain W-2 employees, including himself and has accepted the resignation of Karl Friston, Chief Science officer. The Company is also terminating its licensing agreement with Prodigii AI, LLC, and will not continue its relationship with the major global investment firm

The Company ...

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Simulations Plus, Inc. Investigated on Behalf of Investors - Contact the DJS Law Group to Discuss Your Rights – SLP

Business Wire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:29:00 +0000

The DJS Law Group announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Simulations Plus, Inc. ("Simulations Plus" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: SLP) violations of the securities laws.

INVESTIGATION DETAILS: The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors.

If you are a shareholder ...

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Bragg Gaming Group Announces Results from Annual Meeting of Shareholders

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:18:00 +0000

TORONTO, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ - Bragg Gaming Group Inc. (NASDAQ:BRAG) (TSX:BRAG) ("bragg" or the "Company"), a leading content and technology provider, announced the voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders held on June 18, 2026 (the "Meeting").

At the Meeting, bragg shareholders voted on the following matters, the full details of which are set out in the Company's management information circular dated May 15, 2026 (the "Circular"), issued in connection with the Meeting, which is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

At the Meeting, Holly Gagnon, Mark Clayton, Thomas Winter, Donald Robertson and Aaron Baryoseph were elected as directors of the Company with more than a majority of the votes cast for their re-election.

Matevž Mazij did not receive a majority of the votes cast for his re-election. Accordingly, Mr. Mazij has complied with the Company's majority voting policy (the "Majority Voting Policy") and has provided an offer (the "Resignation Offer") to resign from the Company's board of directors (the "Board"). In accordance with the Majority Voting Policy and as provided in the Canada Business Corporations Act, Mr. Mazij will continue to serve as a director until the Resignation Offer is accepted and becomes effective, his successor is appointed or elected or until the date that is 90 days from today .

Detailed results of the shareholder votes are as follows:

Nominee

Number of Shares

Percentage of ...

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Graphite One Advances Ohio Battery Materials Facility with Production Line Integration Contract

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

G1 CEO: Company marks "another major execution milestone as we move closer to building America's next-generation graphite supply chain."

Advancing a Vertically Integrated North American Supply Chain for EV and Energy Storage Battery Materials

VANCOUVER, BC, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ - Graphite One Inc. (TSXV:GPH) (OTCQX:GPHOF) ("Graphite One", "G1" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged a leading global engineering and production line integration provider to support the design and integration of the manufacturing equipment being procured for the Company's planned Ohio advanced graphite materials facility, which remains subject to project financing.

The contract represents another significant step in Graphite One's strategy to build a fully integrated, U.S.-based graphite supply chain capable of supplying battery-grade graphite materials for electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and defense applications.

"This is a meaningful execution milestone for Graphite One," said Anthony Huston, Chief Executive Officer. "We are moving beyond planning and into the detailed engineering and implementation phase required to build a battery materials manufacturing operation. Bringing on a highly experienced production integration team reduces execution risk, accelerates our development timeline, and positions us to efficiently scale production as demand for domestic graphite continues to grow. By involving and iterating with end-users during the design and development phase, G1's production line will be purpose-built from the start – a key to our go-to-market strategy that we believe will serve us well."

The engineering team will provide Production Line Integration services, ensuring the seamless coordination and optimization of the equipment that will form the backbone of Graphite One's Ohio manufacturing operations. The work includes equipment interface design, process integration, production flow optimization, and operational readiness planning.

The Ohio facility is expected to produce Active ...

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Infineon wins patent infringement case against Innoscience

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:49:00 +0000

MUNICH, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ -- The District Court Munich, Germany (Landgericht München I) today ruled in favor of Infineon Technologies in two further of the patent infringement cases – specifically one based on a patent one based on a utility model – concerning gallium nitride (GaN) technology between Infineon and Innoscience.

The cases concern the unauthorized use of GaN technologies patented by Infineon by the Chinese company Innoscience. With today's rulings, the court prohibits Innoscience from manufacturing, selling, and marketing additional patent-infringing products in Germany. Furthermore, the court has ordered Innoscience to pay damages to Infineon.

This marks Innoscience's third and fourth legal defeat in a series of court cases, each of which found that Innoscience's products infringe Infineon's patents. Courts and authorities in both Germany and the United States have repeatedly concluded that Innoscience's products infringe Infineon's intellectual property rights. Prior rulings include the decision against Innoscience from August 1, 2025, ...

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Cipher Pharmaceuticals Announces Results of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0000

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ - Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX:CPH) (OTCQX:CPHRF) ("Cipher" or the "Company") announced that it held its annual general meeting of shareholders earlier today and that all matters put forward before shareholders for consideration and approval as set out in the Company's management information circular dated May 11, 2026 were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the meeting. In particular, shareholders approved the election of all director nominees and the re-approval of RSM Canada LLP as auditor of the Company. A total of approximately 14.65 million shares, representing approximately 57.71% of the total shares outstanding were represented in person or by proxy at the meeting. The detailed results of ...

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What's Going On With Westport Fuel Systems Stock Thursday?

Akanksha Bakshi — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:42:55 +0000

Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:WPRT), an alternative-fuel technology company, saw its shares trade higher Thursday after the company said Cespira, its joint venture with Volvo Group (OTC:VLVLY), signed a development agreement to advance hydrogen-powered heavy-duty engines.

Hydrogen Engine Development Agreement

The agreement covers the final development and commercialization of Cespira's HPDI fuel system for Volvo's 13-liter engine platform.

The technology is designed to let the engine run on hydrogen while delivering diesel-equivalent performance.

Volvo trucks using the system are already in on-road testing, with a European-certified commercial launch targeted before 2030.

HPDI Technology Details

Westport said hydrogen HPDI can tolerate a wider range ...

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United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. Announces Dividend

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:01:00 +0000

ATMORE, Ala., June 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTCQX:UBAB)- United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. announces a semiannual dividend of $0.71 per share. The cash dividend will be payable on or near July 15, 2026 to stockholders of record as of June 30, 2026.

...

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Drone SaaS Market Poised for Breakout Growth as AI Unlocks Fully Autonomous Operations

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:57:00 +0000

Cloud-based drone operations, autonomous missions, and AI-powered intelligence are creating new opportunities across infrastructure, energy, logistics, and defense sectors

NEW YORK, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ -- Market News Updates News Commentary - Artificial intelligence's progression is propelling the evolution of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) drone operations in the future. Previously, tasks that required skilled pilots and extensive manual data analysis are now simplified through AI-driven software platforms. These platforms manage flight scheduling, navigation, data collection, and analysis. Businesses are increasingly turning to cloud-based drone software to supervise fleets, oversee real-time operations, and improve decision-making effectiveness. As companies look for ways to increase productivity and reduce costs, AI-powered drone SaaS solutions are becoming essential tools in sectors like construction, energy, agriculture, logistics, and defense. Active tech companies in the news this week include: ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZENA), Palladyne AI (NASDAQ:PDYN), Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE:UMAC), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ:DPRO), UiPath, Inc. (NYSE:PATH).

One of the main factors driving this shift is AI's ability to handle the vast amounts of data captured by drones daily. Instead of employees spending hours reviewing images and videos, AI can quickly identify equipment issues, track progress at job sites, identify security threats, monitor assets, and produce rapid reports. This not only saves time but also allows organizations to act swiftly on critical information. Consequently, more companies are choosing subscription-based drone software platforms that provide continuous access to advanced analytics, fleet management tools, and automation features. Forecasts indicate that the global drone software market could potentially double from its current valuation of $12 billion to exceed $24 billion by 2030 as the integration of AI gains traction. Looking ahead, AI is expected to play a more substantial role in advancing autonomous and scalable drone operations.

Future drone fleets will be increasingly autonomous, carrying out tasks such as infrastructure inspections, facility patrols, land surveys, crop monitoring, and defense support with minimal human intervention. The broader AI-driven drone market is projected to climb from approximately $14 billion in 2025 to over $50 billion in the upcoming years, showing significant growth potential in the industry. For investors, the blend of AI technology, recurring SaaS revenue models, and the growing demand for autonomous operations presents an attractive growth story that could position drone software companies as key beneficiaries of the expanding AI landscape.

ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Unveils Zoo Office™, an AI-Powered Enterprise Productivity Platform Positioned to Capitalize on the Rapidly Growing Agentic AI Market - Targeting Expansion of Company's Enterprise SaaS Segment by Leveraging Agentic AI Growing at Nearly 50% Annually - ZenaTech, Inc. ($ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV:ZENA) ("ZenaTech"), a technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), Enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, today unveils its strategy for Zoo Office™, a unified AI-powered productivity platform that will serve as a future unifying foundation and brand for ZenaTech's Enterprise SaaS ecosystem and capitalize on the rapidly growing Agentic AI market. Designed to bring advanced productivity, operational tools, agentic AI capabilities, and industry-specific applications together within a single business platform, Zoo Office represents ZenaTech's vision for a more connected and intelligent software experience.

"We want to future-proof and enhance our enterprise SaaS solutions beyond traditional software tools, adding intelligent productivity that can automate workflows, execute tasks, and enhance decision-making. Our goal is to deliver greater customer value and recurring revenue opportunities while leveraging agentic AI, one of ...

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Why Is Smartbird Stock Surging Thursday?

Kaustubh Bagalkote — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:59:41 +0000

Smartbird, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIRD) stock is trading higher on Thursday, continuing the upward momentum from Wednesday. The gains follow a multi-step corporate overhaul that completes the company’s transformation from a footwear retailer into an artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure play.

Rebranding And Leadership Transition

The company, formerly known as Allbirds, Inc., announced Wednesday that its board of directors appointed Nadia Carlsten as president, CEO, and board member.

Carlsten replaces Joe Vernachio, who resigned from the company and its board. Concurrently, independent director Lily Yan Hughes assumed the role of board chair.

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A New Zealand Goldfield Is Quietly Becoming a Critical-Minerals Story -- and the Drills Are Running 24/7

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:47:00 +0000

Issued on behalf of RUA GOLD Inc.

Gold gets the headlines, but it's the antimony alongside it — a metal the West is scrambling to secure — that could make this historic goldfield strategically important. And the company drilling it just crossed the halfway mark, ahead of schedule.

VANCOUVER, BC, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ -- USA News Group News Commentary — In a remote corner of New Zealand's South Island, a goldfield that helped build the country more than a century ago is being reborn — and this time, the story is about more than gold. The Reefton Goldfield once produced over two million ounces of gold at grades that would make a modern miner weep with envy. Today it is the focus of an intensive, around-the-clock drilling campaign, not only because of the gold still in the ground, but because of what sits alongside it: antimony, an unglamorous metal that has suddenly become one of the most strategically contested materials on Earth. As Western governments scramble to secure antimony supply outside of China, a high-grade gold-antimony project advancing toward development in a stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction has taken on a significance far beyond its size.

Companies mentioned: RUA GOLD Inc. (TSX:RUA) (NZX: RGI) (OTC:NZAUF), Alkane Resources Limited (ASX: ALK) (TSX:ALK), Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSX:SXGC) (ASX: SX2), Larvotto Resources Limited (ASX: LRV), NevGold Corp. (TSXV:NAU) (OTCQX:NAUFF)

On June 17, 2026, RUA GOLD Inc. (TSX:RUA) (NZX: RGI) (OTC:NZAUF) reported strong progress at its Auld Creek gold-antimony project in the Reefton Goldfield, underscoring just how quickly the asset is advancing. The Company said recent drilling continues to demonstrate strong evidence to expand the gold-antimony resource over a strike length of more than 1,000 metres and to depths beyond 500 metres — and that it has now collared its 100th hole, with roughly 10,000 metres of a planned 19,000-metre program already complete. With the drilling running ahead of schedule, RUA remains on track to fold the results and a battery of technical studies into a Pre-Feasibility Study targeted for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Why Antimony Turned a Gold Project Strategic

For most of modern history, antimony was an afterthought — a metal used to harden alloys, retard flames, and manufacture munitions, sourced cheaply and rarely discussed. That changed abruptly when its supply chain collided with geopolitics. China dominates global antimony production and processing, and as it tightened export controls, Western governments confronted an uncomfortable reality: a material essential to defense and energy applications was overwhelmingly controlled by a single strategic rival. Antimony is now formally classified as a critical mineral in the United States and other Western economies, and the race to secure supply outside of China has become a national-security priority — a dynamic vividly illustrated by the multi-billion-dollar U.S. government backing flowing to domestic antimony projects.

That backdrop is what elevates a project like Auld Creek. RUA has described it as hosting New Zealand's largest known antimony deposit, and the metal occurs alongside high-grade gold — meaning a single operation could produce both a precious metal enjoying record prices and a critical mineral the West urgently needs. The combination is potent: gold underwrites the economics, while antimony layers on strategic relevance and a second revenue stream. In an investment climate that prizes both precious-metal exposure and critical-mineral security, a project that credibly offers both, in an allied and stable jurisdiction, occupies unusually attractive ground.

What the Latest Drilling Shows

The June update paints a picture of a project gathering momentum. Drilling is running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the goal of completing the full 19,000-metre program by around the start of September. Recent holes have, in the Company's words, provided definitive proof of grade continuity in the project's southern Fraternal zone, raising confidence in the resource envelope some 300 metres below surface. Highlighted intercepts included 2.7 metres at 7.6 grams per tonne gold-equivalent (containing both gold and a notable antimony component) from 269 metres, and a 10.1-metre interval at 2.2 grams per tonne gold-equivalent — results that the Company says confirm both the continuity and the expansion potential of the system.

Just as important as the assays is the work happening around them. RUA has shipped a one-tonne bulk sample of resource-grade mineralization to a specialist laboratory in Australia for advanced metallurgical testing, and is running a full suite of geotechnical and hydrological studies — rock strength, specific gravity, porosity, and water behavior — all designed to feed directly into the Pre-Feasibility Study. Scout drilling has also been mobilized to test the full 2,500-metre length of surface ...

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Canton Strategic Holdings, Inc. Expected to Be Included in Russell 3000® and Russell 2000®

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:15:00 +0000

NEW YORK, June 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Canton Strategic Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNTN) ("Canton Strategic Holdings" or the "Company"), the first publicly traded company to leverage Canton Coin (CC) to support the Canton Network's ability to digitize traditional financial markets, today announced it is expected to join the broad-market Russell 3000® Index and the small-cap Russell 2000® Index following the semi-annual reconstitution, effective after market close on June 26, 2026, according to a preliminary list of additions published by FTSE Russell.

"As the only company providing active equity exposure to the Canton Network ecosystem, we are proud to be considered for inclusion in the Russell 3000® and Russell 2000®, including their respective value and growth indices," said Mark Wendland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canton Strategic Holdings. "This distinction reflects the strength of our Canton-aligned strategy ...

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RedHill Biopharma Announces Up To $19.4 Million Private Placement

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

$6 million upfront with up to approximately $13.4 million of potential aggregate gross proceeds upon the exercise in full of warrants

TEL AVIV, Israel & RALEIGH, N.C., June 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (NASDAQ:RDHL) ("RedHill" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 8,571,429 American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") (or ADS equivalents in lieu thereof), each ADS representing ten thousand (10,000) ordinary shares of the Company, series A-1 warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 8,571,429 ADSs and series A-2 warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 8,571,429 ADSs, at a combined purchase price of $0.70 per ADS (or ADS equivalent in lieu thereof) and accompanying warrants in a private placement. The Series A-1 warrants have an exercise price of $0.86 per ADS, are exercisable immediately and have a term of five years following the Effectiveness Date (as defined below), and the Series A-2 warrants have an exercise price of $0.70 per ADS, are exercisable immediately and have a term of 18 months following the Effectiveness Date. The private placement is expected to close on June 22, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

The gross proceeds to the Company from this offering are expected to be approximately $6 million, before deducting the placement agent's fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The potential additional gross proceeds to the Company from the series A-1 warrants and the series A-2 warrants, if fully exercised on a cash basis, will be approximately $13.4 million. No assurance can be given that any of the series warrants will be exercised, or that the Company will receive cash proceeds from the exercise of the series warrants.

The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds to support a potential strategic product acquisition and the balance for working capital, research and development and general corporate purposes.

No definitive acquisition agreement has been executed, and any such transaction would remain subject to completion of definitive documentation, financing and other customary conditions. There can be no assurance that any such transaction will be completed.

The securities described above were offered in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the ordinary shares of the Company represented by ADSs underlying the warrants, have not been registered under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities issued in the private placement and ordinary shares of the Company represented by ADSs underlying the warrants may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws. Pursuant to a registration rights agreement with the investors, the Company has agreed to file a resale registration statement covering the securities described above (such date of effectiveness of the resale registration statement, the "Effectiveness Date").

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be ...

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AI Bust: The Trillion-Dollar AI Question Nobody's Asking

PRNewswire — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

FN Media Group Presents Oilprice.com Market Commentary

NEW YORK, June 18, 2026 /CNW/ -- Every AI boom forecast being published right now — every bull case, Big Tech earnings call, and valuation model — seems to be making the same assumption. The electricity will be there to power it when they need it. It won't. Companies mentioned in today's commentary includes: Bitzero Holdings Inc. (AIBZ), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:TSM), Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQIX), Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW), Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CEG).

Bitzero (AIBZ) spent the last four years betting against that assumption. The company locked in more than a gigawatt of low-cost power across Norway, Finland, and North Dakota, well before the rest of the industry started fighting over every available megawatt.

The company is already cash flow positive, with operational sites and grid connections secured — while the hyperscalers spending hundreds of billions are still years away from the electricity to power theirs. And they just announced a binding letter with their first contemplated major long-term tenant, in a deal worth up to $2.6 billion.

This comes at a time when the scale of money flowing into AI is reaching dizzying heights. The five largest cloud and AI infrastructure providers — Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle — have committed to spending between $660 billion and $690 billion in 2026 alone. That's more than the entire defense budget of every country except the United States. Roughly three-quarters of it is going specifically toward AI infrastructure.

Amazon's spending alone — projected at $200 billion — is so aggressive it's expected to push the company into negative free cash flow for the year. But with all that spending going into the AI buildout, there's one question many don't appear to be asking: where is all of that electricity actually going to come from?

$690 Billion With Nowhere to Plug In

With the data center buildout for AI in full swing, unfortunately, the infrastructure to support it is struggling to keep pace. A new utility-scale power plant takes five to ten years to go from approval to operation. New nuclear is even slower.

In Virginia — the world's largest data center hub — operators now face 7-year waits just for grid connections. Microsoft's deal to restart the Three Mile Island reactor won't deliver electricity until 2027 at the earliest. Google's first Kairos Power reactor isn't expected online until 2030. Those are among the most ambitious power projects in the country. And none of them will be ready inside the window where the money is actually being spent.

Even the venture capitalists who funded the last tech boom are starting to acknowledge the warning signs. Bill Gurley — the Benchmark partner who led Uber's Series A and called the dot-com bubble before it burst — recently warned that the current AI cycle is heading for a "reset."

Gartner estimates that AI companies would need to grow token consumption 50,000 to 100,000 times by 2030 just to break even on today's infrastructure spending.

Even with the most optimistic projections for AI adoption, that's a tough hill to climb. But the revenue math is almost beside the point. Even if every AI bull is completely right about demand, the power still isn't there to support it. That's the gap Bitzero has been building into for four years by taking a counterintuitive approach to how they build their data centers. And with their recent announcement, they're set to deploy 110 megawatts of capacity at their flagship site by early next year.

The Hidden Power Company That Can't Be Replicated

Most data center developers build the building first and fight for power later. They secure the land, draft the plans, submit the grid interconnection request, and hope it clears. That's the order the industry has run on for decades, and that worked well when power was abundant. But with today's AI power grab in full swing, that model no longer works. Bitzero (AIBZ) has taken that model and flipped it on its head, however.

"We focus first on securing power access, grid positioning, and pricing frameworks, and only then build infrastructure on top of that," CEO Mohammed Bakhashwain explained in a recent interview. "That sequencing is what allows projects to move forward instead of stalling in the power queue."

The company's flagship facility sits in central Norway, where it draws 100% renewable hydroelectric power at 3 to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour. That's roughly a third of what most U.S. data centers pay. And Bitzero manages its own connection to the high-voltage grid directly — a regulatory status that takes years to obtain and gives the company direct control over its energy supply.

After Bitzero's facility was approved, Norway capped any new data center project at five megawatts of power. That's barely enough to run a small server room. A single AI training facility needs 100-plus megawatts.

Bitzero's concessions were locked in before that cap was imposed. That puts the company in a unique position, having secured cheap, abundant power at a time when many data centers simply can't find ...

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