Proactive - Interviews for investors

AEW UK REIT plc (LSE:AEWU) portfolio manager Laura Elkin talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about portfolio performance, dividend stability and the company’s investment strategy in a challenging UK property market. Elkin touched on the company’s latest quarterly performance, including a 2% NAV total return and the payment of the 41st consecutive dividend at 2p per share per quarter. Elkin attributed this consistency to a long-standing investment strategy that the company has followed for more than a decade, focusing on disciplined stock selection and active asset management. She described AEW UK REIT as a sector-agnostic value investor, allowing the comp...

M2i Global CEO Alberto Rosende joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce a key milestone in the company’s critical minerals strategy, as Titanium X has initiated its first shipment of titanium ore from Western Australia to the United States under the parties’ collaboration agreement. The inaugural shipment consists of titanium ore samples sourced from both mineral sands and hard rock deposits and represents the first step in advancing downstream evaluation and processing pathways. Rosende told Proactive that the titanium material will be distributed to selected academic institutions and a U.S. defense industrial base company, where it will be a...

Aftermath Silver CEO Ralph Rushton joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce the appointment of Danny Keating as Chief Operating Officer, a move that significantly strengthens the company’s operational and technical leadership as the Berenguela project enters a critical phase of evaluation and de-risking. Keating is a seasoned mining engineer with more than 30 years of experience spanning mine development, mineral processing, and large-scale project execution across multiple jurisdictions. Rushton told Proactive that Keating brings a rare combination of operational, technical, and financial expertise to Aftermath Silver. His previous senior executive roles include serving as Chief Executive Officer of TSX Ve...

Fineqia International Inc (CSE:FNQ) senior associate Matteo Greco talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about current conditions in the crypto market and how exchange-traded products (ETPs) are behaving during a period of price volatility. Greco provided a broad crypto market overview, noting that prices have been trending downward in the short term while demand for crypto ETPs has remained relatively stable. Greco explained that this resilience is largely due to the longer-term investment horizon typically adopted by ETP investors compared with participants in native crypto markets, where assets can be traded instantaneously. Greco highlighted that Bitcoin ETPs continue to dominate...

Rome Resources Plc (AIM:RMR, FRA:33R) CEO Paul Barrett talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about encouraging high-grade tin results from ongoing drilling at the company’s Kalayi prospect and what investors should expect next as work progresses across the wider project area. Barrett explained that recent deeper drill holes at Kalayi have continued to return strong grades, with indications that grades are improving with depth, in line with the company’s expectations and structural model. He noted that several metres of drilling had shown grades averaging around 8%, which he described as “very good” and comparable to those seen at Alphamin...

Nextech3D.ai CEO Evan Gappelberg joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce a major expansion of the Company’s Krafty Lab platform, marked by the launch of international in-person delivery and the signing of a Tier-1 enterprise starter agreement with a multinational universal bank and financial services company, BNP Paribas. The company says this agreement validates growing enterprise demand for centralized, scalable employee engagement solutions capable of supporting global, distributed workforces. Gappelberg explained that the initial pilot program includes three in-person enterprise events delivered across three different countries, with a broader global rollout planned for the third quarter of 2026. Th...

The FUTR Corporation (TSX-V:FTRC, OTCQB:FTRCF) CEO Alex McDougall talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s AI-powered platform and how its proprietary agent technology helps consumers take control of their finances and personal data. McDougall highlighted three key differentiators of FUTR Agents: the ability to act on a user's behalf, a dedicated and secure AI architecture, and the unique feature of rewarding users for their data input. “Your data is incredibly valuable. Now we're helping you to realize that,” McDougall said, underscoring FUTR’s mission to empower users through data ownership and monetization. He also detailed how the plat...

Nextech3D.AI (CSE:NTAR, OTCQX:NEXCF, FRA:1SS) CEO Evan Gappelberg talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s latest expansion of its Krafty Lab platform, highlighting a major upgrade in enterprise engagement through the addition of F-35 flight simulation experiences. The platform, which unifies registration, interactive floor plans, engagement tools and analytics into a single AI-powered operating system, is designed to help enterprises plan, manage and monetize large-scale events. Gappelberg emphasized the value of this integration, referencing a recent example with BNP Paribas in Brazil, saying the company is "coordinating that across regions and venues." A key hi...

Shares in Tertiary Minerals PLC (AIM:TYM, OTC:TTIRF, FRA:TMU) managing director Richard Belcher talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the latest exploration results from the company’s Mushima North project in Zambia. The update includes Tertiary’s highest-grade silver-copper intersection to date, a key milestone for the company. Belcher explained that although the Phase 3 drilling program was cut short by early seasonal rains, the results are significant. “These holes have been released today, or the assays were released, really support the direction this project’s going in,” he said, pointing to both the confirmed near-surface mineralisation and new evidence o...

Quantum Blockchain Technologies PLC (AIM:QBT) CEO Francesco Gardin talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s participation in the recent Nashville Energy & Mining Summit (NEMS26) at Bitcoin Park in Nashville, a key networking hub for the Bitcoin community. Gardin described the conference as “extremely intensive” and valuable for meeting key industry players, including three ASIC manufacturers with whom the company has signed NDAs. He explained that Quantum Blockchain is progressing well in its relationships with these partners, particularly around its development of Method C, a neural network-based solution requiring ASIC-specific training. “The training is very ASICs oriented, specific ASICs or...

RC Fornax PLC (AIM:RCFX) non-executive chair David Hitchcock talked with Proactive about his recent appointment and what it signals for the company’s next phase of growth. Hitchcock, who has been on the board since the IPO, brings a combination of capital markets expertise and deep military background to the chair role. He highlighted RC Fornax’s positioning as a defence consultancy during a time of increased global defence spending. “We are very innovative… and I think the board is really very strong now,” he said, adding that the board’s refreshed composition balances operational, defence, and financial expertise. Hitchcock di...

Virtuix CEO Jan Goetgeluk joined Steve Darling from Proactive to highlight the company’s integration of AI-driven Gaussian splatting technology into its Virtual Terrain Walk (VTW) system, significantly enhancing its training and simulation capabilities for defense and security applications. Gaussian splatting is an advanced 3D reconstruction technique that rapidly converts real-world environments captured with 360-degree cameras into highly detailed, photorealistic, and fully navigable virtual worlds. Goetgeluk explained that VTW is a multi-user immersive training platform purpose-built for simulations where realism, spatial awareness, and physical movement are critical to operational readiness. By combining Gaussian splatting with Virtuix’s omni-directional treadmill technology, VTW...

Connecting Excellence Group Plc (AQSE:XCE) CEO Scott Ellam talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s ongoing strategy of accumulating Bitcoin, underpinned by cash flow generated by its recruitment arm, Spencer Riley. Ellam explained that this approach allows the company to steadily increase its Bitcoin holdings, even during periods of price volatility, without relying on external capital markets. The AQSE-quoted firm bought 1.065 Bitcoin for £64,000, using surplus operational cashflow generated during January from Spencer Riley, which delivered January revenues of £253,424 and generated incremental cashflow for the group. “Our business model is largely uncorrelated to the Bitcoin market,” Ellam said, adding t...

EMV Capital (AIM:EMVC, FRA:NTK1) CEO Dr Ilian Iliev talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s investment strategy, portfolio performance and how EMV Capital continues to build value despite challenging global market conditions. Iliev explained that EMV Capital has maintained assets under management above £100 million in 2025, at a time when many venture funds have seen declines. He said this resilience reflects the strength of the company’s portfolio, which is focused on deep tech, life sciences, data and AI, all underpinned by strong fundamentals. According to Iliev, the integration of Martlet Capital is now fully complete, enabling great...

EnWave Corporation CEO Brent Charleton joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce that the company has signed a royalty-bearing commercial license agreement with the Bowen Gumlu Growers Association (BGGA), a leading fruit and vegetable industry body representing horticultural growers, producers, and associated agribusinesses in North Queensland, Australia. The Bowen–Gumlu region is Queensland’s largest producer of winter vegetable crops, generating approximately AUD $650 million in annual farm gate production and playing a critical role in Australia’s fresh produce supply chain. Key commodities produced in the region include tomatoes, capsicum, mangoes, cucurbits, beans, and corn. Charleton explained that BGGA plans to lev...

PT Asset Management CEO Sean Dranfield talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the firm's fixed income positioning heading into 2026, highlighting how shifting yield curve dynamics could favour its barbell strategy. Reflecting on 2025, Dranfield acknowledged that sectors like corporate and agency mortgage-backed securities outperformed due to spread tightening and curve steepening — areas to which PT Asset had minimal exposure. Despite that, he said, “We're actually, quite excited about the go-forward returns on a relative basis this year because the barbell should actually work even better now.” Dranfield explained the firm’s core approach combines offensive and defensive allocations. Offensively, PT Asset prefers...

Rome Resources Plc (AIM:RMR, FRA:33R) CEO Paul Barrett talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the encouraging metallurgical results from its Bisie North project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly at the Kalayi and Mont Agoma targets. Barrett explained that initial test work has delivered high tin gravity recovery and copper flotation results, with recoveries reaching 80% for copper and very low waste levels. These results suggest the potential for a straightforward and cost-effective processing route. “These initial results have shown, unsurprisingly actually, that the cassiterite responds very well to gravity separation,” said Barrett. “We get high grades, very, very l...

Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE, OTCQX:EPMLF) managing director Shaun Bunn talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about recent advancements at the company’s Pitfield titanium project in Western Australia. Bunn shared that Pitfield is one of the largest titanium projects globally, located near Perth. He highlighted significant progress made in test work, with improved grades, better recoveries, and the development of a simplified flow sheet – a rarity in the titanium sector. “The real takeaway here is the fact that we've been able to come up with a relatively straightforward, quite simple flow sheet,” Bunn stated. He also explained that whole-of-ore flotatio...

Active Energy Group PLC (AIM:AEG, OTCQB:ATGVF) CEO Paul Elliott talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s recently signed joint venture, which serves as the foundation for its ambitious 100MW plan in the UAE. Elliott explained that the agreement accelerates execution and scales the business more rapidly by partnering with experienced operators rather than building internal capacity. "This relationship is the foundation of what makes this growth achievable. We're no longer trying to build everything internally," Elliott said, outlining how the company is leveraging its partners’ infrastructure, operational readiness, and market access. He emphasised that Active Energy is k...

Bit Digital CEO Sam Tabar joined Steve Darling from Proactive to discuss his annual letter to shareholders, outlining a significant strategic shift that repositions the company away from bitcoin mining and toward Ethereum-based infrastructure and artificial intelligence compute assets as the core pillars of its business. Tabar described 2025 as a pivotal transition year in which Bit Digital evolved into what it now calls a “strategic asset company.” Under this model, the company is focused on deploying, owning, and operating infrastructure assets rather than passively holding digital assets. As part of this transformation, Bit Digital exited bitcoin mining operations and consolidated its...

Cloudastructure CEO James McCormick joined Steve Darling from Proactive to discuss what he described as a transformative year for the company in 2025, highlighted by a 270% increase in revenue and more than 300% year-over-year growth in the fourth quarter. The performance marked the strongest financial quarter in Cloudastructure’s history and underscored accelerating demand for its AI-powered security solutions. Cloudastructure, an artificial intelligence–driven video surveillance company, differentiates itself through a unique human-in-the-loop operating model. The platform processes more than 9 million video clips each day, using AI to identify potential security threats in real time. When a risk is detected, the incident is e...

Vortex Biotech managing director Paul Reeves talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s expansion into Manchester and the opening of its new advanced laboratory. Reeves described Vortex, an EMV Capital (AIM:EMVC, FRA:NTK1) porfolio company, as a precision oncology company enabling access to intact circulating tumour cells (CTCs) for clinicians, researchers and pharmaceutical companies. He said the Manchester site will significantly enhance the company’s capabilities, particularly in clinical validation and commercial rollout. Reeves highlighted three main advantages of the new facility: increased capacity, proximity to research partners and hospitals, and access to a vibrant innovation ecosystem. He s...

Bradda Head Lithium Ltd (AIM:BHL, OTC:BHLIF, TSX-V:BHLI, FRA:8CD1) executive chairman Ian Stalker talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company's strategic partnership with Rio Tinto’s Kennecott division and what it means for the Whistlejacket lithium project in Arizona. Stalker explained that Bradda Head is earning up to 60% ownership in the Whistlejacket project, with Rio Tinto maintaining an interest and offering support. He emphasised the significance of having a major like Rio Tinto involved, noting that “RTZ are a huge supporter of what we're doing.” According to Stalker, the partnership follows nearly a year of discussions, starti...

Valereum PLC (AQSE:VLRM, FRA:6TJ) commercial director Mark Mariampillai talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s strategic partnership with Injective Foundation and DigiShares, aimed at accelerating real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation. Mariampillai explained that the collaboration solves a key industry challenge - buy-side exposure - by connecting DeFi-native users to traditional finance rails through Valereum's regulated platform. "This partnership really unlocks both of those angles," said Mariampillai. "It exposes us to a big, wide ecosystem that Injective are involved in, and it's going to help us bridge crypto digital asset natives over to TradFi rails." Valereum is targeting th...

hVIVO PLC (AIM:HVO) chief executive Yamin ‘Mo’ Khan takes Proactive's Stephen Gunnion through the company’s unaudited trading update for 2025, which revealed a strong performance amid industry-wide challenges. hVIVO expects to report revenue of approximately £46.7 million for full-year 2025, in line with previous guidance, and anticipates EBITDA margins ahead of expectations, reversing a previously forecasted loss. Khan credited a stronger-than-expected Q4, early structural changes, and cancellation fees that carried high margins as key contributors to this outcome. He also highlighted hVIVO’s strategic acquisitions of Cryostore in the UK and German CRO CRS. These deals filled a key gap in hVIVO’s s...

Powerhouse Energy Group PLC (AIM:PHE, FRA:BT81) CEO Paul Emmitt talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about progress on the company's first UK hydrogen project in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, following the submission of a full planning application for the proposed 40 tonnes per day waste-to-hydrogen facility. Emmitt explained that Ballymena had been a strategic focus for over 18 months, offering local feedstock availability, supportive councils, and existing infrastructure on the former Michelin site. He said the project will follow a design-build-operate model, with Powerhouse seeking project-specific finance rather than shareholder funding. "This gives Powerhouse something that we control," Emmitt said, highlighting the...

Phunware Inc. CEO Jeremy Krol joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce the launch of a redesigned corporate website alongside a newly refined portfolio of hospitality-focused products aimed at enhancing guest experiences, deepening engagement, and driving incremental revenue opportunities for property owners and operators. The update marks an important step in showcasing Phunware’s evolution as a leader in mobile software solutions tailored to large, complex hospitality environments. Krol told Proactive that the redesigned website reflects Phunware’s forward-thinking approach and highlights the company’s expanding capabilities in mobile technology, with a clear emphasis on the fast-growing hospitality sector. The dynami...

OKYO Pharma’s new CEO Robert Dempsey joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce that the company has completed a successful Type C meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the planned Phase 2b/3 human clinical trial of urcosimod for the treatment of neuropathic corneal pain. Dempsey told Proactive that the FDA confirmed the company’s proposed primary efficacy endpoint—reduction in ocular pain as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at Week 12—is clinically meaningful. Importantly, the agency explicitly acknowledged that a reduction of at least two points on the VAS scale represents a meaningful treatmen...

M2i Global CEO Alberto Rosende joined Steve Darling from Proactive to highlight how the company’s proposed business combination with Volato is closely aligned with recent U.S. policy actions aimed at strengthening domestic and allied supply chains for processed critical minerals and their derivative products. Rosende told Proactive that the White House recently announced actions under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, directing negotiations to adjust imports of processed critical minerals and related products into the United States on national security grounds. These policy measures underscore the growing importance of secure, transparent, and resilient supply chains for materials th...

Northstar Gold Corp CEO Brian Fowler joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce that the company, together with its project partners, has received approval to access up to $4.0 million in total co-investment funding from DIGITAL – Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies. The funding will support Northstar’s Cam Copper Surgical Mining for Critical Minerals Project, which is focused on advancing innovative and sustainable approaches to mineral extraction. The Project is designed to leverage Novamera’s proprietary Surgical Mining technology, an advanced method intended to accelerate the production of critical minerals in a more efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Northsta...

Genflow Biosciences Ltd (LSE:GENF, OTCQB:GENFF, FRA:WQ5) CEO Dr Eric Leire talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s strategic progress and outlook for 2026, following a €4 million non-dilutive grant awarded by the Wallonia region. Dr Leire explained that the secured funding is part of Genflow’s broader capital efficiency strategy, helping the company focus on key pipeline catalysts, including its lead gene therapy, GF-1002. GF-1002 is targeted at MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis), a field Dr Leire described as “a huge unmet need,” particularly at the late stage where there are currently no therapeutic options. “This is one of the key p...

TNR Gold Corp (TSX-V:TNR, OTC:TRRXF) executive chairman Kirill Klip talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s strong start to 2026, highlighting the next key milestones after a 240% share price increase in 2025. Klip outlined how TNR Gold plans to minimize dilution, pursue share buybacks, and potentially introduce a dividend policy subject to regulatory approval. A major catalyst this year is the anticipated first royalty payment from Ganfeng Lithium tied to the Mariana Lithium project in Argentina. “Our general strategy will be to minimize dilution to absolute minimum... and to increase the returns for all our shareholders,” said Klip. He als...

Solvonis Therapeutics PLC (LSE:SVNS) chief scientific officer Professor David Nutt talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about promising new data from preclinical trials of its lead molecule, SVN-015. The compound has demonstrated comparable performance to fluoxetine (Prozac) in validated rodent models of depression, suggesting potential for clinical success. Professor Nutt explained that SVN-015 represents a rare dual-action approach, functioning as both a serotonin and dopamine reuptake inhibitor—something pharmaceutical companies have sought unsuccessfully for decades. “This molecule will give you a bit of dopamine,” he said, noting that this could address symptoms that traditional SSRIs fail to treat, such as fatigu...

Nextech3D.ai CEO Evan Gappelberg joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce the official launch of Nextech Credit™, a new universal enterprise credit system developed in-house to power the company’s expanding digital and experiential ecosystem, including its Krafty Labs platform. The proprietary innovation is designed to simplify procurement, strengthen customer loyalty, and drive deeper adoption across Nextech3D.ai’s portfolio of enterprise solutions. Gappelberg told Proactive that Nextech Credit™ functions as a single, dollar-denominated currency, enabling enterprise customers to centralize and streamline their engagement spending. Once purchased, credits can be used interchangeably across all Nextech3D.ai business...

Virtuix Holding CEO Jan Goetgeluk joind Steve Darling from Proactive to discuss the company’s milestone debut on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol VTIX, marking a significant step in Virtuix’s growth as it scales its proprietary virtual reality technology across both consumer and defense markets. Virtuix is best known for its Omni technology, which enables full 360-degree movement in virtual reality, allowing users to walk, run, and move naturally within immersive digital environments. Goetgeluk highlighted the strong early traction of Omni One, the company’s latest system designed specifically for home use. “We recently launched Omni One, and we repor...

Pan African Resources PLC (AIM:PAF, OTCQX:PAFRY, JSE:PAN) CEO Cobus Loots talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s strong operational update for the first half of the year, highlighting a 51% increase in group gold production. This performance was driven by key operations at Elikhulu, the commissioning of the MTR project in Johannesburg, and early contributions from the Tennant project in Australia. Loots specifically pointed to the improved output from Evander, stating, “That infrastructure is now fully commissioned and operating as it should. But with higher grades, we can expect an even better performance.” He also noted the co...

OptiBiotix Health PLC (AIM:OPTI, OTCQB:OPTBF) chief executive Stephen O’Hara talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s growing exposure to the weight management and gut health markets, highlighting rising global demand for its SlimBiome product and the strategic importance of its US expansion. O’Hara explained that OptiBiotix Health is a microbiome company focused on developing products that address unmet healthcare needs rather than selling science alone. One of the company’s flagship products, SlimBiome, is a patented ingredient designed to reduce hunger and food cravings, helping consumers eat less and manage weight more effectively. He noted th...

SSV Capital PLC CEO Ankur Ghosh talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s performance in 2025 and its ambitious plans for 2026, focusing on building a fully embedded finance ecosystem. Ghosh highlighted that SSV began 2025 with the early redemption of its convertible loan notes—many of which were reinvested—demonstrating strong investor confidence. The company also reported profitability, aligned with its core philosophy of “profit with purpose.” Among key achievements was the progress of SSV SmartPay, the company’s open banking payments platform, which has seen increasing adoption, particularly in account-to-account transactions. “Today open banking is becoming very, very popular,” said Ghosh, addi...

Ilika PLC (AIM:IKA, OTCQX:ILIKF, FRA:I8A) CEO Graeme Purdy joined Stephen Gunnion in the Proactive studio with more on the company’s major milestones in solid-state battery development and what investors can expect in 2026. Purdy said 2025 was a pivotal period for the company, highlighting significant progress across both its Goliath and Stereax battery programmes. Purdy explained that 2025 delivered key technical and commercial milestones, positioning Ilika at the forefront of solid-state battery innovation. Starting with Goliath, Ilika’s large-format solid-state battery aimed at electric vehicles and consumer applications, Purdy confirmed that early 2Ah prototypes successfully validated performance. He said...

Tooru PLC (AIM:TOO) CEO Scott Livingston talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company's strong momentum following its AIM listing and strategic consolidation of subsidiaries. Livingston explained that the post-RTO period has been pivotal in aligning Tooru’s challenger brands under one umbrella, generating synergies and improving cost efficiency. Highlighting the growing mainstream appeal of the "free-from" category, Livingston described it as a lifestyle choice beyond those with medical dietary needs. He sees a “massive opportunity to become more mainstream as free-from and good-for-you products,” noting that if executed well, “we should have exponential growth.” Among Tooru’s brands, OAF stands o...