Proactive - Interviews for investors

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...

Valereum PLC (AQSE:VLRM, FRA:6TJ) chief executive Gary Cottle talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s next phase of growth following the completion of a transaction that adds $200 million to its balance sheet, and how that capital supports Valereum’s strategy across tokenisation, markets infrastructure and banking-as-a-service. Cottle explained that Valereum has built a strong pipeline of transactions, with several announcements expected in the near term. He noted that some of these opportunities have been in development for several months and are now reaching the point where they can be taken to market, while others remain in the...

Stillwater Critical Minerals CEO Michael Rowley joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company's progress at its flagship project in Montana, located within the renowned Stillwater Complex. The company controls the lower Stillwater Complex, an area of significant geological importance, and is applying advanced geological thinking drawn from South Africa’s Bushveld Complex to unlock its potential. Rowley outlined major achievements from the past year, including a substantial drill campaign and the debut of a detailed geological model — the first of its kind for the area. “We’re hitting mid-grade to high-grade. Better than eve...

Silver X Mining Corp CEO Jose Garcia joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company’s strong growth trajectory and expansion plans. Garcia explained that the Peru-based silver producer currently outputs 1.25 million ounces of silver annually, but is targeting a fivefold increase by 2029. He highlighted the company’s significant land package in central Peru and ongoing production, which is bolstered by favourable silver prices. “We’re going to demonstrate that quarter after quarter,” Garcia said, referring to ongoing productivity improvements and exploration updates. A key catalyst for this projected growth is a 40,000 metre drill camp...

Blue Lagoon Resources CEO Rana Vig joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company’s successful transition into gold and silver production at its high-grade underground mine near Smithers, British Columbia. Vig explained that Blue Lagoon has started generating revenue, shipping its first 1,000 tonnes of material and receiving a $1 million payment. “We just started actual production in November... there’s no better time to be in production,” Vig said, citing strong gold and silver prices and the high-grade nature of the mine — averaging nine grams per tonne. The company’s strategy is to reinvest cas...

Mineros S.A. Vice President of Investor Relations Ann Wilkinson joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company’s remarkable transformation and ambitious growth plans. Wilkinson shared that Mineros S.A., a Latin American gold producer with a 51-year history, has often flown under the radar despite producing over 200,000 ounces of gold annually and consistently paying dividends for more than four decades. “We’ve been paying a dividend for about four decades. So it's a really robust company that a lot of people just really didn’t know about,” she noted. She highlighted a major tu...

Empress Royalty Corp CEO Alexandra Woodyer Sherron joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company’s momentum as it moves into 2026, following a record-breaking year in 2025. Woodyer Sherron described the rising investor interest in gold and silver, and how Empress Royalty is well-positioned to capture further growth. The company, which was established to serve the junior end of the market, now generates revenue from four active investments. “Out of the four investments, we did just under $11 million US revenue for the first nine months of the year,” said Woodyer Sherron. She added that Empres...

Blue Sky Uranium Corp CEO Niko Cacos joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company's exciting developments in Argentina as global interest in uranium surges. Cacos explained that Blue Sky Uranium is advancing a unique and extensive uranium district in Argentina, which spans over 145km and includes a deposit of more than 70 million pounds of uranium. The company is currently partnered with a major Argentinian business group that has committed $200 million in funding to take the project through development and into production. Meanwhile, Blue Sky retains full ownership of additional areas within the...

Globex Mining President and COO David Christie joined Steve Darling from Proactive from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company’s business model and the catalysts ahead in 2026. Christie described Globex as a “royalty creator”, noting that the company generates value by acquiring mineral properties, developing them to a certain stage, and then bringing in partners — creating long-term revenue streams through royalties and advance payments. He emphasized the company’s lean, debt-free structure, revealing it holds over $40 million in cash and securities. Christie stated, “We don't issue equity… That continues to grow every day with this market.” As of...

Nicola Mining Inc CEO Peter Espig joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company’s major developments in 2026, including plans to uplist to Nasdaq, the reopening of a silver mine, and the commencement of a gold project. Espig highlighted that the company is already producing gold and silver, and holds what he described as “the highest grade major copper mine in history in North America.” During the interview, Espig shared that the company currently has approximately $5 million in cash and an additional $5.5 million in securities. Nicola Mining is also preparing to increase its millin...

1911 Gold Corporation CEO Shaun Heinrichs joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company's progress at its fully permitted, past-producing project in Manitoba. In the interview, Heinrichs outlined how 1911 Gold is preparing for a targeted production restart in 2027. The company is actively rehabbing its underground infrastructure, including escape ways, power centers, and water removal systems — critical steps in readiness for future operations. “We’re tightening up a lot of the drill spacing on the old 43-101 resource... so we can expand the actual mine life itself,” Heinrichs said. Development work is ongoing alongside aggressive drilling...

StrikePoint Gold CEO Michael Allen joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company's focus in Nevada and the upcoming drill program at its Hercules Gold Project. Allen explained that StrikePoint Gold is among the largest landholders in Nevada’s Walker Lane trend, with its Hercules project spanning 100 km². He noted that the project had been previously sold for $25 million in 2020, before being reacquired for just $250,000 two years ago. The 2026 exploration program is designed to convert existing historical data into a modern inferred resource of approximately 1 million ounces of gold, with a variance of plu...

Nations Royalty Corp Chief Investment Officer Derrick Pattenden joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company's unique positioning as the first and largest majority Indigenous-owned publicly traded royalty company in Canada. Pattenden, who recently stepped into the CEO role after serving as Chief Investment Officer, explained the company’s mission: pooling Indigenous-owned royalty assets to unlock greater value. “We believe the Indigenous peoples of Canada are very well served to create a mining royalty company of their own,” he said, highlighting how these groups can secure high-quality royalty interests in ways others cannot. The co...

CanAlaska Uranium CEO Cory Belyk joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company’s latest developments at the West McArthur project, located in the eastern Athabasca Basin. Belyk highlighted that the company currently has three drill rigs operating, focused on advancing the high-grade Pike Zone discovery. “We’re drilling very high-grade mineralization, ultra-high grades, as high as 85% last year,” said Belyk, noting the Pike Zone lies just 15km west of the McArthur River mine. The company has outlined plans for a robust 8 to 10-month drilling program in 2026, backed by a $15 million exploration budget — a 20% incr...

Ameriwest Critical Metals CEO David Watkinson talked with Proactive about the company’s recent strategic shift into a broader critical metals portfolio, highlighting the acquisition of a high-grade copper, gold, and silver project in Oregon. Watkinson noted that the property, known as the Borate project, is one he worked on in the 1990s while at Plexus Resources, a company that later helped form Kinross Gold. He explained that the asset is a breccia pipe deposit with a high-grade copper shell and potentially minable lower-grade interior. “Some of the assays are, you know, as much as 6 or 8% copper,” Watkinson stated. He added...

Standard Uranium CEO Jon Bey joined Steve Darling from the Vancouver Resources Investment Conference to share news about the company’s upcoming exploration plans and overall outlook within the uranium sector. Speaking from the OTC Markets Group booth, Bey reflected on the strong investor turnout at recent events, citing “over 10,000 investors over two days” as a sign of growing momentum in the resource space. He outlined the company’s successful pivot in 2023 toward a project generator model, enabling multiple assets to advance with external funding. “We have a great portfolio of 13 projects,” Bey noted, explaining how bringing in partners has allowed Stan...