BOSTON, Apr 8, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - IDC today opened IDC Directions 2026, its flagship client event, bringing together technology leaders, analysts, and industry experts to examine the forces reshaping the global technology market and to introduce a major evolution in how technology intelligence is delivered.At the center of this year's event is IDC Quanta™, a new AI-powered platform that establishes what IDC defines as the technology intelligence layer for the AI economy.As artificial intelligence accelerates the pace of business and compresses decision cycles, IDC is redefining its role from a destination for research and data to an embedded intelligence capability that delivers trusted insight directly into the workflows where decisions are made."AI is compressing time across the entire technology market, and that breaks the traditional research model," said Lorenzo Larini, CEO of IDC. "Leaders don't need more noise. They need intelligence that shows up in the moment, grounded in data they trust, and ready to use. IDC Quanta makes that possible. We believe it will define the next chapter of this industry."Defining the Technology Intelligence LayerIDC Quanta™ emerged from collaboration with some of the industry's most forward-leaning technology providers and enterprise buyers, shaping a platform built for how decisions are made today. Demoed at Directions, IDC Quanta™ is built on five differentiated design principles that redefine how technology intelligence is delivered:EMBEDDED - Intelligence inside your workflows: IDC Quanta™ delivers intelligence directly within the tools professionals already use, starting with email and expanding to collaboration and AI platforms. By removing the need to search, switch contexts, or manually synthesize insights, IDC enables faster, more seamless decision-making.CONTEXTUAL - Your business context, combined with IDC intelligence: Organizations can securely bring their own data, documents, and third-party content into IDC Quanta™, analyzing it alongside IDC research in a single environment. The platform retains context across interactions, enabling more relevant, personalized, and continuously improving insights.SECURE - Enterprise-grade privacy and control: IDC Quanta is designed with strict data isolation and governance at its core. Customer data remains private, is never used to train models, and is fully protected within a secure workspace, ensuring organizations can confidently apply intelligence to high-stakes decisions.AWARE- The insights you need without asking: IDC Quanta delivers scheduled intelligence automatically, helping decision-makers stay ahead. It uncovers insights faster using trend signals, anonymized peer patterns, and suggested next questions, eliminating the need for repeated prompts for frequently needed information.RIGOROUS - Intelligence you can stand behind: IDC Quanta is grounded in more than 60 years of proprietary data, research, and analyst expertise, delivering sourced, citable answers with full transparency into underlying methodology and inputs. Unlike common AI tools, every output is traceable to trusted IDC intelligence.Powering AI-Driven Decision WorkflowsIDC also announced it is building a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the technology intelligence layer of the AI economy and is collaborating with Anthropic to bring IDC's intelligence directly into Claude workflows.Through this collaboration, organizations will gain entitlement-based access to IDC's proprietary research, data, and methodologies natively within Anthropic environments via MCP and plugins. This approach enables IDC intelligence to be accessed not as a separate destination, but as a seamless extension of the AI tools enterprises already use.The result is a new class of agentic workflows, where AI moves beyond answering questions to executing research tasks on behalf of the user. These workflows can include navigating sources, synthesizing customer and IDC intelligence data, generating structured outputs, and producing actionable deliverables.By embedding IDC intelligence into AI-native environments, IDC Quanta transforms AI from a capable assistant into a reliable operator for enterprise decision-making.From Research to Embedded IntelligenceIDC Quanta™ represents a fundamental shift from static research consumption through gated portals to continuous, embedded intelligence that scales across the enterprise."In my world, where it used to take human time weeks to draw conclusions, reading hundreds of reports, I can now do that in minutes," said Mark Terranova, director, Worldwide Analyst Relations at Kyndryl. "That means I can service my stakeholders internally much quicker with better insights. AI needs to interact with the human. That's how you get good answers and that's a key differentiator for IDC right now, in my opinion."IDC Quanta™ is expected to be generally available in summer 2026. Sign up to be notified at launch: idc.com/jointhewaitlist.About IDCInternational Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of trusted technology intelligence, advisory services, and events. With more than 1,000 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 100 countries. IDC's analysis and insights help IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on X at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.CONTACTIDC | Kiní Schoop | press@idc.comEscalate PR for IDC | IDC@escalatepr.comSOURCE: IDC Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces that Gold Fields Netherlands Services B.V. ("Gold Fields"), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Gold Fields Ltd, has increased its equity position in the Company through market purchases.On April 6, 2026, Gold Fields acquired 2,441,686 common shares of the Company at a weighted average price of approximately C$4.15 per share, for total consideration of approximately C$10.1 million. Following the transaction, Gold Fields beneficially owns 14,489,879 common shares of Founders, representing approximately 12.50% of the issued and outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis, up from approximately 10.39% following the closing of Gold Fields' initial C$50 million strategic investment in November 2025.Colin Padget, President & CEO, commented, "Gold Fields' decision to meaningfully increase their ownership in Founders through market purchases is a strong endorsement of our exploration strategy and the district-scale potential of the Antino Gold Project. With an aggressive surface exploration and 70,000+ metre diamond drill program underway and multiple high-priority targets advancing across our 102,360-hectare land package, we are well-positioned to continue delivering value for all shareholders."Gold Fields' early warning report in connection with the transaction has been filed under Founders' profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.About Founders Metals Inc.Founders Metals Inc. is a Canadian gold exploration company building a district-scale gold camp in southeastern Suriname. The Company controls a 102,360-hectare contiguous land package in the Guiana Shield - the largest uninterrupted package of highly prospective greenstone belt geology in the region. Founders is backed by strategic partnerships with Gold Fields and B2Gold and is executing one of the most active exploration programs in the global junior gold sector. The Company is committed to responsible exploration, strong community engagement, and disciplined capital allocation as it advances Suriname's next major gold camp.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,Per: "Colin Padget"Colin PadgetPresident, Chief Executive Officer, and DirectorContact InformationKatie MacKenzie, Vice President, Corporate DevelopmentTel: +1 306 537 8903 | katiem@fdrmetals.comCautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding long term value creation and the Company's prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur or be achieved.Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291616 Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Vancouver, BC, Apr 8, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Military Metals Corp. (CSE: MILI) (OTCQB: MILIF) (FSE: QN90) (the "Company" or "MILI") is pleased to announce the completion of a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource estimate (MRE) of 6.5 Mt at 1.02% Sb and 1.06 g/t Au for 67 thousand tonnes (kt) of antimony and 222 thousand ounces (koz) of gold at the Company's wholly owned flagship Trojárová Project (the "Project") in Western Slovakia.Highlights:Inferred Mineral Resource of 6.5 Mt at 1.02% Sb and 1.06 g/t Au for 67 kt of antimony and 222 koz of gold (Table 1)Resource estimate incorporated 53 diamond drill holes totaling 7,167 m of drilling and 55 intervals of underground chip samples totaling 202 m Historical MRE is now replaced by a modern MRE that is prepared in accordance with the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards (CIM, 2014) and the CIM Best Practice Guidelines of Mineral Resources and Reserves (2019)Scott Eldridge, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "The maiden mineral resource estimate of the Trojárová Project firmly underpins the value of Military Metals. Following our 2025 confirmation drilling campaign Trojárová has emerged as the largest antimony resource in the European union that is defined by a modern regulatory standard 1, and among the largest antimony resources globally. At a time when the need for secure, domestically sourced critical minerals is more pressing than ever, these results strengthen the project's potential importance to, and alignment with, the EU's objective of building a dependable, home-grown supply of critical raw materials."1The Company defines "a modern regulatory standard" as NI 43-101, JORC, or S-K 1300 disclosure standards. Table 1 - Trojárová Mineral Resource Estimate - April 6, 2026ClassificationTonnageAverage GradeContained Metal(Mt)Sb (%)Au (g/t)Sb (kt)Au (koz)Inferred6.51.021.0667222 Notes:The Mineral Resource Estimate was completed by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. ("SLR") in accordance with the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards and the CIM Best Practice Guidelines of Mineral Resources and Reserves (2019).SLR is independent of Military Metals Corp.The Mineral Resource is reported on a 100% ownership basis.Mineral Resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.8% SbEq.The formula for SbEq is SbEq = Sb % + (Au g/t * 0.562).Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term antimony price of US$29,000 per tonne and a gold price of US$3,000 per ounce.A uniform bulk density of 2.82 t/m3 was applied based on the length-weighted mean from laboratory density determinations from the Project's main mineralized zone.Metallurgical recovery is 85% for antimony and 85% for gold.The Mineral Resource excludes a 50 m crown pillar.Resource estimation domains were modelled to a 2.0 m minimum width.Totals may vary due to rounding.The 2026 Trojárová Mineral Resource EstimateThe maiden Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") incorporates all historical and modern drilling completed on the project, as well as historical underground sampling, comprising 53 diamond drill holes totaling 7,167 m and 55 underground face chip sampling intervals totaling 202 m. Three historical drill holes without analytical results available were excluded. Six mineralization wireframes, each supported by a minimum of two drill holes, were manually built based on a 0.1% SbEq threshold. A minimum wireframe width of 2.0 m was applied to all zones. Mineral Resources above the 0.8% SbEq cut-off were reported in four of the six mineralization wireframes (Figure 1).Inferred Mineral Resources correspond to areas supported by at least two drill holes with nominal drill spacing of no more than 150 m. Classification boundaries were locally refined manually to reflect geological interpretation, grade continuity, and zone thickness.The MRE is constrained within estimation domains meeting a 2.0 m minimum mining width. A 50 m crown pillar was also excluded from the MRE.Resource classification follows the CIM (2014) Definition Standards. Modeling and estimation were completed in Leapfrog Geo and Leapfrog Edge, and validation included database checks, wireframe-to-block volume comparisons, statistical reviews, and visual inspections on sections, plans, and longitudinal sections. Reporting assumes an antimony price of US $29,000 per tonne and a gold price of US$3,000/oz, with an effective date of April 6th, 2026.The average grade, minimum mining width and other results or assumptions above do not guarantee future production.Figure 1: Trojárová deposit showing Inferred Mineral Resources above cut off (grey), and mineralization wireframes (red)To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10818/291609_7fe684b144344ad4_001full.jpgExploration Growth PotentialTo date no significant mineralization has been intersected beyond the boundaries of the current Inferred Mineral Resource estimate. However, mineral exploration beyond these boundaries has also been limited. There is geological evidence of the mineralizing structure or other sympathetic structures continuing northward along strike within the boundaries of the Trojárová project. Additional exploration along this corridor could identify targets for future drilling. Furthermore, the Inferred Mineral Resource is open to depth, where additional drilling has the potential to incorporate additional volume into future mineral resource estimates.About the Trojárová ProjectDiscovered in the late 1970s, Trojárová was the focus of extensive surface and underground exploration over a 2 km strike length from 1983 to 1995, including 66 diamond drill holes for a total of 9,049 m and 1.7 km of underground workings. Efforts continued over the years as additional trenches were dug, and holes were drilled. Starting in 1990, underground development began, ultimately comprising a 300-metre-long adit connected to a 700-plus-metre-long drive in the footwall of the mineralized zone, with seven crosscuts into the mineralized zone for sampling.These efforts culminated in a comprehensive study comprising drill logs, analyses, drill plans, maps and sections, deposit model studies, petrographic studies, metallurgical studies and more, now detailed in a multi-volume compendium of reports produced by the Slovak Geological Institute published in 1992.The historical work carried out appears comprehensive, detailed and at a professional standard. The Company considers this historical data relevant, as it will use it as a guide to plan future exploration programs and informs the Inferred Mineral Resource estimate. The Company also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes.The Company completed a confirmation drilling campaign in the winter of 2025 to validate historical work. Seven diamond drill holes totaling 1,383 m were drilled (Figure 2).Figure 2: Map of Military Metals' Trojárová Project, Western Slovakia.To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10818/291609_7fe684b144344ad4_002full.jpgQualified PersonThe Mineral Resource estimate was prepared by Luke Evans, M.Sc., P.Eng., Principal Resource Geologist, Global Technical Director, Geology Group Leader for SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. It is reported in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards (2014). The scientific and technical information in this news release related to the Trojárová Mineral Resource estimate has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Evans, who is independent of Military Metals Corp. and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101.SLR is unaware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate.David Murray, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration at Military Metals Corp. a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.A technical report will be prepared by Qualified Persons in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101 and will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days of this press release.About Military Metals Corp. The Company is a British Columbia-based mineral exploration company that is primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties with a focus on antimony.For more information about Military Metals Corp. and its critical minerals initiatives, please visit: https://www.militarymetalscorp.com.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/military-metals/X: https://x.com/militarymetalsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564717587797ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSFor more information, please contact:Scott EldridgeCEO and Directorscott@militarymetalscorp.com or info@militarymetalscorp.comFor inquiries, please call 604-537-7556Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains "forward-looking information." Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, the continuation of the value of antimony, and the future needs of Europe and the E.U. specifically. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this news release. These include geopolitical developments related to the supply and value of antimony, the continued use of antimony and availability of alternatives, availability of capital and labour in respect of the property that is the subject of this news release, the results of any future exploration activities, which cannot be guaranteed, and any other future activities in respect of the property held by the Target. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291609 Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

A new funding model pits 9 professional investor funds against 1 crowd-driven fund to test who can best identify breakout companies in gaming, XR, and interactive media.LAS VEGAS, NV, Apr 8, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Droid Investment Funds today announced the launch of the 10 Fund Competition, an innovative startup funding model built around a simple but powerful question: Who is better at spotting the future—professional investors or the crowd?Structured as a live contest, nine professionally managed funds and one crowd fund will discover and accelerate promising companies across gaming, esports, XR, spatial computing, creator tools, and interactive commerce.Unlike traditional venture capital models where allocation decisions occur behind closed doors, this competition makes startup selection visible, dynamic, and participatory. Professional fund managers bring deep industry experience, elite networks, and rigorous investment discipline. The crowd fund represents collective market conviction. Over time, both sides will be measured publicly by the performance of the companies they back.“We are building more than a funding platform,” said Andrew Prell, Founder of Convergence 4D. “We are building a public competition around conviction, discovery, and startup selection. For too long, founders have had to rely on closed circles and private gatekeepers. This model opens the process and lets the market see, in real time, whether institutional judgment or community insight is better at identifying the next generation of winners.”Far from being a new idea, the 10 Fund Competition traces back to 2018, when Prell published the underlying framework in Blockchain vs. The VC and The Virtuous Circle of Token Based Investment Funds. The ideas gained traction; in a recorded public forum at a Silicon Valley conference that year, leading economists questioned whether the model represented entirely new principles of token-based economics.Beyond Capital: Real-World Network Effects For founders, the opportunity goes well beyond capital. Startups entering the competition gain unprecedented visibility, market validation, and compound momentum. They are entering an environment where investor support and market attention accelerate together.At the center of this model is the crowd fund, serving as a live benchmark. Rather than treating the public as spectators, the structure gives the crowd a meaningful, active role in discovery.“This is a real test,” Prell added. “Can a well-informed crowd outperform traditional investors? Can collective conviction see opportunities that professional capital overlooks? We believe that question is worth answering publicly.”As the platform grows, the 10 Fund Competition will become a capital formation engine and a public scoreboard for startup discovery. Droid Investment Funds is currently finalizing the manager lineup and expanding early access for founders ahead of launch.About Droid Investment Funds Droid Investment Funds backs startups in gaming, XR, esports, and interactive media. Its 10 Fund Competition brings together professional managers and a crowd fund in a public contest to support high-potential companies.Media Contact:Jarvis GaoMedia RelationsTeam@silicanexus.com702-490-3674 Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

HONG KONG, Apr 8, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Guoyuan International issued a research report on Essex Bio-Technology on 1 April 2026. Essex posted steady operating performance growth in 2025 and kicked off its international expansion, as the Phase III clinical trial of bevacizumab met its primary endpoint and Beifushu® was successfully introduced to Singapore. The global commercialisation of innovative drugs is expected to drive the company’s earnings growth. The institution maintains a BUY rating on the Company with a target price of HK$6.84, representing 84.9% upside from the current price.Essex Bio-Technology’s core R&D pipeline has secured a series of critical milestones. The global phase 3 clinical project of bevacizumab ophthalmic injection (AURA2) has completed the last patient last visit in Australia, European Union countries and the United States, with data analysis now in progress. A Biologics License Application (BLA) for anti-VEGF ophthalmic injection EB12-20145P (HLX04-O, bevacizumab) was accepted by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Results from the phase 3 clinical trial of HLX04-O in Chinese patients showed that the primary endpoint was met, with the mean change in BCVA from baseline at week 48 being non-inferior to that in the ranibizumab group, and HLX04-O had a good safety profile in wet-AMD patients. Currently, no bevacizumab products marketed globally are approved for wet-AMD indication, suggesting substantial market potential. Meanwhile, Essex Bio-Technology has secured exclusive global rights to SkQ1 eye drops from Mitotech and is advancing its US phase III clinical trial, with favourable safety and tolerability demonstrated in VISTA-1 and VISTA-2 trials, which boasts huge commercial potential targeting the large moderate-to-severe dry eye disease market in the PRC.Essex Bio-Technology’s internationalisation strategy has also achieved landmark progress. Beifushu® has been successfully introduced to Singapore via the Special Access Route (SAR) at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), marking the product’s first entry beyond the PRC and laying a solid foundation for future launches in Southeast Asia and global markets. The company has entered into a collaboration with Beijing Airdoc Technology Co., Ltd. to jointly operate artificial intelligence-based retinal businesses, and signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Seefunge Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. for its emedastine difumarate and oxybuprocaine hydrochloride eye drops, further optimising the ophthalmic product portfolio and business layout.Supported by Essex Bio-Technology’s steady 2025 operating performance, with revenue amounted to HK$1,814.0 million (+8.6% YoY), profit for the year amounted to HK$318.0 million (+3.5% YoY), gross profit margin remained at a high industry level of 89.2%; coupled with its robust innovative drug pipeline and smooth global expansion, Guoyuan Internatioanl forecasts the company’s 2026-2028 revenue at HK$1,871.0 million, HK$2,130.0 million and HK$2,475.0 million respectively. The institution maintains the target price of HK$6.84, representing 12x 2025 PE and 84.9% upside from the current price, and reiterates the BUY rating for Essex Bio-Technology.Important Disclosure:This content extracts and integrates original content and key highlights from the research report “Essex Bio-Technology (1061.HK) Updated Report: Steady Growth in Performance, International Expansion Begins” published by Guoyuan International on 1 April 2026. All information is for reference only and does not constitute investment advice. Investment involves risks, please make decisions with caution. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com