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Government of Canada Announces Support for Ekona Power Inc.’s Clean Hydrogen Development

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BURNABY, BC, July 9, 2024 /CNW/ –  As nations globally move to reduce carbon emissions and shift to non-emitting forms of energy, investing in clean technologies will help ensure Canada remains a global energy leader. Ultra-low carbon sources of energy such as wind, solar, hydro and nuclear power are key to seizing the enormous economic opportunities that are available to Canadians in all regions of the country.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a new investment of $1 million from the Energy Innovation Program’s Clean Fuels and Industrial Fuel Switching initiative to Ekona Power Inc. This funding will support Ekona in advancing its methane pyrolysis solution for clean hydrogen production from natural gas. Building on the success of a prior program to develop and test Ekona’s xCaliber™ reactor, which was previously supported by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) through its Breakthrough Energy Solutions Canada Program, this project will support further development of the reactor and expand Ekona’s Burnaby test facility.

Ekona’s solution converts natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions when compared with other conventional processes used to produce hydrogen. Ekona’s unique pyrolysis reactor uses the principles of combustion and high-speed gas dynamics to dissociate feedstock methane. It is low-cost, scalable and easy to integrate, and it leverages existing natural gas infrastructure to deliver a practical solution that meets the growing demand for clean hydrogen and the needs of Canadian industry.

Ekona’s novel solution has the potential to produce low-cost clean hydrogen while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 percent. More broadly, it could enable cost-effective, ultra-low-carbon hydrogen gas production from natural gas within the need to capture and sequester carbon dioxide. This project will also help Ekona build and test its pilot plant, validate performance against commercial targets and explore how this technology can be utilized in British Columbia for decarbonizing the natural gas network.

While we continue to foster economic growth and build Canada’s clean economy, significant investments — such as the one announced today — are being made to accelerate the production, distribution and use of clean fuels, including clean hydrogen. These advancements are guided by Canada’s Hydrogen Strategy, which introduced a framework in 2020 to help position Canada as a global supplier and producer of clean hydrogen on our path to net zero by 2050.

Quotes

“Canada is taking important steps to keep being a clean energy supplier of choice as we drive progress toward a net-zero world. Investing in innovations such as Ekona’s provides opportunities to advance Canada’s hydrogen value chain, create jobs and seize the economic opportunity of growing global demand for hydrogen.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“Ekona is a key player in the clean technology ecosystem within B.C. and Burnaby. Local leaders like Ekona are helping to drive us toward a sustainable economy and supporting our net-zero emission goals. We look forward to the continued partnership.”

The Honourable Terry Beech
Minister of Citizens’ Services
Member of Parliament for Burnaby North–Seymour

“Canada’s natural gas resources and infrastructure are critical for meeting tomorrow’s net-zero targets. Ekona’s methane pyrolysis platform unlocks natural gas’s potential for clean hydrogen production without the need for carbon-dioxide sequestration. This made-in-Canada technology offers a viable and near-term solution for using hydrocarbons in cleaner, better ways. NRCan has been an active supporter of Ekona and our technology vision since 2020, and we are grateful for its support.”

Chris Reid
CEO, Ekona Power Inc.

Quick Facts

Ekona’s clean hydrogen production plants operate without the need for water, or carbon-dioxide sequestration and use a minimal amount of electricity including renewable sources. These features allow the solution to be placed anywhere on the natural gas network and to leverage existing infrastructure.Ekona’s pulsed methane pyrolysis (PMP) reactor is integrated with industry-standard equipment for carbon separation and hydrogen purification to deliver a low-cost system. It is also catalyst-free, minimizing electricity consumption and mitigating carbon fouling.Ekona will deploy its first field unit next year. Ekona Gold Creek is a 1-tonne-per-day (1TPD) Customer Demonstration Plant. It will be deployed at Arc Resources’ Gold Creek gas plant to demonstrate how methane pyrolysis technology can decarbonize upstream oil and gas operations. The plant will be built, commissioned and tested in 2025 for operations in 2026.NRCan’s Energy Innovation Program advances clean energy technologies that will help Canada meet its climate change targets while supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. It funds research, development and demonstration projects, and other related scientific activities.Interest in low-carbon hydrogen in Canada has increased significantly since 2020, with over 80 low-carbon hydrogen production projects announced, representing over five million tonnes of hydrogen production capacity and an economic expression of interest of over $100 billion in potential investment in domestic clean energy opportunities and jobs.Since 2020, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick have published hydrogen strategies, identifying hydrogen as a provincial clean energy priority and describing provincial actions and objectives to realize regional low-carbon hydrogen objectives.Hydrogen has been identified as a key opportunity area under the British Columbia Regional Energy and Resource Table and features prominently in the recently released British Columbia Regional Energy and Resource Table – Framework for Collaboration on the Path to Net-Zero. The Regional Energy and Resource Tables are joint partnerships between the federal government and individual provincial and territorial governments in collaboration with Indigenous partners — and with input from key stakeholders — to identify and accelerate shared economic priorities for a low-carbon future in the energy and resource sectors.There are now 13 low-carbon hydrogen production facilities in operation across Canada, able to produce over 3,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen per year.

Related Information

Hydrogen Strategy for Canada and Progress Report 
2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy 
Net-zero emissions by 2050
Budget 2024 – Attracting Investment for a Net-Zero Economy
Backgrounder: Economic Growth and Productivity
Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit 
Energy Innovation Program 
Breakthrough Energy Solutions Canada

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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CHAI AI, Backed by CoreWeave and AMD, Hits $80M ARR with talks of $2.4B Valuation

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May 1, 2026

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PALO ALTO, Calif., April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Following a pivotal 2025 investment from CoreWeave and AMD, CHAI AI has maintained an unstoppable growth trajectory, surpassing $80 million ARR at the close of Q1 2026, propelling the company to an estimated $2.4 billion valuation.

“Millions of people use our social AI platform every day, and our continued growth is a direct reflection of our incredible talent,” said William Beauchamp, founder of CHAI AI. “I moved the company from the UK to Palo Alto in 2022 because it is where I can find talented engineers. Our growth is driven by fast iteration cycles and the hard work of the engineers.”

What is the mission of CHAI AI? People want to create their own AI and share it with others, and they want to discover and interact with AI built by people they follow. Just as social media platforms emerged when video creation and consumption became ubiquitous, social AI platforms are now emerging to meet an equivalent wave of consumer demand for generative AI creation, sharing, and interaction.

What is the growth rate and traction? In the last three consecutive years, CHAI AI has sustained a 3x growth rate with ARR crossing $80 million by the end of Q1 2026 and a projection to surpass $200 million.

What is the valuation of CHAI AI? CHAI AI is estimated to have a valuation of $2.4 billion as of Q1 2026, based on $80 million in ARR and its sustained growth rate.

Who are the major investors in CHAI AI? AMD and CoreWeave are the primary, strategic investors in CHAI AI, bringing its total investment to date to over $55 million.

What is the culture like at CHAI AI? Our fast-growing company is supported by a talented engineering team that thrives on fast iteration cycles and takes on the most challenging problems in the field. CHAI AI operates with a high-bar, high-reward culture where engineers own entire product segments end-to-end, from prototyping to production.

What is the compensation? CHAI AI competes with top-paying companies such as Jane Street, OpenAI, Meta, and Citadel. We pay 100% cash salaries and are known for generous compensation offers, with the option to trade a portion of cash for stock options. The founding team’s background is in quantitative trading, and they have maintained a compensation philosophy consistent with that culture.

How do promotions and performance reviews work? Performance is reviewed on a daily basis, and engineers are expected to work hard and drive impact. At the beginning of each year, there is a performance-based salary increase.

What is the management structure? The structure is flat, with a team of 15 to 20 engineers.

What are the typical working hours? Engineers at CHAI AI typically work from 9 AM to 5 PM during weekdays, as well as Saturday morning.

Is there vacation or PTO? CHAI AI does not have a set number of vacation days on the calendar, but we respect that employees need time to recharge. In practice, most engineers take around 20 days off per year.

Is the role fully in-person in Palo Alto, hybrid, or remote-friendly? All CHAI employees are expected to work in person in Palo Alto. As a startup that moves fast, we want to ensure the team stays in sync.

What’s the onboarding experience like for new engineers? New hires follow a structured 3-month onboarding plan. Each new hire is paired with an experienced hire and ramped up quickly. You will be assigned high-impact tasks from day one, with clear evaluation metrics and direct mentorship from peers.

Press Contact:
CHAI AI Press
+1 (626) 594-8966

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SOURCE Chai AI

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Greenberg Traurig Shareholder Lisa M. Lanham to Speak at MBA Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference

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May 1, 2026

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MIAMI, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lisa M. Lanham, a shareholder in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A.‘s Financial Regulatory & Compliance Practice, will speak at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference, taking place May 4-7 at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami.

Lanham will participate in the session titled “Emerging Issues Track: The Risk Behind the Race — Employee Mobility, Data, and Licensing,” scheduled for 3:30-4:45 p.m. Monday, May 4. The panel will examine how competitive hiring practices, proprietary data use, and evolving multistate licensing frameworks are creating heightened legal and regulatory risks for independent banks. Panelists will discuss recent litigation trends, data protection considerations, and operational practices that can expose institutions to increased scrutiny.

Based in the firm’s Miami office, Lanham’s practice focuses on consumer financial services regulatory compliance and licensing. She regularly advises mortgage lenders, servicers, fintech companies, and financial institutions on navigating complex federal and state regulatory regimes, workforce mobility issues, and compliance risk management.

The MBA Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference is a leading industry forum bringing together legal, compliance, and business professionals to address emerging regulatory challenges facing the mortgage banking industry.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has approximately 3,100 lawyers across 51 locations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm’s broad geographic and practice range enables the delivery of innovative and strategic legal services across borders and industries. Recognized as a 2025 BTI “Best of the Best Recommended Law Firm” by general counsel for trust and relationship management, Greenberg Traurig is consistently ranked among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100, NLJ 500, and Law360 400. Greenberg Traurig is also known for its philanthropic giving, culture, innovation, and pro bono work. Web: www.gtlaw.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenberg-traurig-shareholder-lisa-m-lanham-to-speak-at-mba-legal-issues–regulatory-compliance-conference-302759523.html

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City Out Now on Meta Quest, Pico, and Steam VR

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39 minutes ago

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May 1, 2026

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Award-winning Cortopia Studios launches the first-ever Turtles VR game

STOCKHOLM, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been everywhere from New York City to Dimension X, but with the launch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City, Beyond Frames Entertainment and Cortopia Studios take the iconic heroes into an all-new reality for the very first time: virtual reality.

Watch the full release trailer here: https://youtu.be/TK2PFmvvVf0

Available now on Meta Quest, Steam VR, and Pico for $24.99, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City is a story-based action adventure game that can be enjoyed single-player, or with friends in optional co-operative multiplayer, allowing players to join together and push against the forces of The Foot.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City takes players to a New York City where the Shredder has been defeated and, in the void left behind, warring factions are vying for total control – from Karai, the leader of the Japanese branch of The Foot Clan, to Mashima, a mystic determined to resurrect the ruthless chaos and power that he believes their fallen leader stood for. 

Players will explore the neighborhoods you’ve sworn to protect, square off against classic foes, and chow down on pizza – just like a real Turtle. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City, players are in full control of their play style and experience, engaging however they feel their favorite Turtle would – from stealthy attacks to outright berserker action. 

In addition to the base game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City is available with a Digital Deluxe Edition upgrade for $4.99, featuring four alternate skins for each Turtle (Mirage, Nostalgia, Owari Masks and Red Masks), alongside an in-game digital art book and an in-game browsable soundtrack.

To learn more, follow Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City on Discord, X, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

PRESS KIT

Press kit for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City can be found here: https://bit.ly/3GMgdqP

CONTACT:

Press Contact: Jim Squires, press@beyondframes.com
Beyond Frames Publishing: Maeva Sponbergs, Head of Publishing, hello@beyondframes.com, +46 8 50235808

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/beyond-frames/r/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles–empire-city-out-now-on-meta-quest–pico–and-steam-vr,c4342105

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SOURCE Beyond Frames

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