Technology
Payfare Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Published
2 years agoon
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Payfare generated net income of $4.5 million, and Adjusted net income per share1 of $0.17 in Q3 2024
TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – Payfare Inc. (“Payfare” or the “Company”) (TSX: PAY) (OTCQX: PYFRF), a leading international Earned Wage Access (“EWA”) company powering instant access to earnings and digital banking solutions for workforces, today announced the filing of its Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) for the quarter ending September 30, 2024. A comprehensive discussion of Payfare’s financial position and results of operations are provided in the MD&A, which is filed on SEDAR+ under Payfare’s profile and can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.
Q3 2024 Highlights:
Increased revenue to $59.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, representing an $11.8 million (+25%) increase compared to the same period in 2023.Ended Q3 2024 with 1,502,028 active users1, up by 290,753 (+24%) compared to the active users1 count as at the end of Q3 2023.Total gross dollar value (Total GDV)1 in Q3 2024 was $3.8 billion, up by $0.8 billion (+29%) over Q3 2023.Gross Profit1 of $16.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, up by $3.8 million (+31%) over the same period in 2023.Net income of $4.5 million, or $0.09 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $4.8 million in the same period in 2023.Adjusted net income1 of $8.1 million, or $0.17 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, representing an increase of $0.6 million (+8%) over the same period in 2023.Adjusted EBITDA1 of $7.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, reflecting a $1.5 million increase (+24%) compared to the same period in 2023.Free cash flow1 of $5.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, up by $1.7 million (+44%) compared to the same period in 2023.As at September 30, 2024, Payfare has over $100 million in cash, cash equivalents and guaranteed investment certificates and is well capitalized to fund its new strategic initiatives. Payfare continues to see high growth with its other client programs that were recently renewed to long-term extensions. In addition, the Company is working on securing new, large-scale EWA programs in both the gig economy and employee verticals.On July 16, 2024, the Company announced the formation of a Strategic Advisory Board led by a new seasoned strategy and corporate development executive to guide the Company’s international expansion opportunities (including EWA platform) and achieve global scale efficiently and effectively.On July 25, 2024, the Company announced the long-term extension of its agreement with Lyft Inc. in respect to the Lyft Direct Program, which Payfare currently powers. The extension means drivers on the Lyft program will continue to benefit from free instant pay, a feature rich digital banking platform and a rich cashback rewards program that is offered through Lyft’s partnership with Payfare.On August 27, 2024, the Company launched an upgraded version of the Lyft Direct debit card and banking app with a range of features that include: (a) Lyft Direct Savings – a high-yield savings account, (b) Balance Protection – which provides qualifying cardholders up to US$200 to cover unforeseen costs, (c) New Cashback Rewards for elite drivers, (d) Wellness Perks by Avibra, which provides access to a comprehensive suite of health and financial wellness tools, (e) Spend Insights – which helps with enhanced financial decision making and provides control of personal budgets, and (f) Cash ATM Deposits at participating ATM locations.On September 26, 2024, Payfare announced that its core services agreements related to the DoorDash DasherDirect card program will not be renewed beyond the current term in early 2025. A transition and wind-down plan for the program has not yet been agreed to with DoorDash and it is currently unknown when the financial impact, including on revenue, net income, key performance indicators and certain non-GAAP measures utilized by the Company will be experienced by Payfare from the non-renewal.On September 29, 2024, the Board of Directors initiated a strategic review process to explore and evaluate a broad range of potential options for the Company to enhance value, support conversion of potential new opportunities and alleviate concentration risks.Subsequent to quarter-end, Payfare successfully launched a pilot EWA product with Automatic Data Processing Inc. (“ADP”), a leading global provider of Human Capital Management solutions, to offer EWA to the Canadian market.
Conference Call
Management will be hosting a conference call on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 6:30 PM ET to discuss the Company’s financial results for the third quarter of 2024. A short presentation in connection with the conference call will be made available ahead of time on the Company’s website at https://corp.payfare.com/investors/. Management will also host a live question and answer session on the conference call with analysts.
To access the conference call, please dial (289) 514-5100 or 1-800-717-1738. Please call the conference telephone number 10-15 minutes prior to the start time so that you are in the queue for an operator to assist in registering and patching you through.
An archived recording of the conference call will be available until December 6, 2024. To listen to the recording, call (289) 819-1325 or 1-888-660-6264 and enter passcode 70127#.
About Payfare (TSX:PAY, OTCQX: PYFRF)
Payfare is a leading, international Earned Wage Access (“EWA”) company powering instant access to earnings through an award-winning digital banking platform for today’s workforce. Payfare partners with leading e-commerce marketplaces, payroll platforms, and employers to provide financial security and inclusion for all workers.
1Non-IFRS and Supplementary Financial Measures
This press release contains references to “active users”, “Total gross dollar value (“Total GDV”), “adjusted net income”, “adjusted net income per share”, “EBITDA”, “Adjusted EBITDA”, “free cash flow” and “gross profit”, which are not measures prescribed by IFRS Accounting Standards (“IFRS”). These supplementary financial measures are provided as additional information to complement IFRS measures by providing a further understanding of our results of operations from management’s perspective, to provide investors and security analysts with supplemental measures to evaluate the financial performance of the Company and highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. Management also uses non-IFRS and supplementary financial measures to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, prepare annual operating budgets and strategic business plans and to evaluate and price potential acquisitions.
Accordingly, non-IFRS and supplementary financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. Such measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other corporations. The non-IFRS and supplementary financial measures are not subject to standard industry definition and our definitions and method of calculation may differ from other issuers and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
The Company determines the number of users to its services based on active users. “Active users” represent users who have loaded earnings and direct deposits on their card in the period.
Total gross dollar value (“Total GDV”) is defined as the aggregate dollar amount of active user earnings and direct deposits loaded on their payment card during the period.
“EBITDA” means net income (loss) before amortization and depreciation expenses, foreign exchange gain (loss), amortization of deferred income, finance and interest income/ costs, current tax expense and change in fair value of derivative liability.
“Adjusted EBITDA” adjusts EBITDA for share-based compensation expense, restructuring costs and non-recurring expense items. Non-recurring expense items are transactions or events which management believes will not re-occur within the foreseeable future and includes legal and professional fees related to regulatory matters, claim settlements, acquisition, divestiture, asset impairment charges and going public transaction.
The table below reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
In CAD $
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net income
$ 4,463,222
$ 4,810,360
$ 14,467,608
$ 8,212,761
Add:
Current tax expense
34,629
20,874
84,230
66,242
Finance income
(875,557)
(795,305)
(2,291,157)
(1,565,277)
Other income
–
–
–
(9,397)
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
528,569
(445,690)
(447,081)
(20,009)
Amortization of intangible assets
1,487,379
942,531
4,153,641
2,227,776
Depreciation of building, property and equipment
25,734
17,812
79,733
87,615
EBITDA
5,663,976
4,549,952
16,046,974
8,999,711
Adjustments:
Restructuring expense/other
514,924
706,185
1,563,513
2,009,504
Share based compensation
1,596,831
1,040,863
2,766,769
3,078,369
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 7,775,731
$ 6,297,000
$ 20,377,256
$ 14,087,584
“Adjusted net income” adjusts net income (loss) for amortization of intangible assets, depreciation of building, property & equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring costs and non-recurring expense items. Non-recurring expense items are transactions or events which management believes will not re-occur within the foreseeable future and includes legal and professional fees related to regulatory matters, claim settlements, acquisition, divestiture, asset impairment charges and going public transaction.
The table below reconciles net income to Adjusted net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
In CAD $
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net income
$ 4,463,222
$ 4,810,360
$ 14,467,608
$ 8,212,761
Add:
Amortization of intangible assets
1,487,379
942,531
4,153,641
2,227,776
Depreciation of building, property and equipment
25,734
17,182
79,733
87,615
Restructuring expense/other
514,924
706,185
1,563,513
2,009,504
Share based compensation
1,596,831
1,040,863
2,766,769
3,078,369
Adjusted net income
$ 8,088,090
$ 7,517,121
$ 23,031,264
$ 15,616,025
“Adjusted net income per share” is calculated as Adjusted net income divided by the basic weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.
The Company defines its “free cash flow” as cash from operating activities less cash used in purchase of building, property and equipment and additions to intangible assets.
The table below reconciles cash from operating activities to free cash flow for the three and nine ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
In CAD $
2024
2023
2024
2023
Cash from operating activities
$ 7,327,321
$5,300,226
$ 26,431,141
$ 14,603,936
Less: Cash used in investing activities
Purchase of building, property and equipment
–
(15,495)
(41,252)
(19,708)
Additions to intangible assets
(1,896,269)
(1,506,530)
(5,497,115)
(4,067,629)
Free cash flow
$ 5,431,052
$ 3,778,201
$ 20,892,774
$ 10,516,599
The Company defines “gross profit” as revenue less cost of services.
Additional information on these measures may be found under the heading “Definitions – IFRS, Additional GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures” in the interim MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 which is available under Payfare’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and is incorporated by reference to this press release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release also contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects Payfare’s current expectations regarding future events as of the date hereof. Such forward-looking information may include but are not limited to statements regarding the Company’s future financial conditions, results of operations, plans, objectives, performance or business developments and includes statements on rapid international expansion opportunities and achieving global scale efficiently and effectively, achieving profitability, expansion into the earned wage access vertical for hourly paid employees, the actual timing for the non-renewal and eventual termination of the Company’s services agreement with DoorDash and the anticipated material impact on future revenues, earnings, key performance indicators and Non-GAAP measures, potential new EWA programs in both the gig economy and employee verticals and aggregate potential new GDV opportunities being able to mitigate the impact of the non-renewal of the agreement with DoorDash, and the strategic review process to explore and evaluate potential options for the Company to enhance value, support conversion of potential new opportunities and alleviate concentration risks. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Payfare’s control, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks include the factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” section in Payfare’s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2023 and factors discussed from time to time in Payfare’s filings with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under Payfare’s profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially include the inability of Payfare to launch its new programs or platforms including for earned wage access in a timely manner, the lack of experience or resources to enter into the EWA vertical, the regulatory uncertainty and constraints around EWA services, the economic viability of new programs and platforms, the inability to scale Payfare’s operations to manage the increased volume of new cardholder sign-ups, active users or transactions, loss or termination of existing service agreements with one of its large gig platform clients, the impact of an inflationary recession and rising costs of goods and services on Payfare’s business model, Payfare’s ability to finance and support new programs and platforms, a general decline in the credit markets or gig economy in North America, cybersecurity incidents or data breaches impacting the Company’s operations, reputation, or subjecting the Company to regulatory or legal action, the availability of talent and the retention of employees to support Payfare’s plans, industry competitors who may have superior technology or are quicker to take advantage of certain market opportunities, the non-renewal of the agreement with DoorDash being either expedited or delayed in comparison to current expectations, new client opportunities taking longer to execute and therefore delaying the mitigation impacts sought by the Company, and implications from any decisions or outcome from the Company’s current strategic review process. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/payfare-announces-third-quarter-2024-financial-results-302298000.html
SOURCE Payfare Inc.
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2CRSi SA: Annual Revenue of €416.2 Million¹, Up 88% for Fiscal Year 2025/26
Published
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July 23, 2026By
STRASBOURG, France, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 2CRSi (ISIN: FR0013341781), a designer and manufacturer of high-performance, energy-efficient servers, today reports its revenue for fiscal year 2025/26. Over the period, the Group generated revenue of €416.2 million[1], an increase of more than 88% compared with fiscal year 2024/25 (€220.7 million).
Another Record-Breaking Year
This performance reflects the Group’s strong commercial momentum as well as the success of the strategic transformation launched nearly two years ago to position 2CRSi in the Artificial Intelligence infrastructure market.
Initially set at €300 million at the beginning of the fiscal year[2], then raised to more than €400 million in March 2026[3], the revenue target has now been exceeded, demonstrating the Group’s ability to anticipate market developments and successfully execute its commercial growth strategy in the rapidly expanding global Artificial Intelligence market. As a reminder, the €610 million framework agreement referred to in our detailed response[4] of July 16, 2026 generated no revenue during fiscal year 2025/26: the year’s growth was entirely driven by other orders that were delivered and invoiced.
Increasing Diversification of the Customer Portfolio
The portfolio of the Group’s main customers invoiced during the fiscal year consists predominantly of new customers signed during the period, demonstrating the Group’s ability to win new strategic accounts and rapidly convert its commercial pipeline into revenue.
2CRSi’s largest customer accounted for less than 20% of consolidated revenue, while the Group’s top five customers represented approximately 70%, compared with more than 90% in fiscal year 2024/25.
While equipment sales represented approximately 94% of total revenue, service revenue increased significantly in value to reach €24.7 million (compared with €8.3 million in 2024/25, representing growth of nearly 200%). As services generate higher margins, they will constitute a key development driver over the coming fiscal years. In particular, 2CRSi Cloud Solutions recorded its first significant billings, notably in connection with the ÆTHER project.
Positive Cash Flow and Strengthened Financial Position
At the end of the fiscal year, the Group’s cash position stood at €14.4 million1 (compared with -€0.2 million one year earlier), its highest year-end cash balance since its IPO in 2018. This strengthened financial position provides 2CRSi with the resources to support its continued growth trajectory.
Group Year-End Cash Position by Fiscal Year (in € thousands)
2026/27 Ambition: Targeting €1 Billion in Revenue
During the RAISE Summit, the global Artificial Intelligence summit held in Paris on July 8–9, 2026, bringing together more than 9,000 leading industry participants, the announcement[5] of the ÆTHER consortium members and the advanced negotiations for the upcoming acquisition by ÆTHER Infrastructures of two industrial sites in the Strasbourg region significantly boosted customer demand for the megawatts of computing capacity that will be deployed there. Like the other consortium members, 2CRSi expects to benefit from this momentum and anticipates an increase in order intake, with part of these orders expected to be delivered during the current fiscal year.
In light of this commercial momentum, 2CRSi confirms its ambition to achieve €1 billion in revenue during fiscal year 2026/27.
Beyond sustaining its growth trajectory, improving margins will also remain a key priority for the Group through increasing the contribution of services and higher value-added solutions to its overall business.
Next event: Publication of Fiscal Year 2025/26 Annual Results: October 29, 2026
About 2CRSi
Founded in 2005 in Strasbourg, France, 2CRSi designs, develops, and manufactures high-performance computing servers and innovative solutions for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing (HPC), and data storage. Committed to responsible and sustainable practices, the Group operates across multiple continents and provides highly energy-efficient technology solutions to industries including technology, manufacturing, gaming, scientific research, and data centers. 2CRSi has been listed since June 2018 on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0013341781) and was transferred to Euronext Growth in November 2022.
For more information: https://2crsi.com/
Media Contacts
2CRSi
Jean-Philippe LLOBERA
France Director
investors@2crsi.com
03 68 41 10 70
Seitosei.Actifin
Foucauld Charavay
Financial Communication
Foucauld.charavay@seitosei-actifin.com
06 37 83 33 19
Seitosei.Actifin
Isabelle Dray
Financial Press Relations
isabelle.dray@seitosei-actifin.com
06 85 36 85 11
References:
[1] Unaudited Data
[2] https://investors.2crsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2CRSI-announces-its-strategic-plan-with-a-strong-development-focus-in-the-US.pdf
[3] https://investors.2crsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2CRSi-announces-an-increase-in-its-half-year-result-by-4.6.pdf
[4] https://investors.2crsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2CRSis-detailed-response-to-the-allegations-in-the-Grizzly-Research-report.pdf
[5] https://investors.2crsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2CRSi-the-AETHER-Consortium-Reveals-Itself.pdf
Regulatory filing PDF file
File: 2CRSi Announces 2026 Revenue of €416.2 Million an 88% Increase
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SOURCE 2CRSi SA
Technology
Nearly Half of Senior Leaders Feel Only Partly Prepared to Lead AI Transformation, as Ambition Outpaces Readiness
Published
58 minutes agoon
July 23, 2026By
Almost half of senior leaders (46%) say they are prepared only to a small extent to lead organisation-wide transformation driven by AI, while 2% report being not prepared at all. Keeping pace with rapidly evolving AI technology is cited as the most significant challenge (40%) faced by senior leaders, followed by regulatory and compliance uncertainty (37%) and insufficient budget or resources for AI adoption (36%).Only about a third of senior leaders (34%) have attended formal training or upskilling related to leadership in the AI era within the past two years. Over half (53%) are planning to do so in the coming months and years, with 13% reporting no plans to undertake such training.The most common shift in leadership approach is an increased focus on people management during AI-driven change, cited by 37% of leaders, particularly in supporting morale and employee well-being. This is followed by greater time spent on upskilling themselves and their teams (31%), and on strategic decision-making (30%).
SINGAPORE, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how organisations operate and compete. However, the leaders responsible for steering this transformation report a gap between what is expected of them and their preparedness to deliver. Almost half of senior leaders (46%) say they are prepared only to a small extent to lead organisation-wide transformation driven by AI, while a further 2% report being not prepared at all. In comparison, 37% are prepared to a moderate extent, and only 15% consider themselves prepared to a large extent.
Senior leaders identify several factors contributing to this readiness gap. Keeping pace with rapidly evolving AI technology is cited as the top challenge (40%), followed by regulatory and compliance uncertainty (37%). Resource constraints are also a key pressure point, with 36% pointing to insufficient budget or resources for AI adoption. In addition, 34% highlight challenges related to data quality and governance, while another 34% cite the need to upskill or reskill employees to work effectively alongside AI.
These are some of the key findings from NTUC LearningHub’s Special Report on Leadership in an AI-Driven World. The report surveyed 131 senior leaders from organisations of different sizes and across industries, including Infocomm Technology, Finance, Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare and others. All respondents reported some level of experience with AI and are involved, to varying degrees, in AI adoption decisions within their organisation.
This readiness gap extends into decision-making. Senior leaders generally express moderate levels of confidence in making high-stakes AI-related decisions. Over two in five (43%) report being quite confident, while 13% say they are very confident. However, 40% indicate they are not very confident and 4% not confident at all.
Despite that, only about a third of senior leaders (34%) have attended formal training or upskilling on leading in an AI-driven workplace within the past two years. Among those who have not yet done so, many indicate plans to pursue training, including 22% within the next six months, 20% within the next year, and 11% within the next two years. Only 13% report having no plans to undertake such training. Among the training areas leaders prioritise, AI literacy and strategic understanding (57%) emerge as the key priority, followed by data-driven decision-making (46%), and ethical AI governance and responsible deployment (40%).
Alongside this, the most common shift in leadership approach is an increased focus on people management during AI-driven change, cited by 37% of leaders, particularly in supporting morale and employee well-being. This is followed by greater time spent on upskilling themselves and their teams (31%) and on strategic decision-making (30%). Ethical and governance considerations also feature strongly at 27%, alongside a similar share who report dedicating more effort to change management (27%), including communicating how AI may affect roles and ways of working.
These shifts reflect a broader recognition among leaders that navigating AI transformation requires more than technical fluency alone. Two in five (40%) senior leaders regard human-centric skills as very important in leading an organisation in the AI era, while nearly half (48%) consider them to be quite important. Among the capabilities leaders consider most critical, creative thinking and critical thinking each emerge at 47%, closely followed by sense-making (46%), problem-solving (44%) and effective communication (43%).
Commenting on the report’s findings, Mr Sean Lim, Chief Human Resource Officer, NTUC LearningHub, says, “The gap between expectation and readiness reflects a fundamental shift in what is required of leadership in today’s AI era. Leaders were once expected to hold all the answers and direct from the top. However, they must now act as strategic navigators, making sense of complexity and providing guidance through this period of rapid change and uncertainty. This means a shift towards coaching and empowering people, while also aligning competing priorities across technology, business and operational needs. It is a demanding shift, but it is encouraging to know that many senior leaders are already planning to further their own development to lead their teams through this period of AI transformation.”
To download the Special Report on Leadership in an AI-Driven World, please visit https://www.ntuclearninghub.com/media/research-reports/2026/Leadership-AI-World. To find out more about the courses, training, and grants, please contact NTUC LearningHub at www.ntuclearninghub.com.
### END ###
About NTUC LearningHub
NTUC LearningHub is the leading Continuing Education and Training provider in Singapore which aims to transform the lifelong employability of working people. Since our corporatisation in 2004, we have been working with employers and individual learners to provide learning solutions in areas such as Infocomm Technology, Generative AI & Cloud, Healthcare, Retail & Food Services, Employability & Literacy, Business Excellence, Workplace Safety & Health, Security, Human Resources & Coaching and Foreign Workers Training.
To date, NTUC LearningHub has helped over 34,000 organisations and achieved more than 3.2 million training places across more than 1,000 courses with a pool of about 1,000 certified trainers. As a Total Learning Solutions provider to organisations, we also forge partnerships to offer a wide range of relevant end-to-end training. Besides in-person training, we also offer instructor-led virtual live classes (VLCs) and asynchronous online learning. The NTUC LearningHub Learning eXperience Platform (LXP)—a one-stop online learning platform—offers timely, bite-sized and quality content for learners to upskill anytime and anywhere. Beyond learning, LXP also serves as a platform for jobs and skills development for both workers and companies.
For more information, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com.
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SOURCE NTUC LearningHub Pte Ltd
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THE LEGO GROUP INTRODUCES THE LEGO® SMART PLAY™ GATEWAY AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2026
Published
58 minutes agoon
July 23, 2026By
Booth #2829 invites attendees to step inside the worlds of two iconic franchises through the groundbreaking LEGO SMART Play experienceAttendees will be able to experience two beloved franchises like never before, as LEGO SMART Play adds a new dimension of interactive playOther exciting ways to experience the LEGO brand on-site July 23-26 include multiple new product reveals making global debuts, in-booth programming and a scavenger hunt for brand prizes
SAN DIEGO, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The LEGO Group is unveiling the LEGO® SMART Play™ Gateway at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 — a booth experience powered by LEGO SMART Play technology that puts attendees right at the center of their fandoms and brings LEGO sets to life with a newfound layer of interactivity. At the LEGO SMART Play Gateway, fans will step inside the heart of two of pop culture’s most beloved franchises.
The LEGO Group will also further debut several new LEGO sets spanning numerous fandoms at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 — continuing to offer a LEGO set for every age and interest!
Enter a New Dimension of Play at the LEGO SMART Play Gateway
Launched this year, LEGO SMART Play provides open-ended physical play through responsive technology that reacts in real time. The LEGO SMART Play platform is powered by the SMART Brick, a 2×4 LEGO brick compatible with the LEGO System in Play that holds more than 20 patented world-first technologies. The SMART Brick can read SMART Tags and SMART Minifigures, synthesize light and sounds and sense precise motion, allowing kids to build, interact and create their own stories as their creations play back.
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Destination: LEGO Pokémon™ Lab
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Destination: Mos Eisley transports Star Wars™ fans straight to Mos Eisley Cantina, recreated as a series of oversized LEGO brick environments pulled directly from the world of LEGO Star Wars™ SMART Play (specifically, the LEGO Star Wars™ SMART Play: Mos Eisley Cantina™ set!).Interactive touchpoints are woven throughout, doubling as iconic photo opportunities: grab the mic and swing it to trigger a SMART Brick remix of the iconic Cantina Song as the Modal Nodes band plays along; slide into the infamous corner booth for a face-to-face encounter with Greedo; and visit the Dewback Petting Zoo for a photo op with a purring, snoozing Dewback.Eagle-eyed fans can also decode hidden Aurebesh signage to unlock in-universe Easter eggs scattered throughout the space.
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Sets Debuting at San Diego Comic-Con 2026
Brand new sets from across the LEGO brand’s most beloved franchises, not specific to SMART Play, are on display flanking the rear of the gateway; as each display case operates as its own destination, inviting fans and enthusiasts to explore and build upon the worlds they love most.
Boldly Build Where No One Has Built Before with the NEW LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701™ Bridge
The LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701™ Bridge (11385), the ultimate tribute to one of the most iconic ships in sci-fi history, is a perfect way to celebrate Star Trek’s 60th anniversary in 2026 – and it reveals at San Diego Comic-Con!
This 1,701-piece set, available at LEGO Stores and LEGO.com exclusively beginning September 1 and available for pre-order now, recreates the iconic bridge and transporter room from the original series in authentic detail with eight LEGO Minifigures representing the Starfleet crew. Turn a dial to beam crew from the transporter room, swish open the turbo lift doors and rock the captain’s chair to simulate warp turbulence and space battles; this is a mission-worthy build for any Trekkie.
Outside of the booth, the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701™ Bridge set will make its first appearance at the Star Trek: The Collector Frontier Panel, accompanied by LEGO set designers Henrik Andersen and Crystal Marie Fontan to explain the process and inspiration that went into recreating the U.S.S. Enterprise. The panel takes place Thursday, July 23, 11:00am to 12:00pm in Room 5AB. For those on the hunt for further LEGO Star Trek sights, be sure to visit the “Star Trek: Boldly Built” activation at the Marriot Marquis on W. Harbor Drive July 23-26, where attendees can take a photo in a LEGO brick-built Captain’s Chair – made out of 83,568 LEGO bricks!
Relive the Classic with the NEW LEGO Donkey Kong™ Arcade
Jump back into a classic age of gaming with the LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade (72051), on display for the first time at San Diego Comic-Con and available in stores August 1. This 1,367-piece collectible set pays homage to the iconic arcade cabinet, complete with Jumpman, Donkey Kong and Lady, plus scaffold, ladder and hammer details straight from the original Nintendo® game.
Pull the lever to release one of the 21 barrels at a time, move Jumpman with the joystick and press the button to make him jump over the barrels — there is even a mechanism to circulate the barrels in a continuous loop to keep the fun rolling! A must-have for adult fans of classic arcade games and retro decor.
Bringing the Swamp to San Diego with NEW LEGO Minifigures Shrek Series
The LEGO Minifigures Shrek Series (71053) brings 12 beloved characters from the franchise to Minifigure form at San Diego Comic-Con, each tucked inside a sealed mystery box for ages six and up. Discover Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Puss in Boots, Lord Farquaad and more, most with at least one themed accessory like blind mice, a magic mirror or lollipop. Collect them all, play out scenes from the films or put them on display. These are available September 1, but the fairytale will continue in 2027 with more LEGO Shrek!
This summer marks the 25th anniversary of the first Shrek film, which launched a global blockbuster franchise. A new chapter begins next summer, when DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5 arrives in cinemas worldwide.
Within and Beyond the Booth
Attendees can explore the LEGO SMART Play™ Gateway from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, July 26 at booth #2829, where the power of LEGO SMART Play comes to life across every corner of the experience.
Beyond the SMART Play Gateway, fans can attend LEGO-brand panels celebrating major milestones, hunt for exclusive LEGO finds in a scavenger hunt spanning the entire convention floor and take home collectible souvenirs to remember the experience:
LEGO NINJAGO® Celebrates – 15 Years and Counting! NINJAGO voice talent will take the stage to celebrate 15 years of everyone’s favorite minifig ninja team – LEGO NINJAGO! They will talk about their best-loved moments from hundreds of episodes and perform a staged reading of an all-new, exclusive canon scene written by fellow panelists, LEGO NINJAGO: Dragons Rising head writers Kevin Burke & Chris “Doc” Wyatt. Thursday, July 23, 2:15pm-3:15pm in Room 6BCF. In-booth signings July 23, 4:00pm-5:00pm and Friday, July 24 2:30pm-3:30pm. NINJAGO fans will be further pleased to know that the LEGO brand debuted the third installation of its partnership with Crocs™, the NINJAGO collection, at San Diego Comic-Con this morning, The release features Classic Clogs for adults and kids inspired by one of the franchise’s most beloved heroes, Lloyd; fans can further personalize their look with character-inspired Jibbitz™ charm packs.Lost Luggage Scavenger Hunt. Keep your eyes open — LEGO luggage tags are being hidden within the San Diego Convention Center daily, July 23-26. Find one and return it to the LEGO booth to claim a prize package, including exclusive brand artwork commissioned for San Diego Comic-Con 2026.Travel souvenirs to take home from your journey. Visitors can collect limited-edition boarding passes, exclusive LEGO Travel Guides, destination postcards and IP-themed travel stickers in-booth — all designed to commemorate the trip long after the show floor closes.
More Information
All products on display at the show, including LEGO set reveals, can be found at LEGO.com/san-diego-comic-con. For more information on the LEGO Group activities at San Diego Comic-Con, contact press@america.lego.com.
Notes to Editor
Product Information
LEGO® Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701™ Bridge (11385)
Age Grade: 18+MSRP: $199.99Piece Count: 1,701Global Launch Date: September 1, 2027 (available for pre-order now) at LEGO Stores and LEGO.comDescription: Set course for a voyage of creativity with the LEGO® Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701™ Bridge building set for adults. Recreate the iconic bridge and transporter room that served as the backdrop for epic scenes aboard the legendary starship. Rock the captain’s chair to simulate ship turbulence and turn a dial to beam crew members. Includes eight iconic Star Trek character Minifigures.
LEGO® Donkey Kong™ Arcade (72051)
Age Grade: 18+MSRP: $199.99Piece Count: 1367Global Launch Date: August 1, 2026 at LEGO Stores and select retailersDescription: Join Jumpman on the construction site again with this LEGO® brick model of the iconic Donkey Kong™ arcade game. Pull the lever for Donkey Kong to ‘throw’ barrels one after the other. Move Jumpman with the joystick and press the button to make him leap over the barrels. This set pays homage to the original Donkey Kong arcade cabinet game and makes a fun, nostalgic addition to your game room.
LEGO® Minifigures Shrek Series (71053)
Age Grade: 6+MSRP: $4.99Piece Count: 7Global Launch Date: September 1, 2026 at LEGO Stores and select retailersDescription: Enjoy movie adventures with LEGO® Minifigures Shrek Series mystery boxes. There are 12 detailed characters to collect, including Shrek, Fiona and Donkey, Puss in Boots, Prince Charming, Big Bad Wolf and Lord Farquaad and most come with at least one accessory. Expand your Minifigure collection or use them to play out your favorite scenes from the DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek films. Open your box and find out who’s inside!
About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine.
The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words Leg Godt, which mean “Play Well”.
Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. Its products are now sold in more than 130 countries worldwide. For more information: www.LEGO.com.
About The Pokémon Company International
The Pokémon Company International manages the Pokémon property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.
STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
About Paramount Products & Experiences
Paramount Products & Experiences oversees all licensing, merchandising, and location-based experiences for Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), a leading next generation global media and entertainment company. The division brings to life iconic franchises and beloved characters through innovative products and immersive experiences across categories including toys, apparel, publishing, food and beverage, theme parks, hotels, cruises, attractions, and live entertainment. Its global portfolio is powered by content from brands such as Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount+, and fan-favorite franchises like PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, and Yellowstone. To explore our range of consumer products and Paramount-branded merchandise, visit ParamountShop.com.
TM & © 2026 CBS Studios Inc. Star Trek and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek Franchise
For the past two decades, children of all ages have been enchanted by DreamWorks Animation’s delightful, irreverent adventures of a misunderstood ogre and his ragtag group of roguish fairytale folk. Beginning with Shrek, the 2001 Academy Award® winner for Best Animated Feature, Shrek (Mike Myers), Fiona (Cameron Diaz), Donkey (Oscar® nominee Eddie Murphy), Puss in Boots (Oscar® nominee Antonio Banderas) and their signature friends, family and tormentors have grown into an indelible part of pop culture, reminding audiences around the globe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The four Shrek franchise films have earned more than $2.9 billion worldwide, spawning a global live-touring show, an award-winning Broadway musical that earned eight Tony nominations and 12 Drama Desk nominations, plus an immersive, top-tourist destination in London and popular events and attractions across Universal Studios theme parks worldwide.
From an astonishing consumer products campaign to imaginative digital extensions and a global animation exhibition tour, the iconic age of Shrek now enters a thrilling new era in 2027, as DreamWorks Animation reimagines this wonderous tale for a new generation with Shrek 5. Stars Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy return, now joined by Emmy winning superstar Zendaya (Dune franchise, Euphoria) as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter.
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SOURCE The LEGO Group
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