Technology
Alkami Announces Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Published
2 years agoon
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Alkami Today Also Announced Its Intent to Acquire MANTL
PLANO, Texas, Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) (“Alkami”), a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions (FIs) in the U.S., today announced results for its fourth quarter ending December 31, 2024.
Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights
GAAP total revenue of $89.7 million, an increase of 25.6% compared to the year-ago quarter;GAAP gross margin of 59.3%, compared to 56.0% in the year-ago quarter;Non-GAAP gross margin of 63.1%, compared to 60.3% in the year-ago quarter;GAAP net loss of $(7.6) million, compared to $(12.7) million in the year-ago quarter; andAdjusted EBITDA of $10.2 million, compared to $3.1 million in the year-ago quarter.
Full Year 2024 Financial Highlights
GAAP total revenue of $333.8 million, an increase of 26.1% compared to 2023;GAAP gross margin of 58.9%, compared to 54.4% in 2023;Non-GAAP gross margin of 62.7%, compared to 59.0% in 2023;GAAP net loss of $(40.8) million, compared to $(62.9) million in 2023; andAdjusted EBITDA of $26.9 million compared to $(1.6) million in 2023.
Alkami also announced today the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Fin Technologies, Inc. (“MANTL”) for an enterprise value of $400 million, on a debt free, cash free basis and subject to customary purchase price adjustments, expected to be $7 million. Alkami plans to fund the acquisition with cash of approximately $380 million and restricted stock units issued to continuing MANTL employees with an estimated value of $13 million at transaction closing in replacement for unvested compensatory stock options. MANTL is the premier onboarding and account opening solution that allows financial institutions to acquire commercial, business and retail customers through any channel for virtually any deposit account type. MANTL combined with Alkami’s digital banking platform and marketing and analytic capabilities creates the industry leading digital sales and service platform for financial institutions.
Comments on the News
Alex Shootman, Chief Executive Officer, said, “In the fourth quarter, we continued to deliver strong growth and enhanced profitability, with revenue growth of over 25% and Adjusted EBITDA of $10.2 million. This capped a year that saw revenue growth of 26% and our first full year of positive Adjusted EBITDA. We also continued to expand our client portfolio, adding an additional seven banks in the fourth quarter.”
Shootman added, “We also announced today that we signed a definitive agreement to acquire MANTL, the premier onboarding and account opening solution. MANTL is unique in that it offers a multi-tenant, core-agnostic, single platform that enables FIs to support all channels in onboarding deposit accounts, including branch, call center and digital. With this acquisition, Alkami solidifies its position as the de facto digital sales and service platform in the industry, allowing FIs to onboard, engage, and grow their account base. This creates a tremendous opportunity for us to expand market share and generate cross sell within our client base, driving additional revenue growth and enhancing our competitive offering among financial institutions.”
Bryan Hill, Chief Financial Officer, said, “In 2024, we added 2.5 million registered users to our digital banking platform, ending the year with 20 million digital banking users. We exited 2024 with annual recurring revenue of $356 million, up 22% compared to December 31, 2023 and revenue per registered user of $17.81, up 7% compared to the year-ago quarter. Our remaining performance obligation reached $1.4 billion at December 31, 2024, providing substantial visibility into our future operating and financial performance. In addition, we are thrilled to welcome MANTL to the Alkami team. We believe MANTL will be accretive to Alkami’s overall revenue growth and gross margin expansion, and we expect the impact of the acquisition to be accretive to Adjusted EBITDA in 2026, allowing Alkami to meet or exceed its long-term financial targets.”
2025 Financial Outlook
The following statements are forward-looking, and actual results could differ materially depending on market conditions and the factors set forth under “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Alkami’s financial outlook is based on current expectations, and includes the impact of the MANTL acquisition.
Alkami is providing guidance for its first quarter ending March 31, 2025 of:
GAAP total revenue in the range of $93.5 million to $95.0 million;Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $9.5 million to $10.5 million.
Alkami is providing guidance for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 of:
GAAP total revenue in the range of $440.0 million to $445.0 million;Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $47.0 million to $51.0 million.
The completion of the MANTL acquisition remains subject to certain standard conditions, and is expected to close on or before March 31, 2025. As such, starting in the second quarter of 2025 and included in Alkami’s full year guidance, Alkami expects MANTL to contribute revenue of approximately $30 million and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $5 million to its 2025 full-year financial performance. Alkami expects MANTL’s annual recurring revenue under contract at December 31, 2025 to be approximately $60 million, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of over 30%.
Conference Call Information
The Company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET today to discuss its financial results with investors. A live webcast of the event will be available on the Alkami investor relations website at investors.alkami.com. In addition, a live dial-in will be available domestically at 1-800-836-8184 and internationally at 1-646-357-8785, using passcode 39894. The webcast replay will be available on the Alkami investor relations website.
About Alkami
Alkami Technology, Inc. is a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the United States that enables clients to grow confidently, adapt quickly, and build thriving digital communities. Alkami helps clients transform through retail and business banking, digital account opening, payment security, and data and marketing solutions. To learn more, visit www.alkami.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements relating to Alkami Technology, Inc.’s strategy, goals, future focus areas, and expected, possible or assumed future results, including its future cash flows and its financial outlook. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by terms such as “expects,” “believes,” “plans,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may materially affect such forward-looking statements include: Our limited operating history and history of operating losses; our ability to manage future growth; our ability to attract new clients and retain and expand existing clients’ use of our solutions; the unpredictable and time-consuming nature of our sales cycles; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our brand; our ability to accurately predict the long-term rate of client subscription renewals or adoption of our solutions; our reliance on third-party software, content and services; our ability to effectively integrate our solutions with other systems used by our clients; intense competition in our industry; any downturn, consolidation or decrease in technology spend in the financial services industry, including as a result of recent closures of certain financial institutions and liquidity concerns at other financial institutions; our ability and the ability of third parties on which we rely to prevent and identify breaches of security measures (including cybersecurity) and resulting disruptions of our systems or operations and unauthorized access to client customer and other data; our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies or businesses; our ability to comply with regulatory and legal requirements and developments; our ability to attract and retain key employees; the political, economic and competitive conditions in the markets and jurisdictions where we operate; our ability to maintain, develop and protect our intellectual property; our ability to respond to evolving technological requirements to develop or acquire new and enhanced products that achieve market acceptance in a timely manner; our ability to estimate our expenses, future revenues, capital requirements, our needs for additional financing and our ability to obtain additional capital and other factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Business Metrics
The company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. However, the company believes that, in order to properly understand its short-term and long-term financial, operational and strategic trends, it may be helpful for investors to exclude certain non-cash or non-recurring items when used as a supplement to financial performance measures in accordance with GAAP. These items result from facts and circumstances that vary in both frequency and impact on continuing operations. The company also uses results of operations excluding such items to evaluate the operating performance of Alkami and compare it against prior periods, make operating decisions, determine executive compensation, and serve as a basis for long-term strategic planning. These non-GAAP financial measures provide the company with additional means to understand and evaluate the operating results and trends in its ongoing business by eliminating certain non-cash expenses and other items that Alkami believes might otherwise make comparisons of its ongoing business with prior periods more difficult, obscure trends in ongoing operations, reduce management’s ability to make useful forecasts, or obscure the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of certain business strategies and management incentive structures. In addition, the company also believes that investors and financial analysts find this information to be helpful in analyzing the company’s financial and operational performance and comparing this performance to the company’s peers and competitors.
The company defines “Non-GAAP Cost of Revenues” as cost of revenues, excluding (1) amortization and (2) stock-based compensation expense. The company believes that investors and financial analysts find this non-GAAP financial measure to be useful in analyzing the company’s financial and operational performance, comparing this performance to the company’s peers and competitors, and understanding the company’s ability to generate income from ongoing business operations.
The company defines “Non-GAAP Gross Margin” as gross profit, plus (1) amortization and (2) stock-based compensation expense, all divided by revenue. The company believes that investors and financial analysts find this non-GAAP financial measure to be useful in analyzing the company’s financial and operational performance, comparing this performance to the company’s peers and competitors, and understanding the company’s ability to generate income from ongoing business operations.
The company defines “Non-GAAP Research and Development Expense” as research and development expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense. The company believes that investors and financial analysts find this non-GAAP financial measure to be useful in analyzing the company’s financial and operational performance, comparing this performance to the company’s peers and competitors, and understanding the company’s ongoing expenditures related to product innovation.
The company defines “Non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expense” as sales and marketing expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense. The company believes that investors and financial analysts find this non-GAAP financial measure to be useful in analyzing the company’s financial and operational performance, comparing this performance to the company’s peers and competitors, and understanding the company’s ongoing expenditures related to its sales and marketing strategies.
The company defines “Non-GAAP General and Administrative Expense” as general and administrative expense, excluding (1) stock-based compensation expense and (2) secondary offering costs. The company believes that investors and financial analysts find this non-GAAP financial measure to be useful in analyzing the company’s financial and operational performance, comparing this performance to the company’s peers and competitors, and understanding the company’s underlying expense structure to support corporate activities and processes.
The company defines “Non-GAAP Income (loss) before income taxes” as loss before income taxes, plus (1) gain on financial instruments, (2) amortization, (3) stock-based compensation expense, (4) secondary offering costs, and (5) acquisition-related expenses. The company believes that investors and financial analysts find this non-GAAP financial measure to be useful in analyzing the company’s financial and operational performance, comparing this performance to the company’s peers and competitors, and understanding the company’s ability to generate income from ongoing business operations.
The company defines “Adjusted EBITDA” as net loss plus (1) provision (benefit) for income taxes, (2) gain on financial instruments, (3) interest income, net, (4) depreciation and amortization (5) stock-based compensation expense, (6) secondary offering costs, (7) acquisition-related expenses, and (8) loss on extinguishment of debt. The company believes adjusted EBITDA provides investors and other users of our financial information consistency and comparability with our past financial performance and facilitates period-to-period comparisons of operations.
In addition, the Company also uses the following important operating metrics to evaluate its business:
The company defines “Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)” by aggregating annualized recurring revenue related to SaaS subscription services recognized in the last month of the reporting period as well as the next 12 months of expected implementation services revenues in the last month of the reporting period. We believe ARR provides important information about our future revenue potential, our ability to acquire new clients, and our ability to maintain and expand our relationship with existing clients.
The company defines “Registered Users” as an individual or business related to an account holder of an FI client on our digital banking platform who has registered to use one or more of our solutions and has current access to use those solutions as of the last day of the reporting period presented. We price our digital banking platform based on the number of registered users, so as the number of registered users of our digital banking platform increases, our ARR grows. We believe growth in the number of registered users provides important information about our ability to expand market adoption of our digital banking platform and its associated software products, and therefore to grow revenues over time.
The company defines “Revenue per Registered User (RPU)” by dividing ARR for the reporting period by the number of registered users as of the last day of the reporting period. We believe RPU provides important information about our ability to grow the number of software products adopted by new clients over time, as well as our ability to expand the number of software products that our existing clients add to their contracts with us over time.
The company does not provide a reconciliation of our adjusted EBITDA outlook to GAAP net loss because certain significant information required for such reconciliation is not available without unreasonable efforts, including provision for income taxes, loss on financial instruments, stock-based compensation expense, and acquisition-related expenses, net, all of which may be significant.
ALKAMI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(UNAUDITED)
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 94,359
$ 40,927
Marketable securities
21,375
51,196
Accounts receivable, net
38,739
35,499
Deferred costs, current
13,207
10,329
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
13,697
10,634
Total current assets
181,377
148,585
Property and equipment, net
22,075
16,946
Right-of-use assets
14,565
15,754
Deferred costs, net of current portion
37,178
30,734
Intangibles, net
29,021
35,807
Goodwill
148,050
148,050
Other assets
5,011
3,949
Total assets
$ 437,277
$ 399,825
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
$ 6,129
$ 7,478
Accrued liabilities
24,520
19,763
Deferred revenues, current portion
13,578
10,984
Lease liabilities, current portion
1,343
1,205
Total current liabilities
45,570
39,430
Deferred revenues, net of current portion
15,526
15,384
Deferred income taxes
1,822
1,713
Lease liabilities, net of current portion
17,109
18,052
Other non-current liabilities
220
305
Total liabilities
80,247
74,884
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding
as of December 31, 2024 and 2023
—
—
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; and 102,088,783 and 96,722,098
shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively
102
97
Additional paid-in capital
833,129
760,210
Accumulated deficit
(476,201)
(435,366)
Total stockholders’ equity
357,030
324,941
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 437,277
$ 399,825
ALKAMI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(UNAUDITED)
Three months ended December 31,
Year ended December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenues
$ 89,656
$ 71,369
$ 333,849
$ 264,831
Cost of revenues(1)
36,446
31,420
137,219
120,720
Gross profit
53,210
39,949
196,630
144,111
Operating expenses:
Research and development
25,349
21,491
96,211
84,661
Sales and marketing
14,552
11,863
59,765
48,557
General and administrative
21,576
19,292
83,650
72,900
Acquisition-related expenses
—
43
195
263
Amortization of acquired intangibles
359
359
1,435
1,435
Total operating expenses
61,836
53,048
241,256
207,816
Loss from operations
(8,626)
(13,099)
(44,626)
(63,705)
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest income
1,070
2,273
4,560
8,095
Interest expense
(134)
(1,870)
(461)
(7,384)
Gain on financial instruments
—
113
—
534
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
(409)
—
(409)
Loss before income taxes
(7,690)
(12,992)
(40,527)
(62,869)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(47)
(279)
308
44
Net loss
$ (7,643)
$ (12,713)
$ (40,835)
$ (62,913)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic and diluted
$ (0.08)
$ (0.13)
$ (0.41)
$ (0.67)
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic and diluted
101,057,260
95,871,058
98,892,692
94,080,797
(1) Includes amortization of acquired technology of $1.3 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $5.4 million for both the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
ALKAMI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(UNAUDITED)
Year ended December 31,
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$ (40,835)
$ (62,913)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provide by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense
10,508
10,631
Accrued interest on marketable securities, net
(1,075)
(3,231)
Stock-based compensation expense
59,437
51,231
Amortization of debt issuance costs
210
138
Gain on financial instruments
—
(532)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
409
Gain on lease modification
—
(375)
Deferred taxes
109
(32)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(3,240)
(9,253)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(3,972)
425
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
3,322
91
Deferred costs
(8,603)
(7,720)
Deferred revenues
2,736
3,629
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
18,597
(17,502)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of marketable securities
(40,416)
(140,816)
Proceeds from sales, maturities, and redemptions of marketable securities
71,312
181,019
Purchases of property and equipment
(1,195)
(1,058)
Capitalized software development costs
(6,660)
(5,234)
Net cash provided by investing activities
23,041
33,911
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on debt
—
(85,000)
Payment of holdback funds from acquisition
—
(3,600)
Payments for taxes related to net settlement of equity awards
(12,820)
(15,985)
Proceeds from stock option exercises
20,241
12,983
Proceeds from Employee Stock Purchase Plan issuances
4,736
4,124
Debt issuance costs paid
(363)
(341)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
11,794
(87,819)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
53,432
(71,410)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
40,927
112,337
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$ 94,359
$ 40,927
ALKAMI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(In thousands, except per share data)
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP total revenues
$ 89,656
$ 71,369
$ 333,849
$ 264,831
December 31,
2024
2023
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)
$ 355,874
$ 291,049
Registered Users
19,984
17,502
Revenue per Registered User (RPU)
$ 17.81
$ 16.63
Non-GAAP Cost of Revenues
Set forth below is a presentation of the company’s “Non-GAAP Cost of Revenues.” Please reference the “Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures” section.
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP cost of revenues
$ 36,446
$ 31,420
$ 137,219
$ 120,720
Amortization
(1,926)
(1,656)
(7,389)
(6,579)
Stock-based compensation expense
(1,434)
(1,444)
(5,366)
(5,584)
Non-GAAP cost of revenues
$ 33,086
$ 28,320
$ 124,464
$ 108,557
Non-GAAP Gross Margin
Set forth below is a presentation of the company’s “Non-GAAP Gross Margin.” Please reference the “Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures” section.
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP gross margin
59.3 %
56.0 %
58.9 %
54.4 %
Amortization
2.2 %
2.3 %
2.2 %
2.5 %
Stock-based compensation expense
1.6 %
2.0 %
1.6 %
2.1 %
Non-GAAP gross margin
63.1 %
60.3 %
62.7 %
59.0 %
Non-GAAP Research and Development Expense
Set forth below is a presentation of the company’s “Non-GAAP Research and Development Expense.” Please reference the “Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures” section.
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP research and development expense
$ 25,349
$ 21,491
$ 96,211
$ 84,661
Stock-based compensation expense
(4,533)
(4,141)
(17,279)
(15,995)
Non-GAAP research and development expense
$ 20,816
$ 17,350
$ 78,932
$ 68,666
Non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expense
Set forth below is a presentation of the company’s “Non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expense.” Please reference the “Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures” section.
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP sales and marketing expense
$ 14,552
$ 11,863
$ 59,765
$ 48,557
Stock-based compensation expense
(2,400)
(1,911)
(9,049)
(7,220)
Non-GAAP sales and marketing expense
$ 12,152
$ 9,952
$ 50,716
$ 41,337
Non-GAAP General and Administrative Expense
Set forth below is a presentation of the company’s “Non-GAAP General and Administrative Expense.” Please reference the “Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures” section.
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP general and administrative expense
$ 21,576
$ 19,292
$ 83,650
$ 72,900
Stock-based compensation expense
(7,248)
(5,821)
(27,743)
(22,432)
Secondary offering costs
(527)
—
(1,337)
—
Non-GAAP general and administrative expense
$ 13,801
$ 13,471
$ 54,570
$ 50,468
Non-GAAP Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
Set forth below is a presentation of the company’s “Non-GAAP Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes.” Please reference the “Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures” section.
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP loss before income taxes
$ (7,690)
$ (12,992)
$ (40,527)
$ (62,869)
Gain on financial instruments
—
(113)
—
(534)
Amortization
2,285
2,015
8,824
8,014
Stock-based compensation expense
15,615
13,317
59,437
51,231
Secondary offering costs
527
—
1,337
—
Acquisition-related expenses
—
43
195
263
Non-GAAP Income (loss) before income taxes
$ 10,737
$ 2,270
$ 29,266
$ (3,895)
Adjusted EBITDA
Set forth below is a presentation of the company’s “Adjusted EBITDA.” Please reference the “Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures” section.
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP net loss
$ (7,643)
$ (12,713)
$ (40,835)
$ (62,913)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(47)
(279)
308
44
Gain on financial instruments
—
(113)
—
(534)
Interest income, net
(936)
(403)
(4,099)
(711)
Depreciation and amortization
2,654
2,790
10,508
10,631
Stock-based compensation expense
15,615
13,317
59,437
51,231
Secondary offering costs
527
—
1,337
—
Acquisition-related expenses
—
43
195
263
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
409
—
409
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 10,170
$ 3,051
$ 26,851
$ (1,580)
Investor Relations Contact
Steve Calk
ir@alkami.com
Media Relations Contacts
Marla Pieton
marla.pieton@alkami.com
Valerie Kerner
alkami@fullyvested.com
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SOURCE Alkami Technology, Inc.
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David Ferguson:
This is the Yudu River. One dusk in October, 1934, more than 86,000 soldiers of the Red Army crossed this river and embarked on the Long March, a two-year saga that has left its mark in history.
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Wang Xiaohui:
At dusk on Oct. 17, 1934, an army of more than 86,000 troops gathered along the banks of the Yudu River. Over 800 boats of all sizes floated on the water, bound together with planks collected from villagers’ home gates, timber beams, and even coffin boards reserved for elderly locals. The people of Yudu built this pontoon bridge, determined to help the army led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) cross the river.
At that time, no one knew that the great expedition embarked upon by the banks of the Yudu River would go on to transform China and exert far-reaching influence across the world.
China in the 1920s and 1930s was plagued by chaos and despair.
The Kuomintang (KMT), the ruling party back then, was not capable of unifying the nation, leaving warlords locked in endless fighting. In 1931, Japanese invaders launched an assault on northeastern China, beginning their invasion. Crushed under domestic turbulence and foreign aggression, countless civilians were displaced, with many even starving to death on the streets; in certain regions, severe drought resulted in zero harvests, yet the farmers were forced to pay land taxes assessed for more than a decade into the future.
Amid this turmoil, the only glimmer of hope for the Chinese nation was kindled by the revolution ignited by the Communist Party of China.
The CPC, dedicated to winning liberation for the people and national independence, built contingents of workers’ and peasants’ Red Army troops and revolutionary base areas across the countryside. Impoverished farmers were granted land ownership, as well as unprecedented political dignity. On Nov. 7, 1931, the Chinese Soviet Republic was officially proclaimed in Ruijin, then a small village in southeastern China’s Jiangxi Province, establishing a Soviet system under which workers, peasants and soldiers elected representatives to run regional affairs and make policies.
The communist ideal of a fair society free from exploitation and equality for all blazed like a spark in the darkness; it kindled hopes among impoverished Chinese and became the wellspring of faith that enabled the Red Army — a force made up of poor workers and peasants — to overcome all hardships in the days to come.
Yet, bright as the spark was, it burned thin and fragile at times. Could this flame still endure when the ideals it carried were repeatedly battered by harsh reality?
In September 1933, flocks of warplanes clouded the skies over the Red Army’s revolutionary base areas. By then, Japanese invaders were steadily advancing towards North China, but Chiang Kai-shek’s KMT turned a blind eye to the looming national crisis. They mobilized over a million troops and more than 200 aircraft to launch a massive offensive at the Red Army’s base areas. Over the previous three years, Chiang Kai-shek had mounted four major military “encirclement” campaigns aimed at exterminating the Red Army, but all ended in failure. He was desperate for a pivotal victory to restore his prestige and to wipe out the CPC and the Red Army.
At the time, the commander of the Red Army abandoned mobile warfare tactics pioneered by Mao Zedong and other commanders, opting instead for rigid positional warfare involving conventional head-on clashes. But the reality was, some Red Army units didn’t even possess a single light machine gun; how could they confront the heavily-armed KMT army head-on?
Zhong Ming, a Red Army medic, could never erase the memories of gravely wounded soldiers being carried to his aid station. He remembered how a soldier whose chest was blown open begged his comrades to end his life. At the frontline, a whole battalion of Red Army soldiers religiously followed orders to defend crude earth-and-wood bunkers, but under the constant barrage of KMT artillery and airstrikes, every soldier in the battalion laid down their lives; not a single man survived.
What’s more heart-wrenching is that no matter how fearlessly the Red Army fought, the steep imbalance in military strength, paired with erroneous military command led to irreversible losses. By October 1934, the KMT’s iron-clad encirclement closed menacingly around Ruijin.
Faced with this dead-end, what decision would you make?
This stood as the most agonizing decision for the Red Army. The biggest challenge lay not in sacrificing one’s life for an ideal, but in finding a way to keep the revolutionary cause alive.
To stay meant defeat — the Red Army had no room to maneuver within the Central Revolutionary Base Area. To break through the encirclement, however slim the odds, offered a fighting chance. Preserving the Red Army as a living force mattered much more than clinging to isolated strongholds. Where the spark survives, the path ahead remains lit.
The air already turned chilly in October. Units of the Central Red Army assembled in Yudu to prepare for a strategic shift. The plan was kept strictly classified; none of the soldiers knew they were evacuating the base areas, only sensing an unusual vibe.
At dusk on Oct. 17, crowds lined up at the Yudu riverbank. Tens of thousands of villagers flocked from every corner to see the Red Army off. They walked alongside the marching columns, slipping food like eggs and glutinous rice balls into the soldiers’ pockets, praying for their swift homecoming.
The main force of the Central Red Army set off. Within days, they left behind revolutionary base areas where they had survived, grown and taken root. No one anticipated that the journey they embarked on would become the Long March, a trek spanning over 10 provinces. Still less could anyone imagine that this journey would ultimately pave the way for a brand-new China.
Looking back on this chapter of history, many claim that the Red Army only set out on this expedition because the enemies left them no other choice. To a degree, yes, the Long March was indeed a forced strategic shift, yet this fact does nothing to diminish its greatness and glory.
The ordinary Red Army soldiers had no idea how far they would march, or where they were heading. But they clung firmly to their founding mission: to deliver liberation for the people and independence to the nation. This unswerving conviction kept them from disintegrating through countless perils, sustaining them as they marched into the unknown with resolve.
David Ferguson:
I now realize that faith and ideals untested by harsh reality may have no true substance.
Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has always upheld the realization of communism as its fundamental goal. Despite devastating losses and extreme adversity, the Red Army continued to press forward resolutely and never faltered. Its inner strength came from an unshakable belief in the cause, an unwavering commitment to the founding aspiration, and a profound sense of mission. The Red Army was never fleeing pursuers in search of safety; it was marching forward to a future in which it had a steadfast belief.
Wang Xiaohui:
The Long March went on for two years. The Red Army trekked 25,000 li across some of China’s harshest terrain, but they kept their heads high, seeking hope amid despair and marching towards light through unending darkness. The lofty ideals and sense of mission they upheld have also become the torch that guides generations of CPC members in the following centennial, tempering them into steel as they press forward unswervingly toward national rejuvenation.
That spark lit along the Yudu River has never dimmed since.
China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm
Faith: The Spark Born by the Yudu Riverside
http://www.china.org.cn/2026-10/16/content_118736835.shtml
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SOURCE China.org.cn
Technology
Linktel Technologies Highlights Breakthrough 1.6T LPO Performance & Strong Market Pull at OCP 2026
Published
4 hours agoon
October 18, 2026By
SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At the recent 2026 OCP Global Summit, Linktel Technologies showcased its cutting-edge optical interconnect portfolios engineered specifically for next-generation AI computing networks. Among the heavy lineup, Linktel’s 1.6T Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO) solutions commanded immense industry attention, drawing heavy customer interest for their unprecedented energy efficiency, ultra-low latency, and supply-chain resilience.
Spotlight: 1.6T LPO Performance & High Customer Traction
AI data centers face immense scaling pressures, demanding higher bandwidth densities with tighter thermal and power budgets. Linktel’s 1.6T LPO solutions—highlighted by the 1.6T LPO 2DR4—delivered standout performance metrics that captured the spotlight at the summit:
Ultra-Low Power Consumption: Operates with power consumption as low as an impressive 10W, drastically mitigating data center cooling and power loads.Minimal Latency: Features a linear optics architecture that cuts down signal processing delays, making it a critical asset for high-performance AI scale-out fabrics.Enhanced Supply-Chain Resilience: Eliminating the optical DSP mitigates component choke points, ensuring robust scalability for mass deployments.Proven Interoperability: Following its breakthrough performance and multi-switch platform interoperability at the early September 2026 1.6T LPO-MSA Plugfest, Linktel has laid a solid foundation for the 200G-per-wavelength ecosystem.
Surging Market Interest
Throughout OCP 2026, Linktel’s live demonstrations of its 1.6T LPO, LRO, and FRO modules drew crowds of data center architects and industry partners. With volume production already in place, Linktel is fully equipped to meet the exploding market demand for energy-efficient, high-density 1.6T connectivity.
Overview of Other Innovations at OCP 2026
In addition to the heavily requested 1.6T LPO lineup, Linktel showcased two other major high-speed architectural pillars:
12.8T Liquid-Cooled XPO:Featured a live thermal demonstration integrating advanced liquid cooling to guarantee stable operations in high-density AI nodes.As a founding member of the XPO MSA, Linktel is actively scaling XPO series with FRO, LRO, and LPO variants for comprehensive scale-up, scale-out, and scale-across frameworks.6.4T/7.2T NPO Modules:Displayed with covers removed to reveal internal architectural designs supporting both ELS and ILS configurations.Combines compact high density with low power and low latency, backed by an established 6.4T/7.2T NPO roadmap.DMD Technology & Executive Presentation:Linktel Engineer Director Dr. Grace Zhang hosted a heavily attended Executive Session titled “Dispersion Managed Transceiver for Next-Gen AI Fabrics,” detailing cost-effective 800G (20km) and 1.6T (10km) solutions for OCS SuperPOD architectures, as well as the feasibility of 400G per lambda (3km).With its DMD product line already in volume production, Linktel actively calls upon ecosystem partners to join forces in collaborative development. To drive ecosystem maturity, Linktel is open to sharing its U.S.-filed patents, paving the way for industry-wide adoption and advancements in next-gen AI fabrics.
About Linktel Technologies
Linktel Technologies is a global leader in optical transceiver development and manufacturing, supplying high-speed optical I/O connectivity—including pluggable transceivers, optical engines, and ODM/JDM services.
For more information, visit www.linktel.com or follow Linktel Technologies on LinkedIn.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/linktel-technologies-highlights-breakthrough-1-6t-lpo-performance–strong-market-pull-at-ocp-2026–302911973.html
SOURCE Linktel Technologies
Technology
Advanced Manufacturing in Focus: Smart Life and Robotics Take the Spotlight at 140th Canton Fair
Published
5 hours agoon
October 18, 2026By
GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 18, 2026 /CNW/ — Phase 1 of the 140th Canton Fair, themed “Advanced Manufacturing,” opened on October 15 and will run through October 19. As one of the event’s most closely watched sections, the Consumer Electronics and Information Products zone once again serves as a showcase for the latest achievements in China’s manufacturing and technology industries.
Smart Life Solutions Address an Aging and Globalized Market
A highlight of this section is the focus on smart living, which brings together smart solutions designed to support healthier, safer, and more independent lifestyles.
For example, wearable devices and continuous glucose monitoring systems enable convenient tracking of key health indicators such as heart rate and blood glucose levels. Meanwhile, wearable exoskeletons and other AI-powered devices support mobility training and functional recovery. For home and elderly care, companion robots, electric nursing beds and home-use hyperbaric oxygen chambers, offer a combination of daily care, wellness support and lifestyle assistance. All these solutions highlight a growing shift toward technology-enabled living, where health management, personal care, and independent living are becoming more accessible and connected.
Service Robots Demonstrate Expanding Real-World Applications
The Service Robot Zone remains one of the fair’s most popular attractions in this edition.
Among the crowd favorites is a humanoid robot standing roughly 70–80 centimeters tall. With its expressive movements and playful appearance, the robot draws constant attention as it dances, approaches visitors and occasionally performs flips to the delight of onlookers. Behind the product is a company that has overcome key challenges in compact joint modules and modular humanoid robot development. Its independently developed high-power-density joints deliver remarkable agility and explosive movement, while modular architecture provides flexibility for a wide range of future applications.
More broadly, the Service Robot Zone features exhibits spanning a wide range of application areas, including embodied intelligence, specialized operations, urban services, and smart living. Full-size humanoid robots, dexterous hands with multimodal sensing capabilities and wheeled robots highlight the latest advances in artificial intelligence, perception technologies and motion control. For demanding industrial and emergency environments, exhibitors are presenting robotic inspection systems, live-line maintenance robots and underwater propulsion robots designed to improve safety and operational efficiency.
The commercial services sector is also well represented through reception robots, façade-cleaning robots and fully automated coffee kiosks, while everyday life applications include wearable exoskeletons, robotic lawn mowers and educational robots for home use. Together, these exhibits demonstrate how China’s robotics industry is accelerating its transition from technological innovation to large-scale commercialization.
As the 140th Canton Fair gets underway, the showcased innovations highlight China’s growing strength in advanced manufacturing, turning cutting-edge technologies into practical, market-ready solutions for global customers.
For more convenient attendance, please click here for pre-registration:
https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advanced-manufacturing-in-focus-smart-life-and-robotics-take-the-spotlight-at-140th-canton-fair-302911955.html
SOURCE Canton Fair
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