Former Xero engineering executive Nigel Fernandes will lead Pepperstone’s push to own more of its technology as the business expands into crypto and new markets. 

MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Melbourne-based Pepperstone, a global online trading and fintech provider serving clients in more than 160 countries, today announced the appointment of Nigel Fernandes as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective 1 October 2026. The appointment comes as Pepperstone accelerates its shift toward owning more of its own technology, building a broader fintech ecosystem spanning crypto, AI-native engineering and institutional-grade infrastructure. 

Fernandes brings more than 20 years of technology leadership experience across financial services, retail, media and enterprise software. He will join from Xero, where he serves as SVP and Executive General Manager of Engineering leading a global organisation across cloud platforms, customer identity and data. Prior to Xero, he held senior leadership roles at Publicis Sapient, Coles Group, SEEK and Envato. 

“I’m excited to be joining Pepperstone at such a pivotal time for the business,” said Fernandes. “My focus will be building on the quality global brand that traders have trusted for years, investing in the technology we own to scale an AI-native engineering foundation that gives clients faster, more reliable access to the tools they need.” 

“The technology underpinning our client experience is core to everything we do. We’re expanding Pepperstone into a genuine fintech ecosystem that opens access to crypto and new markets, while investing in our own technology to give clients a more personalised experience,” said Tamas Szabo, Group CEO of Pepperstone. “Nigel’s track record building high-performing engineering teams at some of the world’s best technology companies makes him the right leader to help us build that.” 

As CTO, Fernandes will lead engineering, architecture, security and data globally, reporting to Group CEO Tamas Szabo. He will be based at Pepperstone’s global headquarters in Melbourne.

About Pepperstone 

Pepperstone is a global fintech and CFD broker serving traders in more than 160 countries. The company provides access to forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs and digital asset markets through industry-leading platforms, competitive pricing and a strong regulatory framework. 

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Over two years, the program gives early-stage founders mentorship and coaching while placing local college students in paid internships at area startups

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, a non-profit, today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind initiative in Northwest Arkansas that pilots a single model to address two challenges at once: giving early-stage small businesses the mentorship and coaching they need to grow, while helping local college students start their careers through paid internships at those businesses. The two-year program is delivered in partnership with the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC).

Supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the initiative is designed to build a new model that regions across the country can adapt to convert local entrepreneurial energy into lasting economic growth. Support for this work is foundational to Northwest Arkansas’s continued success as a national leader in innovation and entrepreneurship. The Wells Fargo Foundation provides additional support for the initiative.

Early-stage companies often lack access to the networks and knowledge they need to scale. At the same time, many students at the region’s colleges have limited access to clear pathways into the innovation economy. These two gaps exist side by side, and each reinforces the other.

The initiative is the first time the Center has brought together two programs it has run separately: Milestone Circles, which provides structured coaching and learning within peer cohorts; and Startup Intern Match, a paid internship placement program connecting university students with early-stage startups.

Startups entering the program are enrolled concurrently in Milestone Circles and Startup Intern Match, giving them onboarding frameworks and coaching before their interns arrive so they can make the most of the incoming talent. Across the grant period, the program will support four early-stage founder cohorts totaling 70 startups and place 140 students in paid internships.

Applications are open on a rolling basis and can be submitted at https://nasdaqcenter.org/milestone-circles-ar/#apply.

Milestone Circles in Northwest Arkansas

A CEO peer-cohort program that brings together early-stage founders for structured coaching, peer accountability, and shared learning. Four cohorts will run over two years, supporting 70 early-stage startups, with up to 16 in-person sessions per cohort, including onboarding, accountability sessions, and a graduation. Projected outcomes across the grant period include an average revenue increase of at least 10% among revenue-generating participants, a combined minimum of $500,000 in new capital raised, and at least 30 new jobs created.

The program is part of the Center’s national Milestone Circles initiative, which has graduated 8,381 founders across 17,839 applications to date. In 2025 alone, the program delivered 5,267 hours of technical assistance across 238 program experiences, and enrollment is expected to surpass 9,000 participants in 2026.

Startup Intern Match in Northwest Arkansas

A paid internship placement program connecting University of Arkansas and NWACC students with early-stage startups across four cohorts over two years, led on the student side by the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Students are compensated at $15 per hour for 10 hours per week over 12-week placements. Startups entering the program are enrolled concurrently in Milestone Circles, giving them onboarding frameworks and coaching before interns arrive. Across the grant period, 140 students will be placed.

The Center brings a proven track record in student placement. Most recently, working with Lehigh University, the Center placed 80 to 120 students per semester in startup internships. Demand is substantial, with more than 4,150 startups requesting interns to date, exceeding current program capacity by 32 times.

Both programs close with a joint graduation and Nasdaq Tower recognition in Times Square. Local advisor Matt Waller, former dean of the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business, provides regional credibility and on-the-ground relationship support, and facilitates Milestone Circles NWA.

Quotes

“Northwest Arkansas is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurial energy, and we are proud to partner with the Walton Family Foundation to fuel that momentum,” said Nicola Corzine, CEO and Founding Executive Director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. “Milestone Circles and Startup Intern Match will create real, lasting connections between students and startups, between founders and mentors, and between the Center and the Northwest Arkansas community.”

“Through the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, we are committed to immersive learning that connects students with real-world challenges, founders, and emerging companies,” said Brent Williams, dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. “We are pleased to partner with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and Northwest Arkansas Community College on Startup Intern Match, an initiative that expands access to startup experiences while strengthening the talent pipeline across our region.”

“This partnership connects classroom learning with paid, real-world experience at startups across Northwest Arkansas, helping students build the skills and professional networks they need for strong careers,” said Dr. Chris LaFata, dean of Business and Computer Information Systems at Northwest Arkansas Community College.

“Northwest Arkansas has no shortage of ambitious founders. What they often lack is a room of peers who will ask the hard questions and hold them accountable. That is what Milestone Circles provides,” said Matt Waller, professor at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and facilitator of Milestone Circles NWA.

“Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey,” said Yee-Lin Lai, senior program officer for the Walton Family Foundation’s Home Region Program. “Milestone Circles will connect Northwest Arkansas founders with peers and mentors who can help them navigate challenges and grow, while startup internships will give students hands-on experience and help build the region’s next generation of entrepreneurial talent.”

About the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center

The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is a non-profit committed to growing access and resources for entrepreneurs. Since 2015, the Center has served more than 140,000 entrepreneurs worldwide, meeting the real-time needs of founders through educational programming and advancing entrepreneurial opportunity by sharing insights with policy leaders, capital allocators, and academic partners.

About the Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation is at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunities for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org.

About the Milestone Circles NWA facilitator

Matt Waller is a Professor of Supply Chain Management at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, where he holds the William Dillard II Endowed Leadership Chair. He served as dean of the college for eight years before returning to full-time faculty in 2023. He co-founded Mercari Technologies, one of Arkansas’s first venture-backed companies, and advises early-stage founders across Northwest Arkansas. He facilitates Milestone Circles NWA.

Media contact

Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center

thecenter@extensionpr.com 

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SOURCE Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center

Nauticus ToolKITT™ Commercial Release, Market Diversification and Defense Opportunities Expand Growth Pathways

HOUSTON, Aug. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nauticus Robotics, Inc. (“Nauticus” or “Company”) (NASDAQ: KITT), a leading innovator in subsea robotics and software, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.

John Gibson, Nauticus President and CEO, stated, “During the second quarter, we continued adapting our business to current market conditions while making important progress toward a more diversified and technology-driven revenue model. We advanced opportunities across key sectors and successfully demonstrated our capabilities in customer operations.

The commercial release of Nauticus ToolKITT™ represents an important step in our strategy to build recurring technology revenue alongside our services business. As we move through the second half of the year, our focus remains on converting these capabilities into commercial opportunities while maintaining disciplined execution and financial flexibility.”

STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Nauticus ToolKITT Commercialization

During the quarter, Nauticus successfully deployed a Comanche ROV integrated with Nauticus ToolKITT in customer operations. The system demonstrated improved operating efficiency and reduced pilot workload, providing additional field validation of the Company’s software-enabled approach to subsea operations.

Nauticus also released its Nauticus ToolKITT software for ROVs. The platform is now being marketed to underwater fleet operators across energy and defense markets.

Expanding Market Reach

While offshore oil and gas activity off the US Gulf Coast remained challenging, Nauticus continued diversifying its commercial pipeline.

The Company expanded its presence in offshore wind along the US East Coast, completed work with a major global subsea cable-laying company, and is pursuing additional opportunities on the US West Coast and Internationally.

Nauticus is also evolving its international commercial model to pursue opportunities where the Company can serve as the primary contractor and capture more of the economic benefit created by its autonomous technology.

Defense and Government Opportunities

Nauticus increased its near-term focus on defense and government markets during the quarter, where demand for autonomous systems, subsea awareness and infrastructure security aligns closely with the Company’s existing technology portfolio.

The Company completed an initial scope of work intended to support the evaluation of a broader multiphase defense opportunity. If awarded, the Company anticipates the potential for associated revenue in 2026 and 2027.

Nauticus is also participating in collaborative proposal efforts involving government, commercial, defense, and academic organizations evaluating autonomous approaches to persistent subsea sensing infrastructure.

Technical Development

The Company completed the prototype of its next-generation electric manipulator and began functional and load testing. Nauticus believes the system can provide a lower-cost manufacturing pathway while supporting future commercial and defense applications requiring autonomous subsea interaction.

Aquanaut® also completed the planned freshwater phase of autonomous mooring line and riser inspection workflows at the Company’s Florida test location. Further testing will require access to an appropriate intermediate offshore environment and will depend on customer budget cycles and site availability.

CUSTOMER DEMAND AND OUTLOOK

Nauticus is working to build a broader and more predictable revenue model by increasing pipeline coverage, expanding geographically, growing direct contracting opportunities, and adding software and technology revenue alongside its services business.

The Company is increasing sales activity across International and defense markets while pursuing opportunities designed to better capture the operational efficiencies generated by its autonomous technology.

Management expects Nauticus ToolKITT commercialization, international expansion, defense and government opportunities, and continued technology validation to provide additional pathways for future bookings and backlog growth.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Revenue: Nauticus reported second-quarter revenue of $0.9 million, compared to $2.1 million for the prior-year period and $0.2 million for the prior quarter.

Operating Expenses: Total expenses during the second quarter were $6.9 million, a $1.6 million decrease from the prior-year period and a $1 million increase from Q1 2026. 

Adjusted Net Loss: Nauticus reported adjusted net loss of $7.0 million for the second quarter, compared to an adjusted net loss of $7.46 million for the same period in 2025 and an adjusted net loss of $6.4 million for Q1 2026. Adjusted net loss is a non-GAAP measure which excludes the impact of certain items, as shown in the non-GAAP reconciliation table below.

Net Loss: For the second quarter, Nauticus recorded a net loss of $11.1 million, or basic loss per share of $2.30. This compares with a net loss of $7.4 million from the same period in 2025, and a net loss of $9.3 million in the prior quarter.

G&A Cost: Nauticus reported G&A second-quarter costs of $3.3 million, which is a decrease of $1.1 million compared to the same period in 2025 and a $0.1 million increase from the first quarter in 2026.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of June 30, 2026, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $2.0 million, compared to $7.6 million as of December 31, 2025.

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

Nauticus will host a conference call on August 13, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. To participate in the earnings conference call, participants should dial toll free at +1-833-461-5787, conference ID: 989 652 904, or access the listen-only webcast at the following link: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/989652904. A link to the webcast will also be available on the Company’s IR website (https://ir.nauticusrobotics.com/). Following the conclusion of the call, a recording will be available on the Company’s website.

About Nauticus Robotics, Inc.

Nauticus Robotics, Inc. develops autonomous robots for the ocean industries. Autonomy requires the extensive use of sensors, artificial intelligence, and effective algorithms for perception and decision-making allowing the robot to adapt to changing environments. The company’s business model includes using robotic systems for service, selling vehicles and components, and licensing of related software to both the commercial and defense business sectors. Nauticus has designed and is currently testing and certifying a new generation of vehicles to reduce operational cost and gather data to maintain and operate a wide variety of subsea infrastructure. Besides a standalone service offering and forward-facing products, Nauticus’ approach to ocean robotics has also resulted in the development of a range of technology products for retrofit/upgrading traditional ROV operations and other third-party vehicle platforms. Nauticus’ services provide customers with the necessary data collection, analytics, and subsea manipulation capabilities to support and maintain assets while reducing their operational footprint, operating cost, and greenhouse gas emissions, to improve offshore health, safety, and environmental exposure. www.nauticusrobotics.com

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), and such statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Act as well as protections afforded by other federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: the expected timing of product commercialization or new product releases; customer interest in Nauticus’ products; estimated operating results and use of cash; and Nauticus’ use of and needs for capital. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by, or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates,” “intends,” or “continue” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Nauticus’ management’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. There can be no assurance that the events, results, or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Nauticus is not under any obligation and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports which Nauticus has filed or will file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for a more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and that could cause actual outcomes to be materially different from those indicated in the forward-looking statements made by the Company, in particular the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in documents filed from time to time with the SEC, including Nauticus’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC from time to time. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties, or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. The documents filed by Nauticus with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov

 NAUTICUS ROBOTICS, INC.
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS (GAAP) TO ADJUSTED NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS (NON-GAAP)

Adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders is a non-GAAP financial measure which excludes certain items that are included in net loss attributable to common stockholders, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Items excluded are those which the Company believes affect the comparability of operating results and are typically excluded from published estimates by the investment community, including items whose timing and/or amount cannot be reasonably estimated or are non-recurring.

Adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders is presented because management believes it provides useful additional information to investors for analysis of the Company’s fundamental business on a recurring basis. In addition, management believes that adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders is widely used by professional research analysts and others in the valuation, comparison, and investment recommendations of companies such as Nauticus.

Adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net loss attributable to common stockholders or any other measure of a company’s financial performance or profitability presented in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the differences between net loss attributable to common stockholders and adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders is presented below. Because adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders excludes some, but not all, items that affect net loss attributable to common stockholders and may vary among companies, our calculation of adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

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SOURCE Nauticus Robotics, Inc.