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Alkami Announces Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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PLANO, Texas, July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) (“Alkami”), a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the U.S., today announced results for its first quarter ending June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

GAAP total revenue of $82.2 million, an increase of 24.9% compared to the year-ago quarter;GAAP gross margin of 59.4%, compared to 53.9% in the year-ago quarter;Non-GAAP gross margin of 63.2%, compared to 58.7% in the year-ago quarter;GAAP net loss of $(12.3) million, compared to $(17.8) million in the year-ago quarter; andAdjusted EBITDA of $4.6 million, compared to a loss of $(2.5) million in the year-ago quarter.

Comments on the News

Alex Shootman, Chief Executive Officer, said, “In the second quarter, we delivered another quarter of tremendous operating and financial results. We ended the second quarter with 18.6 million live registered users, up 2.7 million compared to the prior-year quarter, and delivered excellent performance from new client wins, add-on sales and renewals. Alkami continues to lead the industry in terms of end user satisfaction and gains in market share, underscoring our commitment to deliver the best digital banking solution to regional and community financial institutions.”

Shootman added, “In the second quarter we signed eight new digital banking clients, including four credit unions and four banks. One of the wins was a tier one credit union that will be among our top clients in terms of ARR. We also won a large Midwestern bank that possesses a robust commercial banking growth strategy. The bank was an existing ACH Alert client where we cultivated a strong relationship and ultimately cross-sold our digital banking platform.”

Bryan Hill, Chief Financial Officer, said, “We achieved total revenue growth of 25% for the quarter, and more importantly, we achieved 28% subscription revenue growth. We exceeded our gross margin and adjusted EBITDA expectations, demonstrating continued progress towards our 2026 objectives of a non-GAAP gross margin of 65% and adjusted EBITDA margin of 20%.”

2024 Financial Outlook

Alkami’s financial outlook is based on current expectations. 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 is providing guidance for its third quarter ending September 30, 2024 of:

GAAP total revenue in the range of $83.8 million to $85.3 million;Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $5.8 million to $6.8 million.

Alkami is providing guidance for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 of:

GAAP total revenue in the range of $330.5 million to $333.5 million;Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $22.0 million to $24.0 million.

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 83045. A replay will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Alkami 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 commercial banking, digital account opening, 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 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 underlying expense structure to support corporate activities and processes.

The company defines “Non-GAAP Net Loss” as net loss, plus (1) provision for income taxes (2) (loss) gain on financial instruments, (3) amortization, (4) stock-based compensation expense, 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 for income taxes, (2) (loss) gain on financial instruments, (3) interest income, net, (4) depreciation and amortization (5) stock-based compensation expense, and (6) acquisition-related expenses. 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)

June 30,

December 31,

2024

2023

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$            61,432

$            40,927

Marketable securities

25,962

51,196

Accounts receivable, net

38,952

35,499

Deferred costs, current

11,478

10,329

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

14,132

10,634

Total current assets

151,956

148,585

Property and equipment, net

19,539

16,946

Right-of-use assets

15,180

15,754

Deferred costs, net of current portion

32,542

30,734

Intangibles, net

32,414

35,807

Goodwill

148,050

148,050

Other assets

4,176

3,949

Total assets

$          403,857

$          399,825

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

$               5,794

$               7,478

Accrued liabilities

20,879

19,763

Deferred revenues, current portion

12,572

10,984

Lease liabilities, current portion

1,275

1,205

Total current liabilities

40,520

39,430

Deferred revenues, net of current portion

16,445

15,384

Deferred income taxes

1,760

1,713

Lease liabilities, net of current portion

17,736

18,052

Other non-current liabilities

212

305

Total liabilities

76,673

74,884

Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding as of
June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023

—

—

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; and 98,985,370 and 96,722,098 shares
issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

99

97

Additional paid-in capital

786,201

760,210

Accumulated deficit

(459,116)

(435,366)

Total stockholders’ equity

327,184

324,941

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$          403,857

$          399,825

 

ALKAMI TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(UNAUDITED)

Three months ended June 30,

Six months ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Revenues

$              82,160

$              65,763

$           158,287

$           125,759

Cost of revenues(1)

33,389

30,289

65,484

58,147

Gross profit

48,771

35,474

92,803

67,612

Operating expenses:

Research and development

23,909

20,866

46,729

41,415

Sales and marketing

16,964

13,883

30,807

24,761

General and administrative

20,612

18,207

39,927

35,318

Acquisition-related expenses

135

34

195

220

Amortization of acquired intangibles

358

357

717

717

Total operating expenses

61,978

53,347

118,375

102,431

Loss from operations

(13,207)

(17,873)

(25,572)

(34,819)

Non-operating income (expense):

Interest income

1,261

2,016

2,343

3,742

Interest expense

(74)

(1,826)

(147)

(3,583)

(Loss) gain on financial instruments

(112)

10

—

220

Loss before income taxes

(12,132)

(17,673)

(23,376)

(34,440)

Provision for income taxes

185

88

374

284

Net loss

$            (12,317)

$            (17,761)

$            (23,750)

$            (34,724)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:

Basic and diluted

$                (0.13)

$                (0.19)

$                (0.24)

$                (0.37)

Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding:

Basic and diluted

98,103,527

93,334,725

97,524,379

92,868,623

(1) Includes amortization of acquired technology of $1.4 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, and $2.7 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. 

 

ALKAMI TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(UNAUDITED)

Six months ended June 30,

2024

2023

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net loss

$           (23,750)

$           (34,724)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization expense

5,175

5,146

Accrued interest on marketable securities, net

(787)

(1,179)

Stock-based compensation expense

28,565

24,399

Amortization of debt issuance costs

65

80

Gain on financial instruments

—

(177)

Deferred taxes

47

85

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(3,453)

(1,906)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(3,790)

(1,882)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(653)

(2,126)

Deferred costs

(2,569)

(2,856)

Deferred revenues

2,649

(185)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

1,499

(15,325)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of marketable securities

(15,588)

(62,640)

Proceeds from sales, maturities and redemptions of marketable securities

41,609

65,622

Purchases of property and equipment

(731)

(417)

Capitalized software development costs

(3,015)

(2,661)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

22,275

(96)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Principal payments on debt

—

(1,063)

Debt issuance costs paid

—

(341)

Proceeds from Employee Stock Purchase Plan issuances

2,598

2,407

Payment of holdback funds from acquisition

—

(1,000)

Payments for taxes related to net settlement of equity awards

(12,795)

(6,825)

Proceeds from stock option exercises

6,928

2,802

Net cash used in financing activities

(3,269)

(4,020)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

20,505

(19,441)

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

40,927

112,337

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$             61,432

$            92,896

 

ALKAMI TECHNOLOGY, INC.

RECONCILIATION  OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

(In thousands, except per share data)

(UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP total revenues

$     82,160

$     65,763

$   158,287

$   125,759

June 30,

2024

2023

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

$   321,284

$   256,811

Registered Users

18,584

15,849

Revenue per Registered User (RPU)

$       17.29

$       16.20

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

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP cost of revenues

$     33,389

$     30,289

$     65,484

$     58,147

Amortization

(1,793)

(1,638)

(3,568)

(3,237)

Stock-based compensation expense

(1,347)

(1,487)

(2,525)

(2,633)

Non-GAAP cost of revenues

$     30,249

$     27,164

$     59,391

$     52,277

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

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP gross margin

59.4 %

53.9 %

58.6 %

53.8 %

Amortization

2.2 %

2.5 %

2.3 %

2.5 %

Stock-based compensation expense

1.6 %

2.3 %

1.6 %

2.1 %

Non-GAAP gross margin

63.2 %

58.7 %

62.5 %

58.4 %

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

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP research and development expense

$     23,909

$     20,866

$     46,729

$     41,415

Stock-based compensation expense

(4,256)

(3,963)

(8,254)

(7,738)

Non-GAAP research and development expense

$     19,653

$     16,903

$     38,475

$     33,677

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

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP sales and marketing expense

$     16,964

$     13,883

$     30,807

$     24,761

Stock-based compensation expense

(2,291)

(1,813)

(4,322)

(3,403)

Non-GAAP sales and marketing expense

$     14,673

$     12,070

$     26,485

$     21,358

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

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP general and administrative expense

$     20,612

$     18,207

$     39,927

$     35,318

Stock-based compensation expense

(7,119)

(5,489)

(13,464)

(10,222)

Non-GAAP general and administrative expense

$     13,493

$     12,718

$     26,463

$     25,096

Non-GAAP Net Loss

Set forth below is a presentation of the company’s “Non-GAAP Net Loss.” Please reference the “Explanation of Non-GAAP
Measures” section.

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP net loss

$    (12,317)

$    (17,761)

$    (23,750)

$    (34,724)

Provision for income taxes

185

88

374

284

Loss (gain) on financial instruments

112

(10)

—

(220)

Amortization

2,151

1,995

4,285

3,954

Stock-based compensation expense

15,013

12,752

28,565

23,996

Acquisition-related expenses

135

34

195

220

Non-GAAP net loss

$       5,279

$      (2,902)

$       9,669

$      (6,490)

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

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP net loss

$    (12,317)

$    (17,761)

$    (23,750)

$    (34,724)

Provision for income taxes

185

88

374

284

Loss (gain) on financial instruments

112

(10)

—

(220)

Interest income, net

(1,187)

(190)

(2,196)

(159)

Depreciation and amortization

2,613

2,560

5,175

5,146

Stock-based compensation expense

15,013

12,752

28,565

23,996

Acquisition-related expenses

135

34

195

220

Adjusted EBITDA

$       4,554

$      (2,527)

$       8,363

$      (5,457)

 

Investor Relations Contact
Steve Calk
ir@alkami.com

Media Relations Contacts
Marla Pieton
marla.pieton@alkami.com

Valerie Kerner
alkami@fullyvested.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alkami-announces-second-quarter-2024-financial-results-302211396.html

SOURCE Alkami Technology, Inc.

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Faith: The Spark Born by the Yudu Riverside

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BEIJING, Oct. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — An interview from China.org.cn with Wang Xiaohui and David Ferguson on the Long March:

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.

Yet, lingering here by the river, I am struck by a simple question: If you have faith in a bright future, and reality seems to thwart you at every turn, where do you find the moral strength to keep believing?

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

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Linktel Technologies Highlights Breakthrough 1.6T LPO Performance & Strong Market Pull at OCP 2026

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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.

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SOURCE Linktel Technologies

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Advanced Manufacturing in Focus: Smart Life and Robotics Take the Spotlight at 140th Canton Fair

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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

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SOURCE Canton Fair

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