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Lastwall Raises $16M to Bring U.S.-Proven Cyber Defense Platform Home to Protect Canada’s Critical Infrastructure

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BDC Capital’s StrongNorth Fund makes its first cybersecurity investment; NBIF writes largest single investment cheque in its history; Peter Dawe, BDC’s VP of Defence Strategy, joins Lastwall’s Board of Directors

‍FREDERICTON, NB, May 27, 2026 /CNW/ – Lastwall, a leader in identity-first security and quantum-resilient solutions, today announced a $16 million investment round led by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) through BDC Capital’s StrongNorth Fund. The investment positions Lastwall at the forefront of Canada’s growing effort to strengthen sovereign cyber defense capabilities amid escalating threats targeting critical infrastructure, defense systems, and government networks.

The investment round includes participation from the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), Frostbite Capital, and existing investors Blue Bear Capital, BlueWing Ventures, and 18West.

Trusted by the U.S. Department of War and the Government of Canada, Lastwall has spent nearly a decade securing some of the world’s most sensitive government environments. Following its success in the U.S. federal market, the company is now accelerating its expansion into Canada at a critical moment for national resilience, underscoring growing demand for homegrown cybersecurity solutions.

Launched to accelerate Canadian technologies critical to national security, economic resilience, and defense modernization, BDC’s newly announced StrongNorth Fund is making Lastwall one of its first investments, and its first in cybersecurity. NBIF also made the largest single investment in its history through this round.

The announcement comes as governments and infrastructure operators across North America face escalating cyber attacks targeting energy systems, telecommunications, defense networks, transportation infrastructure, and public sector institutions.

The funding follows Lastwall’s FedRAMP® Moderate Authorization, a milestone that enabled the company to operate within the U.S. federal ecosystem, one of the world’s most rigorous cybersecurity environments. Building on that foundation, Lastwall is now applying battle-tested capabilities across U.S. and Canadian defense and civilian systems while offering allied governments a trusted, interoperable sovereign option for high-assurance identity security.

“We proved our model in the world’s most demanding federal market,” said Karl Holmqvist, Founder and CEO of Lastwall. “We earned FedRAMP Moderate Authorization, secured U.S. government systems, and built a platform for the realities of modern cyber warfare. Now, we’re bringing those trusted capabilities home to help strengthen Canada’s cyber resilience at a defining moment for national security.”

“This is not a pivot away from the U.S. It’s the next phase of a North American resilience mission,” Holmqvist added. “Lastwall intends to be at the center of the mission to protect our continent, which means helping defend critical systems on both sides of the border.”

From air-gapped defense environments to operational technology systems powering energy and utilities, Lastwall secures access across cloud, hybrid, and disconnected environments, including denied, degraded, intermittent, and low-bandwidth conditions where traditional identity systems often fail.

“BDC Capital’s StrongNorth Fund invests in Canadian companies developing defence‑relevant and dual‑use technologies,” said Peter Suma, Managing Partner at BDC Capital. “Lastwall fits that focus: its identity platform addresses a critical vulnerability across defence, government, and infrastructure systems operating in increasingly complex and contested environments. This investment helps scale a Canadian capability that secures access to the critical systems our economy depends on, supporting a key focus of BDC: reinforcing Canada’s economic sovereignty.”

“New Brunswick has built a strong advantage in cybersecurity, and NBIF is proud to back companies like Lastwall that are turning that strength into global opportunity,” said Jeff White, CEO of the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation. “This financing reflects our strong conviction in the team, the technology, and the market opportunity ahead as the company scales its trusted solutions in some of the world’s most security-sensitive markets.”  

Peter Dawe, recently appointed Vice President, Defence Strategy at BDC, has joined Lastwall’s Board of Directors. Dawe brings deep expertise at the intersection of defense strategy, sovereign capability development, and technology investment, further strengthening Lastwall’s role in helping Canada build and retain critical cyber defense infrastructure.

For more information, visit: lastwall.com

About Lastwall

Lastwall secures mission-critical operations by modernizing identity and authentication, enabling Zero Trust access across cloud, hybrid, and disconnected environments, with quantum-resilient protection built in for what’s next. Trusted by the U.S. Department of War since 2017 and the Government of Canada, Lastwall helps defense, Government, and critical infrastructure organizations prevent credential-based attacks, stop lateral movement, and stay ahead of emerging quantum threats. With FedRAMP® Moderate Authorization, adherence to NIST SP 800-53/63 control sets, U.S. DoD Impact Level 2 (IL2) compliance (and DoD IL4 in progress), Lastwall’s identity-first approach keeps critical missions secure, compliant, and resilient in the face of evolving cyber risks. Learn more at www.lastwall.com; follow on LinkedIn.  

SOURCE Lastwall

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HKC Corporation Limited to Showcase World-First Display Technologies from HKC, ANTGAMER and KOORUI at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2026

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May 28, 2026

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TAIPEI, May 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HKC, ANTGAMER and KOORUI will jointly exhibit at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2026, taking place from June 2 to 5, 2026, under the shared theme “Win Beyond the Frame.” The three brands will present a new generation of display technologies designed to push the boundaries of resolution, refresh rate, color performance and scenario-based visual experiences.

HKC will highlight its latest advancements in professional display innovation, led by the Shield C83U60, an 83.4-inch 12K ultra-wide curved monitor designed to deliver an immersive panoramic viewing experience without the visual gaps of traditional multi-screen setups. Built for professional design, simulation, high-end entertainment and advanced productivity, the product reflects HKC’s continued focus on large-format, high-resolution display solutions.

HKC will also showcase two RGB-MiniLED monitors, including the 32-inch Apex 32U165VD and 27-inch Apex 27U165D. With RGB independent light control, the monitors are engineered to enhance color purity, contrast and halo control for HDR content creation and premium gaming. Additional highlights include the Shield 27H180 5K AI smart display and the Apex 27U240B 4K 240Hz QD-OLED monitor.

ANTGAMER will present an ultra-high-refresh esports lineup built for competitive gaming. Featured products include the ANT25ASF 24.1-inch 1K/1000Hz monitor, the ANT275PQ Ultra 1080Hz dual-mode monitor, the ANT275ZQE featuring fourth-generation Tandem WOLED technology, and the mass-production ANT257PF 750Hz monitor for gamers seeking faster response and smoother motion performance.

KOORUI will showcase versatile solutions for gaming, content creation and productivity. The S2741LM features a 4K UHD Mini LED panel with 1152 dimming zones, VESA DisplayHDR 1400, 300,000:1 static contrast and factory-calibrated color accuracy covering 98% DCI-P3, 99% Adobe RGB and 100% sRGB. Its dual-mode function enables 4K 160Hz for immersive gaming and FHD 320Hz for esports, while 90W USB-C, HDMI 2.1 and USB hub functions support modern workstations. The S4941XO 49-inch 32:9 OLED monitor offers a 5120×1440 ultra-wide view, 240Hz refresh rate, HDR True Black 400, 90W Type-C and KVM support, creating an efficient alternative to dual-monitor setups.

HKC, ANTGAMER and KOORUI welcome media, partners and industry professionals to visit Booth NO126, Hall 1, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, to experience their latest display innovations.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hkc-corporation-limited-to-showcase-world-first-display-technologies-from-hkc-antgamer-and-koorui-at-computex-taipei-2026-302784032.html

SOURCE HKC Corporation Limited

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AuthenX to Unveil Detachable 2D FAU Technology at COMPUTEX 2026, Eliminating the Optical Packaging Bottleneck for Next-Gen AI and HPC Clusters

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May 28, 2026

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Integrating 12-inch CMOS Meta-Lenses into a multi-row 2D array, AuthenX delivers ultra-low loss and high alignment tolerance to seamlessly scale 3.2T to 12.8T CPO deployments.

TAIPEI, May 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AuthenX Inc., a leading innovator in high-speed optical interconnect solutions, today announced its exhibition lineup for COMPUTEX Taipei 2026 (June 2–5). The company will present advanced silicon photonics and meta-optics portfolios designed to eliminate the critical physical constraints impeding next-generation AI and HPC cluster scaling. The showcase will be headlined by the first live technical demonstration of AuthenX’s Detachable 2D FAU (Fiber Array Unit)—a breakthrough designed to overcome the commercial deployment barriers of Co-Packaged Optics (CPO).

Solving the Packaging Bottleneck for CPO Scaling

As AI workloads expand, hardware roadmaps are scaling transmission capacities from 3.2T and 6.4T toward next-generation 12.8T CPO architectures. However, multiplying channel densities along this roadmap pushes traditional optical packaging to its scalability limits. Traditional permanent bonding requires near-zero alignment tolerances to meet stringent insertion loss budgets. This delicate balance increasingly penalizes manufacturing yields and escalates deployment complexity.

AuthenX’s Detachable 2D FAU directly addresses this challenge by integrating proprietary Meta-Lens technology into the optical alignment path. Utilizing advanced sub-wavelength nanostructures, the Meta-Lens precisely manipulates beam characteristics to achieve efficient beam collimation and wavefront shaping at the sub-micron scale. This approach yields two industry-defining advantages:

Ultra-Low Insertion Loss: Minimizes optical signal attenuation across high-density 2D fiber arrays to ensure maximum signal integrity and power efficiency.High Alignment Tolerance: Substantially extends the permissible alignment margin during fiber attachment. This industry-leading tolerance enables a fully detachable, high-durability pluggable structure that simplifies CPO module assembly and streamlines field maintenance.

Foundry-Ready Scaling via 12-Inch CMOS Processes

Crucial to commercial viability, AuthenX’s Meta-Lenses are fabricated using standard semiconductor processes compatible with existing 12-inch CMOS wafer lines. Alongside this chip-level scaling, the company has engineered a proprietary, fully automated packaging and optical performance testing pipeline for its FAU products. This holistic fabrication-to-testing framework bypasses traditional meta-optics manufacturing bottlenecks, positioning AuthenX as a stable, high-yield supplier capable of supporting large-scale data center infrastructure deployment.

“The rapid expansion of AI and HPC cluster computing has driven traditional copper-based interconnects to their fundamental performance limits. Silicon photonics and CPO have become essential components—representing the next generation of computing infrastructure,” said Paul Wu, Chief Executive Officer of AuthenX. “By combining our proprietary meta-optics innovations with foundry-compatible 12-inch fabrication processes, we have addressed the dual engineering challenges of optical alignment and insertion loss. AuthenX is well-positioned to support global hyperscalers and semiconductor manufacturers in deploying energy-efficient, high-capacity next-generation AI data center infrastructure.”

COMPUTEX 2026 Live Demo

To enable global customers and partners to evaluate this technical innovation in person, a live demonstration of the Detachable 2D FAU will be featured at Booth S0213a (Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2, 4th Floor) from June 2–5.

AuthenX welcomes global industry partners, technology analysts, and investment professionals to visit Booth S0213a. Attendees are invited to explore the future of low-power, high-density optical connectivity and learn how AuthenX is enabling next-generation AI/HPC infrastructure.

About AuthenX Inc. AuthenX Inc. is a leading provider of high-speed optical interconnect solutions, specializing in bringing advanced meta-optics and next-generation silicon photonics technologies to market. Driven by its mission, “Pioneering Meta-optics in Silicon Photonics,” and backed by deep optical design capabilities and exceptional technical integration expertise, the company delivers scalable, low-power, and foundry-ready optical components for global AI data centers and HPC applications.

 

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SOURCE AuthenX Inc.

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Solo Stove, Maker of the World’s Most Popular Smokeless Fire Pit, Brings Major Brand Expansion Across Fire, Cooking, and Cooling to European Consumers

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May 28, 2026

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Solo Stove expands its European presence with new products across fire, cooking, and cooling — elevating any outdoor occasion with their new Summit Series Smokeless Fire Pits, Steelfire™ Stainless Steel Griddles, and Windchill™ A/C and Misting Cool Boxes.

GRAPEVINE, Texas, May 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Solo Stove, the brand known for creating the world’s most popular smokeless fire pits, today announced the next phase of its European expansion with the addition of the all new Summit Smokeless Fire Pit, Steelfire™ Stainless Steel Griddle, and Windchill™ Cool Box, each available in multiple sizes to fit any garden setup or on-the-go occasion. Each product reflects the brand’s latest innovations in portability, built with world-class quality and the durability European consumers expect from their outdoor gear.

New research commissioned by Solo Stove found that over 60% of European consumers spend time in their outdoor spaces multiple times a week, and three in four say they enjoy spending that time with family and friends. For Solo Stove, the opportunity is clear: help people create meaningful outdoor moments wherever they gather, with a complete lineup that offers a right-sized solution for every occasion. The brand’s expanded European portfolio now spans fire, cooking, and cooling, building on its leadership in smokeless fire pits while giving European hosts the tools to elevate their outdoor experience.

The New European Product Lineup

Summit Series Smokeless Fire Pits

At the center of the launch is the Summit Series, Solo Stove’s most advanced generation of smokeless fire pits and a new benchmark for garden fire experiences. Featuring patent-pending Quick-Strike Technology for fast, easy lighting and Solo Stove’s enhanced Signature Flame™, the series delivers a taller, brighter, and more mesmerizing fire. Available in two sizes, 19.5″ (seats 4-6 people) and 24″ (seats 5-7 people), the Summit™ Series is a class-defining lineup with a fit for every outdoor space.

Steelfire™ Stainless Steel Griddle

Solo Stove’s Steelfire™ Griddle lineup gives hosts a chef-grade outdoor cooking experience at any scale. Available in 22″ and 30″, both sizes feature a proprietary stainless cooking surface and the brand’s patent-pending Racetrack Burner for unmatched edge-to-edge even heat and zero-to-sear performance in just seven minutes.

Windchill™ A/C and Misting Cool Box

The first cool box that keeps both you and your drinks cold, the Windchill™ A/C and Misting Cool Box brings integrated personal A/C misting technology to any outdoor setting; available in 45L and 28L to suit every occasion.

“We see tremendous growth potential in Europe, and bringing our expanded portfolio to this market is a statement of how committed we are to European consumers,” said John Larson, CEO of Solo Brands. “This lineup gives hosts complete control over their entire garden experience; whether they’re spending an afternoon outside with the kids or hosting friends for an evening around the fire, Solo Stove now has everything they need to elevate that experience from start to finish.”

The Summit™ Series — 19.5″ (€399.99) and 24″ (€499.99) — and Windchill™ 47 (€549.99) are available now. The Steelfire™ 30 (€899.99) will be available for purchase mid-June, and the Steelfire™ 22 (€399.99) and Windchill™ 30 (€399.99) will be available for purchase mid-July. For more information and to shop the full collection, visit SoloStove.com.

About Solo Brands
Solo Brands, headquartered in Grapevine, TX and operating in Europe through its subsidiary Solo Brands Europe BV in Rotterdam, Netherlands, is a leading omnichannel lifestyle brand company. Leveraging e-commerce, strategic retail partnerships, and physical retail stores, Solo Brands offers innovative, premium products across four outdoor lifestyle brands: Solo Stove—expanding its lineup to offer a larger variety of outdoor lifestyle products—known for the world’s most popular smokeless fire pits including the all-new Summit 24™ and Infinity Flame™ Propane Fire Pits, award-winning pizza ovens, the new innovative Windchill™ Cool Box, the new premium Steelfire™ Griddle, and outdoor accessories; Chubbies, a premium casual apparel and activewear brand; ISLE, a maker of inflatable and hard paddle boards; and Oru Kayak, innovator of origami folding kayaks.

Contact:
Brody Gordon
brody.gordon@finnpartners.com

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Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2949105/Solo_Stove_Logo.jpg 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/solo-stove-maker-of-the-worlds-most-popular-smokeless-fire-pit-brings-major-brand-expansion-across-fire-cooking-and-cooling-to-european-consumers-302783803.html

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