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Creality Pika Pocket-Sized AI 3D Scanner Is Now on Sale at $699

The 260 g dual-light scanner pairs a 7-line parallel blue laser with NIR structured light, AI-assisted post-processing, and Gaussian Splatting output — bringing marker-free 3D capture to phones and PCs.

SHENZHEN, China, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Creality today announced that Creality Pika, the pocket-sized AI-powered portable 3D scanner it unveiled at its 12th Anniversary “AI Ecosystem” launch event, is now on sale at the Creality official store with a 10% launch discount off its $699 retail price.

Creality Pika, a pocket-sized AI 3D scanner
Creality Pika, a pocket-sized AI 3D scanner

At 260 g and 100 × 60 × 35 mm, Pika is small enough to carry and use anywhere — no tripod, no fixed workstation, and no PC required for mobile scanning. It is built for makers, 3D printing users, model and figurine creators, designers, classrooms, and light professional workflows, where the distance between a real object and a usable 3D model has traditionally been measured in setup time.

Pocket-Sized Portability: Scan Anywhere, Anytime

Pika carries a 3-inch touchscreen for real-time scan monitoring and on-device confirmation, Wi-Fi 6 and USB 3.0 connectivity, and two removable 3,350 mAh batteries — so a session continues with a battery swap rather than a hunt for a power outlet. It works with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, supporting phone-based mobile scanning as well as wired and wireless PC workflows.

Small Yet Powerful: Dual-Light Capture in One Housing

Two optical systems share one body. The 7-line parallel blue laser resolves fine detail and complex contours on small objects, with accuracy of up to 0.03 mm and a minimum scan volume of 10 × 10 × 10 mm in blue laser mode (and 50 × 50 × 50 mm in NIR structured light mode). NIR structured light handles people, medium and large objects, and full-color capture, with accuracy of up to 0.1 mm and a working distance out to 1,000 mm. Pika also scans black and metallic surfaces without scanning spray, removing a preparation step that has long slowed real-world capture.

AI-Powered Simplicity: Scan with Ease

Marker-free line-laser alignment reduces marker-placement prep. Built on a global shutter with intelligent stabilization and infrared single-frame 3D imaging, Pika holds tracking while the operator moves, reaching up to 110 FPS in PC line-laser mode and up to 40 FPS on a phone in line-laser mode. In CrealityScan, AI Re-texturing, AI hole filling, and AI human-body completion cut the manual cleanup between a scan and a printable model — the body-completion algorithm generates a full-body model from a face scan plus body photos.

All-Scenario Adaptability: Scan Reliably Anytime, Anywhere

Built-in optical filters keep capture stable outdoors: the blue laser operates in ambient light up to 110,000 lux, and NIR structured light up to 80,000 lux with the filter fitted. The laser is Class I (eye-safe), and the operating range is −10 °C to 40 °C.

Gaussian Splatting: From Scan to Creation

Beyond meshes, Pika supports Gaussian Splatting content generation, reproducing an object’s texture, color, and spatial detail more realistically than conventional texture mapping — useful for display, portfolio, and social sharing as well as archival capture. Scans export to STL, OBJ, PLY, and ASC for mainstream 3D printing and modeling pipelines, and CrealityScan continues to receive OTA updates.

Price and Availability

Creality Pika is available from July 22, 2026 at $699, with a 10% launch discount available for 20 days only. For more information, please visit the Creality Pika (US) and Creality Pika (DE).

Due to limited quantities, Creality Pika is offered on a strictly first-come, first-served basis. Order yours today before supplies run out.

Join the Pika Community for updates, tips, and exclusive perks.

About Creality

Creality is a global 3D printing and digital fabrication brand offering 3D printers, scanners, laser engravers, software, and creative tools for makers, educators, professionals, and everyday creators. Through its expanding hardware and software ecosystem, Creality aims to make digital creation more accessible from capture to design and production.

Media Contact:
Creality
Creality Team 
crscansocial@gmail.com

2026 Shandong Innovation-Driven Development Conference & 7th Binzhou Talent Festival Held in Binzhou


BINZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – On July 18, the 2026 Shandong Innovation-Driven Development Conference & 7th Binzhou Talent Festival was held at the Yellow River Delta Trading Center in Binzhou. The event brought together academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, high-level leading talents from various fields, university research experts, and heads of sci-tech innovation enterprises to explore pathways for industrial upgrading and discuss strategies for innovation-driven development.

Scene from the 2026 Shandong Innovation-Driven Development Conference & 7th Binzhou Talent Festival
Scene from the 2026 Shandong Innovation-Driven Development Conference & 7th Binzhou Talent Festival

Co-hosted by the Shandong Association for Science and Technology, the CPC Binzhou Municipal Committee, and the Binzhou Municipal People’s Government, the conference was themed “Gathering Wisdom in the Bohai Bay· Leading the New Future — Building a New Landscape for a Modern Industrial System.” Its core mission was to promote the deep integration of technological innovation with industrial innovation.

The conference includes one main forum, five concurrent events, and nine thematic sessions. Following the conference, a series of industry-specific matchmaking activities will be launched, covering green low-carbon power, rope nets, kitchenware, artificial intelligence, fine alumina, and other sectors, forming a long-term, year-round sci-tech innovation service chain.

Tailored to Binzhou’s development needs for 11 key industrial chains and its modern industrial cluster, the conference aims to promote the deep integration of the talent chain, industrial chain, and innovation chain. The event established a high-quality platform for talent exchange, sci-tech innovation empowerment, and project landing, effectively channeling the intellectual resources of national and provincial academic societies to support the high-quality development of Binzhou’s industries and injecting strong momentum for innovation-driven growth.

Hashtag: #Binzhou

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Befar Group Achieves Mass Production of 6N-Grade High-Purity Hydrogen Fluoride


BINZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – On July 19, Shandong’s Befar Group achieved a technological breakthrough in four key areas of process, engineering, testing, and filling to bring its high-purity hydrogen fluoride (HF) for semiconductor applications to the 6N grade (99.9999%). This milestone fills a production gap for high-purity hydrogen fluoride in Shandong Province.

Scene at the launch ceremony for Befar Group's electronic-grade high-purity hydrogen fluoride gas production and new product release
Scene at the launch ceremony for Befar Group’s electronic-grade high-purity hydrogen fluoride gas production and new product release

High-purity hydrogen fluoride is a key raw material used in semiconductor chip etching and cleaning processes, often referred to as the “chemical scalpel” of semiconductor manufacturing. The 6N-grade product is an essential material for advanced process nodes of 28 nanometers and below. For years, core production technologies for this grade have been mainly provided by overseas companies, with domestic supply heavily reliant on imports.

Befar Group's 6N-grade high-purity hydrogen fluoride laboratory
Befar Group’s 6N-grade high-purity hydrogen fluoride laboratory

Befar Group overcame key technical hurdles, including multi-stage distillation coupling, selection of low-precipitation equipment materials, cylinder cleanliness and protection, and precise detection of trace impurities. The company maintains key metal-ion impurity levels below 1 part per billion (ppb), solving the problem of secondary contamination throughout the entire production, storage, and transportation chain. To date, the company has completed the construction and commissioning of a 50-ton-per-year high-purity hydrogen fluoride cylinder filling line. Having obtained the cylinder filling license from the Shandong Special Equipment Inspection Institute, the company has begun introducing its products to major customers at home and abroad. This marks a complete closed loop from laboratory R&D to industrial-scale production.

Thanks to its mass production capabilities, Befar Group will continue to deepen its expertise in high-end specialty gas technologies, expand its product portfolio of halogen-based electronic specialty gases, and develop electronic-grade hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and other series products. By increasing locally supplied capacity, the company aims to ensure the secure and stable operation of the semiconductor industry chain.

Hashtag: #Binzhou

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Baidu Provides Update on Voluntary Conversion to Dual-Primary Listing on The Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

BEIJING, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (“Baidu” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BIDU; HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today provides an update on the Company’s proposed voluntary conversion of its secondary listing status on The Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”) to dual-primary listing (the “Primary Conversion”).

Application for Conversion to Dual-Primary Listing. The Company has applied to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with regards to the Primary Conversion and the Company has received the acknowledgement from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in respect of the application for the Primary Conversion. The effective date (the “Effective Date”) on which the Primary Conversion becomes effective is expected to be within this year, subject to the approval of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Upon the Primary Conversion being effective, the Company will be dual-primary listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Hong Kong and the Nasdaq Global Select Market in the United States.

Proposed Grant of Share Repurchase Mandate and Issuance Mandate. Ordinary resolutions will be proposed at the forthcoming extraordinary general meeting of the Company, to approve the grant of (i) an issuance mandate to the directors of the Company to allot, issue or deal with, among others, additional Class A ordinary shares of the Company with a par value of US$0.000000625 each (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and/or American depositary shares (the “ADSs,” each representing eight Class A Ordinary Share) not exceeding 20% of the number of issued shares as of the date of the resolution granting the issuance mandate, and (ii) a share repurchase mandate to the directors of the Company to repurchase Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ADSs not exceeding 10% of the number of issued shares as of the date of the resolution granting the share repurchase mandate.

Proposed Adoption of The 2026 Share Incentive Plan. The board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has proposed to adopt the 2026 Share Incentive Plan in order to comply with the requirements on share schemes involving issuance of new shares under Chapter 17 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, as amended or supplemented from time to time (the “Hong Kong Listing Rules”).

Proposed Adoption of New Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Board has proposed to amend the existing fifth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company by adopting a new set of memorandum and articles of association in substitution for and to the exclusion of the existing memorandum and articles of association mainly to (i) comply with Appendix A1 to the Hong Kong Listing Rules and (ii) incorporate certain consequential and housekeeping amendments.

The Company’s corresponding announcement on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange is available on the Company’s website at https://ir.baidu.com/.

The Primary Conversion is conditional upon and subject to, among other things, market conditions and the obtaining of the necessary regulatory approvals. The Company will make further announcement(s) to disclose any material updates and progress with respect to the Primary Conversion in accordance with applicable laws and regulations as and when appropriate. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute, or form part of, any invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any securities of the Company. Shareholders and potential investors should exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Company.

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on Nasdaq under “BIDU” and HKEX under “9888”. One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “is/are likely to” and similar statements. Baidu may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in announcements made on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Baidu’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Baidu’s growth strategies; its future business development, including development of new products and services; its ability to attract and retain users and customers; competition in the Chinese Internet search and newsfeed market; competition for online marketing customers; changes in the Company’s revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of its revenues; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to intellectual property rights; the expected growth of the Chinese-language Internet search and newsfeed market and the number of Internet and broadband users in China; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Internet and Internet search providers, and general economic conditions in China and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the SEC, and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Baidu does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of the announcement, and Baidu undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Tikva Allocell Closes $8 Million Series A Financing to Advance Engineered EBV-Specific T-Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors

Funding will support completion of IND-enabling activities and planned year-end IND submission for TAVST01, Tikva’s lead off-the-shelf CAR-T candidate targeting B7-H3-positive solid tumors

SINGAPORE, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tikva Allocell Pte. Ltd. (“Tikva”), a biotechnology company developing engineered, allogeneic (donor-derived) cell therapies for adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors, today announced the closing of an $8 million Series A financing led by Kantharos Capital.

Proceeds will fund IND-enabling activities and a planned year-end 2026 Investigational New Drug (IND) submission for TAVST01, Tikva’s lead candidate for B7-H3-positive solid tumors. Subject to regulatory clearance, the company plans to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced B7-H3-positive cancer at sites in Singapore and the United States.

TAVST01 targets B7-H3, a protein expressed across a broad range of difficult-to-treat solid tumors, including lung, breast, prostate, pancreatic, and pediatric cancers. Unlike conventional donor-derived cell therapies, which a patient’s immune system often clears before they can work, TAVST01 is built from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T cells – immune cells the body naturally sustains – and is engineered to resist that rejection, with preclinical potential both to kill tumor cells directly and to remodel the immunosuppressive microenvironment that has limited cell therapies in solid tumors. That durability is no accident: almost everyone carries EBV from a past infection the immune system never fully clears, so the body keeps a standing population of these virus-specific T cells on patrol for years – exactly the staying power that donor-derived cell therapies have struggled to achieve.

“Cell therapy has transformed the treatment of blood cancers but has repeatedly stalled at the solid-tumor door – the donor cells either fail to persist or are eliminated by the patient’s immune system before they can act,” said Dr. Ivan Horak, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tikva Allocell. “We started from a different place: a virus-fighting T cell the body naturally sustains, armed to seek out B7-H3 and engineered to withstand the rejection that defeats most donor-derived approaches, with minimal gene editing. With this financing, we are well positioned to complete IND-enabling studies and advance TAVST01 toward its planned IND submission, bringing us closer to delivering a scalable, readily available, and potentially transformative cell therapy for patients with solid tumors.”

Tikva’s therapies are built on the ALLO SerpinB9 EBVST platform — an allogeneic, virus‑specific T‑cell technology licensed exclusively from Baylor College of Medicine and further enhanced through Tikva’s proprietary protein‑engineering strategies. These cells are equipped with a B7‑H3–targeting receptor and an optimized form of SerpinB9, a natural inhibitor of granzyme B, the enzyme immune cells use to kill their targets. Because a patient’s immune system would normally attack donor cells using granzyme B, the SerpinB9 “armor” enables Tikva’s cells to resist rejection and remain active. At the same time, the approach minimizes graft‑versus‑host disease (GvHD) with only minimal gene editing.

“Our investment reflects strong conviction in both Tikva’s science and its leadership team,” said Terence Tan, Managing Partner at Kantharos Capital. “Tikva is addressing fundamental challenges that have constrained allogeneic cell therapies, and we believe its ALLO SerpinB9 EBVST platform can extend the reach of cell therapy to solid-tumor patients who today have limited options. We look forward to supporting the company toward IND submission and clinical evaluation.”

About Tikva Allocell
Tikva Allocell Pte. Ltd., headquartered in Singapore, is a biotechnology company developing engineered, allogeneic (donor‑derived) cell therapies for solid tumors. The company’s pipeline is built on the ALLO SerpinB9 EBVST platform—an allogeneic, virus‑specific T‑cell technology licensed exclusively from Baylor College of Medicine and enhanced through Tikva’s proprietary protein‑engineering strategies. This platform integrates tumor‑targeting receptors such as B7‑H3 with an optimized form of SerpinB9 to help donor‑derived T cells resist granzyme‑B–mediated immune rejection, persist longer, and minimize graft‑versus‑host disease with minimal gene editing.

Tikva’s scientific foundation is rooted in decades of research at Baylor College of Medicine by Dr. Malcolm Brenner, Dr. Cliona Rooney, and Dr. Helen Heslop—leaders in virus‑specific T‑cell biology—who co‑founded Tikva with CEO Dr. Ivan Horak and serve as scientific advisors. The company’s lead program, TAVST01, is an off‑the‑shelf, B7‑H3‑targeted EBV‑specific T‑cell therapy in IND‑enabling development for a planned year‑end 2026 IND submission. TAVST01 is designed for patients with B7‑H3‑positive solid tumors, including lung, breast, prostate, pancreatic, and pediatric cancers, and has a preclinical profile that may support lymphodepletion‑free administration, repeat dosing, and combination strategies. For more information, visit www.tikvaallocell.com.

About Kantharos Capital
Kantharos Capital is a boutique private equity firm founded by a family office with more than three decades of venture investing experience across Silicon Valley, China, and Singapore. It pairs institutional discipline with the patience and long-term perspective of family capital to help founders build enduring businesses.

Contacts
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Investor Relations
David Irish
+1-231-632-0002
dirish@tiberend.com 

Media Relations
Casey McDonald
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cmcdonald@tiberend.com 

CSTS and Connexus Achieved Highest Hospitality Sales in World Cup History for Greater China

CSTS and Connexus Travel celebrate a landmark achievement in executing its FIFA World Cup 2026™ Official Hospitality campaign, underscoring expanding demand for premium sports travel and hospitality across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

HONG KONG and NEW YORK, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CSTS Enterprises and subsidiary Connexus Travel proudly celebrate the conclusion of FIFA World Cup 2026™ and their role as sole sales agent for the tournament’s Official Hospitality Programme in Greater China, marking the completion of one of the world’s most ambitious and successful hospitality programs.

Throughout the tournament, the companies successfully delivered world-class hospitality experiences to more than 250 corporate partners and hosted thousands of VIP guests across all 104 matches and all 16 stadiums spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This result highlights the growing impact of global sports in the region and signals strong future demand for luxury sports tourism.

Connexus’ VIP Customers Enjoy M28 South Korea vs Mexico game at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico on June 18, 2026.
Connexus’ VIP Customers Enjoy M28 South Korea vs Mexico game at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico on June 18, 2026.

This achievement represents a significant milestone for CSTS and Connexus and reflects years of planning, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional client experiences on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

“We are immensely proud of what our teams have accomplished,” said Abel Zhao, Group CEO and Executive Director, CSTS Enterprises. “FIFA World Cup 2026™ presented a unique opportunity to connect businesses and people through the power of sport. To fulfil each customer request across every match of the tournament is an extraordinary achievement that demonstrates the dedication, expertise, and professionalism of our entire organization.”

The tournament’s expanded scale and geography, spread across three host nations and 16 different venues, required meticulous co-ordination and flawless on-site execution. CSTS and Connexus teams worked closely with clients throughout their tournament journeys, ensuring seamless service delivery at every stage.

The companies credit the success to the tireless efforts of their teams and partners, working together to ensure every guest experience reflected the highest standards of service, a reflection of Connexus’ market-leading customer service and dedication.

“This success belongs to every member of the CSTS and Connexus family,” said Simon Hague, Managing Director, Connexus. “From our sales teams and account managers to operations and onsite co-ordinators, every individual played a critical role in making this program a success. Their passion, resilience, and commitment to our clients have been truly inspiring.”

Beyond the numbers, the World Cup hospitality program strengthened relationships with leading corporate clients around the world, reinforcing CSTS and Connexus’ reputations as leaders in delivering large-scale international hospitality and event experiences.

Looking forward, the companies remain focused on building on the experience, expertise, and partnerships developed throughout World Cup 2026, and will continue creating and delivering exceptional experiences around leading global sports and entertainment events.

“We are grateful for the trust our clients placed in us and proud of the memories we helped create during one of the greatest sporting events ever,” added Abel Zhao. “This achievement demonstrates what is possible when talented people come together around a shared vision and commitment to excellence. FIFA World Cup 2026™ will remain a defining chapter in the CSTS and Connexus story.”

CSTS and Connexus team celebrates with VIP guests at FIFA World Cup CSTS VIP event during M77 France vs Sweden game at New York New Jersey stadium on June 30, 2026.
CSTS and Connexus team celebrates with VIP guests at FIFA World Cup CSTS VIP event during M77 France vs Sweden game at New York New Jersey stadium on June 30, 2026.

L to R: Selina Zhou, CSTS China; Wenbin Wang, CSTS Enterprises; Bill Bao, Connexus Travel Beijing at FIFA World Cup Final, New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026.
L to R: Selina Zhou, CSTS China; Wenbin Wang, CSTS Enterprises; Bill Bao, Connexus Travel Beijing at FIFA World Cup Final, New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026.

About CSTS Enterprises

CSTS Enterprises is an integrated media, entertainment, sports, and travel technology group. The company develops and partners with intellectual properties and brands to deliver compelling experiences that connect with local and regional audiences across the world. In addition to its own initiatives, including Generation C and PremierX, it collaborates with international IPs such as the FIFA World Cup, Formula 1, and Waterbomb.

CSTS integrates experiential marketing, tourism, data, and technology to deliver connected audience experiences. The company engages consumers across physical events and digital channels, working with clients to execute at scale across markets, turning complex activations into co-ordinated, measurable outcomes.

About Connexus

Connexus is an award-winning travel management company and wholly owned subsidiary of CSTS Enterprises. Founded in 1948 as Swire Travel, the company is Hong Kong’s first registered travel agency and has over 78 years of trusted heritage, delivering seamless travel-tech solutions, combining personalised 24/7 support with advanced digital capabilities. 

Connexus offers a comprehensive suite of travel management services spanning corporate travel, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions), and travel technology solutions.



Newborn Town Announces 1H2026 Operating Data: Global Expansion and AI Drive Revenue Growth of over 34%

HONG KONG, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Newborn Town, a leading global social entertainment company, released its unaudited operating data for the first half of 2026.

For the six months ended 30 June 2026, the company’s total revenue is estimated to reach US$595 million to US$615 million, representing a year‑on‑year increase of approximately 34.3% to 38.8%, continuing a strong growth momentum. Revenue from social networking business amounted to approximately US$530 million to US$545 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 34.2% to 38.0%. Revenue from innovative business recorded approximately US$65 million to US$70 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 35.4% to 45.8%. This is the first time the company has presented its operating data in United States dollar.

Rapid Growth in Social Networking Business as Flagship Products Expand Globally

According to the announcement, revenue from social networking business continued to grow, mainly driven by the company’s ongoing global expansion and full‑chain AI applications, supporting the steady growth of its flagship products.

Since the beginning of the year, the company has continued to expand its global footprint around its core social networking business, maintaining its leading position in various markets such as MENA and Southeast Asia, while accelerating expansion into high-growth and high-value markets including Latin America, Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States, further reinforcing its position as a leading player in the global social entertainment industry.

The company’s flagship products have made positive progress in new market expansion. TopTop continues to leverage its UGC ecosystem advantage, becoming a household-name app in GCC markets such as Saudi Arabia, and ranking among the top in its category globally. With continually improved product quality and deeper local operations, TopTop made significant progress in high‑value markets such as Japan and Europe. It also entered the iOS Top 10 free casual games in Japan for multiple times during the first half of the year, according to DianDian Data.

The company’s diverse-audience social networking business also maintained steady growth. HeeSay, its global community platform, continued to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia, consistently ranking among the Top 10 in social app in countries including Vietnam and the Philippines.

A recent research report noted that Newborn Town’s core competitive moat lies in its highly localized and operation‑intensive barriers, its monetization model centered on social spending, and its ability to diversify risk through a “bush-like” portfolio of social apps. Together, these strengths form a differentiated advantage that is difficult for competitors to replicate in the short term.

AI Advancements Fuel Strong Momentum Across Innovation Business

The company’s innovative business delivered strong growth momentum in the first half of the year, primarily driven by the rapid expansion of its short drama business, supported by AI-powered content production and operations.

In the first half of the year, the company steadily advanced its short drama business across multiple global markets, including Europe and the United States, while accelerating the integration of AI technology into short drama production. Playlet, its short-form drama app, continued to broaden its presence in high‑value markets such as the United States, Japan and South Korea, achieving significant growth in its user base. Earlier this year, Playlet became one of the first partner platforms to integrate Seedance 2.0.

According to TikTok’s short drama Q1 revenue report, one of the company’s hit titles ranked second on the platform by first-month revenue. With AI significantly improving short drama production efficiency, Newborn Town is well positioned to capitalize on its strengths in localized operations and user acquisition, while further enriching its social entertainment content ecosystem.

The company’s other innovative businesses also maintained steady progress. Its quality games maintained solid momentum, with flagship titles sustaining long-term operations and generating stable profit contributions, while the commercialization of new titles progressed smoothly. The social e-commerce business continued to deepen its presence in specialized verticals and enhance its product and service capabilities, providing further support for the growth of the innovative business.

In recent years, the company has continued to deepen the application of AI technologies across the entire business chain, spanning R&D and operations, while steadily improving its AI capabilities.

Its self-developed multimodal algorithm model, Boomiix, continues to upgrade, improving the accuracy of social matching and the intelligence of operations.  The company’s Siyu AI, an internal data intelligence platform, significantly shortened turnaround times for data queries, anomaly analysis, and report generation. Its proprietary AI-powered design platform KIVI has also greatly enhanced both the efficiency and diversity of content production, including virtual gifts and marketing creatives.

Alongside strengthening its underlying AI capabilities, the company continued to expand the commercial application of AI. Aippy, an AI-powered gaming community incubated by the company, secured tens of millions of US dollars in independent financing at a post-money valuation of US$250 million. The platform has recorded nearly four million downloads worldwide, with daily active users increasing approximately sixfold since the beginning of the year and user retention ranking among the industry’s strongest.

Meanwhile, NUSD Pay, the company’s AI agent payment initiative, commenced commercial operations, further broadening the range of AI-powered use cases. The company also continued to expand its strategic investment portfolio across the AI sector, investing in projects spanning world models and AI-native game engines, as well as AI interactive gaming and AI-powered advertising and marketing, further strengthening its AI application ecosystem.

During the first half of the year, the company continued its share repurchase and cancellation. In March, Newborn Town announced to allocate approximately HK$ 300 million over the next two years for share repurchases. During the reporting period, the company completed two rounds of share cancellations, involving an aggregate of approximately 10.206 million repurchased shares with total consideration of approximately HK$ 85.126 million. In addition, on July 9, the company announced that it had repurchased shares from the market under the NBT Restricted Share Unit Scheme to support its long-term employee incentive program, for a total consideration of approximately HK$39.838 million.

In March, Newborn Town was officially included in the list of eligible securities under the Stock Connect, further broadening access for mainland investors. Since its inclusion, the company has seen significantly stronger market attention and trading activity, with average trading value increased about twofold compared with the three months prior to inclusion. The company’s shareholder base has continued to diversify, providing a solid foundation for its stable long-term growth.

Sharon AI Appoints Anuj Goel as Chief Financial Officer

NEW YORK, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SharonAI Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SHAZ) and its subsidiaries (“Sharon AI” or “the Company”), a leading Australian Neocloud, today announced the appointment of Mr. Anuj Goel as incoming Chief Financial Officer, strengthening the company’s executive leadership team as it accelerates the expansion of its AI infrastructure platform.

Sharon AI (NASDAQ: SHAZ)
Sharon AI (NASDAQ: SHAZ)

Anuj joins Sharon AI after a distinguished 20-year career at Macquarie, most recently serving as Head of Technology, APAC at Macquarie Capital, where he advised boards, founders and investors on many of Australia’s most significant technology, telecommunications, media and digital infrastructure transactions.

His appointment comes at a pivotal stage in Sharon AI’s growth as the company continues to scale its AI cloud platform and expand its position as a provider of sovereign AI infrastructure.

Sharon AI also announced that Mr. Tim Broadfoot will step down as the incumbent Chief Financial Officer following a successful tenure in which he helped establish the company’s financial foundations. The Board thanks Tim for his significant contribution and wishes him every success in the future. Tim will work closely with Mr. Goel over the next few months to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities.

As Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Goel will lead Sharon AI’s financial strategy, capital management, corporate development and financial operations, supporting the company’s next phase of growth. Mr. Goel’s first day in the role will be Monday, 24th of August.

Prior to leading Macquarie Capital’s technology practice in the region, Mr. Goel spent six years in Macquarie’s global Venture Capital team evaluating investment opportunities in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region. During this time, he developed experience across the investment lifecycle, including deal origination, financial analysis and valuation, business strategy and portfolio management, and supported the growth of companies including PEXA, Temple & Webster, oOh!media and RP Data (now Cotality) from an early stage.

James Manning, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Sharon AI, said:

“Anuj brings an exceptional combination of financial leadership, capital markets expertise and deep knowledge of the technology and digital infrastructure sectors. As Sharon AI continues to scale, his experience advising many of the region’s leading technology businesses and investors will be invaluable as we execute our long-term growth strategy.”

“His appointment further strengthens our executive team and reflects the calibre of leadership we are assembling to build one of the world’s leading AI infrastructure companies. We thank our outgoing CFO, Tim Broadfoot, for his significant contribution and wish him well for the future. Tim will continue to work within Sharon AI for some months in a handover with Anuj.”

Anuj Goel, Chief Financial Officer of Sharon AI, said:

“Artificial intelligence is creating one of the most significant opportunities of our generation, and Sharon AI is uniquely positioned to help meet the growing demand for sovereign AI compute. I’m excited to join the company at such an important stage of its journey and look forward to working with the team to build a disciplined financial platform that supports long-term growth while delivering value for customers, partners and shareholders.”

The appointment of Anuj Goel further strengthens Sharon AI’s leadership team as the company continues to expand its AI cloud platform and invest in the infrastructure required to support the next generation of AI innovation.

Disclosure Information

Sharon AI primarily uses its Investor Relations page (https://sharonai.com/investors/) to disclose material non-public information and to comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. The Company also notes that, at times, it uses other communication mediums including, but not limited to, its X account (sharon__ai) and/or LinkedIn account (sharon-AI) to disseminate information about the Company, and can be additional sources of information outside press releases, regulatory filings with the SEC and any other conference calls, webcasts, investor days, etc. that the company may hold.

About Sharon AI

Sharon AI, a leading Australian Neocloud, is a High-Performance Computing company focused on Artificial Intelligence and Cloud GPU/CPU Compute Infrastructure. Our AI Cloud platform and compute infrastructure is accelerating the build of AI factories and sovereign AI solutions, powering the next wave of accelerated computing adoption. For more information, visit www.sharonai.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain, and our officers and representatives may from time to time make, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are not historical facts, and which are not assurances of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. In some cases you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “project,” “strategy,” “plan,” “expect,” “goal,” “seek,” “future,” “likely” or the negative or plural of these words or similar expressions or references to future periods. Forward-looking statements in this release include specific statements regarding the intended use of proceeds. Examples of such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to express or implied statements regarding Sharon AI’s management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future including, without limitation, statements regarding:

  • Service and product offerings;
  • Receipt and use of proceeds;
  • The deployment of assets and expansion of network procurement;
  • Sharon AI’s ability to engage with additional potential customers;
  • Expansion of Sharon AI’s data center footprint and capacity; and
  • The strengthening of Sharon AI’s partner network.

In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. You are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, among others, all of the risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and other reports subsequently filed with the SEC. Additional assumptions, risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our registration statements, reports and other filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov.

The forward-looking statements and other information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Sharon AI does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Contacts

Media Enquiries
media@sharonai.com

Investor Enquiries
investors@sharonai.com