Latest news with #IDO
Observer
4 days ago
- Business
- Observer
CEO TALK: From boardroom to bedrock: Decarbonising the planet, one rock at a time
WALAA HAMDAN MUSCAT, JUNE 1 In the escalating global battle against climate change, few figures personify purpose-driven entrepreneurship as compellingly as Talal Hasan, Founder and CEO of Omani climate-tech startup 44.01. At the heart of his venture lies a deceptively simple yet world-changing mission: to remove as much carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere as possible—permanently, affordably, and at scale. Hasan's personal and professional transformation began not in a laboratory, but with a headline in 2018 that revealed the grim reality that Oman's seas contained the world's largest known ocean 'dead zone'—a vast, oxygen-depleted area where marine life could no longer survive. At the time, Hasan was working in venture capital at IDO Investments, backing high-growth tech and energy startups. But that sobering report shifted his trajectory entirely. 'I grew up as an environmentalist,' he recalled at a recent Startup Grind Muscat event, hosted by Walaa Hamdan. That revelation about Oman's marine life spurred deep research into climate science, eventually leading him to carbon capture—and more importantly, carbon storage, the Achilles' heel of many climate solutions. 'There was all this talk about capturing carbon, but no one was asking where to put it,' he explained. His answer? Mineralisation—a natural process that turns captured CO₂ into rock by injecting it into peridotite-rich formations, which are abundant in Oman. This process offered the promise of permanent, verifiable CO₂ removal. That idea crystallised into 44.01, named after the molecular weight of CO₂. Yet, moving from idea to implementation wasn't easy. Hasan left behind a prestigious, well-paid role in government—a 'very comfortable' position, he admitted—to found an unproven startup in a highly technical field. 'My own family thought I'd gone crazy,' he joked. 'But if you really believe in what you're doing... I just went for it.' The early days were lean and uncertain. "We didn't even know what kind of team we needed," he admitted. But he knew people were everything. Leveraging his network, he brought in a renowned carbon mineralisation scientist, a trusted colleague from IDO, and even interns from IDO programmes. Each person was chosen not just for technical skill, but for cultural fit. 'Spend time on culture,' he emphasised. 'Spend a lot of time on it.' At 44.01, team culture is intentional. They hold annual offsites, empower individuals to lead, and foster what Hasan calls a 'culture of thinking big.' As he put it, 'If you develop that culture of punching big, of being ambitious, and you get everyone in the team thinking like that, it starts to drive itself.' One of the company's first major hurdles was securing regulatory approval. 'Our first step was: Can we get the permit?' Hasan said. After months of pushing, they earned the world's first permit to mineralise CO₂ in this way—a milestone that validated their method and opened the door to commercial projects. Partnerships have been vital to scaling the vision. Early on, Hasan found himself navigating regulatory minefields, bringing six different government agencies to the same table—many of them meeting each other for the first time. 'If you can get more people to collaborate and get them in a room together, the sky's the limit,' he said. But partnerships aren't just about access or capital—they're about alignment. One potential lead investor dropped out of their Series A round for geopolitical reasons. Hasan later saw it as a blessing in disguise: 'Be picky about your investors,' he warned. 'Say no to money if the alignment isn't there. The wrong partners can pull you in the wrong direction.' That principled stance has paid off. 44.01 now boasts high-profile backers, including Sam Altman and Breakthrough Energy, the climate fund led by Bill Gates. The company has won the prestigious Earthshot Prize, along with multiple XPrize accolades—important endorsements, especially in a region more accustomed to importing rather than exporting advanced climate tech. Hasan remains clear-eyed about the stakes. 'If we can't do this in a way that's affordable, it won't scale,' he asserted. Economic viability is just as critical as environmental impact. To that end, 44.01 is now expanding into Europe, leveraging favourable regulatory frameworks and secured patents. Long term, the goal is to digitise the technology and license it globally, allowing others to deploy carbon mineralisation wherever the geology allows. As Hasan reflects on the journey from boardroom to bedrock, one message rings clear: 'Purpose comes before product.' For him, building 44.01 wasn't just about creating a business; it was about answering a personal calling to protect the planet—one mineralised tonne of CO₂ at a time.
Business Mayor
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
IDO's Have The Potential to Be Great for Average Investors. What's Holding Them Back?
The natural next step is to take what works with the IEO and improve it. The result? The Initial DEX Offering, or IDO. This is similar in some ways to the IEO, but instead of the exchange handling most actions, a third party launchpad facilitates the launch between the DEX, the project, and the customers. The token is already set up to launch on the selected DEX, so there are no issues in that regard. The marketing efforts are typically shared by the launchpad and the project team, the smart contract by the project team, and the vetting of investors by the launchpad. The need for AML/KYC varies by project, so there isn't a set rule for that element. How investors are whitelisted, however, is where the biggest elements are for an IDO. How a launchpad handles this element is one of the biggest issues with IDOs, but simply doesn't have to be. A typical launchpad has a reputation closely related to the projects it has launched. The variety of project vetting can vary wildly, but those top launchpads do their homework and protect their communities. A successful launch with happy investors works well for everyone. The rapid pace of an IDO can be intense, but is a natural consequence of this type of launch. Investors usually have to create an account, perform any vetting, and are then whitelisted based on a number of criteria. Many launchpads use this step to help boost marketing, requiring the whitelist process to include social media boosts of the project by those who wish to join. Since they already want to join, this is usually something they have already done or are happy to do to further boost the project visibility. However, the most controversial of these steps is requiring potential investors to hold large amounts of the launchpad's native token, which can amount to $10k-50k worth of tokens. Obviously, this massive buy in limits the majority of average investors and shuts the door to either institutes or wealthy investors. However, this also gives even these lucky few an additional element of risk, as this token can be volatile and create a loss before they even get to the project launch. Notably, this biggest issue is itself evolving, with advanced launchpads like choosing not to require any buy-in from investors. In fact, it doesn't even require an account set up for potential investors unless they are selected for the IDO. This is good in that it streamlines the process for investors, but is also a strong show of confidence in the projects they help launch. Essentially, Coin Terminal doesn't truly benefit unless a launch is successful and investors see the value, coming back for more. This truly is a step in the right evolutionary direction, because it better aligns the project, the launchpad, the DEX, and the investor. READ SOURCE
Business Insider
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
CCarbon Announces Major Tokenomics Overhaul to Champion a Fairer, Greener Web3
LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / For years, flawed token distribution models have plagued the crypto industry. Token allocations that heavily favor project teams and institutional investors - leaving retail users with scraps - have become the norm. Investors with low acquisition costs and fast vesting schedules often cash out during price spikes, leaving regular users to absorb the damage. Even household names like Filecoin (FIL), once heralded as blue-chip projects, couldn't escape the "pump-and-dump" spiral. This issue is particularly damaging for mining-based token economies. When token prices fall, mining incentives collapse, triggering a downward spiral of user attrition and ecosystem stagnation. Against this backdrop, CCarbon has announced a bold economic upgrade to its CCT token - just ahead of Earth Day 2025. But this isn't just an internal protocol tweak. It's a values-driven statement: that sustainability, fairness, and user-first design must form the core of any truly regenerative token economy. The upgraded CCT distribution model is defined by four major shifts - each a deliberate departure from crypto's broken incentive structures: 1. Putting Users First: 70% Allocation to Real Contributors A full 70% of the total supply is allocated to user participation - 40% through carbon-reduction mining (e.g. walking) and 30% via staking. This ensures that the majority of tokens go to those actively driving value and sustainability within the ecosystem. It's not just symbolic - it's structural. 2. Utility-Driven Allocations: 24% Reserved for Ecosystem Growth Another 24% of the supply is dedicated to building the actual infrastructure of the project. This includes: l 10% for liquidity incentives l 5% for ecosystem development l 4% for community growth l 5% for IDO and initial access Funds are allocated to drive real-world integration: onboarding developers, scaling carbon markets, supporting carbon RWA initiatives, and expanding educational campaigns around carbon literacy. 3. Minimized Foundation Control: Only 6% to Core Entities CCarbon has capped the combined share of the foundation and tech lab at just 6% - a stark contrast to many projects where 20-30% is held by insiders. This underscores the project's commitment to decentralization, transparency, and governance driven by real participants. 4. Synchronized Token Release: One Pace for All Except for IDO participants, all stakeholders - including the foundation, ecosystem funds, and staking pools - will follow the exact same release schedule as carbon miners. If mining unlocks 0.2% in a given month, every other module releases the same proportion. No special treatment. No early exits. No unfair vesting advantages. In short: everyone marches to the same drumbeat - a mechanism designed to eliminate the all-too-familiar dynamic of users funding institutional exits. A Token Model Rooted in Purpose This overhaul is more than just a distribution change - it's a philosophical realignment. By releasing its new tokenomics ahead of Earth Day (April 22, 2025), CCarbon is reaffirming its founding vision:Make the world greener. Make the future better. But ambition alone isn't enough. Real-world impact requires an economic model that aligns incentives with environmental action. Through this reallocation of token weight and release rhythm, CCarbon is sending a message to the industry: l Tokens should incentivize participation - not just fundraising. l Distribution should empower the many - not enrich the few. l Vesting schedules should be synchronized - not gamified. A Shift in Logic, Not Just in Numbers This isn't a superficial adjustment. It's a fundamental redesign of how value flows through the protocol. At a time when fairness and alignment are the make-or-break factors for long-term crypto ecosystems, CCarbon is choosing the harder path: discipline over greed, structure over speculation. With ESG, carbon markets, and green finance on the rise, CCarbon's "green + fair" token architecture may serve as a blueprint for what the next generation of Web3 economies can - and should - look like. Because the future doesn't belong to speculators. It belongs to the doers - those walking, building, and believing in a better world. Media Contact: SOURCE: CCarbon View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Associated Press
10-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
AQA to Launch IDO on Spores Network, Kommunitas, and Kingdomstarter, Starting April 11/12
Pioneering a Borderless Digital Economy Through Blockchain, DeFi, and Community-Driven Innovation New York, NY, United States, April 10, 2025 -- AQA, the forward-thinking blockchain project transforming decentralized finance (DeFi) and RWA (Real World Asset), is proud to announce the official launch of its IDO on April 11/12, 2025. The IDO will take place across three major launchpads - Spores Network, Kommunitas, and Kingdomstarter - marking a significant milestone in AQA's mission to build a vibrant and inclusive digital city ecosystem integrated with real world assets. AQA Digital City Residency Program: The Odyssey Comes to a Close The IDO comes on the heels of the successful conclusion of the AQA Digital City Residency Program, affectionately known as the 'Odyssey,' which ended on April 7. Over the past few weeks, the Odyssey served as a dynamic, interactive campaign designed to inspire, engage, and reward early community members. Participants completed tasks across social engagements, ecosystem exploration, NFT usage, and community building - all while interacting with the SocialFi features that form the backbone of the AQA Digital City. Tens of thousands of participants joined from around the world, showcasing not just enthusiasm but a shared vision for a decentralized urban digital future. The program also enabled early testing of the AQA Citizenship NFT ( a soul bound ID that grants holders access to various on-chain and off-chain benefits in the AQA ecosystem. As the Odyssey drew to a close, AQA captured a snapshot of eligible wallet addresses. This snapshot will be used to determine reward distribution for early supporters and participants who met key engagement criteria. Snapshot-based incentives include airdrops, priority whitelisting, exclusive access to partner events, and more. The IDO Launch: A Global Call to Action The upcoming IDO on April 11/12 signals the start of a new chapter for AQA. By launching across three well-respected IDO platforms - Spores Network, Kommunitas, and Kingdomstarter - AQA is opening the gates for decentralized participation from a global community of crypto users, builders, and investors. IDO Details: · IDO Platforms: Spores Network (April 11~) Kingdomstarter (April 11~) Kommunitas (April 12~) · Eligibility: Participants must meet each platform's specific KYC and staking requirements (where applicable). · Participation Guide: Visit each platform's announcement page for detailed timelines, allocation sizes, and purchase instructions. This multi-platform approach reflects AQA's commitment to inclusivity, interoperability, and decentralization. By tapping into distinct user bases and regional markets, the IDO will ensure broad accessibility and strong community onboarding. Introducing AQA Digital City: An Ecosystem Beyond Tokens At the core of AQA lies AQA Digital City - an on-chain, modular ecosystem that reimagines what a city can be in the Web3 era. This digital metropolis combines elements of entertainment, finance, commerce, art, and community - all powered by the AQA token. Inspired by real-world asset systems and informed by blockchain architecture, AQA Digital City offers a platform where users can engage with decentralized applications (dApps), participate in local DAO-style decisions, mint identity NFTs, and even earn rewards for contributing to digital public goods. AQA Token Utility: Powering the Digital City Far more than a tradable asset, the AQA token is the lifeblood of the AQA Digital City. It enables access, incentivizes participation, and aligns stakeholders across a wide range of applications. Its utility includes: 1. Payments & Microtransactions: AQA tokens can be used to pay for services within the digital city, including access to events, digital real estate, tools, and exclusive content. 2. DeFi Participation: Users can stake AQA tokens or provide liquidity in future pools to earn passive income and governance rights. The DeFi layer will also support yield strategies tied to real-world metrics and city-based KPIs. 3. NFT Ecosystem & Citizenship: AQA enables the minting and trading of Citizenship IDs, as well as collectibles tied to city engagement, culture, and public initiatives. These NFTs unlock utility and identity within the broader ecosystem. 4. Discounts and Perks in Real Life: In collaboration with real-world partners - cafés, co-working spaces, retailers - AQA token holders will enjoy access to discounts, loyalty rewards, and IRL benefits, especially in pilot cities in Japan and around Asia. 5. Creator Economy Support: Creators can earn AQA tokens through content contributions, event organization, and community leadership initiatives. A grant system is in development to support early builders. Roadmap & Future Vision: What Comes Next Following the IDO, AQA is committed to accelerating the development of its ecosystem through the following key initiatives: · Ecosystem Expansion: AQA plans to integrate with Layer 2 networks, cross-chain bridges, and DePIN projects to ensure scalability and lower costs for users globally. · Pilot Projects in Real Cities: The AQA team is working closely with several municipalities starting from Seto Inland Sea area of Japan to test digital currency adoption, smart infrastructure, and real world asset data solutions. · SocialFi Amplification: The launch of AQA Forum will serve as the coordination hub for the ecosystem. SocialFi tools will allow users to earn reputation and tokens based on contributions. · Educational Programs: AQA will continue to educate users through residencies, hackathons, and gamified learning modules - especially targeting students, SMEs, and entrepreneurs. A New Era of Digital Urban Innovation The AQA IDO is not just a token sale - it's the gateway into a new model of human coordination, digital identity, and economic participation. As the traditional structures of cities, finance, and lifestyle evolve, AQA offers a fresh blueprint: one where communities govern themselves, currencies are programmable, and innovation knows no borders. As AQA steps confidently into this next phase, the team remains committed to transparency, long-term sustainability, and inclusive growth. Backed by a diverse community of developers, designers, and urban changemakers, AQA is more than just a token project - it's a cultural and technological movement redefining the future of lifestyles. Whether you're a DeFi enthusiast, DAO member, civic hacker, or digital nomad, AQA welcomes you to co-create the next great city on-chain. Social Links Telegram: Contact Info: Name: Media Relations Email: Send Email Organization: AQA Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only. Information verification has been done to the best of our ability. Still, due to the speculative nature of the blockchain (cryptocurrency, NFT, mining, etc.) sector as a whole, complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. You are advised to conduct your own research and exercise caution. Investments in these fields are inherently risky and should be approached with due diligence. Release ID: 89157256 In case of identifying any problems, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content shared in this press release, or if a press release needs to be taken down, we urge you to notify us immediately by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your concerns and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any issues identified or assist with the removal process. We are committed to delivering high-quality content and ensuring accuracy for our valued readers.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Neighbors push to stop Mesa Film Studios from being built on the west side
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Community groups and neighbors are once again pleading with Albuquerque City Councilors to put a stop to the development of a film studio near the Petroglyphs in west side Albuquerque. Story continues below Crime: APD arrests mother for shooting death of 2-year-old son Community: Westside Albuquerque rallies around Cup of Cozy after robbery National: Trump threatens additional 50 percent tariff on China The groups argue the plans are being rushed without enough input from the community. 'How are you adversely affected?' said Councilor Dan Lewis, City of Albuquerque. Albuquerque city councilors questioned the designated representative who was urging the development of Mesa Film Studios, set to be built at Double Eagle II Airport, to be put to a stop. 'The issue here is upholding the provisions of the IDO,' said Jane Baechle, Designated Representative for appellants. The IDO, or the Integrated Development Ordinance, is what governs the land use and development within the city of Albuquerque. The appellants are made up of the West Side Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, Santa Fe Village Neighborhood Association, and the Native American Voters Alliance. 'Our concerns include the financial sustainability of the project, airport safety, design standards, and open space protections,' said Baechle. A Land Use Hearing Officer or the 'LUHO' provided a report outlining the problems the project presents, of which the studio representatives oppose. 'We disagree with his conclusion that the uses approved by the EPC as a part of the film studio facility cannot be allowed as accessory uses,' said a representative of Mesa Films Studio. Accessory uses would be a way in which the property is used beyond its primary purpose. They said it obstructs the view for residents and those enjoying the Petroglyph National Monument. They argued the new building would not compare to the current structures in place. One councilor questioned if the appellants had any basis to make the complaints.'They are both lower in height and much more distant than the immediate area of the Petroglyph monument. They're absolutely visible, but the effect would not be comparable,' said Baechle. The $80 million project would create 30 internal job positions, and through productions, studio representatives estimate it would bring in 1,200 jobs a year on the 60-acre plot of land. 'This in addition to the movie studio, this is just going to be an important part of creating and helping with that jobs to housing imbalance on the westside,' said Councilor Klarissa Peña. The vote on the appeal was deferred to further analyze the complaints and will be considered during the next city council meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
