On The Horizon

ExoZymes (NASDAQ: EXOZ) CEO Michael Heltzen joins Tim Gerdeman and Robert Sassoon in this episode of the On The Horizon podcast to discuss the company’s AI-driven, cell-free biomanufacturing platform and how it aims to overcome longstanding scalability challenges in synthetic biology. The conversation covers the scientific differentiation of its “exozyme” enzyme engineering approach, the commercial strategy behind its lead programs in metabolic health (NCT) and non-intoxicating cannabinoids, and the broader opportunity to produce high-value molecules that have historically been inaccessible at scale. The podcast also explores regulatory dynamics, near-term commercialization milestones, and ExoZymes’ dual strategy of advancing internal assets while positioning the platform for future licensing, alongside considerations around capital efficiency and funding.

In this episode of the WTR Healthcare Happenings podcast, Rick Pierce, CEO of Decoy Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DCOY), joins Tim Gerdeman, Vice Chair, Co‑Founder, and CMO of Water Tower Research, and Robert Sassoon, WTR’s Healthcare Research Analyst. The conversation explores Decoy’s innovative business model for developing peptide‑conjugate antivirals designed to target multiple respiratory viruses. Pierce discusses how Decoy is navigating the modern era of drug development with a cost‑effective, highly efficient strategy that positions the company as a disruptive force in biotech. Central to this approach is Decoy’s proprietary peptide‑synthesis technology and rapid design‑build‑test cycle, powered by machine learning. He also highlights the importance of Decoy’s strategic partnerships with the Gates Foundation, Google, and NVIDIA in advancing its platform and accelerating development.

On this week’s episode of the WTR Small-Cap Spotlight, Peter Flippo, Director, Business Development, at Avantium R&D Solutions (Euronext Amsterdam: AVTX-NL) (US OTC: AVTXF), joined Tim Gerdeman, Vice Chair & Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Water Tower Research, and Peter Gastreich, Energy and Sustainable Investing Analyst at Water Tower Research.  Avantium is a technology company founded in 2000 as a Shell spin-out, specializing in innovative chemical solutions. It operates two main segments: Renewable Polymers, which develops sustainable plastics, and R&D Solutions (RDS), which provides high-throughput catalyst testing systems and services for clients worldwide—including oil & gas firms, refineries, and research institutions. Flippo discusses how Avantium’s Flowrence technology significantly accelerates R&D timelines from years to months, offering reliable, scalable, and cost-effective testing. He shared how the company is positioned as a valuable partner in the high-growth sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry by optimizing catalytic processes and enabling the use of multiple SAF production pathways.

Our guest for this episode is Rick Rosenthal, Director of Business Development at Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), where he focuses on helping advisors and wealth managers utilize options-based strategies. He joins Tim Gerdeman, Vice Chair, Co-Founder, and Chief Marketing Officer of Water Tower Research, for a timely discussion on derivatives positioning in the U.S. small-cap market.

Rick explains why Russell 2000 (RUT) options have become a go-to vehicle for gaining or hedging small-cap exposure, highlighting structural advantages versus IWM, rising zero-DTE retail activity, and how investors are using protective puts, spreads, and volatility-harvesting strategies. The conversation also explores macro drivers behind the rotation into small caps, volatility signals from the RVX index, and Cboe’s plan to expand RUT trading to Global Trading Hours in 2026, introducing new access points for both institutional and retail participants.

In this episode of the WTR Small‑Cap Spotlight, Harrison Gross, CEO of Innovative Eyewear (NASDAQ: LUCY), joins host Tim Gerdeman and technology analyst James Kisner for a deep dive into the future of smart eyewear. Innovative Eyewear develops prescription, safety, and sport smart glasses—and introduced the world’s first smart glasses powered by ChatGPT. Gross explains how voice‑based AI has transformed smart glasses from simple Bluetooth audio devices into always‑on AI interfaces, creating a natural upgrade path for the billion people who already wear glasses. The discussion explores the company’s 65% year‑over‑year revenue growth in 2025, driven by the breakout success of the ANSI‑certified Lucid Armour smart safety glasses; its competitive moat built on roughly 110 patents and a cross‑disciplinary team with experience from Bose and Luxottica; and how its focus on wearability and prescription readiness differentiates it from Meta’s camera‑centric approach. Looking ahead, Gross highlights retail distribution as the primary growth lever for 2026, with big‑box retailer discussions underway and a new white‑label business unit in development.

In this episode of On The Horizon  Patrick Horsman Chief Investment Officer and Josh Kruger Founder of BNB Plus (Nasdaq ticker symbol BNBX), joins host Tim Gerdeman, Vice Chair, Co-Founder, and CMO of Water Tower Research, along with Dr. John Roy, WTR’s Technology Research Analyst. The conversation explores the digital asset treasury company and its focuse on the Binance ecosystem and its native BNB token. The team explains that they chose BNB for its unique status as a deflationary asset tied to the world's largest crypto exchange, offering investors indirect exposure to Binance’s earnings through token burns and "launch pool" air drops. Utilizing their hedge fund backgrounds, the leadership employs four non-directional yield strategies—including staking and automated market making—to target a 9% to 12% annual return for shareholders while mitigating downside risk.

On this week's episode of On The Horizon, Benjamin Slager, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Blue Biofuels (US OTC: BIOF), joined Tim Gerdeman, Vice Chair & Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Water Tower Research, and Peter Gastreich, Energy and Sustainable Investing Analyst at Water Tower Research. Slager details the company’s innovative CTS technology, which transforms non-food plant material into cellulosic ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Slager highlights the process’s efficiency, low costs, and major carbon reductions compared to corn ethanol. Blue Biofuels is launching its first commercial plant in Florida and partnering with Vertimass LLC for SAF production. With strong market demand, abundant feedstock and cost leadership, Blue Biofuels is positioned for profitability and long-term growth.

On this week's episode of the WTR Small-Cap Spotlight, Arthur Sams, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Polar Power (NASDAQ ticker POLA), joined Tim Gerdeman, Vice Chair & Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Water Tower Research, and Peter Gastreich, Energy and Sustainable Investing Analyst at Water Tower Research. Sams highlights the company's innovative DC power and cooling solutions, which offer substantial fuel savings and reliability for telecom, EV charging, and microgrid applications. POLA is actively diversifying its revenue sources beyond telecom into residential, industrial, and military markets, leveraging its engineering expertise and production capacity. The company is tackling supply chain and tariff challenges by manufacturing most components in-house and adapting quickly to market changes. Sams points to a growing backlog, new product launches, and strategic partnerships as key drivers for future growth and mainstream adoption over the next 12 to 18 months.

In this WTR On the Horizon, host Tim Gerdeman and WTR’s James Kisner sit down with Sparta Commercial Services (OTCQB: SRCO) CEO Tony Havens and WeDev Group CEO Eduardo Filho to unpack Sparta’s pivot from powersports/municipal leasing into fintech and private credit. The conversation centers on Agoge, a trade-finance platform that automates onboarding, compliance, and dollar-settled payments for Brazilian importers—covering early traction, risk management, and targeted milestones such as scaling the loan book, launching a virtual card, and entering new international markets.

In this episode of the WTR On the Horizon podcast, Bill Alessi, Founder & CEO and Chris Chumas, Chief Strategy Officer, of Alpha Modus Corp (NASDAQ: AMOD), discusses how the company is transforming in-store retail through its patented AI-driven technology ecosystem designed to enhance real-time shopper engagement and monetization.

The conversation covers Alpha Modus’ “super-aggregator” model for scaling smart retail networks, its expanding patent portfolio supporting long-term licensing revenue, and the upcoming 2026 rollout of financial-service kiosks for underbanked consumers. Alessi also highlights key partnerships with VSBLTY Groupe Technologies, Genmega, and Shelf Nine, advancing Alpha Modus’ vision to be the backbone of AI-powered retail intelligence across computer vision, behavioral analytics, and retail media.