Everyone is clamouring to integrate AI into their businesses and personal lives, but our guest today is concerned that some AI companies aren't taking the necessary steps to protect personal data. Thankfully a privacy-centric option does exist, through Telegram, and today's company is helping to build it.

Brittany Kaiser is the CEO of AlphaTON Capital (ATON), the world's leading technology public company scaling the Telegram super-app, with an addressable market of a billion plus monthly active users.

Brittany is a globally recognized expert at the intersection of digital assets, public policy, and the capital markets. She's spent her career guiding companies and governments through technological and legislative changes.

Brittany joins us today to walk us through her incredible career, demystify the Telegram ecosystem, and explain AlphaTON’s myriad strategies for value creation.

Highlights:

• Brittany's career (2:26)
• The Telegram Ecosystem (4:23)
• What is TON? (9:21)
• AlphaTON's Growth Strategy (13:44)
• A Treasury and More (19:38)
• Brittany's Approach to Risk Management (20:38)
• Evolution of Privacy Centric AI (23:40)
• The AlphaTON Management Team (27:56)

Links:

Brittany's LinkedIn

AlphaTON LinkedIn

AlphaTON Website

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Twitter

ICR Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, joe@lowerstreet.co.

Anyone working in the food service industry knows the importance of operating efficiently, providing a quality product, and always prioritizing customer experience. Today's company, with its impressive roster of brands, has solutions to help with all of that.

Tim Fitzgerald is the CEO of the Middleby Corporation, which trades on NASDAQ under the symbol MIDD. Middleby is a worldwide manufacturer of solutions for the commercial kitchen, as well as residential, indoor, and outdoor appliances, and systems for industrial processing, packaging, and baking.

Tim was named CEO in 2019. Before that, he served as Chief financial Officer, a position he held since 2003. Since joining Middleby over 25 years ago, Tim has been heavily involved in company-wide strategic decisions and has led acquisition and business development activities, which has led to their portfolio of roughly 120 brands.

Today, Tim walks us through the impressive breadth of Middleby's offerings, their strategy for long-term value creation, and their ongoing commitment to innovation.

Highlights:

• Middleby's Evolution (2:15)
• Spinning off Food processing (6:02)
• Share Buybacks (10:09)
• The Middleby Advantage (12:12)
• Commitment to Innovation (14:01)
• Sustainability in Kitchens (16:52)
• Middleby's go-to-market strategy (19:04)
• Food Service Trends (21:29)
• Opportunities on the Horizon (23:39)

Links:

Tim FitzGerald LinkedIn

Middleby LinkedIn

Middleby Website

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Twitter

ICR Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, joe@lowerstreet.co.

As 2025 comes to a close, Tom provides a recap of the biggest stories in business from the past year, talks about the value ICR continues to provide for clients, and looks ahead to what 2026 may have in store.

Happy new year!