If you scroll even a little bit of entrepreneurial social media, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the idea of a “Moonshot”.
This Silicon Valley “tech bro” slang basically boils down to a big, bold, almost impossible-sounding project.
Down on London’s AIM market, one small-cap evidently has its own almost literal Moonshot.
Pulsar Helium Inc (AIM:PLSR, TSX-V:PLSR, OTCQB:PSRHF), a company valued at around £54 million, on Wednesday announced what were described as extraordinary results from lab analysis.
It suggested that a project in Minnesota has among the highest naturally occurring levels of helium-3 – a rarer, more valuable version of the gas – ever recorded in terrestrial gas reservoirs.
Lunar landing?
Attempting to give context, chief executive Thomas Abraham-James made an out-of-this-world comparison.
“The next-richest naturally occurring source of helium-3 is arguably the surface of the Moon,” he said in the stock market statement.
He added: “We believe that Minnesota will be a more reliable and economically viable option.”
This last comment, which was surely intended as analysis rather than a punchline, will now be the focus for Pulsar as it works up a commercial narrative to match the extraordinary geological story.
A glance at the London share price, meanwhile, indicated that small-cap investors are on board, with Pulsar rocketing to as high as 36p at one point on Wednesday.
Pulsar ended the week 47% higher than it started.
Strong week
Sticking with the tortured interstellar puns, the AIM All-Share had one of its strongest weeks this year as it defied gravity with a 1.7% gain to 792. Still, it underperformed a rocket-propelled FTSE 100, which rose 2% into record territory.
Among the small-cap winners, Sabien Technology Group PLC (AIM:SNT) surged 105% this week after its Korean partner City Oil Field secured EU export certification for its circular plastic oil and fresh backing from Saudi and UAE investors.
Sabien, via affiliate b.grn, holds rights to roll out COF’s Regenerated Green Oil plants in the UK and US, worth $1.2 million per module.
Bezant Resources PLC (AIM:BZT) jumped onto the market radar after UK investor Jonathan Mark Swann lifted his stake to 6.6%. The Namibia-focused explorer also received a welcome £1.8 million boost after offloading its stake in Blackstone Minerals. The stock rose 47%.
Golden progress
It was also a stellar week for KEFI Gold and Copper PLC (AIM:KEFI, OTC:KFFLF), which reminded the market of the progress it has made so far in 2025 with its flagship gold mine in Ethiopia.
Crucially, it confirmed that full development of Tulu Kapi remains on schedule to begin in October 2025. The market liked this, with the shares jumping 38%.
It was another brutal week for backers and management of Litigation Capital Management Ltd (AIM:LIT), which crashed almost 60%.
This came after the group, which funds expensive commercial court cases, confirmed it had suffered a High Court setback. And, as readers of this column will know, this is not a one-off. Year to date, the shares are down 88%.
And finally, sometimes the best news for a share price is simply clearing the air.
An example? Ceres Power Holdings PLC (LSE:CWR, OTC:CPWHF), which jumped 29% after revealing that Bosch has sold the remainder of its 14% stake.
Clearing the air
The German group had already said in February that it was pulling out of decentralised power projects using Ceres’ solid oxide fuel cell technology. Its overhang had been a drag on the stock, with investors wary of more shares dribbling onto the market.
That risk is now gone, and the shares responded accordingly.
Panmure Liberum called it a line in the sand and kept its buy rating with a 150p price target.
Bosch’s departure does not change the fundamentals. Other partners remain committed.