Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 18, 2026) - Victory Square Technologies Inc. (CSE: VST) (FSE: 6F6) (OTC Pink: VSQTF) ("Victory Square" or the "Company") provides a corporate update as it enters 2026 across its digital health, biotech, pet health, diagnostics, and immersive technology platforms.

"Our portfolio companies continue to advance their respective operating and regulatory initiatives," said Shafin Diamond Tejani, Chairman & CEO of Victory Square. "We are concentrating in healthcare - one of the largest and most fragmented industries in North America - where compliance and execution create structural barriers to entry."

2026 Strategic Focus: Scaling Healthcare Infrastructure

Victory Square's 2026 focus centers on healthcare infrastructure - the regulated rails enabling compliant care at national scale.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. healthcare spending is projected to exceed $7.2 trillion by 2031. U.S. healthcare remains structurally fragmented, with state-specific physician licensing requirements, CPOM restrictions, multi-state telehealth regulation, complex pharmacy oversight, and elevated administrative costs.

Industry research, including Deloitte's 2023 U.S. Healthcare Outlook and the Kaiser Family Foundation's (KFF) 2022 Health Care Debt Survey, indicates that structural inefficiencies and cost-related access barriers remain present within parts of the system.

Management believes that regulatory complexity, while challenging, creates structural barriers to entry that favor operators capable of building compliant, multi-state infrastructure. Building and coordinating these frameworks requires sustained regulatory navigation, operational oversight, and integrated systems.

Within the Victory Square ecosystem, this infrastructure includes coordinated physician and medical director networks, pharmacy relationships, nurse and clinic partnerships, telehealth and software platforms, laboratory integration, and legal and compliance frameworks structured for multi-state operation. Management views this integrated approach as foundational to supporting scalable healthcare programs across multiple therapeutic categories.

The $10M Digital Health Accelerator

In January 2025, Hydreight and Victory Square launched a $10 million Digital Health Accelerator to scale emerging healthcare brands onto the VSDHOne platform.

The program targets U.S.-based operators generating at least $750,000 in annual revenue seeking national scale without rebuilding compliance infrastructure.

Participants receive:

• 50-state telehealth rails
• Physician network integration
• Pharmacy enablement
• Workflow automation
• Marketing and regulatory support

Since launch, the accelerator has increased engagement with healthcare operators across multiple verticals, including metabolic health, peptides, sexual health, skincare, genetics, longevity, and preventative care. The program has also contributed to the identification of prospective licensees and healthcare brands that may integrate into the broader VSDHOne ecosystem.

The objective is to align qualified operators with existing regulated infrastructure and support scalable healthcare delivery models.

Hydreight Technologies (TSXV: NURS)

Hydreight is Victory Square's largest operating subsidiary, and its financial results are consolidated within Victory Square's financial statements. Victory Square holds a majority ownership position in Hydreight and participates in an additional 10% profit share associated with the VSDHOne platform.

Hydreight operates a vertically integrated healthcare infrastructure platform supporting compliant multi-state care delivery.

Hydreight has publicly issued fiscal 2026 revenue guidance of approximately $150 million, with Q1 2026 revenue expected between $25-$28 million.¹

The guidance assumes no material increase in fixed operating costs relative to late-2025 levels. Based on current planning assumptions, Hydreight has indicated an expected Adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 15-17%, reflecting anticipated operating leverage as transaction volumes scale. Actual results may vary depending on transaction volumes, partner mix, audit outcomes, and revenue recognition treatment.

Readers are referred to Hydreight's public filings for complete financial disclosure, including gross margin, expenses, and net income information.

Healthcare Infrastructure Thesis: Hydreight + Insu

Hydreight and Insu operate at complementary layers of the same ecosystem.

Hydreight provides the national compliance and distribution layer - regulated patient access, medical oversight, and pharmacy fulfillment.

Insu Therapeutics advances its novel oral peptide delivery platform, addressing one of the most significant bottlenecks in peptide therapy administration; enabling effective non-injectable administration.

Insu completed a milestone pre-clinical evaluation of its buccal Semaglutide program, utilizing Semaglutide manufactured by Novo Nordisk, innovator behind Ozempic®. The Company has received Research Ethics Board approval from the University of British Columbia to initiate Phase a more advanced animal study program which will be essential to prepare for human studies.

Semaglutide represents one of the most commercially and clinically significant GLP-1 receptor agonists globally. Demonstrating Insu's buccal delivery feasibility with Semaglutide provides important translational validation of Insu's peptide delivery platform.

The proprietary formulation is engineered to:

• Facilitate transmucosal absorption of peptide therapeutics across the buccal epithelium (Transmucosal is administration of medication directly through the mucous membranes such as in the mouth)
• Circumvent gastrointestinal enzymatic degradation of peptide medicines like Insulin
• Avoid hepatic first-pass metabolism associated with enteral delivery, ensuring a fast onset of action
• Stable formulation that doesn't require refrigeration like most peptides

The IP strategy positions Insu as a potential delivery enabler across multiple injectable peptide therapies beyond insulin and semaglutide.

For VST shareholders, this provides exposure across both the regulated distribution layer and the therapeutic innovation layer of expanding peptide markets.

"Our strategy extends beyond any one product," said Tejani. "We are building the operational and regulatory infrastructure required to operate effectively in a complex healthcare landscape. With the right compliance, clinical oversight, and commercialization channels in place, this platform can enable the expansion of multiple therapies in the future"

Pawsible Ventures - Pet Health Infrastructure Platform

Pawsible Ventures continues executing on its strategy to build infrastructure for emerging pet health companies.

Backed by Victory Square, Pawsible has launched:

• A $10 million venture fund
• A venture studio model
• An inaugural incubator program supporting early-stage founders in pet diagnostics, veterinary software, AI-enabled tools, and personalized wellness

The incubator will support a focused cohort of companies beginning in March 2026, with structured programming across validation, regulatory navigation, commercialization, and investor readiness.

Victory Square will be hosting an investor webinar featuring Alex Chieng, Founder & CEO of Pawsible.VC, providing deeper visibility into the platform strategy and roadmap. The webinar will take place on February 19, 2026 at 1:15 PM.

Registration link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_z8Zdcg_jRzWtO3A5DHelAg

SafeTest Diagnósticos - Expanding Access to Priority Diagnostics

SafeTest Comércio de Diagnósticos is a Brazil-based diagnostics company focused on expanding access to high-impact point-of-care testing solutions.

SafeTest has advanced development of a point-of-care cervical cancer test utilizing lateral flow technology designed to deliver rapid, same-visit results and expand screening access in both urban and rural settings. Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality among women globally, and accessible diagnostic tools may improve early detection pathways in emerging markets.

In addition, SafeTest is advancing development of a diagnostic test for HTLV (Human T-lymphotropic virus) - a priority disease identified by Brazil's Ministry of Health. The Company is also developing diagnostic solutions in other strategic areas, including animal health and agricultural testing.

SafeTest contributes to Victory Square's broader healthcare strategy in Brazil and the Latin American region, where regulatory alignment and localized healthcare infrastructure are important factors in expanding access to diagnostic services.

SafeTest reflects Victory Square's focus on scalable healthcare infrastructure in regulated markets.

XR Immersive Tech - Advancing Toward Trading Resumption

XR Immersive Technologies is working to resume trading as soon as practicable.

The Company filed its previously required financial statements in December 2025. The Company is progressing through the BCSC Continuous Disclosure Review process and intends to proceed promptly through remaining steps required to lift the Cease Trade Order.

In parallel, XR is advancing debt restructuring initiatives to strengthen the balance sheet and improve financial flexibility.

2026 Priorities

Victory Square's 2026 priorities include:

• Supporting continued execution across Hydreight and VSDHOne
•  Advancing Insu's clinical development program
•  Supporting Pawsible's fund and studio initiatives
• Assisting XR Immersive Technologies through regulatory review and trading resumption
• Continuing development across healthcare and immersive technology platforms

Hydreight Share Option Exercise

The Company also announces that certain third parties exercised their rights to acquire an aggregate of 1,472,222 common shares of Hydreight Technologies Inc. from the Company pursuant to pre-existing contractual agreements entered into during the Hydreight acquisition and listing process.

This exercise was administrative in nature and was not the result of discretionary market sales or a change in the Company's portfolio strategy.

Victory Square continues to view Hydreight as a foundational healthcare infrastructure asset within its portfolio and remains focused on disciplined execution across its healthcare and technology platforms, providing updates as material developments occur.

ABOUT VICTORY SQUARE TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Victory Square Technologies Inc. is a publicly traded venture builder focused on scaling companies operating in large, structurally growing markets - with a primary emphasis on healthcare infrastructure, applied AI, immersive technologies, and next-generation digital platforms.

Unlike traditional venture capital funds, Victory Square provides public market investors with liquid access to early-stage innovation without requiring accredited investor status or long-term capital lock-ups.

The Company maintains a diversified portfolio of 20+ operating and development-stage companies across sectors including:

• Digital Health & Healthcare Infrastructure
•  Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning
•  Blockchain / Web3 Infrastructure
• Virtual & Augmented Reality (VR/AR)
• Gaming & Immersive Technologies
• Climate Technology
• Pet Health & Wellness

Victory Square operates as an active venture builder - not a passive investor. Management works directly with portfolio companies from incubation through scale, providing capital, strategic oversight, regulatory guidance, operational support, and structured pathways to monetization, including spin-outs and public listings where appropriate.

The Company's model is centered on:

•  Building defensible infrastructure in fragmented markets
• Supporting founders through multi-year scale cycles
• Recycling capital into new high-growth opportunities
• Aligning management ownership with shareholders (approximately 15% insider ownership)

Victory Square is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, and is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (VST), the Frankfurt Exchange (6F6), and the OTC Pink Market (VSQTF).

For more information, please visit www.victorysquare.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "will," "may," "anticipates," "could," "estimates," "projects," "targets," "continues," and similar expressions, including the negative thereof.

Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements relating to: portfolio company revenue guidance and outlook (including Hydreight Technologies Inc.'s fiscal 2026 baseline guidance), anticipated platform expansion and license onboarding, expected utilization of the VSDHOne infrastructure, clinical development timelines and regulatory pathways for Insu Therapeutics Inc., potential spin-out transactions and share dividend initiatives, XR Immersive Technologies' regulatory review process and potential trading resumption, debt restructuring initiatives, estimated Net Asset Value (NAV), and the anticipated benefits of the Company's healthcare infrastructure strategy and other strategic initiatives of the Company and its portfolio companies.

Forward-looking information is based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions as of the date of this news release, including assumptions regarding: market conditions; regulatory review processes and approvals; revenue recognition treatment and audit outcomes; partner onboarding timelines; transaction volumes; clinical development progress; capital availability; portfolio company execution; and general economic and healthcare regulatory conditions.

In particular, references to portfolio company revenue guidance are based on information publicly disclosed by such portfolio companies and reflect management expectations regarding partner activity, service mix, and operational capacity. Actual reported results may be impacted by audit review and the application of applicable accounting standards, including determinations regarding revenue recognition treatment (including "gross" versus "net" presentation) and the timing of revenue recognition for platform-based arrangements.

The Company's estimated NAV is based on management's internal assessments of portfolio holdings (including public market prices where applicable), cash and other assets, less liabilities. NAV calculations are unaudited and inherently subject to valuation assumptions, market volatility, liquidity considerations, and other factors that may cause actual realizable values to differ materially.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or its portfolio companies to differ materially from those expressed or implied herein. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: regulatory approvals and review timelines; the ability to lift cease trade orders; changes in healthcare laws and compliance requirements; execution risk at the portfolio company level; market acceptance of products and services; clinical development risks; delays in spin-out or listing initiatives; capital markets volatility; fluctuations in public market valuations; reliance on third-party partners; and general economic and political conditions.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release references certain non-GAAP financial measures used by portfolio companies, including Adjusted EBITDA and related margin metrics. These measures do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS or GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers.

Non-GAAP financial measures referenced herein are defined and reported by the applicable portfolio company and are provided for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to review the respective portfolio company's public filings for complete definitions, reconciliations, and related disclosures.

Revenue recognition for certain platform-based offerings, including those facilitated through the VSDHOne infrastructure, may involve management judgment and auditor review and can result in differences between reported GAAP revenue and gross processing volumes or cash receipts during a given period.

Non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for financial measures prepared in accordance with IFRS or GAAP.

Footnotes

¹ Internal planning assumptions include, among other things, management's current expectations regarding partner activity, transaction volumes, service mix, capacity utilization across pharmacy operations, and general market conditions, based on information available to the Company as of the date of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284387

Source: Victory Square Technologies Inc.