Blackstone Resources was established in 1995 with the aim of developing its own holdings and assets. Continued success in that area led the company to expand its horizons, and focus on natural resources and commodities assets. Blackstone Resources is a specialist in the exploration of metals for use in batteries, as well as gold and silver, and the company is well positioned to take advantage of the anticipated increase in consumption thanks to the electric vehicle revolution. Blackstone’s long-term strategy is to invest in the companies that seek, develop and extract these metals – ethically, and from politically secure countries. Blackstone has a diversified global portfolio and invests in the gold, silver and cobalt refineries that transform the metals into marketable products. The company supports indigenous communities through social projects, and is committed to using wind turbines and photovoltaic panels where possible to dovetail its production efforts with the global bid for sustainability. Blackstone’s dedication will open new markets: the company intends to develop a range of batteries for mobile phones and laptops. Emerging technology from the Blackstone’s testing programmes will be adapted to supply the wider battery market. A comprehensive research and development programme, exploring new battery technology and automated production processes, could reduce the production costs by up to 70%. The CFI.co judging panel feels that Blackstone Resources deserves recognition for its innovation and vision, and presents the company with the 2018 award for Most Promising Long-Term Value Creation IPO (Switzerland).