SEATTLE, May 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Banzai International, Inc. (NASDAQ:BNZI) ("Banzai" or the "Company"), a leading marketing technology company that provides essential marketing and sales solutions, today highlighted a substantial milestone on its internal balance sheet initiative called Project Fortress, including debt elimination of approximately $7.8 million year to date, reflecting the Company's commitment to building a stronger, more agile organization positioned for strategic growth. This elimination includes nearly all of the Company's short term and convertible debt obligations as of March 31, 2026. The Company's debt balance is now at an all-time low since going public in December 2023.

"The Project Fortress balance sheet initiative reflects our commitment to maximizing long-term value for our shareholders," said Joe Davy, Founder and CEO of Banzai. "By systematically reducing our debt obligations and strengthening our equity base, we are creating a stronger, more agile organization that is better positioned to advance our mission of building and consolidating AI-powered businesses and capitalize on the significant market opportunity ahead of us."

The Company expects to continue strengthening its balance sheet throughout 2026 and anticipates that these improvements will meaningfully enhance Banzai's ability to execute on its strategic priorities — including investing in core businesses and potential acquisitions.

About Banzai

Banzai is a marketing technology company that provides AI-enabled marketing and sales solutions for businesses of all sizes. On a mission to help their customers grow, Banzai enables companies of all sizes to target, engage, and measure both new and existing customers more effectively. Banzai has over 150,000 customers including Amazon, Dell, Salesforce, Aflac, Thermo Fisher Scientific, RBC Wealth Management, and Fitch Group. Learn more at www.banzai.io. For investors, please visit ir.banzai.io.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "target," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "propose," "plan," "project," "forecast," "predict," "potential," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar variations and expressions. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Examples of forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements regarding Banzai International, Inc.'s (the "Company's"): future financial, business and operating performance and goals; annualized recurring revenue and customer retention; ongoing, future or ability to maintain or improve its financial position, cash flows, and liquidity and its expected financial needs; potential financing and ability to obtain financing; acquisition strategy and proposed acquisitions and, if completed, their potential success and financial contributions; strategy and strategic goals, including being able to capitalize on opportunities; expectations relating to the Company's industry, outlook and market trends; total addressable market and serviceable addressable market and related projections; plans, strategies and expectations for retaining existing or acquiring new customers, increasing revenue and executing growth initiatives; and product areas of focus and additional products that may be sold in the future. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and development of the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, investors should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include changes in the markets in which the Company operates, customer demand, the financial markets, economic, business and regulatory and other factors, such as the Company's ability to execute on its strategy. More detailed information about risk factors can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading "Risk Factors," and in other reports filed by the Company, including reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

Investor Relations

Dean Ditto

Chief Financial Officer, Banzai

206 414-1777

ir.banzai.io

Media

Nancy Norton

Chief Legal Officer, Banzai

media@banzai.io

Banzai International, Inc. Announces $7.8 Million Debt Elimination