VenHub and Follett Higher Education Form Strategic Partnership to Expand 24/7 Autonomous Retail Across College and University Campuses

Partnership Establishes a Scalable Model to Deploy VenHub Smart Stores to a Broad Network of Higher Education Campuses

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VenHub Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: VHUB) (“VenHub” or the “Company”), a leader in fully autonomous Smart Store technology, and Follett Higher Education, a leading educational service provider and the largest campus retailer in North America, today announced a strategic partnership aimed at creating a new 24/7 campus retail channel through the deployment of VenHub Smart Stores across Follett-served college and university campuses in the United States. By combining VenHub’s autonomous retail technology with Follett’s established campus retail ecosystem, the companies aim to create an expanded channel for delivering campus merchandise and convenience products where and when customers want them.

Rather than a single-location initiative, the partnership establishes a framework for deploying VenHub’s automated retail format across a broad network of higher-education environments. The model can support locations at residence halls, student centers, athletic facilities, arenas, transit areas, satellite campuses, and other high-traffic campus settings. Every deployment will be planned together with Follett’s campus partners and shaped by the needs of each campus. Each college or university Smart Store can be customized with the institution’s colors, logos, and branding, positioning the store as a natural extension of the campus rather than a generic merchandise kiosk.

“Follett has built an exceptional campus retail presence and a deep understanding of the products, services, and experiences that campus communities value,” said Shahan Ohanessian, Founder and CEO of VenHub. “Together, we are creating a scalable autonomous retail channel that can expand the deployment of our Smart Stores across college and university campuses and help bring Follett’s trusted merchandise and campus essentials into more locations. Our Smart Stores already serve customers beyond conventional store hours at high-traffic locations such as LAX and Union Station, and with this new partnership, we are looking forward to meeting students and visitors where they already live, learn, and gather.”

Extending Follett’s Campus Reach

Through the partnership, Follett will have the ability to expand its existing physical and digital retail ecosystem with an additional on-campus format: autonomous retail locations capable of operating around the clock.

VenHub Smart Stores are expected to offer many of the same product categories customers already associate with Follett’s campus stores, including:

• Convenience products and everyday essentials
• Officially licensed apparel, accessories, and gifts
• Seasonal, event, and game-day merchandise
  
  

With the VenHub Smart Store deployments, campus communities will have greater access to Follett merchandise during evenings, weekends, game days, special events, and other periods when traditional campus stores may be closed or less convenient to reach.

 “Campus communities expect convenient, flexible access to everyday essentials and campus-branded merchandise,” said Emmanuel Kolady, CEO of Follett Higher Education. “Our partnership with VenHub provides an opportunity to extend the campus retail experience beyond the campus store, working hand in hand with each institution to serve more students, faculty, fans, alumni, and visitors across campus.”

Building a New 24/7 Campus Retail Channel

The strategic partnership reflects a shared vision to develop a replicable autonomous retail model, beginning with Follett-served campuses in the United States, with the potential to expand to campuses outside the United States over time.

“Autonomous retail is particularly well suited for environments that need convenient access, flexible footprints, and the ability to serve customers beyond standard operating hours,” said Ohanessian. “Follett’s campus network and retail expertise, combined with VenHub’s autonomous Smart Store platform, create a meaningful opportunity to bring a new level of availability and convenience to college and university communities.”

About VenHub Global, Inc.

VenHub Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: VHUB) is focused on fully autonomous Smart Store technology. The Company develops automated retail solutions intended to enable convenient, unattended retail experiences across a range of locations and customer environments. VenHub’s Smart Store platform is designed to support scalable deployment, 24/7 product availability, and retail access in locations where a traditional staffed store may not be feasible. For more information, visit www.venhub.com.

About Follett Higher Education

Follett Higher Education is a leading educational service provider and omnichannel retailer serving more than 1,000 colleges and universities across North America. Follett partners with institutions to deliver course materials, learning tools, and retail experiences that support student success and celebrate the communities it serves. For more information, visit Follett.com.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated scope, timing, deployment, expansion, benefits, geographic reach, operational capabilities, and future opportunities associated with the strategic partnership between VenHub and Follett Higher Education.

Words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “designed,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “opportunity,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, assumptions, and information available as of the date of this release and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.

Such factors may include the ability of the parties to finalize and execute deployment plans; campus, customer, and partner demand; site availability; institutional and campus approvals; trademark licensing; product assortment and supply-chain requirements; technology performance; regulatory and contractual considerations; operational costs; staffing and logistics; financing; competitive conditions; and other risks described in VenHub’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. VenHub undertakes any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

Media and investor contacts

VenHub Global, Inc.
Alyssa Barry
Director of Investor Relations and Public Relations
Alyssa@VenHub.com

Richard Land
Alliance Advisors
vhub@allianceadvisors.com

Follett Higher Education
media@follett.com