Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: GCAC)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: GCAC).

Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: GCAC) and its wholly owned subsidiary, GCAC Merger Sub Inc., previously entered into a business combination agreement with Cepton Technologies Inc., a Silicon Valley innovator and leader in high performance MMT(R) lidar solutions. Cepton today announced that its CEO Dr. Jun Pei and CFO Dr. Winston Fu will present virtually in the Baird 2022 Vehicle Technology and Mobility Conference at 1:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. According to the update, a link to the live webcast of management’s presentation along with additional investor materials and company information can be found on the investor relations section of Cepton’s website at www.Cepton.com/investors. In addition, Cepton management will host investor meetings during the conference. To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/nQNir. NetworkNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Buckle up because transportation is evolving double quick time. It wasn’t long ago that lane keep assist, approaching object alerts, automatic parallel parking and much more were, at best, concepts in an engineer’s head. Now the next generation of automotive evolution is made possible by the wonders of LiDAR technology. It won’t be long before autonomous driving will be a standard feature on cars. The next generation of automobiles will redefine the driving experience, and investors can participate in the transportation transformation in a variety  of ways, including the upcoming public listing of a leading LiDAR company, Cepton Technologies, which aims to go public early this year in a SPAC merger with Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: GCAC) (Profile). 

Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: GCAC), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company listed on February 2, 2021, with $172.5 million in Trust, and Cepton Technologies Inc., a Silicon Valley innovator and leader in high performance MMT® lidar solutions, on August 5, 2021, announced their entry into a definitive business combination agreement. Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will be renamed ‘Cepton Inc.’ and is expected to be listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under new ticker symbol ‘CPTN’.

The proposed business combination, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of Cepton and Growth Capital, is expected to be completed early in the first quarter of 2022, subject to, among other things, approval by Growth Capital’s stockholders, satisfaction of the conditions stated in the definitive agreement and other customary closing conditions.

Cepton Technologies Inc. is a provider of state-of-the-art, intelligent, lidar-based solutions serving a range of markets, including automotive (ADAS/AV), smart cities, smart spaces and smart industrial applications. General Motors (NYSE:GM) has granted a series production award for Cepton’s lidar, the biggest such award to date in the automotive space. Cepton’s is the lidar component of GM’s Ultra Cruise autonomous driving platform. By leveraging its patented Micro Motion Technology (MMT®) lidar platform, the company develops reliable, scalable and cost-effective solutions that deliver long-range, high-resolution 3D perception for smart applications.

Cepton was established in 2016 by co-founders Dr. Jun Pei and Dr. Mark McCord. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California, and serves a fast-growing customer base through an international presence spanning North America, Germany, Japan, India and China.

Micro Motion Technology (MMT®)

Cepton was built from the ground up to meet key lidar industry challenges for mass market adoption. This company’s portfolio of proprietary technology is uniquely aimed at facilitating this industry growth through a combination of performance, reliability, affordability and design integration.

Key among its innovations is MMT®, a mirrorless, frictionless, rotation-free 3D imaging platform designed specifically for lidars. Its benefits for OEMs and system integrators include:

• Reliability – The durable design uses common, easily attainable materials.
• Versatility – The platform is capable of achieving near- to ultra-long range with a wide field of view.
• Efficiency – MMT® features a compact form factor, low power usage and inexpensive components.
• Scalability – Its simple design means that scale-up to high manufacturing volumes is easily attainable.

Because of their compact form factor, Cepton lidars are embeddable and ideally suited for advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) integration, whether behind windshield, in headlamp or in fascia.

Agreement with KOITO

KOITO Manufacturing Co. Ltd., the world’s premier Tier 1 auto lighting supplier, originally started an evaluation of Cepton’s MMT® based lidars in 2018. In 2020, KOITO made an investment in Cepton aimed at accelerating the company’s development and enabling KOITO’s industrialization of high-performance and high reliability lidar sensors for ADAS and autonomous vehicle (AV) applications.

Through this collaboration, Cepton was able to secure the largest ADAS lidar series production award[1] with General Motors as a sole source in the automotive space. The award covers GM vehicles for the initial period of 2023-2027.

On August 5, 2021, the two companies deepened their relationship when KOITO committed to invest a further $50 million in Cepton’s business through its participation in a Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) offering of shares of common stock of Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. in connection with Cepton’s proposed merger.

Collaboration with GM

On July 13, 2021, Cepton announced that it had secured an ADAS lidar series production award from a leading, Detroit-based global automotive OEM – the biggest lidar production award by any OEM to any lidar company. It was later clarified that the OEM was General Motors, and Cepton’s lidar is part of GM’s ADAS Ultra Cruise system.

GM is “expected to deploy Cepton lidars in its next generation of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) across multiple vehicle classes and models – not just luxury cars.” As such, the agreement marks the potential for “an industry-first, mass-market adoption of lidar technology for automotive ADAS, with an anticipated deployment in consumer vehicles starting in 2023.”

On July 28, 2021, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) distributed an article on Medium noting, “Ford has been engaged with Cepton almost since their inception in 2016, both for R&D collaboration and small-scale deployments. Cepton LiDAR are deployed in some of [Ford’s] smart city projects. Based on Ford’s guidance, Cepton delivered a custom version of their LiDAR to enable R&D on advanced ADAS features.”

Market Outlook

Driven by increasing development and adoption in automobile safety applications, environmental mapping and 3D-modeling, the global lidar market is forecast to experience considerable growth over the coming years. A research report published by MarketsAndMarkets suggests that the sector will grow to an estimated $3.4 billion by 2026, achieving a CAGR of 21.6% over the next five years.

The report further highlights increasing investments in lidar startups by automotive giants as a driver of growth opportunities in the sector, particularly in North America.

In 2020, ground-based lidar accounted for the lion’s share of the overall lidar market, and this trend is expected to continue as the automotive sector continues to rapidly advance adoption across the full spectrum of vehicle classes. One factor not to be underestimated is the high barrier of entry and the exceptionally long time required for automotive OEMs to vet and award a production win to a lidar company. It is a commonly held view that the over 50 lidar companies will inevitably coalesce into a handful serving all OEMs.

Cepton, having a head start through its established partnership with leading global OEM GM, is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this market growth in the years to come.

Management Team

Cepton’s founder-led team is made up of lidar industry pioneers with decades of collective experience across advanced lidar and imaging technologies.

Jun Pei, Ph.D., is the company’s CEO and Co-Founder. He is a technology specialist with a focus in optics and electronics. Prior to founding Cepton, Dr. Pei founded AEP Technology, a firm focused on developing advanced 3D optical instruments. He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Mark McCord, Ph.D., is Cepton’s CTO and Co-Founder. Prior to founding Cepton, he led advanced development at KLA-Tencor. Dr. McCord also formerly served as an associate professor at Stanford University, where he earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering.

Winston Fu, Ph.D., is the company’s CFO. Dr. Fu is the founder of Silicon Valley venture capital firm LDV Partners. Prior to joining Cepton, he served as CFO and Chairman of Active-Semi before its acquisition. Dr. Fu has also helped to build many technology companies as an entrepreneur and/or board member. He received his Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University, as well as an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

[1] Largest known ADAS lidar series production award based on number of vehicle models awarded

Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: GCAC), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $9.959, up 0.292044%, on 15,568 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 15,568 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $9.55/$9.99.

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SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX).

SRAX (NASDAQ: SRAX), a financial technology company that unlocks data and insights for publicly traded companies through Sequire, its software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) platform, today announced the quantity of shares repurchased in the fourth quarter of 2021, as well as the first payment being made for the previously issued dividend. According to the update, the company repurchased approximately $800K worth of stock made up of 155,000 shares of common stock at an average price of $5.12 per share throughout the three months preceding Dec. 31, 2021. This was part of SRAX’s $10 million share buyback program announced on Aug. 17, 2021. “We continue to optimize our cap table and return value to our shareholders,” said Christopher Miglino, founder and CEO of SRAX. “This quarter we re-filed our already existing shelf. This allowed us to eliminate our At The Market filing (‘ATM’) and the costs associated with it. We will continue to look for opportunities to reward our shareholders.” To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/3n1XY

SRAX Inc.'s (NASDAQ: SRAX) is a digital marketing and consumer data management technology company. SRAX’s technology unlocks data to reveal brands’ core consumers and their characteristics across marketing channels.

Through its BIGtoken platform, SRAX has developed a consumer-managed data marketplace where people can own and earn from their data, thereby providing everyone in the internet ecosystem choice, transparency and compensation.

SRAX’s tools deliver a digital competitive advantage for brands in the CPG, automotive, investor relations, luxury and lifestyle verticals by integrating all aspects of the advertising experience, including verified consumer participation, into one platform.

SRAX Verticals

• SRAX Core: SRAX Core is a custom digital media management platform that enables brands and agencies to surpass the challenges of omnichannel marketing campaigns. It offers one comprehensive dashboard to manage digital media campaigns, inventory and reporting.
• SRAX Social: SRAX Social is a free social media management tool that makes it easy for brands, agencies and individuals to grow their digital presence. It offers free and unlimited users, Facebook auto boosting, and a custom analytics dashboard. Its managed services team can also build and execute marketing plans for your unique specific needs.
• SRAX IR: SRAX IR unlocks stock buyers’ behaviors and trends for issuers of publicly traded companies. The platform provides insights on shareholders and market makers, investor relations management, shareholder outreach tools and data-driven marketing.
• SRAX Auto: SRAX Auto unlocks auto intenders’ data to create measurable connected experiences on the road to purchase. It offers proprietary auto intender profiles, multi touchpoint communication and custom location-based ads.
• SRAX Shopper: SRAX Shopper delivers a cross channel, premium digital experience at scale to high value shopper audiences. It offers proprietary shopper profiles, cost per click pricing, and custom text and add to cart ad units.
• SRAX Lux: Launched in June 2019, the SRAX Lux platform targets and reaches luxury consumers at luxury retail stores, high-end art, music, film, fashion and sports events, across all consumer devices.

BIGtoken

BIGtoken, available for download on the App Store and Google Play, revolutionizes data collection. BIGtoken is a platform that creates a secure and transparent environment for consumers to own and earn from their data. To date, there are 15.9 million BIGtoken registered users worldwide.

The optimization and monetization of data is a multibillion-dollar business. Worldwide spending on big data and business analytics solutions reached $166 billion in 2018 and is projected to surge to $260 billion by 2022. BIGtoken’s consumer vision is committed to delivering choice, transparency and compensation to the individual.

Through BIGtoken, consumers earn rewards when they opt into sharing their data and when that data is purchased. Consumers decide what data is shared, who can buy it and how it’s used, and advertisers reach real, responsive audiences. The benefit of this is two-fold: consumers know how their data is used and advertisers gain verified consumer data for targeting.

Users of the BIGtoken app can officially be paid in cash or gift cards in exchange for giving brands access to their anonymized data, answering questions, checking into locations, recruiting new members, and more. Users can deposit their earnings directly into PayPal accounts or be paid through gift cards from favorite retailers such as Walmart.

SRAX has also partnered with several high-profile, nonprofit associations to provide BIGtoken users the ability to donate their earnings. Partnerships include the American Heart Association, dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke; HealthCorps, which helps high school students make better choices about health and physical fitness; and the ALS Association, which recently launched its Challenge Me campaign.

International Expansion

BIGtoken is formally launching into several international markets and partnering to foster local support. SRAX recently signed a joint venture with the Yash Birla Group to launch BIGtoken in India. Based in Mumbai, the Yash Birla Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates, has diversified interests in consumer and industrial products.

The partnership will bring BIGtoken’s platform to India, which has a digital population of 627 million. The India digital advertising market is $3.6 billion and is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 32%, making it one of the largest growing digital ad markets in the world.

SRAX Mexico is led by Moe Avitia, who has more than 18 years of experience in business development and building high-tech teams. SRAX Mexico includes a team of 90 employees, including 70 engineers.

BIGtoken Europe is currently evaluating data centers in individual countries for privacy laws.

Leadership

Christopher Miglino is CEO and founder of SRAX. He has spent the past 20 years working in the digital advertising space and has successfully launched and sold two internet companies. Both of these companies were sold to publicly traded companies on the NASDAQ. He has a detailed understanding of how technology interacts with brands.

Kristoffer Nelson is COO of SRAX and a founding member of BIGtoken. With over 15 years of technology and creative business experience, Nelson has been a guest speaker for Loyola Marymount University among other academic institutions, the National Association of Broadcasters, the IAB and numerous other professional and media organizations.

SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $5.39, up 0.559702%, on 239,397 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 239,397 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.91/$7.29.

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Eat Well Investment Group Inc. (CSE: EWG) (OTC: EWGFF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Eat Well Investment Group Inc. (CSE: EWG) (OTC: EWGFF).

• Eat Well Investment Group Inc. is a brand builder and investor in plant-based consumer products, many of which have already established their popularity and function in North American markets
• The company’s investments in 2021 have led to growing revenues, and company officers forecast continuing to grow to about $100 million in sales by the end of 2022
• Eat Well Investment’s majority-owned Amara toddler organic food line was named Amazon’s top new release last year
• The company’s products enjoy a place on big box retail store shelves such as Walmart, Whole Foods, and Sprouts Farmer’s Market, and in January Eat Well announced they are also available nationwide across Canada in Loblaws Inc. stores

As the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, plant-based foods investment company Eat Well Investment Group (CSE: EWG) (OTC: EWGFF) is celebrating the stability of its holdings’ international sales and its prospects for revenue growth during the coming year. Eat Well Investment Group (CSE: EWG) (OTC: EWGFF) today announced that its majority owned portfolio company, Amara Organic Foods, one of the fastest-growing baby food brands in America, is now available nationwide across Walmart Canada and on Walmart’s expansive eCommerce platform, Walmart.com. According to a recent industry report, Walmart’s eCommerce business is approximately US$75 billion for 2021, growing in eCommerce approximately five times faster than Amazon*. “Science shows what you eat when you’re young has a direct impact on how you feel, think and perform later in life,” said Jessica Sturzenegger, founder and CEO of Amara. “At Amara, we believe it is important to provide nutrient-dense meals and snacks at an accessible price for every family. We’re thrilled to partner with Walmart in stores and online to continue to deliver highest quality products for everyone.” To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/qRG4p

Eat Well Investment Group Inc. (CSE: EWG) (OTC: EWGFF), headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a publicly traded vertically integrated plant-based foods company combining the best of agribusiness, foodtech, and CPG brands to supply the world with innovative, delicious, and better-for-you foods. The company supplies Beyond Meat, Ingredion, Nestle, General Mills and more. It is on track to generate $60 million in revenue for 2021 and is projecting $100 million in revenue for 2022.

Eat Well’s management team has an extensive record of sourcing, financing and building successful companies across a broad range of industries and maintains a current investment mandate on the health and wellness industry. The team has financed and invested in early-stage venture companies for more than 25 years, resulting in the ability to construct a portfolio of opportunistic investments intended to generate superior risk-adjusted returns. Eat Well’s strategic advisory board includes pioneers in the plant-based foods industry, including HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KBW Ventures, and Jeff Dunn, CEO of Bolthouse Farms who previously held senior leadership positions at both Campbell Soup Company and The Coca Cola Company.

The company’s plant-based investment thesis is centered on growing its seed-to-market operations, which include raw ingredients, processing, pulse fractionation, unique IP and premium consumer packaged goods (CPG). Eat Well Group is building a unique ecosystem that can supply these essential cornerstone needs for society. The company has plant-based foods and nutrition experts specializing in the latest science and original thinking for what consumers want most – high quality and affordability in healthy, clean and simple products.

Eat Well focuses on intellectual property, product portfolio development and long-term value creation for stakeholders in a rapidly expanding industry. As an emergent sector globally, plant-based foods represent a double-digit annual growth category, with more than 35% of the world’s supply of pulse proteins coming from Canada.

Portfolio

On July 31, 2021, Eat Well Group acquired Belle Pulses Ltd., one of the top pulse processors in Canada. Belle Pulses has been operating for over 40 years and had over $60 million in sales in 2020. The company counts a broad range of customers in over 35 countries, including global strategic food companies and major ingredient distributors. Currently, Belle produces nearly 100,000 tons of fully traceable seed and product, yielding over 26,000 tons of pure plant protein.

Eat Well also owns 100% of Sapientia Technology Inc. Led by Dr. Eugenio Bortone – one of the world’s preeminent food scientists and extrusion processing experts and the inventor of Frito-Lay’s Twisted Cheetos – Sapientia has filed four patents around the “protein curl” and crispy-puff-style snack. By focusing on texture and crunch, Sapientia’s patents solve one of the major problems that large scale snack food companies have struggled with for years – how to offer appealing texture and flavor in a guilt-free, not fried, natural and healthy alternative to the majority of snack food products available today.

Eat Well owns a 51% share of Amara Organic Foods, with an option to acquire additional ownership up to 80 percent. Amara, one of the fastest-growing baby food brands in America, is a food technology company that uses science and proprietary IP that locks in taste and texture to make healthy, organic, non-GMO, plant-based, convenient baby and children’s food possible for modern-day families. From baby food to toddler food and beyond, Amara is driven by the belief that setting kids on the right path from a young age will help them live better, feel better and think better for the rest of their lives. Amara’s revenues have grown by more than 400% since January 2021, and the brand’s success has drawn media coverage from business news outlets including Forbes and TechCrunch.

Market Outlook

According to an August 2021 report from Bloomberg Intelligence, the plant-based foods market is expected to experience explosive growth, comprising up to 7.7% of the global protein market by 2030 at a value of over $162 billion, up from $29.4 billion in 2020. Bloomberg notes that plant-based alternatives are here to stay, and that consumption will grow rapidly. Plant-based food sales in 2020 grew twice as fast as overall food sales, according to Polaris Market Research.

Pulse proteins (fava, yellow pea, etc.) are a foundational ingredient to most plant-based foods due to their high protein content and their readily available, affordable supply.

Many analysts view the food tech market as similar to the early days of the Internet in that plant-based foods represent a worldwide secular trend of steady growth and potential that will revolutionize the way society functions and people experience nutrition.

The sector continues to experience significant M&A transactions. Recently, Sol Cuisine was acquired by PlantPlus Foods LLC, a major South American protein producer, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $126 million, or 6x revenue.

Management Team

Marc Aneed is President and Director of Eat Well Group. His 20-year career in CPG started at The Quaker Oats Company/PepsiCo, where he worked on iconic brands like Gatorade. He previously was at Glanbia PLC, a global nutrition company, where he led Amazing Grass, a leading plant nutrition and supplement company with over $100 million in retail sales. He also led Glanbia’s Sports Nutrition brands in North America with over $750 million in retail sales. Mr. Aneed has launched dozens of successful consumer products, driving over $1 billion in collective retail sales.

Mark Coles is the company’s Chief Investment Officer. He is a veteran CPG senior executive specializing in the plant-based foods sector. For the past decade, Mr. Coles has spearheaded global plant-based start-up initiatives, culminating in a 2020 acquisition by an international New York Stock Exchange-listed food ingredient company. He has over 25 years of experience in CPG-focused strategy, mergers and acquisitions and project financing.

Patrick Dunn is Eat Well Group’s Vice President, Finance. He is the founding partner of Dunn, Pariser & Peyrot and has a track record of building highly successful agribusinesses throughout North America and other international markets. As a testimony to his business portfolio work, Mr. Dunn and his firm have won multiple industry awards for accounting, finance and business management.

Barry Didato is the company’s Vice President, Strategy. He is focused on the development of strategic revenue channels, sales partnerships, and international distribution for Eat Well Group. Mr. Didato brings extensive strategic sales capabilities and an extensive network of contacts in the industry to the company. Prior to joining Eat Well Group, he served for over 18 years as a senior advisor for several ultra-high net worth family offices and numerous innovative wellness, nutrition, medical, and food businesses.

Strategic Advisory Board

HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KBW Ventures, is a firm supporter of clean energy and the humane treatment of animals. He is also a vocal supporter of the private sector in the Middle East. A member of the Saudi Arabian Royal Family, Prince Khaled was born in Stanford and spent his youth in Riyadh under the mentorship of his father, philanthropist HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company. He is also the Founding Chairman of KBW Investments and serves across several boards. He invests in an array of successful but diverse global businesses – from promising technology startups to established companies. Today, with holdings on three continents, Prince Khaled stands at the gateway between the Middle East’s evolving economies and the Western world. Consistently, Prince Khaled’s focus is on ventures and ideas at the intersection of innovation and economic growth.

Jeff Dunn has over 30 years of experience in agriculture and packaged food, including senior leadership positions with Bolthouse Farms, Campbell Soup Company and The Coca Cola Company, among others. He is an Operating Partner at Butterfly and focuses primarily on the agriculture & aquaculture and food & beverage product sectors. Prior to joining Butterfly, Mr. Dunn was the President of the Campbell Fresh division of Campbell Soup Company from 2015 to 2016, where he was in charge of building Campbell’s scale and accelerating its growth in the rapidly expanding packaged fresh segments and categories across the retail perimeter.

Eat Well Investment Group Inc. (OTC: EWGFF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.5323, up 3.3592%, on 62,976 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 62,976 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.23766/$1.00.

Recent News

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SPYR Inc. (OTCQB: SPYR)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight SPYR Inc. (OTCQB: SPYR).

• SPYR’s Applied MagiX seeks to leverage the large and loyal Apple following to establish its brand in the Apple Ecosystem
• The global smart home market is set to grow at a 15.75% CAGR over the next 5 years, rising to a value of $187 billion per annum by 2025
• SPYR Inc purchased subsidiary, Applied MagiX, to gain access to the smart home market as well as the Apple HomeKit product ecosystem
• As of 2021, Applied MagiX had launched 5 Apple-compatible products with plans to launch a proprietary line of products in the coming future

The Apple ecosystem is second-to-none. Apple has built a fiercely loyal consumer base through its products and services – ranging from Apple computers, peripherals, and iPhones, to services including, Apple News, Apple Fitness+, Apple Arcade and Apple Music. As an indicator of Apple’s significant and long-standing following, the company recently revealed that its App Store had connected with over 600 million people per week across 175 countries, enabling the App Store to generate over $260 billion in cumulative sales since its launch in 2008. Meanwhile, the 2021 holiday season saw App Store customers spend more than ever before between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, driving double-digit growth relative to 2020 (https://ibn.fm/NAYiS). SPYR (OTCQB: SPYR), dba SPYR Technologies, is a technology company which, through its wholly owned subsidiary Applied MagiX Inc., develops and sells Apple(R)-ecosystem-compatible products, seeking to capitalize on the Apple consumer base through product offerings including devices and accessories specifically built on Apple’s HomeKit framework(R). Applied MagiX is a registered Apple developer and reseller.

SPYR Inc. (OTCQB: SPYR), dba SPYR Technologies, is a technology company which, through its Applied MagiX Inc. subsidiary, develops and resells Apple®-ecosystem-compatible products with an emphasis on the growing, multibillion-dollar Internet of Things (IoT) Smart Home and Connected Car markets.

SPYR continues to identify and target acquisitions with an aim of growing its footprint in the industry and expanding the products it offers consumers, including companies developing artificial intelligence and smart-technology products. In 2020, SPYR acquired Applied MagiX Inc., a registered Apple developer and reseller of Apple ecosystem compatible products with an emphasis on the smart home market, as a wholly owned subsidiary. Applied MagiX operates in the IoT market and, more specifically, the segment of the market related to the development, manufacture and sale of devices and accessories specifically built on Apple’s HomeKit® framework. These products work within the Apple HomeKit ecosystem and are exclusive to the Apple market and its consumers.

Initially, while working to develop, manufacture and sell its own line of branded products, Applied MagiX will be sourcing HomeKit products and accessories from worldwide manufacturers, vetting and selecting best-of-breed products, selling them directly to consumers and supporting them. The company focuses on Apple consumers – a target market with higher disposable income and a demonstrated willingness to pay a premium for quality products. On average, Apple product users spend roughly twice as much on technology as other smartphone users. Those who purchase smart home products spend more than $3,000 on average.

By creating smart hardware and software solutions exclusively for Apple consumers, SPYR addresses a problem faced by that market – having few “smart” devices that integrate with Apple’s HomeKit, despite being the most affluent and loyal consumers of tech products.

Products

The company’s Applied MagiX subsidiary offers multiple product lines to its target markets. First, the subsidiary is a reseller of third-party manufactured Apple HomeKit and Apple CarPlay compatible products. HomeKit comes pre-installed on every new iPhone, while the CarPlay platform is licensed by all major auto manufacturers. Applied MagiX identifies white label products, applies the company’s branding, improves the software and sells these improved products to consumers. Finally, Applied MagiX is developing its own proprietary line of smart home and connected car products, including Apple-compatible home cameras, sensors and alarms, as well as additional Apple-compatible smart car products in the iOS ecosystem.

Among the subsidiary’s products sold to consumers are:

• The MagixDrive Wireless CarPlay adapter, which allows users to access CarPlay wirelessly using their iPhones
• The HomeKit Secure Video Camera with iCloud Storage
• The Multipurpose Sensor with Alarm
• The Environment and Motion Sensor
• The Window and Door Contact Sensor

Market Outlook

According to Statista, the global smart home market is expected to generate revenue of more than $104 billion in 2021. The market is forecast to hit more than $187 billion in revenue by 2025, recording a CAGR of 15.75 percent.

The number of active households in the worldwide smart home market is expected to reach nearly 500 million by 2025. Household penetration is just over 12 percent in 2021 and is projected to nearly double by 2025 to more than 22 percent.

Allied Market Research valued the global connected car market at more than $63 billion in 2019 and projected a CAGR of 17.1 percent, which would push revenue to more than $225 billion by 2027. Allied identified rising consumer demand for connectivity solutions, surging need for constant connectivity, increasing dependency on technology and an upsurge in tech-savvy population as key factors driving the projected growth of the connected car market.

Management Team

James R. Thompson is the CEO, President and General Counsel of SPYR. Over the past 28 years, Mr. Thompson has deftly managed a colorful spectrum of legal clients and situations. In the process, he has helped many companies – both large and small – thrive. Now he welcomes the challenge to take the company and his career in an entirely new direction. A native of Philadelphia, he holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Denver.

Jennifer Duettra is the Executive Vice President of SPYR. She brings a great deal of knowledge in mobile gaming and pop culture to the company. She is an attorney and was thrilled by the prospect to combine her law experience with a chance to be creative. She is a native of Colorado and received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Speech Communication from Colorado State University. She holds a J.D. from Harvard University.

Trang Nguyen is the CFO of SPYR. From 2019 to 2020, she served as the Financial Reporting Manager for Del Taco, where she was responsible for the preparation and filing of periodic financial reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. From 2016 through 2019, Ms. Nguyen was Accounting Manager for Pinnacle Tax Accounting in Los Angeles, California. She was a part of Ernst & Young’s audit team in Los Angeles from 2006 to 2008, leading engagements on interim and year-end ad SOX 404 auditing procedures for major enterprise accounts. Ms. Nguyen holds a Bachelor of Art, Business Economics (Minor in Accounting) from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a certified public accountant with an inactive license.

Dr. Harald Zink is the CEO, Founder and Chief Product Architect of SPYR subsidiary Applied MagiX. Prior to founding Applied MagiX, he was Director of Technologies and later Vice President of Technologies at Sarkissian Productions in Los Angeles. He also served as Director of Technologies at SMZ Technologies and, for more than 17 years, as Macintosh Technology Consultant to The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He speaks five languages and holds degrees from the University of California, Riverside.

Kelly Clark is the COO of Applied MagiX. Before joining the subsidiary, he worked as Vice President of Sales Operations at TruClear Global. Prior to that, Mr. Clark was Senior Director of Program Management at Pacific Group Ventures and Operations Manager at Barco. He has also held operations management positions at Deluxe Digital Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Mr. Clark holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Southern California.

SPYR Inc. (OTCQB: SPYR), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.071, up 24.5614%, on 49,881 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 49,881 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0269/$0.231.

Recent News

• SPYR Inc. (OTCQB: SPYR) - SPYR Inc. (SPYR) Expects Strong Growth as Subsidiary Applied Magix Capitalizes on Solid Apple Product Demand
• SPYR Inc. (SPYR) Set to Capitalize on Smart Home Product Sector's Burgeoning Growth
• InvestorNewsBreaks - SPYR Inc. (SPYR) Announces Expanded Marketing Campaign for MagixDrive

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX).

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug-delivery platforms, has commented on a recent study that indicated that cannabinoids have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2. The comments came from lead research scientist Dr. Richard van Breeman, who granted an interview with vice.com discussing the independent study. In his comments, Breemen observed that smoking or vaping of cannabis was likely not effective, but oral delivery was, causing Breeman to recommend oral administration of cannabis compounds. Lexaria is keenly interested in the study because the company is actively engaged in research with its exclusive DehydraTECH(TM)-powered cannabinoid formulations, which include an advanced oral DehydraTECH-CBD formulation. “Lexaria has led the conversation for years related to oral delivery of cannabinoids and is a world-leader through its pioneering drug delivery technology, DehydraTECH, in more effective delivery of cannabinoids to the human bloodstream through oral means," said Lexaria Bioscience CEO Chris Bunka in the press release. To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/ZyNHC

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) is a global innovator in drug delivery platforms. The company’s patented technology, DehydraTECH™, improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) enter the bloodstream by promoting healthier oral ingestion methods and increasing the effectiveness of fat-soluble active molecules.  DehydraTECH promotes fast-acting, less expensive and more effective oral drug delivery and has been thoroughly evaluated through in vivo, in vitro and human clinical testing.

DehydraTECH is covered by 21 issued and more than 50 pending patents in over 40 countries around the world. Lexaria’s first patent was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in October 2016 (US 9,474,725 B1), providing 20 years of patent protection expiring June 2034. Multiple patents have been awarded since then and are expected in the future.

Lexaria has a collaborative research agreement with the National Research Council (NRC), the Canadian government’s premier research and technology organization. The company has filed for patent protection for specific delivery of nicotine, vitamins, NSAIDs, testosterone, estrogen, cannabinoids, terpenes, PDE5 inhibitors (with brand names like Viagra), tobacco and more.

Lexaria began developing DehydraTECH in 2014 and has since continued to strengthen and broaden the technology. The company has no plans to create or sell Lexaria-branded products containing controlled substances. Instead, Lexaria licenses its technology to other companies around the world to offer consumers the best possible performance across an array of ingestible product formats.

The company’s technology is best thought of as an additional layer that providers of consumer supplements, prescription and non-prescription drugs, nicotine and CBD products can utilize to improve the effectiveness of their own existing or planned new offerings. Lexaria has licensed DehydraTECH to multiple companies, including a world-leading tobacco producer for the research and development of smokeless, oral-based nicotine products, and for use in industries that produce cannabinoid beverages, edibles and oral products.

DehydraTECH is suitable for use with a wide range of product formats including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, consumer packaged goods and over-the-counter capsules, pills, tablets and oral suspensions.

DehydraTECH Technology

Lexaria’s DehydraTECH is designed specifically for formulating and delivering lipophilic (fat-soluble) drugs and active ingredients. DehydraTECH increases their effectiveness and improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients enter the bloodstream. The major benefits to a subject ingesting a DehydraTECH-enabled drug or consumer product can be summarized by the following:

• Speeds up delivery – the effects of the product are felt by the subject in just minutes.
• Increases bioavailability – the technology is much more effective at delivering a drug or product into the bloodstream.
• Increases brain absorption – animal testing suggests significant improvement in the quantity of drug delivered across the blood-brain barrier.
• Improves drug potency – more of the ingested product is made available to the body, so lower doses are required to achieve the desired effect.
• Reduces drug administration cost – lower doses mean lower overall drug costs.
• Masks unwanted taste – the technology eliminates or reduces the need for sweeteners.

Lexaria has demonstrated in animal studies a propensity for DehydraTECH technology to elevate the quantity of drug delivered across the blood-brain barrier by as much as 1,900 percent, initiating additional new patent applications and opening possibilities for improved drug delivery.

Since 2016, DehydraTECH has repeatedly demonstrated, with cannabinoids and nicotine, the ability to increase bio-absorption by up to five to 10 times, reduce time of onset from one to two hours to just minutes, and mask unwanted tastes. The technology is to be further evaluated for additional orally administered bioactive molecules, including antivirals, cannabinoids, vitamins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and nicotine.

Market Outlook

Lexaria’s ongoing research and development efforts are mainly focused on development of product candidates across several key segments:

• Oral Cannabinoids – a market estimated to be worth $18.4 billion in 2021 and expected to reach $46.2 billion by 2025.
• Antivirals – an estimated $52.1 billion market in 2021 that’s expected to grow to $66.7 billion by 2025.
• Oral Mucosal Nicotine – smokeless tobacco products, a $13.6 billion market in 2018, is forecast to grow at 7.2 percent annually through 2025.
• Human Hormones – estrogen and testosterone replacement therapies represented a $21.9 billion market in 2019, with a forecast CAGR of 7.7 percent through 2027.
• Ibuprofen and Naproxen – NSAID sales totaled $15.6 billion globally in 2019 and are projected to reach $24.4 billion by 2027.
• Vitamin D3 – the global market size was $1.1 billion in 2021, growing at 7 percent per year and expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2026.

Management Team

Chris Bunka is Chairman and CEO of Lexaria Bioscience Corp. He is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in several private and public companies since the late 1980s. He has extensive experience in the capital markets, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, as well as corporate finance. He is named as an inventor on multiple patent innovations.

John Docherty, M.Sc., is the President of Lexaria. He is a pharmacologist and toxicologist, and a specialist in the development of drug delivery technologies. He is the former president and COO of Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP). He is named as an inventor on multiple issued and pending patents.

Greg Downey is Lexaria’s CFO. He has more than 35 years of diverse financial experience in the mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction industries, and in the public sector. He served for eight years as CFO for several public companies and has provided business advisory and financial accounting services to many large organizations.

Gregg Smith is a strategic advisor to Lexaria. He is a founder and private investor with Evolution VC Partners. He is a member of the Sand Hill Angels and held previous investment banking roles with Cowen and Company and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Dr. Philip Ainslie serves as a scientific and medical advisor to Lexaria. He is co-director for the Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, Canada. He is also Research Chair in Cerebrovascular Physiology and Professor at the School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Development at the University of British Columbia.

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (LEXX), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $4.61, even for the day, on 92,559 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 92,459 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $3.779/$12.50.

Recent News

• Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) (CSE: LXX) - InvestorNewsBreaks - Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Provides Comments Regarding Study Examining Cannabinoids and SARS-CoV-2
• CannabisNewsBreaks - Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Leveraging DehydraTECH(TM) to Deliver More Effective Oral Medicine
• After a Successful 2021, Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Kicks Off 2022 With New Media Strategy, Plans for Clinical Study Advancements

GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX).

• In August, GreenBox celebrated a monumental milestone when it processed over $1 billion in transaction volume for all of 2021
• GreenBox’s year-to-date processing volume grew to $1.4 billion as of September 30, 2021 
• The company reported $8 million in revenue and $5.6 million in gross profit in Q3 2021
• GreenBox appointed Paul Levine as CEO and Co-Founder of Coyni stablecoin spinoff company, Robert Houghton as CTO, and Jacqueline Reynolds as CMO
• The company’s management hosted a year-end update call on December 9

Approximately eight months after GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) released its Generation 3 (“Gen3”) technology, which expanded and expedited the process of onboarding, monitoring, and controlling merchant portfolios in its proprietary blockchain-based platform, the company crossed a significant milestone – the processing of more than $1 billion in transaction volume in 2021. The milestone represented about five times the total processing volume recorded in 2020 (https://ccw.fm/HLUAN). GreenBox (NASDAQ: GBOX), an emerging fintech company leveraging proprietary blockchain security and token technology to build customized payment solutions, has launched a significant new payment vertical. The new option offers bulk Automated Clearing House ("ACH") processing abilities to merchants. GBOX can transfer funds electronically for ACH debit and ACH credit transactions using its blockchain and smart-contract technology. The new payment option represents a significant move. In 2020 the ACH Network processed 26.8 billion payments that totaled more than $61.9 trillion. Payments included direct deposit via ACH of salaries, dividends and Social Security and other government benefits, as well as direct payment via ACH for bill payments including utilities and mortgages. Other covered payments include charitable giving, tuition, subscription services, and person-to-person (“P2P”) and business-to-business (“B2B”). According to the announcement, response to the new option is favorable. GreenBox clients have already committed to more than $50 million in monthly ACH processing, and the number is climbing. “ACH bulk processing offers a profitable new, multimillion-dollar revenue stream for GreenBox,” said GreenBox POS CEO Fredi Nissan in the press release. “Our clients have long been demanding it and now we can offer it with our superb technology. This is yet another example of GreenBox delivering against our strategic plan to continue providing meaningful value to our shareholders and customers alike.” To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/Qhcpj

GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) is an emerging financial technology company leveraging proprietary security and token technology to build customized payment solutions for business. The company’s mission is to build compliant, cutting-edge blockchain ledger tokenized solutions for the diverse, evolving and dynamic global market.

GreenBox applications enable an end-to-end suite of turnkey financial products which offer improved fraud detection and better handling efficiency of large-scale commercial payment processing volumes for its merchant clients globally. The company’s proprietary blockchain and smart contract token technologies create seamless payment processing using digital encryption keys.

GreenBox is a unified platform providing scalability for businesses to accept payments, transact, send, settle and convert in a single versatile ecosystem. GreenBox operates a private and proprietary blockchain-based payment platform that offers distinct advantages when compared to traditional payment technologies, including greater security and data privacy, as well as enhanced identity theft protection and quick settlement.

As the settlement engine for financial transactions, GreenBox’s blockchain technology is a distributed ledger that uses digitally encrypted keys to verify, secure and record details of each transaction conducted within GreenBox’s private ecosystem. The speed and security of the platform allows GreenBox to log immense volumes of immutable transactional records in real time for Tier-1 partners around the world.

In November 2021, GreenBox announced the closing of a previously announced $100 million convertible note financing. The company plans to use proceeds for acquisitions, a planned stablecoin spin-off, and additional working capital toward the company’s future growth. The initial conversion price equals a more than 80 percent premium to the market price of the company’s common stock on October 29, 2021, and values the enterprise at more than $700 million upon conversion.

Brands & Solutions

The company offers multiple solutions and brands under the GreenBox label. The other brands that are nested under the GreenBox POS label include coyni, ChargeSavvy, QuickCard, Transact Europe [didn’t yet close] and Northeast Merchant Systems. Each of these brands play a large role in allowing GreenBox to accel in customizing payment solutions across different verticals and industries.

Payment Solutions

The GreenBox platform offers blockchain secure, robust payment processing solutions for both individual consumers and businesses. The company combines the power and security of blockchain with bank-level tools necessary to both settle transactions and monitor cash flows. Customers can transfer cryptocurrencies like USDC, Ethereum or Bitcoin from external decentralized crypto wallets to their GreenBox wallets. They can also exchange those tokens from their GreenBox wallets to any supported coin. Customers can easily offload in USDC to a debit card or a multitude of gift cards.

White Label Solutions

The company’s white label platform allows it to partner with firms seeking blockchain-based tools to manage merchant relationships. White label partners can monitor cash flows, as well as run reports on merchant transactions, chargebacks, agent and affiliate commissions and more. Partners can access the platform through their partner portal to manage business relationships with full visibility. The platform’s cutting-edge technology saves partners time and simplifies their payment processing. It ensures compliance with automated Know Your Customer and Know Your Bank services and allows customers to set up automated payouts.

coyni Stablecoin

The company is planning soon to launch its own stablecoin, coyni (CYN). coyni is equivalent to the value of the U.S. dollar on a one-to-one ratio. Stablecoin allows for instantaneous transactions with blockchain security just like other cryptocurrency tokens, but without the price volatility of traditional cryptocurrencies. The CYN token is expected to make possible features like digital dollar accounts, cross border payments, international payment processing and other payment solutions. As a smart contract technology, coyni will offer instant settlement using the GreenBox blockchain ledger in any location and currency – crypto or fiat – all at lower fees and in a tokenized secure ecosystem.

Market Overview

A Mordor Intelligence report put the transaction value of the global digital payments market at $5.44 trillion in 2020 and projects the market to be worth $11.29 trillion by 2026. That represents a CAGR of 11.21 percent during the period of 2021-2026.

The report notes that the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on e-commerce is likely to encourage strengthened international cooperation and further development of policies for online purchasing and supply. The report states, “The pandemic has made it clear that e-commerce can be an important tool/solution, especially considering the fact that e-commerce sales can support small and medium businesses that form the backbone for certain economies. This is expected to substantially spur the growth of digital payment methods across various economies.”

According to Mordor, other drivers of the growth trend in digital payments include:

• Greater convenience, favorable government policies and evolving consumer behavior worldwide
• Rapid rise in smartphone penetration throughout emerging economies
• Introduction of mobile wallets across the world
• Widespread adoption of retail digital payment services across the vast population of China, serving as a kind of test case for other countries

Management Team

Ben Errez, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Ben Errez’s past positions have included positions at large companies like Microsoft and Intel. He has brought this expertise to lead GreenBox into the forefront of the blockchain-based financial software, services, and hardware market.

Mr. Errez was one of the early managers of Microsoft in 1991. From 1991 to 2004, he served as Software Development Lead for the Microsoft International Office Group. He led the International Microsoft Office Components team (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) in design, engineering, development, and successful deployment. He also served as Executive Representative of Microsoft Office and was a founding member of the Microsoft Trustworthy Computing Team both within the company and internationally. Mr. Errez co-authored the first Microsoft Trustworthy Computing Paper on Reliability. At Microsoft, he was responsible for the development of the first Microsoft software translation Software Development Kit (“SDK”) in Hebrew, Arabic, Thai, and Simplified Chinese, as well as the development of the first bidirectional extensions to Rich Text Format (“RTF”) file format and all bidirectional extensions in text converters for Microsoft Office. He also contributed to the development of the international extensions to the Unicode standard to include bidirectional requirements under the World Wide Web Consortium (“W3C”).

In 2004, Mr. Errez transitioned into the world of consulting, where he held the position of Principal Consultant from founding to the present date, through which he advises clients in the South Pacific region with market capitalizations ranging from $50 million to $150 million on commerce, security, reliability, and privacy.

In 2017, immediately before partnering with Fredi Nisan to launch GreenBox, Mr. Errez was asked to take over the Microsoft Alumni Network for the Southern California region as a regional director. Mr. Errez has been a principal of GreenBox since its inception in 2017.

Fredi Nisan, Chief Executive Officer

Fredi Nisan’s career in technology began during his years of service in the Israeli Defense Forces, where he served as IT Manager for all of Israel’s Northern Bases. After serving in the military, Mr. Nisan opened and operated a computer hardware store before becoming the Inventory Operations Manager for Zicon Israel in 2005, a hardware and software producer. At Zicon, he supervised inventory operations, worked on quality controls for motherboards and chips, and educated customers on software and hardware product functionality. Subsequently, Mr. Nisan moved to the United States, where he worked for One Coach in San Diego, California, as a business coach. One Coach specializes in customized growth solutions for small business owners, including the latest strategies for sales, internet marketing, branding, and ROI. Mr. Nisan was consistently ranked as the top salesperson for small business coaching while working with One Coach.

In 2010, Mr. Nisan launched Brava POS, where he served as President until 2015. Brava POS provided point of sale (“POS”) systems for specialty retail companies. Mr. Nisan developed software to provide clients with solutions for issues ranging from inventory management to payroll to processing high volume transactions in the form of a cloud-based POS system. This system had the capability to manage multiple stores with centralized inventory and process sales without an internet connection, and offered a secure login for each employee, as well as including advanced inventory management and reporting, plus powerful functionality for its end users.

In 2016, Mr. Nisan founded Firmness, LLC. Through Firmness, he created “QuickCitizen,” a software program that simplifies the onboarding process for new clients of law firms specializing in immigration issues. The QuickCitizen software significantly reduced law firms onboarding processing time from more than three hours to approximately 15 minutes. Mr. Nisan has been a principal of GreenBox since its August 2017 inception. In January 2018, Firmness sold QuickCitizen to GreenBox.

Jacquline B. Reynolds, Chief Marketing Officer

Jacqueline B. Reynolds is the company’s Chief Marketing Officer. She served most recently as vice president of marketing for Sprouts Farmers Market. She has built her reputation as a world-class global marketer, working with Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Verizon, Walmart, L’Oréal, Xbox, 7-Eleven and many other Fortune 500 brands. She has managed award-winning marketing programs with partners such as the NFL, Super Bowl LIV, the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, Sony Pictures, Universal Music and others.

GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $4.27, even for the day, on 298,238 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 295,618 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $3.97/$20.78.

Recent News

• GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) - InvestorNewsBreaks - GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) Offers New Payment Option, Clients Respond with $50M in Monthly Merchant Volume
• GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) Releases Record-Breaking Q3 2021 Financial Results; Expands Management Team; Hosts Year-End Update Call
• InvestorNewsBreaks - GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) Announces Strategic Acquisition, Eyes Expansion into Opportunistic Market

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Marijuana Company of America Inc. (MCOA).

Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA), a diversified holding company with operations and investments throughout the cannabis industry, and cDistro, its wholly owned subsidiary, has entered an agreement with Realize Hemp Drinks. The agreement outlines plans to begin nationwide distribution of the award-winning Realize Raspberry Drink Mix infused with CBD & THC. cDistro distributes CBD brands, including smoke- and vape-shop-related products to wholesalers, c-stores, specialty retailers and consumers throughout North America. In addition to the Raspberry Drink Mix, cDistro will also be selling and distributing the new Citrus-Mango Drink Mix. Made with CBD and THC, both drinks contain less than 0.3% THC and are legal under the 2018 farm bill. “We are excited for cDistro to begin its sales and distribution efforts on behalf of Realize Hemp Drinks,” said Marijuana Company of America CEO and chair Jesus Quintero in the press release. “Once again as part of our new initiatives, this represents our growth, and the overall role we play as an intrinsic part of the future in the cannabis marketplace. We are thrilled to introduce innovative new products to the cannabis community and directly to cDistro's nationwide retail customers. As the cannabis market continues its expansion into various sectors, we are poised to meet the needs of the market at every point." To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/OU6Z0

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) operates and invests in the cannabis sector directly. The company’s diverse operations include cDistro, one of the THC, hemp & CBD cannabis industries’ fastest growing distribution companies; hempsmart™, a premium CBD company; and VBF Brands Inc., a cannabis nursery cultivation facility in Salinas, California, that is a cultivator and distributor utilizing its own growing systems to produce desirable cannabis clones.

MCOA continues to grow its business while remaining fiscally conscious and further establishing itself in the legalized cannabis THC, hemp & CBD industries by offering unique exposure to the global cannabidiol sector. The company intends to continue to leverage its premium brand hemp-based products with investments in and collaboration with existing and new strategic partners.

Marijuana Company of America offers investors the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation in the legal cannabis and industrial hemp industries.
During the summer of 2021, the U.S. witnessed the introduction of the most comprehensive cannabis reform ever proposed at the federal level, as well as ongoing state-level liberalization. The investments MCOA has made will position the company to drive the expected strongest revenue growth in the company’s history.

MCOA strives to develop a comprehensive selection of synergistic companies that provides consistent value to its shareholders. Furthermore, its vertically integrated business model provides companies and partners with the best opportunities for rapid growth. It is MCOA’s attention to detail in producing premium products and adhering to the best business practices that distinguish it among the leaders of cannabis products in the global marketplace.

MCOA is building a portfolio of investments and joint ventures that represent the highest integrity and professionalism in the legal cannabis and industrial hemp markets. MCOA is a model for entrepreneurs and businesses that share its common goals and philosophies of not only creating value for investors but also creating an environment for businesses to improve the quality of life of customers through sustainable alternatives to many products currently on the market.

Partnerships and Investments

MCOA has partnered with and invested in a portfolio of companies operating in the cannabis sector. These include:

Cannabis Global Inc.

Cannabis Global Inc. (OTC: CBGL) is an emerging force in the cannabis marketplace with growing product and intellectual property portfolios. CBGL is marketing and producing Comply Bag™, an innovative solution for cannabis storage, transport, and tracking, and is also the developer and marketer of the Hemp You Can Feel™ brand.

Eco Innovation Group Inc.

Eco Innovation Group Inc. (OTC: ECOX) works with inventors and other professionals to nurture and catalyze the most innovative and impactful products and services and deliver those innovations to market. ECOX is dedicated to developing and commercializing successful products.

MCOA’s investment supports Eco Innovation’s cutting-edge extraction technology. ECOX’s extraction processes utilize a proprietary formulation to extract valuable bioactive compounds from cannabidiol (CBD) combined with plant-based materials to create a fluid and cost-effective output.

Together, both companies are positioned to identify and accelerate the development of new varieties of hemp-based products and distribute them worldwide.

Natural Plant Extract

MCOA owns a direct investment interest in Natural Plant Extract (NPE), which operates a licensed cannabis manufacturing and distribution business in Lynwood, California. NPE holds a Type 7 California manufacturing and distribution license, allowing for cannabis product distribution anywhere in the State of California.

Wholly Owned Subsidiaries

hempsmart™

hempsmart™ is a CBD company focused on creating and promoting the most effective, best tasting, and highest quality products on the market.

In 2021, hempsmart expanded into the global marketplace and announced a rebrand that featured a fresh take on its packaging and a social media campaign to engage customers via Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and more, which has now generated a new loyal group of followers.

hempsmart premier products include its Smart Drops (CBD Drops), Neuro Smart (Patented Brain Pills), and Smart Cream (Pain Cream) brands. These organic, plant-based products help to manage anxiety, pain and insomnia, without the inclusion of THC.

cDistro

cDistro distributes CBD brands, along with smoke and vape shop-related products, to wholesalers, c-stores, specialty retailers, and consumers in North America.
cDistro was chosen as one of the first to distribute Marley One, the first global functional mushroom brand, in collaboration with the Bob Marley Family.
The initial product offering will include a range of functional mushroom tinctures, including species such as cordyceps, lion’s mane, chaga, reishi and turkey tail, that offer a range of unique health and wellness benefits, from immunity and gut health to cognitive function and sleep enhancement.

VBF Brands Inc.

MCOA recently completed the acquisition of VBF Brands Inc., a fully licensed marijuana cultivator and distributor based in Salinas, California. VBF utilizes its own growing systems to produce desirable cannabis clones that are designed to assist growers by reducing uncertainty and enhancing the likelihood of a successful cultivation harvest. Cannabis clones carry the exact same genetic potential as their mother plants and have similar cannabinoid and terpene profiles when grown properly.

This subsidiary will immediately work toward increasing production at its Salinas facility, which also offers exponential growth potential with other nearby properties that MCOA has an option to participate in as part of the acquisition.

Market Outlook

Ongoing changes in U.S. state government policies toward cannabis are expected to cause demand for legal marijuana to surge. In addition, the number of indications for which medical marijuana is prescribed continues to increase. These factors are expected to rapidly boost legal sales of cannabis products. Furthermore, an anticipated federal legalization of medical marijuana in the U.S. will increase opportunities for this market.

According to a Grand View Research report, the global legal marijuana market was valued at $9.1 billion in 2020. Market size is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 26.7 percent from 2021 to 2028. That would put the market value at roughly $30 billion by 2025.

The report cites the growing number of countries that are legalizing cannabis as a driver for surging demand. It also points out the use of medical marijuana for various ailments is gaining momentum worldwide. Medical marijuana is prescribed for patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as Parkinson’s, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders. The demand for cannabis oil is also increasing rapidly, especially among countries with legalized medical marijuana.

Management Team

Jesus Quintero is the CEO and Chairman of MCOA. From January 2013 to September 2014, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Brazil Interactive Media Inc. Since 2011, he has served as a financial consultant to several multimillion-dollar businesses in South Florida. He has extensive experience in public company reporting and SEC/SOX compliance and held senior finance positions with Avnet Inc., Latin Node Inc., Globetel Communications Corp., and Telefonica of Spain. His prior experience also includes positions at Price Waterhouse and Deloitte & Touche. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from St. John’s University and is a certified public accountant.

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (MCOA), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.0012, even for the day, on 66,187,697 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 61.188M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.001/$0.0398.

Recent News

• Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) - InvestorNewsBreaks - Marijuana Company of America Inc. (MCOA) Inks Distribution Deal with Realize Hemp Drinks
• CannabisNewsBreaks - Marijuana Company of America Inc.'s (MCOA) Strong Financial Performance Reflects Successful Diversification Capabilities, Organic Growth
• CannabisNewsBreaks - Marijuana Company of America Inc. (MCOA) Carving out Market Share, Tapping Strategic Partnerships

Excellon Resources Inc. (NYSE American: EXN) (TSX: EXN) (FSE: E4X2)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Excellon Resources Inc. (NYSE American: EXN) (TSX: EXN) (FSE: E4X2).

Excellon Resources (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FRA: E4X2) has shared production numbers for its Platosa Mine project, located in Durango, Mexico. Highlights of the report note that compared to 2020, silver equivalent production has increased 25%, from 1.6 million AgEq oz. to 2 million AgEq oz; that number specifically comes from an increase in silver, lead and zinc production throughout 2021. For the fourth quarter, AgE1 production decreased 12% compared to 2020 overall. Despite that decline, the announcement noted that consistent throughput continued during Q4, which was the sixth consecutive quarter of more than 20,000 tons mined and milled from Platosa since Excellon restarted operations on the project in Q2 2020. “Our Mexican operations delivered records for mined and processed tonnage in 2021, along with the most silver ounces produced since 2013," said Excellon Resources president and CEO Brendan Cahill in the press release. “During Q4, we realized lower production than the very strong Q4 2020 quarter, primarily due to lower ore grades and partially due to seasonal impacts on processing and delivery schedules.  At Platosa, we continue work to assess 2022 mine plans and outlook.” To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/gqTat

Excellon Resources Inc. (NYSE American: EXN) (TSX: EXN) (FSE: E4X2) (“Excellon” or the “Company”) is a silver and base metals producer with precious metal exploration and development projects in Mexico, Idaho and Germany. Since being founded in 1987, the Company has been advancing a precious metals growth pipeline focused on creating wealth for its stakeholders by realizing strategic opportunities in the silver and gold markets.

Excellon is an active and influential member of the Mining Association of Canada (“MAC”). The Company implements a practical, best-in-class management system that addresses the safety, health, security, environmental and community aspects of its operations, per the UN Sustainable Development Goals. On each project, the Company incorporates MAC’s Towards Sustainable Mining Initiatives and other world-class best practices with the objective of constantly improving its safety systems, training and hazard recognition.

Precious Metals Growth Pipeline

The Company is advancing a precious metals growth pipeline that includes: Platosa, Mexico’s highest-grade silver mine since production commenced in 2005; Kilgore, a high-quality gold development project in Idaho with strong economics and significant growth and discovery potential; and an option on Silver City, a high-grade epithermal silver district in Saxony, Germany, with 750 years of mining history and no modern exploration.

Maintaining and developing this pipeline presents the Company with enhanced opportunities in the expanding precious metals market, which was valued at $193.3 billion worldwide in 2020 (https://nnw.fm/6nv5f). This market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of 9% from 2020 to 2027, resulting in an estimated $362.1 billion market size in 2027 (https://nnw.fm/6nv5f). Global market demand was calculated at 22,581.8 tons in 2020 and is expected to grow to 36,501.1 tons in 2027, achieving a CAGR of 3.5% (https://nnw.fm/6nv5f).

Excellon reported strong results in terms of both production and average pricing at the end of Q4 2020, including:

• Silver – 355,581 oz – $24.46
• Lead – 2,223,465 lbs. – $0.87
• Zinc – 2,452,728 lbs. – $1.21

Compared to Q4 2019, Excellon’s silver production increased by 37%, lead increased by 32% and zinc increased by 19% in Q4 2020 (https://nnw.fm/4C0P7).

Platosa Mine – Silver, Lead, Zinc – Production, Development & Exploration

The Platosa Mine is located 5 km north of Bermejillo, Durango, Mexico, on a 14,000-hectare property. The mine commenced production in 2005 as an underground operation and is 100% owned and operated by Excellon. The Company is mining massive sulfide ores rich in silver, lead and zinc from a series flat-lying massive sulfide bodies (mantos) in a carbonate replacement deposit system. Historically, the mining method was a modified room and pillar method, which transitioned to cut-and-fill in recent years and overhand-cut-and-bench in 2020. The ore produced from the mine is transported 200 km south for processing at the Company’s 100% owned Miguel Auza mill.

Kilgore Project – Gold – Exploration & Resource Growth

The Kilgore Project is located in Clark County, situated in eastern Idaho in the United States. The project area is 100% owned and operated by Excellon. While still in the exploration and development phase, the primary target on the 13,627-acre site is an epithermal gold system. The property itself has historical mining that dates back to the 1930s, with modern mineral exploration beginning in the 1980s. The Kilgore Project displays characteristics similar to Kinross Gold’s Round Mountain Mine, which has produced more than 15 million ounces of gold since operations began in 1977.

Evolución Project – Mineral Processing, Resource Growth & Exploration

The Evolución Project is located in Miguel Auza, Zacatecas, Mexico, and hosts a large gold, silver, lead and zinc epithermal within a 45,000-hectare property that is 100% owned by Excellon. The site includes a processing facility with a mill and flotation circuit which processes ore from Excellon’s Platosa mine. The facility has a capacity of 800 tons per day, with a 650 ton-per-day ball mill in operation and a second 150 ton-per-day ball mill on standby. Excellon is looking at opportunities for toll milling, expansion and economic study of the mineral resource and grassroots exploration. Importantly, the project covers an unexplored 35-kilometer strike of the Fresnillo silver trend, the richest silver belt in the world.

Silver City Project – Exploration

Excellon holds an option to acquire the 16,400-hectare Silver City Project in Saxony, Germany. Initial drilling results in 2020 confirmed the presence of a high-grade, district-scale epithermal silver system over more than 12 kilometers of strike. The Company is now focused on defining wider zones of mineralization (https://nnw.fm/jMah9). Silver City was mined from the 11th to late-19th century, until Germany moved off the silver standard in 1873. The deposits in the area were exceptionally high grade, with historical records indicating grades well in excess of 1,000 g/t silver.

Oakley Project – Exploration

The Oakley Project, located in Oakley, Idaho, is an exploration project with land holdings of approximately 7,000 acres. The project hosts gold-silver, epithermal hot spring-type mineralization at two targets: Blue Hill Creek and Cold Creek, and detachment-related gold-silver mineralization at Matrix Creek. The Company has granted Centerra (U.S.) Inc. an option to earn in to a 70% interest by, among other things, spending up to US$7 million in exploration expenditures on the project prior to May 2026.

Management Team

Brendan Cahill is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Excellon Resources Inc. He was previously Vice President Corporate Development of Pelangio Exploration Inc., a junior gold exploration company active in Ghana, West Africa. Mr. Cahill is a board member of the Mining Association of Canada, Group Eleven Resources Ltd., and Kore Mining Inc. He holds a law degree from the University of Western Ontario and an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto.

Alfred Colas is the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, he held the title of CFO of Arch Corp., a Toronto-based private-equity investment firm. Mr. Colas has over 18 years of experience in the mining industry. He is a sitting board member for a housing corporation affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. Mr. Colas completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Toronto.

Paul Keller is Excellon’s Chief Operating Officer. He has over 30 years of industry experience in mining and mine development operations. He previously served as the Senior VP of Major Projects and COO of Trevali Mining. He has experience in building mines from greenfield through permitting, design and operation. Mr. Keller holds a Bachelor of Engineering – Mining from Laurentian University.

Ben Pullinger is the Senior Vice President Geology & Corporate Development for Excellon. Ben brings over 15 years of experience in advancing projects from early stage exploration through to production. Most recently, he was Vice President Exploration at Roxgold Inc., where he made a significant contribution toward growing the 55 Zone at Yaramoko Project into a producing mine. Mr. Pullinger serves on the board of Orford Mining. He is a Professional Geologist (Ontario) and holds an Honors Degree in Geology from the University of Johannesburg.

Excellon Resources Inc. (EXN), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.7197, off by 3.8605%, on 65,160 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 65,096 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.7075/$3.90.

Recent News

• Excellon Resources Inc. (NYSE American: EXN) (TSX: EXN) (FSE: E4X2) - InvestorNewsBreaks - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FRA: E4X2) Releases Production Results for Q4, FY2021
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FRA: E4X2) Releases Results from Platosa Drilling
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FRA: E4X2) Releases Update on Company Operations, Explorations

LQwD FinTech Corp. (TSX.V: LQWD) (OTCQB: LQWDF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight LQwD FinTech Corp. (TSX.V: LQWD) (OTCQB: LQWDF).

• LQwD is the first publicly traded Lightning Network company
• In November 2021, LQwD launched its proprietary SaaS lqwd.tech, a Lightning Network software platform to lower transaction fees, more efficient liquidity, and seamless use of the global payments' infrastructure 
• The platform also helps complete transactions with lower wait times
• Since January 21, 2021, the Lightning Network has seen over 100% growth in multiple areas of development

LQwD FinTech (TSX.V: LQWD) (OTCQB: LQWDF), a Bitcoin Lightning Network company focusing on the development of institutional-grade payment infrastructure and solutions, has provided a corporate recap covering major highlights since the acquisition of LQwD took place in June 2021 and the creation of the first publicly traded Lightning Network company (https://ibn.fm/QdSVR).

LQwD FinTech Corp. (TSX.V: LQWD) (OTCQB: LQWDF) is a financial technology company focused on creating enterprise-grade infrastructure to drive bitcoin adoption.

LQwD FinTech’s mission is to develop institutional-grade services that support the Lightning Network and drive improved functionality, transaction capability, user adoption and utility, and scaling of bitcoin. LQwD is also securing a substantial position in bitcoin as an operating asset and will use its holdings to establish nodes and payment channels on the Lightning Network.

The Lightning Network is a second-layer protocol, sitting above the bitcoin blockchain, intended to facilitate faster micro-transactions and lower fees on bitcoin transactions, thus allowing mass adoption of bitcoin.

LQwD expects the Lightning Network to eclipse the patchwork of legacy financial networks that are used to move value today. The company’s software will make migration from legacy networks onto the Lightning Network easy and seamless. By onboarding more financial service providers, LQwD intends to grow the value of the Lightning Network.

The company, formerly known as Interlapse Technologies Corp., is harnessing new payment rails built on top of the bitcoin blockchain that are capable of beyond visa-level transaction volumes and backed by bitcoin, the strongest and most well-known cryptocurrency. These new rails, enabled by the Bitcoin Lightning Network, open a vast opportunity and market segment for digital payments and financial services on a global scale. LQwD aims to leverage its position as a public company to enhance trust in its products and services, and leverage its shares as currency for acquisitions, roll-up and growth, as well as to attract and retain top industry talent.

Product

The Lightning Network is a solution to massively scale the use of bitcoin for microtransactions globally, dramatically improving upon fees, as well as providing instant settlement times. The Lightning Network has experienced explosive growth and is expected to continue with the trend as usage increases. Well-known companies, such as Twitter and Square, have expressed their enthusiasm to incorporate Lightning Network into their platforms. The Lightning Network is scalable, global, open, inclusive, permissionless and decentralized. It is made up of nodes connected via payment channels, and enables off-chain, instantaneous and cheap payments at scale.

Upon launch of LQwD’s Lightning Network platform-as-a-service, users will be able to leverage the Lightning Network infrastructure to send payments instantly, securely and inexpensively anywhere in the world. Companies and service providers will be able to conduct Lightning Network transactions in bitcoin by integrating LQwD’s infrastructure with their business or web property. Connected businesses will be able to easily deploy, monitor and manage LQwD’s Lightning Network nodes with no or low-level technical knowledge required. The company fully expects Lightning Network to be a force for global change and to become the monetary exchange network of the future.

The Lightning Network, which is already built, functioning and growing, will advance bitcoin from a store-of-value to a global monetary network through payment utility. The company expects the Lightning Network will propel the growing number of active blockchain wallets to new heights, by increasing bitcoin’s scalability and lowering its fees for users. For coming generations, everything from wealth to experiences will be acquired and transacted virtually, and LQwD sees the Lightning Network as an enabling technology that can bring bitcoin to hundreds of millions of new users across the globe.

Market Outlook

Forbes in August 2021 noted that “private investors are funding companies that are building the infrastructure that will support future growth of crypto and digital assets,” and called public companies building cryptocurrency infrastructure “the hottest part of the crypto market.” While the first wave of investor interest in crypto firms was directed at companies catering to retail investors, investors have now shifted their attention to infrastructure builders, like LQwD FinTech. Forbes did not put an estimated value on the crypto infrastructure market but pointed out that large-scale adoption of cryptocurrencies will only happen when infrastructure is in place to support it. The larger digital payments market, of which crypto payments are a small fraction, is growing at more than 14 percent annually and is forecast to hit $154 billion by 2025.

Management Team

Shone Anstey is co-founder, chairman and CEO at LQwD FinTech. He has 20 years of experience in building complex technologies and has acted as technology lead for an industrial bitcoin mine and bitcoin mining pool. He is a Certified Cryptocurrency Investigator, and an advisor to the British Columbia Securities Commission. He is also co-founder of BIGG Digital Assets (OTCQX: BBKCF) and took that company public in 2017.

Barry MacNeil is CFO at LQwD FinTech. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and has more than 30 years of management and accounting experience with public companies and in private practice. His previous positions include director of both public companies and nonprofits, as well as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller.

Albert Szmigielski is co-founder and CTO at LQwD FinTech. He was formerly the Head of Research and Chief Blockchain Engineer at Blockchain Intelligence Group and VP Research at CipherTrace. He holds a B.Sc. in Computing Science from Simon Fraser University, and a Master of Science in Digital Currencies and Blockchain Technologies from the University of Nicosia, Cyprus.

LQwD FinTech Corp. (LQWDF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.2388, off by 12.1251%, on 94,079 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 94,079 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.2331/$4.00.

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Delic Holdings Corp. (CSE: DELC) (OTCQB: DELCF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Delic Holdings Corp. (CSE: DELC) (OTCQB: DELCF).

Delic Holdings (CSE: DELC) (OTCQB: DELCF) (FRA: 6X0), a leader in new medicines and treatments for a modern world, has announced that nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans who suffer from anxiety, depression and PTSD believe that psychedelic medicine, including ketamine, psilocybin and MDMA, should be available to patients with treatment-resistant anxiety, depression or PTSD. The online survey included 953 adults living in the United States who suffer from anxiety, depression or PTSD. Of those surveyed, 63% of those who have used prescription medications for treatment response that, while the medication helped, they still experienced residual feelings of anxiety, depression or PTSD; 18% of those who responded said the prescription medicine didn’t improve their condition or even made it worse. The survey also indicated that 83% of Americans experiencing anxiety, depression or PTSD would consider alternative treatments proven to be more effective than prescription medication with fewer side effects. “We are witnessing a silent crisis impacting people across the globe exacerbated by an ongoing pandemic, and the results of this survey should compel more medical professionals and lawmakers to support in-depth studies on the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic medicine," said Delic CEO and cofounder Matt Stang in the press release. “This promising family of new medicines has the potential to be more effective than traditional medicines with minimal side effects, giving people their best selves back. Our country's mental health crisis not only impacts public health, but also the economy — each year, untreated mental illness costs the U.S. up to $300 billion in lost productivity.” To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/cycWo. Last week, two legislators from Washington State introduced a proposal that would legalize psilocybin services in the state. The bill, dubbed SB5660, would permit individuals aged 21 and above to consume products that contain psilocin and psilocybin under the supervision of a state-licensed and trained psilocybin service administrator. Psilocin and psilocybin are the two primary active ingredients found in magic mushrooms. Individuals with certain medical conditions that render them unable to go to a licensed service center would be allowed to meet with facilitators remotely and be administered these products at home. Other individuals who don’t meet this criterion would be required to travel to a licensed service center. These developments bode well for the psychedelic industry’s march forward, and companies such as Delic Holdings Corp. (CSE: DELC) (OTCQB: DELCF) will not have so much work to do popularizing their psychedelic-based formulations since the public is increasingly becoming aware of the potential of these substances.

Delic Holdings Corp. (CSE: DELC) (OTCQB: DELCF) is the leading psychedelic wellness platform, committed to bringing science-backed benefits to all and reframing the psychedelic conversation. The company owns and operates an umbrella of related businesses, including trusted media and e-commerce platforms like Reality Sandwich and Delic Radio; Delic Labs, the only licensed entity by Health Canada to exclusively focus on research and development of psilocybin vaporization technology; Meet Delic, the premiere psychedelic wellness event; and Ketamine Infusion Centers, one of the largest ketamine clinics in the country.

Delic is backed by a team of industry and cannabis veterans and a diverse network, whose mission is to provide education, research, high-quality products, and treatment options to the masses. Its founders helped build the multi-billion-dollar cannabis industry and aim to do the same in psychedelics as it follows a similar path toward legalization. In its quest to advance the new psychedelic renaissance upon us, Delic has become the pioneer in its field, creating an ecosystem of opportunities by investing in cutting-edge ideas.

The Vancouver-based company was formed in 2019 to address the growing interest in psychedelic wellness backed by science. Delic was the ‎first psychedelic umbrella platform. It is currently a trusted source for those interested in ‎psychedelic culture, education, treatments, and more.

While other emerging companies focus on patent medicine and big pharma for substances limited by government regulation, Delic is blazing a unique trail. It identifies ancillary and fully legal opportunities like IP, new media, live events, ketamine clinics (with the ability to offer additional psychedelic treatments once legalized, and large-scale production and brings them under its big tent of resources and reach.

The Big Problems Delic Is Addressing

• Fifty percent of Americans will meet the criteria for a mental health condition sometime in their lifetime. The FDA has approved psilocybin therapy as a breakthrough therapy for depression.
• Every 40 seconds, someone in the world commits suicide. Ketamine has been shown to decrease thoughts of suicide significantly. In 2019, the FDA approved esketamine as a fast-acting antidepressant.
• Traditional palliative care methods do not eradicate end-of-life (EOL) anxiety. LSD and psilocybin have been shown to reduce EOL anxiety for terminally ill patients. Eighty percent of terminally ill patients with psilocybin sessions experienced significant reductions in depression and anxiety.
• Approximately 50 million people in the U.S. are addicted to some tobacco product. Research shows that psilocybin is helping people quit smoking.

The Delic Ecosystem

The Delic Ecosystem covers three main areas: media, health, and science. The media focus is educating and motivating the masses through a variety of digital platforms, like Delic’s Reality Sandwich digital magazine, a free public education platform providing psychedelic guides, news and ‎culture (1.4+ million page views in 2020 and 54k social media followers across all platforms); Meet Delic, the first-ever psychedelic wellness summit and the premier psychedelic wellness event based in Las Vegas (over 2,000 live attendees and 5,000+ email subscribers); and Delic Radio (over 43 episodes and 100k total streams). Delic has also been featured in numerous media outlets like Forbes, NBC News, The Joe Rogan Experience, Daily Beast, High Times, and The Dr. Drew Podcast.

The focus of Delic’s health operations is the most accessible psychedelic treatments that can help billions of people live happier lives. Delic does this through one of the largest ketamine clinic chains in the country, Ketamine Infusion Centers (KICs), a limited liability corporation formed under the laws of Arizona that runs three ketamine clinics located in Bakersfield, California, and Phoenix, Arizona. Its management team has over 15 years of experience in the clinic and medical space, scaling and operating over 20 clinics, with a plan to open 10 more clinics in the next 18 months. Together, these clinics have overseen 4,000+ treatments delivered to date.

The focus of Delic’s science operations is developing IP and advanced extraction and testing facilities that are the backbone of the legal market. Delic carries this out through Delic Labs, a licensed cannabis and psilocybin research laboratory based in Vancouver. It’s the only entity licensed by Health Canada to exclusively focus on research and development of psilocybin vaporization technology.

Founded by award-winning chemists, Delic Labs focuses on extraction optimization, analytical testing, and chemical process development to advance the cannabis and psilocybin industries. Health Canada gave it a Section 56 Exemption to work with psilocybin compounds, allowing the company to possess and research these products for development and quality control before they hit the market.

Latest Acquisition – Homestead Book Company

On March 4, 2021, Delic announced its acquisition of Seattle-based Homestead Book Company. Homestead is a legacy counterculture distributor of psychedelic media. It’s also the creator of one of the first self-contained psilocybin mushroom grow kits.

The acquisition of Homestead is an exciting one, as it shows how Delic is increasing accessibility to this nascent industry within regulated jurisdictions. Homestead has sold tens of thousands of mushroom kits globally and was one of the earliest distributors for High Times and many other counterculture publications.

The Homestead acquisition allows Delic to increase its product offerings on its website, Reality Sandwich, which recently hit a record for average monthly traffic of over 200,000 unique visitors and over 2.6 million active readers in 2020.

Market Outlook

The psychedelic renaissance is here. Just in time to help address the global mental health crises, plant medicines have the potential to help billions of people live happier lives. Thanks to university-led and FDA-approved studies, North America is leading the way in advancing an industry as psychedelics are becoming accepted globally for therapeutic, medical, and recreational use. Here are some statistics:

• 32 million people in the U.S. have used psychedelics at least once
• 17% of all American adults between 21 and 64 have used psychedelics at least once
• $500 billion is spent in the U.S. every year on prescription drugs
• $238 billion is spent in the U.S. every year on mental health treatments and ancillary services
• The anxiety disorder and depression treatment market is estimated at $16 billion
• $187.8 billion was spent in 2013 on mental health and substance abuse disorders

Management Team

Delic Co-Founder and CCO Jackee Stang was an executive at High Times, a leading counterculture publication that became the voice for the cannabis industry. The monthly magazine had a circulation of over 500,000 copies per issue. Its website attracted 500,000 to five million users each month by 2014.

Likewise, company Co-Founder and CEO Matt Stang was a previous owner and operator of High Times, a position from which he played an instrumental in legalizing cannabis in multiple states and launched the Cannabis Cup in America. After interacting with the cannabis community for two decades, he helped found Delic in 2019 as one of the first psychedelic corporations. He shapes the company’s vision and path using his expertise in branding, marketing, business development, and product viability.

Delic’s VP of Business Development, John Coleman, Ph.D., is a former president of Anandia Labs, a biotech company focused on genetics and analytics. Having experience in both science and business, Dr. Coleman is well-equipped to lead Delic’s business development efforts as it strives to enter new vertical markets.

Zak Garcia is the company’s Chief Marketing Officer. He was the former CMO of Bulletproof Inc., maker of the well-known Bulletproof Coffee brand. Mr. Garcia is a marketing and leadership strategist who helped grow Bulletproof Coffee to over $250 million in revenue.

Delic Holdings Corp. (DELCF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.1079, off by 4.0164%, on 96,431 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 96,431 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0983/$1.038.

Recent News

• Delic Holdings Corp. (CSE: DELC) (OTCQB: DELCF) - Washington State Bill Seeks to Legalize Medical Use of Psilocybin
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Delic Holdings Inc. (CSE: DELC) (OTCQB: DELCF) (FRA: 6X0) Releases Results of Harris Survey on Psychedelics as an Alternative Treatment
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Delic Holdings Corp. (CSE: DELC) (OTCQB: DELCF) (FRA: 6X0) Eyes Strong Outlook for Growth and Profitability

RYAH Group Inc. (CSE: RYAH)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight RYAH Group Inc. (CSE: RYAH).

A report recently released by Medscape shows that more than 40% of physicians in the United States suffer from burnout. Burnout not only affects individuals emotionally but also impacts finances negatively, with data from the American Medical Association showing that burnout costs healthcare organizations $500,000 to $1 million per physician. The cost of burnout also includes indirect costs such as decreased patient satisfaction, lost patient care revenue, higher risk of malpractice suits, medical errors and damage to the reputation of the healthcare organization. The pandemic has only made things worse, with stress becoming a severe issue for doctors these last few years. Furthermore, the CAPD system can also be used to improve workflow in healthcare organizations by eliminating extra tasks that providers have to deal with. As companies such as RYAH Group Inc. (CSE: RYAH), which specializes in enabling the switch to digital healthcare, increase in number, we will see more technologies that take the hassle out of many tasks in the course of offering healthcare to patients.

RYAH Group Inc. (CSE: RYAH) is a leading digital health care analytics and technology company with a mission to advance the world’s transition to remote-health solutions and data analytics in patient treatments. Through the company’s IoT dose-measuring devices and AI analytics, RYAH is reshaping understanding of the value of devices combined with data, to positively impact the future treatment of patients for various medical conditions.

The company is a leading developer of dose-measuring IoT devices connected with its turn-key platform designed to aggregate and correlate HIPPA-compliant data, suitable to all participants in the patient treatment cycle. The company also specializes in customized, fully integrated, mobile applications and APIs, specifically designed to meet the needs of clinics, clinical trials, government and university research centers, for experimentation and treatment validation – significantly reducing variations in patient-related trials. RYAH unlocks data in the complete therapeutic plant lifecycle – from seed to consumption.

Since it began developing and commercializing its smart inhaler solution in 2018, the company has evolved a complete IoT device and data analytics platform that includes multiple delivery mechanisms, designed to capture anonymous patient dosing and feedback, combined with detailed strain analytics, enabling customized dosing regiments. The company has secured numerous partnerships across the globe, including establishing a footprint in the UK, USA, Australia and Canada, and it has closed several deals in the European Union, as well. The company’s Smart-Inhaler has been selected as the dose-measurement, dose-control and data analytics platform for a UK pain management study and one of the world’s most ambitious and largest clinical trials ever to be conducted in cannabis.

Product Portfolio

The company’s current portfolio incorporates an ecosystem of IoT products, each consisting of three elements: the device, the medicine-carrying component and the mobile application. The product line currently includes a Smart Dry-Herb Dose-Measuring Inhaler in the commercial stage, a Smart Transdermal Patch in the production stage and a Smart Liquid Dispensing Pen in the prototype stage.

RYAH Smart-Inhaler

The RYAH Inhaler is the first dry-herb inhaler that allows users to track and control how much is inhaled, providing consistent and predictable results. This inhaler connects with the RYAH Health App, which features stat-tracking and presets for temperatures and dosages, all of which can be customized to individual needs and doctor recommendations, as well as a post-session review mechanism that allows the collection of session data and feedback for further efficacy analysis for customized dosing capabilities.

RYAH’s proprietary stainless-steel cartridges for the inhaler use QR technology that contains lab testing and grower information pertaining to the specific strain, thereby mitigating elicit product use and enabling completely transparent remote medicinal analytics, from seed to consumption.

In addition, the RYAH Cartridges provide a unique closed-loop recurring revenue opportunity for the company, as the RYAH Inhaler only works with this type of proprietary cartridges that licensed partners fill with medicine. The partners benefit from all the back-end data, providing them access to consumption habits, statistics and other data on patient preferences.

RYAH Smart-Patch

The RYAH Smart Transdermal Patch is a lightweight, reusable, mobile-controlled patch used for site-specific therapies. The Patch is an Electronic Topical Delivery Patch system intended for recommendation and administration by pain relief professionals and physical and occupational therapists. The patch data and the heating element is completely IoT and controlled by RYAH’s proprietary smartphone applications, which allows scheduling and ‘boosting’ medicine release, on-demand.

RYAH Smart-Pen

The RYAH Pen is an app-controlled liquid dispenser designed to provide a precise mix of up to three medicine components to create an ‘entourage effect’, enabling customized, wide-spectrum recommendation opportunities by licensed clinicians. The Smart-Pen will feature cartridges that contain CBD, THC and other isolates such as flavonoids or vitamins, or other solutions. There is a built-in mechanism designed to control usage based on recommended dosing schedules.

RYAH MD

RYAH MD serves as a remote and interactive patient-doctor collaboration and dosing administration platform. Doctors can remotely set dosage amounts for their patients, creating digital prescriptions for the RYAH IoT devices and tracking patient usage in real-time. RYAH MD offers features that include real-time monitoring, appointment booking, doctor-patient video calls and science-based strain recommendations, as well as promoting a better understanding of the effects and benefits of those recommendations among patients. Information is gathered from all of the RYAH devices.

PotBot App

The PotBot App is a medical cannabis education mobile application that leverages patented AI technology to capture structured and unstructured data to assist patients in learning about various treatments in plant-medicine based on their efficacy goals. The PotBot App is currently one of the top-rated medical cannabis educational mobile applications on the Apple App Store in the United States, with over 300,000 downloads.

Through the combination of peer-reviewed and empirical data, the PotBot App provides detailed information on the targeted and tested cannabinoid levels and associated strains from cannabis patients. The result is personalized and driven by data to inform patients of potential product matches associated with similar ailments and efficacy goals.

Market Outlook

RYAH holds a unique position in the $100.3 billion medical plant market, with the potential to capture and capitalize on growth opportunities made available by both the IoT and Data Intelligence sectors.

In 2018, the global IoT market was valued at $212.1 billion, and it is expected to grow exponentially to $1.3 trillion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 25.68%, according to Verified Market Research (https://ibn.fm/XtkPZ).

Management Team

Dr. Boris Goldstein, Ph.D., is the founder and Chairman of RYAH Group. He is a seasoned entrepreneur, investment banker and venture capitalist. He started his career as the founder of Software House HT, which grew into a worldwide corporation with over 40 offices in 17 countries. Since then, Goldstein has founded and served on the boards of directors and advisory boards for numerous companies in Silicon Valley and Silicon Alley. Goldstein brings experience in fundamental research, investment and technology, authoring multiple patents and books.

Gregory Wagner, MBA, is Chief Executive Officer and Director of RYAH Group. He has over 20 years of experience in global financial markets and entrepreneurship. Wagner has held executive roles in the United States and London. He has co-founded and built several startups from the ground up. His current licensures and degrees include FINRA Series 7, 63, 24 and 55, as well as an MBA from Fordham University. Wagner received a Certification in Innovation and Strategy from Harvard University.

RYAH Group Inc. (CSE: RYAH), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $, even for the day, on  volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is - and the stock's 52-week low/high is $N/A/$N/A.

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Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (NUGS).

Last week, officials in California announced that the state had allocated $100 million in funding for the development of local cannabis markets, which would initially be used to help marijuana businesses become fully licensed. The California Department of Cannabis Control distributed the funds to 17 counties and cities where there are unequal numbers of provisional cannabis licenses. Some funding was also directed to areas with established social equity programs. This comes months after the department’s announcement that it was accepting applications for the local jurisdiction assistance grant program. The entire cannabis industry in California, including players such as Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS), may be happy that the state is taking steps to ease the formalization process of entities that have been finding it hard to regularize their operations in accordance with state law. This will level the playing field for all concerned.

Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS) is an emerging leader in the U.S. cannabis marketplace as a publicly traded cannabis cultivator. The company is based in Los Angeles, with a 6-acre cannabis farm in Northern California called NUGS Farm North. The company’s vision is to acquire and scale assets in the legal cannabis market while achieving efficiencies through economies of scale and vertical integration.

Cannabis Strategic Ventures recently expanded its portfolio by completing the transfer process for cultivation, retail, distribution and manufacturing licenses issued by the City of Los Angeles and the State of California, and it is now working toward taking operational control of each license. The company also recently announced the upcoming grand opening of its cannabis dispensary, MDRN Tree. Following that launch, Cannabis Strategic Ventures intends to deploy another of its new licenses to establish an indoor cultivation facility with capacity to produce two to three pounds of premium exotic cannabis flower per light per harvest. The facility will have up to 1,200 grow lights and is anticipated to yield 5.75 harvests per year, bringing it to a total production capacity of over 15,000 pounds of cannabis flower annually.

Brand Portfolio

The company owns multiple brands under the Cannabis Strategic Ventures umbrella. The firm’s NUGS brand provides operational and financial strategic partnerships and a range of essential services to emerging and existing cannabis consumer brands.

The NUGS Farm North brand operates as a six-and-a-half-acre cannabis cultivation property located in northern California. The company believes that the key to success in its business is consistent quality and reliable supply to fit growing consumer demand. Cannabis Strategic Ventures addressed these consumer needs by building NUGS Farm North. At NUGS Farm North, the company’s process is customized, and its product is consistent. Located in the heart of an agricultural mecca for globally distributed produce, NUGS Farm North finds power in its product, not in its size. Decades of agricultural experience and a dedication to consistency ensure quality cannabis.

MDRN Tree is Cannabis Strategic Ventures’ customer-facing dispensary brand. MDRN Tree will open its first Los Angeles location sometime in the fall of 2021. MDRN Tree will be the company’s factory retail store – a direct interface with the end-market community – where Cannabis Strategic Ventures plans on showcasing the cannabis flower produced at its NUGS Farm North cultivation site. This farm-to-sale model offers the potential to drive simultaneous gains in quality control and profitability.

Market Outlook

The demand for legal marijuana is expected to surge due to ongoing changes in U.S. state government policies toward cannabis. In addition, the number of indications for which medical marijuana is prescribed continues to increase steadily. These factors are expected to rapidly boost legal sales of cannabis products, opening new revenue channels for producers and retailers. Furthermore, an anticipated federal legalization of medical marijuana in the U.S. will only present more high growth opportunities for this market.

According to a report from Grand View Research, the global legal marijuana market was valued at $9.1 billion in 2020. Market size is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 26.7 percent from 2021 to 2028. That CAGR would put the market value at roughly $30 billion as soon as 2025.

According to the report, “One of the major factors fueling market growth is the expanding demand for legal marijuana owing to the growing number of legal cannabis countries. (Due) to recent legalizations in different countries, the use of medical marijuana for various ailments is gaining momentum worldwide. Patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as Parkinson’s, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and many neurological disorders are administered medical marijuana. The demand for cannabis oil is increasing rapidly, especially among countries with legalized medical marijuana.”

Management Team

Simon Yu is CEO, President, CFO and Secretary of Cannabis Strategic Ventures. He is also a co-founder, former COO and board member of Clubhouse Media Group Inc., a publicly traded social media company. Mr. Yu holds an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (NUGS), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.026545, off by 3.4727%, on 386,699 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 386,699 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0201/$0.62.

Recent News

• Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS) - 420 with CNW - California Disburses $100M in Support of Cannabis Business Development
• CannabisNewsBreaks - Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (NUGS) Strengthening Position Amid Growing Support for Cannabis Legalization
• 420 with CNW - Colorado Governor Signs 1,300 Marijuana Pardons