Cepton Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN)

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

• ResearchAndMarkets forecasts a 21.7% CAGR for the global lidar market to reach $3.74 billion by 2026
• Cepton won the largest auto industry lidar contract to date from General Motors, which will use Cepton products in its Ultra Cruise package
• Cepton is well funded after its IPO and is in negotiations with world’s leading auto OEMs, as well as over 120 companies regarding Smart Infrastructure

When carmakers are adding hardware technology to a vehicle even though current software isn’t there yet to maximize the capability, a change is in the works. That’s what is happening with lidar, an acronym for light detection and ranging, that is becoming commonplace in advanced driving assistance systems (“ADAS”) with plans for mass market use one day in autonomous driving. According to Jun Pei, CEO of Cepton (NASDAQ: CPTN), that day is drawing closer, evidenced by widespread adoption by the world’s biggest car brands and Cepton’s support of General Motors’ (NYSE: GM) Ultra Cruise program, that we will see lidar in millions of cars.

Cepton Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN) 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 recent 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

Cepton Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $3.83, up 2.1333%, on 726,356 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 726,356 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $3.62/$80.16.

Recent News

• Cepton Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN) - Cepton, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN) Updates the Market on South African Joint Venture, Reveals Attendance at Investor Conferences
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Cepton Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN) to Serve as Official Sponsor, Exclusive Lidar Supplier of AutoDrive Challenge(TM) II
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Cepton Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: CPTN) Releases Q4, FY2021 Financial Results and Corporate Update

GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX)

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

GreenBox (NASDAQ: GBOX), an emerging and rapidly growing fintech company, has named INNOCEAN USA as its first advertising and branding agency of record. GBOX will be working with INNOCEAN to build global awareness of the company’s capabilities, products and services and create a world-class brand. Greenbox’s expansive, 360-degree campaign will include designing all brand assets and creating a strategic communications plan to be rolled out across a variety of different platforms. Greenbox offers a proprietary blockchain ledger and smart-contract token technologies the create seamless payment-processing solutions. The company’s solutions leverage digital-encryption keys to verify, secure and record details of every transaction conducted within the system. “No other finTech company has the end-to-end offering we do, coupled with the genuine moxie to believe we can change the financial landscape,” said Greenbox chief marketing officer Jacqueline Reynolds in the press release. “And no other advertising agency other than INNOCEAN has the expertise, disposition and is a better cultural fit for what will most definitely drive us towards achieving lofty goals. The process INNOCEAN laid out is exactly what I had in mind for our brand work. We’re already seeing how this relationship will breathe new life into our brand just in our preliminary meetings together. We expect bold, riveting, relevant and innovative creativity as we expand to a global footprint, catapulting us to the next level in the category.” To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/vy0Xc

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 $3.36, up 7.3482%, on 249,071 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 249,071 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.24/$20.78.

Recent News

• GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) - InvestorNewsBreaks - GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) Chooses International Agency for Global Branding, Communications Efforts
• InvestorNewsBreaks - GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) to Release Q4, Full-Year Report During Conference Call
• CryptoNewsBreaks - GreenBox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) Laser-Focused on Offering Best and Trusted Digital Payment Solutions

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX)

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

• Lexaria’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology provides faster delivery times, increases bioavailability, increases brain absorption, improves drug potency, reduces administration costs, and masks unwanted flavors
• The epilepsy research will compare the FDA-approved Epidiolex(R) to the company’s proprietary DehydraTECH-CBD formulation
• The global cannabidiol (“CBD”) market had an estimated value of $2.7 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $111.8 billion by 2030, driven by an increase in demand for CBD use in health and wellness industries

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX) (NASDAQ: LEXXW), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, recently announced that the first phase of its epilepsy research program, EPIL-A21-1, has begun. The research program will assess the seizure-inhibiting activity of cannabidiol (“CBD”) administered via the company’s proprietary DehydraTECH(TM) technology, compared to the only FDA-approved CBD-based seizure medication, Epidiolex(R) (https://cnw.fm/tNlxG). Epidiolex(R) is the first and only FDA CBD medication for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare forms of pediatric epilepsy — Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

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 $3.055, up 6.0764%, on 35,127 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 35,127 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.64/$12.50.

Recent News

• Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) (CSE: LXX) - Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Announces First Phase of Epilepsy Research Using DehydraTECH(TM)-CBD
• Lexaria Bioscience Corp.'s (NASDAQ: LEXX) Intellectual Property Portfolio Grows Following Receipt of 24th Granted Patent
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Announces Commencement of DehydraTECH-CBD Epilepsy Research Program

Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC).

The “Canada Gazette” recently shared a proposal that may allow more cannabis beverages to be bought in one transaction as well as modify how the marijuana content in drinks was calculated. This is something cannabis retailers, consumers and companies have been championing. The proposal will make a gram of dried marijuana equal to 570 g of a cannabis drink. This is a significant increase from the 70 grams of a cannabis drink authorities currently equate to a gram of dried marijuana. The quantity of marijuana beverages that those of age can possess will also increase to about 17 liters, from the current 2.1 liters. As the country makes progressive changes to its marijuana laws, companies that have roots in Canada and an international outlook such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) could give that market a lot more attention, benefitting the economy.

Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) is an internationally focused cannabis brand builder that leverages natural, cost-effective cultivation practices to supply cannabis derivatives to its diverse business divisions, including cosmetics, hemp textiles, and food and beverage. Flora Growth operates one of the largest outdoor cultivation facilities in the world with an aim of marketing a higher-quality premium product at below-market prices. By prioritizing natural ingredients and value-chain sustainability across its portfolio, the company creates premium products that help consumers restore and thrive.

Flora Growth completed the first traditional cannabis IPO on Nasdaq in May 2021. Although currently headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with plans to relocate its head office to Miami, Florida, the company’s base of operations is in Colombia, where it has built an extensive distribution network that includes Colombia’s largest distributors.

Currently, Flora Growth is organically growing market share for its existing brand portfolio (pharmaceuticals, textiles, cosmetics, and food & beverage) while seeking revenue-generating acquisitions that offer an accretive distribution network to amplify revenue growth.

Existing Brand & Product Portfolio

Flora Growth’s portfolio spans a number of verticals – each with a thoughtful brand designed to resonate with its intended end consumer. In line with the company’s mission, each brand prioritizes natural ingredients and value-chain sustainability.

Flora Lab S.A.S

Flora Lab is the company’s GMP certified manufacturing and R&D center focused on producing pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals for domestic and international markets. Its offerings include product lines that are private label, white-label, and custom formulas.

Through Flora Lab, Flora Growth has relationships with 1,500+ distribution channels, manufactures 63+ OTC products registered with INVIMA (Colombia National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute), and holds multiple GMP certifications enabling international export in an effort to leverage Flora Lab’s capacity to produce a wide range of CBD-infused products.

Flora Beauty

Flora Beauty is the company’s CBD beauty and cosmetics division founded by fashion and beauty industry icon Paulina Vega. Its current offerings include two CBD skincare brands targeting the U.S. and Latin American markets – MIND NATURALS and AWE. These lines exemplify Flora Growth’s socially conscious approach to business.

Currently, Flora Beauty products are offered globally through e-commerce, as well as through Falabella’s 111 retail locations across Latin America. The company is in negotiations with major department stores to launch the line in the U.S. and is also exploring opportunities in the U.K. and other European markets.

KASA Wholefoods

KASA Wholefoods is a Colombian manufacturer of food and beverages leveraging responsibly sourced exotic fruits from the Amazon. KASA has a $10 million+ distribution agreement with Tropi, Colombia’s largest food distributor, which has 130,000+ distribution points across the country.

Mambe, KASA’s leading brand, is already offered through over 980 distribution points across Colombia. Flora Growth expects this network to grow to over 1,200 distribution points in 2021, including one of Colombia’s largest coffee chains, Tostao Café & Pan.

Hemp Textiles & Co.

Through its Hemp Textiles division, Flora Growth intends to utilize its large land package and cultivation infrastructure to capture market share in the rapidly growing hemp industrials segment.

The company’s first brand through this division, Stardog Loungewear, offers a line of comfortable loungewear made from natural, organic materials. Stardog has been distributing globally through e-commerce and brick and mortar channels in Bogota since fall 2020, and the company intends to open U.S. brick and mortar locations in 2021.

Accretive M&A

Flora Growth is targeting transactions to complete the supply chain via key infrastructure to enhance its global distribution with the aim to compete on low-cost, high-quality inputs paired with premium brands that create business lines with robust margins.

To date, Flora has announced two major transactions.

Koch & Gsell (Acquisition)

• Amplify CPG portfolio’s revenue growth through leading brand, Heimat, currently with TTM revenues of $7.6 million.
• Leverage Koch &Gsell’s distribution network of 2,500+ stores to introduce Flora to the Swiss, European and Asian markets.
• Bring patented hemp cigarette manufacturing technology into new markets utilizing Flora’s high-quality cannabis.

Hoshi International (Investment)

• Equity Investment of €2 million into Hoshi to establish Flora as a preferred supplier to two EU processing facilities.
• Opens gateway for Flora Growth’s cannabis through international distribution agreements in the EU and U.K.
• Hoshi’s experienced team and increased access to the EU cannabis market to serve as a catalyst for revenue growth.

Cultivation

Key to Flora Growth’s expansion efforts is its cultivation strategy. The company’s Cosechemos farm, located in Bucaramanga, Colombia, is currently licensed to cultivate 247 acres of cannabis. Through three successful pilot crop plantings, the location has demonstrated a production cost of just $0.06/gram. For comparison, the average cost of North American cannabis (based on 2019 figures from Aphria, Tilray, Sundial, and Aurora) equates to roughly $1.89/gram.
Flora Growth is uniquely positioned to capitalize on Colombia’s favorable growing conditions, low-cost infrastructure, and affordable local workforce as it looks to ramp up its cultivation efforts moving forward.

Leadership Team

Bernard Wilson is the Chairman of Flora Growth. A senior financial professional, Dr. Wilson is the former Vice-Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and is the Chairman of the Founders Board of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He has also served as Chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce – Canada; and Member of the Canada/U.S. Trade Committee. Dr. Wilson draws on this experience to ensure Flora Growth adheres to effective corporate governance practices.

Luis Merchan is the company’s President and CEO. He is a proven executive with over a decade of experience in enterprise sales management, corporate strategy, merchandising and expense management, and customer experience. Mr. Merchan previously served as Macy’s Inc.’s Vice President of Workforce Strategy and Operations, where he managed the enterprise’s multi-billion-dollar P&L expense line for the entire 540 store portfolio. Throughout his tenure at Macy’s, he led various sales and marketing initiatives, including the B2B corporate sales team that was responsible for $160 million in annual revenue. Mr. Merchan obtained his Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from Pontifical Xaverian University in Bogota, Colombia, and his MBA from McNeese State University. He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Marketing Management from Harvard.

Juan Manuel Galan is a Strategic Advisor to the Flora Growth management team. Mr. Galan currently serves as a senior consultant to The World Bank. He is a politician and former senator of Colombia, serving three terms from 2006 to 2018 as a member of the Colombian Liberal Party. He is also a former professor at the University of Rosario and holds more than 20 years of journalistic, academic, governmental and parliamentary experience. During his time as a senator, Mr. Galan was a key leader, with 29 bills and 27 debates on political control, and 17 laws to his name. The most relevant of those laws was authoring the medical cannabis law that resulted in the legalization of medical cannabis in Colombia.

Stan Bharti is a Director of Flora Growth. Mr. Bharti currently serves as Executive Chairman of Forbes & Manhattan. He has more than 30 years of professional experience in business, finance, markets, operations and more, with a focus on the resource and technology sectors. To date, Mr. Bharti has amassed over $3 billion worth of investment capital for the companies with which he has worked and their shareholders. He is a Professional Mining Engineer and holds a master’s degree in engineering from Moscow, Russia, and University of London, England.

Javier Franco is the company’s VP of Agriculture. Mr. Franco is a master horticulturist with more than 25 years of experience in the design, implementation, and management of cultivation and propagation facilities of more than 30 species of cut flowers in Latin America. He completed his agricultural studies at Zamorano University in Honduras and later at an International Exchange Program at Ohio State University. Mr. Franco has directed technical, commercial, and research groups in the cut flower, fruit and vegetable markets in Latin America and has participated in the commercial development of new technologies applied in agribusiness. He has also led the agri-management of organic crops and certifications of Good Agricultural Practices.

Flora Growth Corp. (FLGC), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $1.91, up 4.3716%, on 392,076 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 387,929 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $1.31/$21.45.

Recent News

• Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) - 420 with CNW - Canada May Soon Change Its Cannabis Beverage Regulations
• Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) Writing the Playbook on M&A
• 420 with CNW - US DOT Proposes New Cannabis Testing Policies to Increase Accuracy

Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (NEO: MYCO) (OTC: MYCOF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (MYCOF).

While almost every individual will experience a traumatic event at least once in their lifetime, not everybody will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”). Research has found that unlike the general population, some groups do undergo experiences that make them more susceptible to PTSD. For instance, members of the military have some of the highest rates, at 38%, with 33% of ICU nurses and 18% of nurses also meeting the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies have now found that this disorder is also common in athletes, with estimates ranging from 13% to 25%. In their conclusion, the study’s authors stated that while their physical symptoms resolved on their own, athletes could develop this traumatic disorder even after recovering from the physical damage. They recommended that sports programs adopt screening for PTSD for concussed athletes. Other studies have also recommended that athletes receive proper mental health treatment after they have witnessed or experienced trauma, and there could soon be revolutionary mental health treatments if the psychedelic research and development being undertaken by companies such as Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (NEO: MYCO) (OTC: MYCOF) (FSE: ONFA) is anything to go by.

Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (NEO: MYCO) (NASDAQ: MYCOF) is a biotechnology and digital technology company aiming to transform the treatment of mental health disorders and addiction. Founded in 2020 on the guiding principle that there is a significant unmet need and lack of innovations in the mental health and therapeutic treatment environments, Mydecine is dedicated to efficiently developing innovative first- and second-generation novel therapeutics to treat PTSD, addiction and other mental health disorders.

Mydecine’s business model combines clinical trials and data outcome, technology and scientific and regulatory expertise with a focus on psychedelic therapy underpinned by novel molecules with differentiated therapeutic potential. By collaborating with some of the world’s foremost authorities connected by best practices, Mydecine aims to responsibly fast-track the development of new medicines across its platforms, ultimately changing the way we treat mental health disorders. The company seeks to bridge the gap between the needs of patients and what the mental health care system currently provides.

Mydecine Innovations Group is headquartered in Denver with international offices in Canada and Europe.

Research and Technology

The invention and development of novel psychedelic and non-psychedelic molecules for medical use is an important part of Mydecine’s research strategy. The company uses molecules found in nature as building blocks to create improved second-generation drugs. This portfolio of new drugs represents major improvements to existing natural products and synthetics, including enhanced safety, efficacy, stability and dosing, as well as reduced side effects.

The goal of creating these improved second-generation compounds is to enable safer, more effective treatments for patients, along with improved management of dosage and drug behavior for clinicians. Mydecine believes the multibillion-dollar market for mental health and addiction disorder medicines will soon be disrupted amid a resurgence of the study into psychedelics and data showing the immense benefits of these forms of medicine.

The company currently has four lead drug candidates which include various enhancements such as improved controllability, delivery mechanisms, safety, stability and shelf-life. The drug candidates are in clinical trials or in pre-trial stage as potential treatments to aid PTSD, substance abuse and smoking cessation.

Mindleap Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mydecine. The Mindleap platform is a virtual community that aims to foster the conscious and responsible adoption of psychedelic medicine into inner wellness. Users access the platform through the Mindleap app. Mindleap provides users with inner wellness resources to assist them in their daily mental-health journeys. The platform also seeks to support the conscious and trustworthy adoption of psychedelics into a widely accepted approach to mental health and inner wellness.

Market Outlook

The global smoking cessation market is expected to reach $63.99 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.9 percent from 2018 to 2026. The market for psychedelic therapeutics is in its very early stages. Estimates of current market value and forecasts of expected value in future years are all over the map. Market forecasts range from $6.5 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 15 percent, to more than $69 billion as soon as 2025, at a CAGR of 8.2 percent. What is clear is that interest in psychedelic therapeutic drugs is expanding rapidly.

Management Team

Joshua Bartch is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Mydecine Innovations Group. He is an experienced entrepreneur who co-founded AudioTranscriptionist.com and founded Denver-based dispensary Doctors Orders in 2009. He also founded a boutique investment firm that operated throughout the U.S. and Canadian markets. In 2014, Bartch co-founded Cannabase.io, the USA’s most significant and sophisticated legal cannabis wholesale platform.

Dr. Rakesh Jetly, OMM, CD, MD, FRCPC, is the Chief Medical Officer of Mydecine. He was formerly Chief of Psychiatry for the Canadian Armed Forces, retiring in 2021 with the rank of colonel after 31 years of service. He began his career as a general duty medical officer and flight surgeon and spent his final 20 years of service as a psychiatrist. He maintains academic appointments at Dalhousie University and The University of Ottawa. He is the inaugural CF Brigadier Jonathan C. Meakins CBE, RCMAC, Chair in Military Mental Health at the Royal Ottawa Hospital.

Robert Roscow is Chief Scientific Officer of Mydecine. As a geneticist, he has spent his academic and professional careers looking for valuable and unique medicinal molecules found in nature. His innovations were applied at Canopy Growth and ebbu, where he ran those companies’ genetics divisions. He has leveraged his expertise to maximize industrial production of cannabinoids in a pharmacological context, resulting in multiple patent filings.

Damon Michaels is Chief Operating Officer of Mydecine. He previously consulted for various hemp businesses through his company, Emerald Baron. Before that, he served as GM for ebbu, the leading multi-platform cannabinoid research and technology firm based in Colorado. He has held leading roles with multiple large brands throughout the cannabis vertical. He also developed a national snowboard brand.

Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (MYCOF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.084, up 8.2474%, on 385,492 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 385,492 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.01/$2.20.

Recent News

• Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (NEO: MYCO) (OTC: MYCOF) - Rates of PTSD High Among Athletes
• Following the Ukraine War on Social Media May Negatively Impact Mental Health
• Psychedelics Industry Sees Huge Interest from Pharmaceutical Sector Players

SPYR Inc. (OTCQB: SPYR)

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

SPYR (OTCQB: SPYR), dba SPYR Technologies, a technology company and its subsidiary, Applied Magix Inc., have announced Siobhán Ellis as a new member of the Applied Magix advisory board. Applied Magix develops and resells Apple(R) ecosystem-compatible products in the growing multibillion-dollar IoT smart home and connected car markets. Ellis is an expert in the smart-home sector and writes a blog that shares valuable insight and information about that space. In the announcement, she noted that few companies concentrate on Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem, with many companies diluting their offering to be compliant with other platforms. She stated that that Applied Magix has the vision to bring products to market that solve some of the difficult aspects of home automation. “Siobhán has been a great help by sharing her HomeKit experience and technical insights ever since she reached out to us when our website first went live,” said Applied Magix CEO Dr. Harald Zink in the press release “It is a great pleasure to see her on the advisory board. Siobhán will be essential as we reach out to more online influencers and look to merge and acquire more resources under the Applied Magix banner.” To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/4gFxJ

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 $0.03335, up 7.2347%, on 2,300,765 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 1.628M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.02355/$0.22.

Recent News

• SPYR Inc. (OTCQB: SPYR) - InvestorNewsBreaks - SPYR Inc. (SPYR) Subsidiary Welcomes New Advisory Board
• InvestorNewsBreaks - SPYR Inc. (SPYR) Subsidiary Names Seasoned Brand Veteran to Advisory Board
• SPYR Inc.'s (SPYR) Applied Magix Subsidiary Welcomes Former Senior Creative Director of Worldwide Marcom at Apple Inc. to Its Advisory Board

EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQB: EVGIF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQB: EVGIF).

EverGen (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQB: EVGIF) is a leading Canadian renewable energy company and Canada’s renewable natural gas (“RNG”) infrastructure platform. The company is focused on combating climate change and helping communities contribute to a sustainable future by acquiring, developing, building, owning and operating a portfolio of RNG, waste-to-energy and related infrastructure projects. “While EverGen is currently focused on British Columbia, its continued growth is expected across other regions of North America,” reads a recent article discussing the company. “RNG is produced differently than conventional natural gas, without drilling wells. RNG is derived from biogas, which is captured from decomposing organic waste in landfills, food waste, agricultural waste matter and wastewater from treatment facilities. This waste feedstock is supplied to an anaerobic digester, which contains bacteria that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. The resulting biogas is captured and cleaned to create carbon neutral or carbon negative RNG to be used by the existing North American gas pipeline grid… EverGen operates three projects in British Columbia. The company was incorporated in 2020 and went public in 2021, with its common shares listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under ticker symbol EVGN. In February 2022, EverGen’s common shares began trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the U.S. under ticker symbol EVGIF. The company is headquartered in Vancouver.” To view the full article, visit https://ibn.fm/kuJw0

EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQB: EVGIF) is developing Canada’s Renewable Natural Gas Infrastructure Platform, starting on the west coast in British Columbia. The company is combating climate change and helping communities contribute to a sustainable future by acquiring, developing, building, owning and operating a portfolio of renewable natural gas (RNG), waste-to-energy, and related infrastructure projects.

While EverGen is currently focused on British Columbia, its continued growth is expected across other regions of North America. RNG is produced differently than conventional natural gas, without drilling wells. RNG is derived from biogas, which is captured from decomposing organic waste in landfills, food waste, agricultural waste matter and wastewater from treatment facilities. This waste feedstock is supplied to an anaerobic digester which contains bacteria that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. The resulting biogas is captured and cleaned to create carbon neutral or carbon negative RNG to be used by the existing North American gas pipeline grid. By capturing these emissions and transforming them into RNG, then combusting into CO2, the overall greenhouse gases (GHG) impact is materially less potent than allowing natural decomposition to release methane into the atmosphere. Liquid and solid digestate matter is a byproduct of the RNG production process and is used as fertilizer and in other applications.

EverGen operates three projects in British Columbia. The company was incorporated in 2020 and went public in 2021, with its common shares listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under ticker symbol ‘EVGN’. In February 2022, EverGen’s common shares began trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the U.S. under ticker symbol ‘EVGIF’. The company is headquartered in Vancouver.

Portfolio Projects

Fraser Valley Biogas is one of three projects in EverGen’s portfolio. Located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, the facility has been digesting manure and off-farm organics since 2011 and was the first agricultural digester in Canada to produce RNG. The RNG generated through this project is part of a FortisBC program to supply renewable gas to homes, businesses and other customers. Fraser Valley Biogas also provides Abbotsford farms with renewable fertilizer via the digestate produced. EverGen acquired Fraser Valley Biogas early in 2021 and is currently enhancing and expanding the facility. These optimization projects resulted in record production during the month of September 2021, supporting the growing demand for RNG in British Columbia. Optimization activities contributed an additional 18% of RNG production for September and a 9% higher year-to-date production compared to the previous year. The facility produces approximately 80,000 gigajoules of RNG, enough to heat more than 1,000 homes for a year.

Net Zero Waste Abbotsford, a wholly owned EverGen subsidiary and portfolio project, is an existing composting and organic processing facility and RNG expansion project. The British Columbia Utilities Commission recently approved a 20-year offtake agreement between the facility and FortisBC, an electricity and gas utility. Under this agreement, FortisBC will purchase up to 173,000 gigajoules of RNG annually for injection into its natural gas system upon completion of an anaerobic digester project at Net Zero Waste Abbotsford. Once construction is complete, this project is expected to produce enough energy to meet the needs of more than 1,900 homes.

Sea to Sky Soils, a wholly owned EverGen subsidiary and portfolio project, is an existing composting and organic processing facility and potential future RNG expansion project which has been operating near Pemberton, British Columbia, on Lil’wat Nation land since 2012. The Lil’wat Nation is a key partner and supporter of the facility, which has employed a majority of its staff from the First Nation since inception. The Sea to Sky Soils facility processed approximately 160 percent of its forecast tonnage in the second half of 2021. In total, Sea to Sky Soils processed approximately 36,000 tons of organic waste in 2021. The facility is working with the Ministry of Environment to expand its operational capacity in 2022. EverGen has partnered with local municipalities – including Metro Vancouver and the municipality of Pemberton – for the delivery of additional organic waste to the facility. The facility is an important part of EverGen’s RNG infrastructure platform and serves as a source of valuable feedstock to support the company’s existing and future operations.

Market Outlook

A report from Global Market Insights states that the biogas market is projected to see significant growth over the next few years, driven by a shifting preference to utilize biogas to reduce emission levels from traditional fuels. Escalating RNG usage by gas utilities as a sustainable and low carbon alternative to supply heat and electricity in industries and buildings will further stimulate growth. RNG is increasingly deployed across the transport sector, especially for heavy vehicles and vessels, to abate GHG emissions.

Many North American gas utilities have set RNG targets of 5% to 15% of production by volume in 2030, compared to less than 1% by volume in 2020. FortisBC has a goal of including 15% RNG in its gas supply by 2030. EverGen believes this presents a potential C$16 billion+ opportunity for RNG producers.

Management Team

Chase Edgelow is co-founder and CEO at EverGen. He has over 15 years of specialized private investment, finance, and technical expertise in the energy and infrastructure sectors. His background is as a Facilities Engineer with Petro-Canada, independently managing energy infrastructure capital projects located in western Canada. He holds a Professional Engineer designation from the province of Alberta.

Mischa Zajtmann is co-founder and President at Evergen. He has 15 years of experience providing consulting and management for Canadian and American companies in the natural resources and energy space. He is a corporate securities lawyer who began his career at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. His J.D. is from the University of Saskatchewan Law School. He’s a member of the British Columbia Bar.

Sean Mezei is COO at EverGen. He has 20 years of experience in the RNG industry, having served previously as the president of Greenlane Biogas and as a senior manager at QuestAir, and founder and president of Dekany Consulting. He was a co-chairman of the American Biogas Council’s RNG working group for six years. He has been a Registered Professional Engineer in the province of British Columbia since 1994.

Natasha Monk is CFO at EverGen. She is a CPA with 12 years accounting, financial reporting, and tax experience in public practice and industry. She is currently a partner at Affirm LLP, where she advises and consults to a wide variety of companies in multiple industries across public and private sectors. Prior to joining EverGen, she worked at KPMG. She graduated from the University of Calgary.

EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (OTCQB: EVGIF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $3.12, even for the day, on  volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 300 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.78/$4.21.

Recent News

• EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQB: EVGIF) - GreenEnergyBreaks - Why EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQB: EVGIF) Is 'One to Watch'
• InvestorNewsBreaks - EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQB: EVGIF) Signs LOI to Acquire Interest in Renewable Natural Gas Facility
• EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQB: EVGIF) Is 'One to Watch'

StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) (OTCQB: STUPF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) (OTCQB: STUPF).

• StraightUp Resources is a mining acquisition and exploration company with flagship properties in Ontario, Canada, and an expanding international footprint
• Following on the acquisition of aerial digital magnetic survey data last year for its flagship properties, the company is preparing a summer work program that will include analysis of its data, identification of key geological targets, and geophysical sampling including a drill program
• The war Russia launched in Ukraine last month has driven some new interest in gold amid concerns about the war’s potential far-reaching impact as well and the immediate impact on Russia’s and the world economy as a result of growing international sanctions
• The Ontario exploration district where StraightUp’s property options are located has historically produced more than 30 million ounces of gold

The gold market has seen recent fluctuations between “war premium” highs over Russia’s assault on Ukraine and the fallout of expected dollar-supporting policies from the U.S. Federal Reserve (https://ibn.fm/cwVbI), although the resultant inflation fear-mongering appears to be easing somewhat (https://ibn.fm/oOsMh). Through it all, gold has maintained its luster for those who regard it as a solution for uncertain times, particularly Russia’s Central Bank, which has been driven to try to strengthen the country’s financial stability in the wake of serious economic sanctions imposed on Russia by numerous countries because of the war (https://ibn.fm/txwEh). The Federal Reserve may soon raise interest rates and end quantitative easing this month. Many expect that this tightening cycle will be accompanied by a recession as the economy slows down. So, what does the Central Bank’s tightening cycle mean for gold? The gold market will be positively influenced given that this precious metal performs even better during an economic crisis. It should be noted, however, that economic indicators do not signal a slump in the economy and even with the yield curve flattening, the economy is still above the negative territory. This means that if the Fed raises interest rates, a recession will not begin immediately after. But chances are high that the countdown will have started and the stocks of safe haven mineral miners such as StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) (OTCQB: STUPF) could see growing interest from investors.

StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) (OTCQB: STUPF) is a public company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in North America. The company’s flagship properties are located in the Red Lake Mining District of Ontario, Canada, renowned for over 30 million ounces of historic gold production. Other key projects extend into the neighboring Meen-Dempster Greenstone Belt of the Uchi Subprovince. The company’s management team is led by dedicated professionals, aiming to maximize shareholder value while employing modern exploration techniques and principles to achieve its goals.

The mission of StraightUp Resources is to maximize shareholder wealth through mineral discoveries at projects with robust potential, maintain long-lasting partnerships, and continue to focus on the acquisition, development and exploration of mineral resource properties in North America. The company’s objective is to continue to locate and develop economic, precious and base metal properties of merit.

The company’s 10,000-hectare (almost 25,000 acres) RLX Projects are contiguous to various Evolution Mining, Great Bear Resources, Pacton Gold and Dixie Gold properties. Its 2,000-hectare (just under 5,000 acres) Belanger Project is contiguous to Infinite Ore’s Fredart and Garnet/Arrow properties. StraightUp intends to conduct exploration on the RLX North, RLX South, Belanger and Ferdinand Gold properties located in the Red Lake District, a location touted as having one of the best metal-endowed greenstone belts in the world. The Bear Head Gold Project is located within the Meen-Dempster Greenstone Belt of the Uchi Subprovince, approximately 80 kilometers west of the Pickle Lake Gold Camp and 14 km northeast of the former gold mine, Golden Patricia. It amassed 620,000 ounces of gold at an average of 15.2 g/t Au from 1988-1997. The property is bordered by an Australian miner massive gold project. Known gold occurrences are already mapped on the Bear Head property, as are previous drill holes and results. Once the data is re-examined, an exploration budget and subsequent plans will be announced by the company.

Projects

Ontario’s Red Lake Mining District is one of Canada’s most prolific gold mining districts, renowned for its high-grade gold deposits. This is a mining-friendly, politically stable jurisdiction with a skilled labor force and infrastructure specifically built around meeting the needs of the mining industry.

RLX North & South Projects
At over 10,000 hectares, the RLX North and RLX South Projects represent a district-scale exploration opportunity. The RLX North and RLX South Projects are well positioned on-strike to the southeast of the district’s largest gold deposit (Red Lake Gold Mines – Evolution Mining). The project is adjacent to Great Bear Resources’ Sobel Project. Great Bear Resources is also in the process of evaluating the area for significant regional-scale structural controls and has proposed additional work on its neighboring project in the near term. These properties are highly accessible, with the southern boundary only eight kilometers from the paved highway into Red Lake, and can be accessed by forest service roads which traverse throughout the properties.

Belanger Project
Historic exploration work on the 2,000-hectare property has identified three significant surface exposures of gold, copper and silver. Early exploration work will focus on validating historic sampling results and following the occurrences along strike with a view to better understanding the nature and controls on mineralization. The property has excellent forest road access from the town of Ear Falls.

Ferdinand Gold Project
The Ferdinand property is situated within the southeastern extension of the Confederation-Uchi greenstone belt, one of the most metal-endowed greenstone belts in the world by square kilometer. It consists of 17 contiguous mining claims covering approximately 7,143 hectares (17,650 acres), located 13 kilometers northwest of the town of Slate Falls. Access is currently by logging roads, with forestry logging operations scheduled for expansion on the property. StraightUp recently completed a heliborne magnetic survey consisting of 1,994 line-km at 50m line spacings covering the entire property. The MAG survey was designed to provide geological and structural details of a 25km long southeast extension of the Confederation-Uchi greenstone belt along the Fry-Bamaji Deformation Zone.

Bear Head Gold Project
The Bear Head Gold Project comprises 31 mining claims totaling 1,944 hectares (4,800 acres) in the Meen-Dempster Greenstone Belt of the Uchi Subprovince, host to the Golden Patricia former gold mine, which produced 620,000 ounces of gold from 1988 to 1997. The Dorothy Main gold deposit owned by Ardiden lies only one kilometer from the Bear Head Gold Project. The Dorothy Main gold deposit holds noncompliant historical resources of 46,600 ounces of gold at 6.17 g/t Au. The company looks forward to adding the Bear Head Gold Project to its exploration efforts, with a work program to be conducted later in the fall of 2021.

Management Team

Mark Brezer is CEO, President, and Director of StraightUp Resources Inc. He is a successful businessman and holds a Geography/Geology degree from the University of Arizona. He has worked as a Project Manager and has overseen quality control, environmental monitoring and safety programs related to road construction. He has also held roles in media relations and marketing. He has been actively involved in the research and investment of junior mining companies for over 25 years. Time in the field and personal interest led him into extensive first aid training, and he is certified as a paramedic and firefighter.

Daniel Cruz is CFO and Director at StraightUp Resources. He is an experienced financial industry professional, having worked for 12 years as a senior investment advisor at Canadian broker-dealers, where he gained experience in equity research, asset management, investor relations, corporate finance and venture capital. He was one of the youngest Senior Investment Advisors at Canaccord Financial Inc. in 2010. He is also the co-founder and current director of Liquid Media Group Inc., a Nasdaq-listed issuer. During his tenure as CFO, he helped that company list on Nasdaq and raise over $20 million.

Matthew Coltura is a Director at StraightUp Resources. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Okanagan College, where he specialized in finance. He has worked in the finance industry for more than three years. Currently, Mr. Coltura is the CFO of Cayenne Capital Corp. He was also a director of PreveCeutical Medical Inc. from July 2016 to September 2019, a director of Sproutly Canada Inc. (formerly Stoneridge Exploration Corp.) from March 2015 to July 2018, and, since March 2018, has worked as a financial specialist at Quip Finance.

StraightUp Resources Inc. (OTCQB: STUPF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.1075, even for the day, on  volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 4,000 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.10676/$0.26.

Recent News

• StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) (OTCQB: STUPF) - Rising Interest Rates May Trigger Recession, Boost Price of Gold
• StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) (OTCQB: STUPF) Prepares Summer Gold Exploration Program in Ontario, Amid European War Era Instability
• MiningNewsBreaks - StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) (OTCQB: STUPF) Confirms Potential of Optioned Gold Properties

Nemaura Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: NMRD)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Nemaura Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: NMRD).

Nemaura Medical (NASDAQ: NMRD), a medical technology company developing and commercializing non-invasive wearable diagnostic devices, is positioned to offer innovative solutions to a rapidly growing market. According to a recent report released by the International Diabetes Federation (“IDF”), diabetes is “spiraling out of control.” According to the report, 537 million adults live with diabetes, a number projected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. In addition to impacting the health and wellbeing of patients, employers and insurers are burdened with diabetes-related expenses, currently estimated at over $966 billion – a 316% increase over the last 15 years. “Nemaura addresses this through its flagship sugarBEAT(R) wearable CGM device and companion mobile app that provides helpful disease management insights,” reads a recent article. “Unlike other CGM devices, sugarBEAT is non-invasive and doesn’t require insertion of the sensor inside the skin: Users can now choose the days they wear the patch instead of a prolonged continuous-wear period lasting up to 14 days. Combined with MiBoKo, the company’s recently launched metabolic health program, both products provide valuable AI-powered insights that NMRD management believes will benefit one-third to half of the diabetes market.” To view the full article, visit: https://ibn.fm/foKD5

Nemaura Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: NMRD) is a medical technology company developing affordable diagnostic and digital tools for chronic disease management. Its flagship product, sugarBEAT®, is a wearable, non-invasive and flexible Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) designed to help people with diabetes and prediabetes manage their glucose levels. Insulin users can adjunctively use sugarBEAT when calibrated with a finger-stick glucose reading.

sugarBEAT consists of a daily disposable adhesive skin patch connected to a rechargeable transmitter with a smartphone app displaying glucose readings at five-minute intervals for periods of up to 24 hours. One of the great advantages of the product, apart from the fact that users no longer need to draw blood samples or prick their fingers, is that a person can wear the CGM patch on whatever day they choose. Existing CGM devices must be implanted under the skin. Wearable disposability is a unique feature of sugarBEAT and a world first, opening up vast potential for changing the way people manage their chronic disease conditions. sugarBEAT received CE mark clearance in May 2019, allowing it to be marketed and sold within the European Union as a Class 2b Medical Device. The company submitted a premarket approval (PMA) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020 which is currently under review.

Founded in 2011, Nemaura set out to develop a single platform technology to measure blood markers at the surface of the skin. Since then, the company has evolved with the creation of wearable technologies and digital health care solutions that encourage and empower people to take charge of their own health and well-being. Nemaura’s skin surface blood monitoring technology has allowed the company to create additional products, which are in the pipeline, such as Lactate Monitoring.

Technologies

Digital Solutions for Weight Loss and Potential Reversal of Type 2 Diabetes

This is a digital program that comes with more than a decade of clinical evidence demonstrating excellent efficacy. The company has combined this with its glucose-monitoring platform to bring a product to market to help people with diabetes manage their condition and potentially reverse Type 2 diabetes.

Glucose Monitoring Solutions for Diabetes Prevention and Reversal

Over 420 million people worldwide are living with diabetes, and prediabetes cases total almost three times that number. Undoubtedly, diabetes is an urgent global health crisis. Combining clinical research with patient-friendly technology, Nemaura’s sugarBEAT product delivers a non-invasive, affordable and flexible method of blood glucose tracking for improved diabetes management.

Continuous Lactate Monitoring for Athletic Performance (Non-Medical)

Lactic acid is a key performance indicator for the body and a guide to how well muscles react to long term exertion and recovery. Well-trained athletes and those who regularly engage in sports are very efficient at faster lactate ‘recycling’ for extra energy (ATP). Nemaura expects to launch its lactate sensor to the sports and personal training market in 2022.

Continuous Lactate Monitoring in Disease State (Medical)

An increase in blood lactate levels is also a marker of critical disease states. Recent publications have indicated the presence of elevated lactate levels in patients with COVID-19 infection. Nemaura has developed a lactate sensor that is being integrated into the company’s platform, which will be submitted for regulatory clearance upon completion of requisite clinical studies.

Continuous Temperature Monitoring for Viral Infection Detection and Disease Progression

A person’s body temperature says a lot about their health. Several diseases, including COVID-19, are characterized by an increase in body temperature, so temperature monitoring is a vital tool in the detection, diagnosis and prevention of the spread of disease. Nemaura is expecting to submit this adaptation of the device for regulatory clearance in 2022.

Market Opportunity

Obesity and diabetes are two of the major drivers of the current chronic disease epidemic. According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are more than 463 million people living with diabetes worldwide. In the U.S., about 28,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes every week, and more than 34 million suffer from diabetes. Another 88 million Americans have prediabetes. Other industrialized countries show similar numbers based on their populations. In the U.K., 4.8 million people have diabetes, with another diagnosed every two minutes. In Germany, 9.5 million have diabetes, with almost half estimated to be undiagnosed and so at greater risk.

On average, employers and insurers spend more than $9,000 annually on health care for an employee with diabetes, compared to $1,600 annually for a healthy employee. In the U.S. alone, more than $760 billion was spent on diabetes-related health care expenditures during 2019. Nemaura is positioned at the intersection of the global Type 2 diabetes market that is expected to reach nearly $59 billion by 2025, the $50-plus billion prediabetic market, and the wearable health-tech sector for weight loss and wellness applications forecast to hit $60 billion by 2023.

Management Team

Dr. Faz Chowdhury has been CEO and chairman of the board of Nemaura Medical since 2013. He has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry, taking products from concept to commercial launch. He is sole inventor on more than 100 granted and pending patents and has authored textbook chapters on nano-biosciences for Wiley and Elsevier. He holds a master’s degree in microsystems and nanotechnology from Cranfield University, and a doctorate from the University of Oxford in nano-medicine and drug delivery.

Justin Mclarney is CFO at Nemaura. He most recently was the Senior Director, International Finance at Lands’ End Inc. He also worked for Office Depot as Senior Director of Finance for the largest business unit within the European group. Prior to that, he spent more than 10 years in practice, the majority of which was with Ernst & Young LLP.

Dr. Fred Schaebsdau is Vice President of Strategy & Strategic Alliances at Nemaura. He has more than 15 years of executive experience in the CGM, blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery industries, including time with Abbott Diabetes Care, as General Manager of Dexcom Germany and at Roche Diabetes Care, where he was Senior Vice-President, Head of Global Strategy and Business Development. The firm he founded is the exclusive distributor in Europe, the Middle East and Africa of UniStrip®, the world’s first generic blood glucose test strip. He is licensed to practice medicine in the U.S. and Germany.

David Scott is Director of Commercial Development and Licensing at Nemaura. He is a trained chemist with over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including deal brokering, marketing, strategic planning, finance, business development and acquisitions. He has also provided licensing training for a number of multinational pharma companies and training organizations and is the author of best-selling report Scrip’s Practical Guide to Pharmaceutical Licensing.

Nemaura Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: NMRD), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $4.0261, off by 0.319386%, on 7,836 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 7,836 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $3.51/$17.40.

Recent News

• Nemaura Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: NMRD) - BioMedNewsBreaks - Nemaura Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: NMRD) Bringing Valuable AI-Powered Insights to Diabetes Market
• How the Coronavirus Pandemic Has Affected Chronic Illnesses
• BioMedNewsBreaks - Nemaura Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: NMRD) Enters Commercialization Phase of Its Corporate Development, Recognizes First-Ever Revenues

Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (OTC: CYBN)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN).

Last week, legislators in Washington State advanced a budget measure to the state’s governor. This measure includes a proposal to allocate $200,000 in funding to be used to support the Psilocybin Wellness Workgroup to study the possible legalization of psilocybin services in the state. If the bill is approved by Gov. Jay Inslee, the workgroup will be tasked with compiling a report on psilocybin services opportunities and wellness as stated in the 2023 fiscal year budget proposal. Most of the focus on the psilocybin section will center on analysis and potential improvements that can be made to a Senate measure, which was stalled. The research and development work being done by companies such as Cybin Inc. (NYSE American: CYBN) (NEO: CYBN) has also partially played a role in educating the public about the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. It is not surprising, therefore, that the wave demanding policy reform has come when many of these companies have made headway in their research.

Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN) is a Canada-based life sciences company focused on the pharmaceutical development of psychedelic products, as well as the functional mushroom market.

The early-stage company boasts an experienced management team featuring industry veterans from pharmaceutical and consumer product backgrounds who have run multiple clinical trials and collectively helped facilitate billions of dollars in product revenues. The team is dedicated to the development of products and protocols within the psychedelic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.

In particular, Cybin aims to further build upon and expand its intellectual property (IP) portfolio, which is structured around unique psilocybin delivery mechanisms that target a number of different therapeutic indications. In addition, the company has dedicated itself toward furthering its research and IP within the fields of synthetic compounds, extraction methods, the isolation of chemical compounds, new drug formulations and protocol regimes.

Serenity Life Sciences & Natures Journey Inc.

The company’s business model is centered around its two core subsidiaries, Serenity Life Sciences and Natures Journey Inc., which comprise Cybin’s two-pronged approach toward delivering fungi-derived psychedelic and medicinal products.

Serenity Life Sciences is focused on furthering research and development of psilocybin-based medications. Psilocybin is found in certain species of mushrooms and is a non-habit forming, naturally occurring psychedelic compound. Research into psilocybin has shown positive results for the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, eating disorders, ADHD and other indications.

Natures Journey Inc. operates the Journey brand, which specializes in developing proprietary medicinal mushroom products that target and promote mental wellness, immune boosting detoxification and overall general health and wellbeing.

Partnership with the Toronto Centre for Psychedelic Science (TCPS)

Staying true to its axiom of being a research-first medicinal mushroom life sciences company, Cybin recently announced its entry into a strategic partnership with the Toronto Centre for Psychedelic Science (TCPS), with the goal of furthering its ongoing psilocybin research efforts and expanding Cybin’s psilocybin IP portfolio (http://nnw.fm/9EUkI).

“While there is evidence to support psilocybin as a treatment for certain indications, the Toronto Centre for Psychedelic Science is taking a clinical approach to prove or disprove the safety and efficacy of psilocybin-based microdosing through an open science approach,” Paul Glavine, CEO of Cybin, stated in a news release.

“We are excited to join forces with Cybin and to offer our expertise. A number of firms had approached TCPS, but Cybin demonstrated a superior commitment to high-quality research and integrity in product development. Our high standards for scientific rigor and transparency will find a fitting home within the culture Cybin is cultivating in Canada and abroad,” Thomas Anderson, co-founder of the Toronto Centre for Psychedelic Science, added.

Journey’s Product Monetization & Market Potential for Nutraceutical Supplements

Although Cybin is at the forefront of companies seeking to conduct clinical trials aimed at gaining regulatory approval for psilocybin and other psychedelic products, the company has also placed a great deal of emphasis on generating meaningful revenue from its very outset.

Cybin’s Journey brand has is launching a range of supplements comprised of popular fungi-derived ingredients such as Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. Purported to aid focus and concentration while promoting neurogenesis, Journey’s range of nutraceutical products provides Cybin with a crucial foothold within the non-psychedelic legal supplement market, which is valued at over $25 billion globally and growing at a 9% year-over-year rate.

Pharmaceutical Psychedelics

In addition to the company’s range of non-psychedelic supplements, Cybin has plans to carry out a clinical trial with a new delivery system for its psilocybin-based medications later this year. Ultimately, the company aims to enter into technology transfer agreements with global pharmaceutical companies after phase 1 & phase 2 clinical trials are complete in order to accelerate regulatory approvals in major indications in global markets with entire lifecycle product management.

With products such as psilocybin truffles already legal in nations such as the Netherlands, Jamaica and Bulgaria, Cybin has positioned itself to capitalize on an eventual legalization of psychedelic mushroom-derived products in the future. Working within a regulatory environment with strong similarities to that which dealt with cannabis prior to the industry’s eventual legalization by the Canadian government in 2018, Cybin is laying the groundwork for the moment pharmaceutical psychedelics gain acceptance in North America and abroad.

Amalgamation Agreement and Financing

Cybin recently announced its entry into an amalgamation agreement dated June 26, 2020, with Clarmin Explorations Inc. (TSX.V: CX) and 2762898 Ontario Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Clarmin (http://nnw.fm/w04LH). Completion of the transactions contemplated in the amalgamation agreement will result in the reverse takeover of Clarmin by Cybin.

In connection with the proposed transaction, Cybin plans to complete a “best-efforts” brokered private placement of subscription receipts of Cybin, with a syndicate of agents co-led by Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. (Stifel GMP) and Eight Capital, to raise a minimum of C$14 million ($10 million) and a maximum of C$21 million ($15 million), with a 15% agents’ option.

To date, Cybin has raised approximately C$10,400,000 through an initial financing round and its series A financing round.

Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.8099, off by 0.012346%, on 899,771 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 893,280 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.76/$3.38.

Recent News

• Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN) - Washington State Lawmakers Allocate $200K to Psilocybin Research
• PsychedelicNewsBreaks - Cybin Inc. (NYSE American: CYBN) (NEO: CYBN) Planning Pilot Study of CYB004, Pursuing Multiple Opportunities to Secure, Support Patent Position for R&D
• Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN) on Leading Edge of Development of Psychedelics as Public Support Grows

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 has recently deployed additional routing nodes in Europe, namely in Italy, Sweden, Ireland, England and France
• Since the US-West deployment in November 2021, LQwD has seen 157 nodes interconnected with more than 158 transaction channels over 10 Bitcoin through all channels
• Arcane Research predicts that there will be as many as 700 million Lightning Network users by 2030
• The global cryptocurrency market is expected to reach US$4.94 billion by 2030

LQwD FinTech Corp. (TSX.V: LQWD) (OTCQB: LQWDF), an emerging technology company developing payment infrastructure for the Bitcoin Lightning Network, has announced the deployment of additional European routing nodes. The company's available European routing nodes include Italy, Sweden, England, Ireland, France, and Germany. Europe contains approximately 43% of all Lightning Network nodes — second to North America.

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 $0.18445, off by 1.0727%, on 18,500 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 18,500 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.133/$4.00.

Recent News

• LQwD FinTech Corp. (TSX.V: LQWD) (OTCQB: LQWDF) - LQwD FinTech Corp. (TSX.V: LQWD) (OTCQB: LQWDF) Launches New European Routing Nodes, Now Providing Nine Active Nodes on Lightning Network
• InvestorNewsBreaks - LQwD FinTech Corp. (TSX.V: LQWD) (OTCQB: LQWDF) Deploys Additional European LN Routing Nodes
• LQwD FinTech Corp. (TSX.V: LQWD) (OTCQB: LQWDF) Launches Indonesian Lightning Network Node; Sees Growth Across All Active Nodes

Friendable Inc. (FDBL)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Friendable Inc. (FDBL).

Friendable (OTC: FDBL), a mobile technology and marketing company, has announced that its Fan Pass Live and 360 artist platform has reached more than 111,000 music artist sign-ups and registrations. In addition, the company was featured in an exclusive article in this month’s XLIVE publication. XLIVE showcases top experts and companies in the event space along with those developing fan experiences designed to create deeper connections and lasting memories. “Having been contacted by XLIVE for an interview was a very welcomed opportunity,” said Friendable CEO Robert A. Rositano Jr. in the press release. “Their industry knowledge and understanding of the evolving landscape as it relates to artists, their performances and how careers are being launched and managed in this new digital age is paramount. I’m grateful for the opportunity and believe our current market position as well as the opportunity for our platform and 360 solutions have been framed very nicely in the XLIVE article below and look forward to having more artists, fans, and the music industry specifically take notice as our business continues to grow on all fronts.” To view the XLIVE article, visit https://ibn.fm/qCvZk. To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/XBRIR

Friendable Inc. (FDBL) is a mobile technology and marketing company focused on connecting and engaging users through its proprietary mobile and desktop applications. Launched July 24, 2020, the company’s flagship offering is designed to help artists engage with their fans around the world and earn revenue while doing so. The livestreaming platform supports artists at all levels, providing exclusive artist content ‘Channels’, LIVE event streaming, promotional support, fan subscriptions and custom merchandise designs, all of which serve as revenue streams for each artist.

With Fan Pass, artists can offer exclusive content channels to their fans, who can use their smartphones to gain access to their favorite artists, as well as an all-access pass to all artists on the platform. Additionally, the Fan Pass team will deploy social broadcasters to capture exclusive VIP experiences, interviews and behind-the-scenes content featuring their favorite artists – all available to fan subscribers on a free trial basis. Subscriptions are billed monthly at $3.99, or about the cost of downloading a couple of songs, and VIP experiences are available at a fraction of the cost of traditional face-to-face meetups.

Friendable Inc. was founded by Robert A. Rositano Jr. and Dean Rositano, two brothers with over 27 years of experience working together on technology-related ventures.

The Fan Pass Mobile & Desktop App

Friendable Inc. launched its Fan Pass platform as a solution for artists and their fans as the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated shutdown have continued to severely hamstring the entertainment industry as a whole. Through Fan Pass, the company aims to reach artists at all levels looking to alter their touring schedules to include ‘Virtual Touring’, new revenue sources and innovative fan engagement opportunities that are expected to become permanent fixtures of artists’ touring routines moving forward.

Fan Pass creates an ecosystem that embraces fans of all kinds, feeding diehard followers and developing lasting connections with more casual supporters. Through the app, qualified artists are provided with a custom designed, exclusive ’Fan Pass Channel’ where they can invite fans and social followers from anywhere around the world to join in chats and live events – allowing fans to experience all there is to see of an artist in one place. Artists earn revenue from monthly fan subscribers, merchandise sales, tickets sold for virtual streaming events and generally from all content views or impressions on their channels. All content views and sales of every kind are reported to each artist through their dashboards, including real-time payout and earnings information.

Fan Pass’ exclusive ‘All Access VIP’ option provides fans with access to content, such as:

• Live performances or online concerts
• Backstage meetups before, during or after events
• Livestreams of studio sessions
• Behind-the-scenes footage of music video and photo shoots
• Special interviews and one-on-one videos
• Streams highlighting the artists’ daily lives

The Fan Pass platform is extremely intuitive, bringing each artist through a streamlined onboarding process, including building out artist ‘Channels’, scheduling LIVE events and designing special edition merchandise to be offered solely through exclusive Fan Pass merchandise stores.

“With the global pandemic disrupting the entertainment industry in such a profound way, artists have had to look to digital distribution and live virtual performances in order to maintain any earning opportunities. Fan Pass and our team are determined to provide solutions and support to all artists, their fans and the industry in general. We are excited about the opportunity we have to shape the future of virtual entertainment, revenue generation and artist/fan engagement,” Robert A. Rositano Jr., CEO of Friendable Inc., stated in a news release.

Market Opportunity

Artists rely heavily on revenue streams that are not often seen by those without intimate industry knowledge. When it comes to traditional performances, the sale of VIP/backstage or meet & greet passes to boost revenue can often become the majority of the artist’s annual tour revenue. Data provided by one of the company’s original entertainment partners, The Kluger Agency (TKA), suggests that as much as 18-23% of artists’ annual tour revenue has historically been derived from these VIP experiences.

The World Economic Forum reports that, in 2020, the six-month-plus disappearance of live music concerts is estimated to have cost “the industry more than $10 billion in sponsorships,” and individual artists are feeling the loss the most. Fan Pass is helping to bridge this gap, providing more affordable virtual VIP experiences that can be offered simultaneously to fans around the world.

While it’s free for artists to join, Fan Pass leverages a monthly subscription model paid by fans to generate revenues. These revenues are shared with all channel artists. In exchange for its platform features, live streaming tools, bandwidth, processing and handling, Fan Pass earns platform fees on each separately ticketed event, as well as splits with each artist on subscriber fees and merchandise designed and sold on the platform.

The U.S. video streaming industry is expected to hit $7.08 billion in value in 2021, with an estimated 100 million internet users watching online video content every day, according to data from Livestream.com. The same report suggests that 45% of live video audiences would pay for exclusive, on-demand video from a favorite team, speaker or performer. Through Fan Pass, Friendable Inc. is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this opportunity.

Friendable App

The company’s second application, Friendable, is an all-inclusive platform where users can meet, chat and date. The app has exceeded 1.5 million total downloads, with over 900,000 historical registered users and more than 580,000 historical user profiles.

Friendable Inc.’s Next Phase of Growth

To facilitate its next phase of growth, Friendable Inc. is seeking an additional $1 million in equity investment, with a follow-on funding that meets or exceeds $5 million. The company intends to utilize its relationships to secure the lowest cost of capital available, as these funds will drive technology advancements, increase head count, fund marketing initiatives and secure additional celebrity talent aimed at bringing larger fan audiences to each released event. These initiatives will assist in building recurring monthly (fan) subscribers, effectively generating recurring monthly revenue for each artist, as well. The next phase of growth is expected to play a key role in accelerating the company’s download and conversion of data for subscription revenue and merchandise sales.

The company’s primary goal is to establish Fan Pass as a premier brand and mobile platform dedicated to connecting and engaging users around the world. In support of this goal, it has entered into a partnership with Brightcove targeting OTT platform expansion, including leaders such as iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku and WWW.

In the highly competitive video streaming market, Friendable Inc. has tapped into an unmet demand from today’s ever-present ‘omni-users’ for constant contact with celebrities and influencers. Via Fan Pass, the company offers investors an opportunity to gain a stake in an organization catering to this new breed of omni-users and their influencers.

The application’s potential is clearly illustrated by the interest it has generated in recent weeks. From September 4 to October 12, the Fan Pass platform added 246 new artists, accounting for a 410 percent increase in just six weeks.

“We are extremely encouraged by the ongoing swell of interest as the value of our Fan Pass platform continues to resonate in the artist community,” Friendable CEO Robert A. Rositano Jr. stated in a news release. “We believe the live streaming functionality, our full-circle offering and diverse revenue opportunities the platform offers will continue to drive exponential growth as management remains focused on building long-term shareholder value.”

Management Team

Robert A. Rositano Jr. is the co-founder and CEO of Friendable Inc. He oversees the daily management and operational duties of all areas of the business. He has over 20 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur, bringing in over $60 million in liquidity events for the companies he has created or managed. Before starting Friendable Inc. with his brother, Rositano was a founding member of the internet’s first IPO, Netcom Online Communications Inc. It was sold to ICG, then to EarthLink in 1995. He has been a co-founder of several successful ventures, including Simply Internet Inc., Nettaxi.com and America’s Biggest Inc., among others. He also authored one of the first web directories for MacMillan Publishers.

Dean Rositano is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Friendable Inc. He handles the day-to-day operations and guides the technical direction of the company. He has over 15 years of executive management, financial management, high technology operations and internet architecture experience. Before co-founding Friendable Inc., Rositano co-founded several other companies, including Checkmate Mobile Inc. and Latitude Venture Partners LLC, among others.

Friendable Inc. (FDBL), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.0012, off by 12.7273%, on 134,510,589 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 107.705M and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0008/$0.0348.

Recent News

• Friendable Inc. (FDBL) - InvestorNewsBreaks - Friendable Inc. (FDBL) Fan Pass Platform Now Includes 111,000 Artists, Spotlighted in XLIVE Article
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Friendable Inc. (FDBL) Creating 360-Degree Music Experience for Artists Worldwide
• Friendable Inc. (FDBL) Shares Month-Over-Month Growth; Reports Key Metrics and Trending Growth Indicators for Fan Pass Live, Artist Republik, and FeaturedX