XPEL Case Study

Lottery.com

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Lottery.com.

Lottery.com, a leading platform that enables users to play the lottery online, announced that WinTogether Trust, the company’s charitable sweepstakes platform, is partnering with Countable Corp. in a new charitable giving strategy. WinTogether is an affiliate of Lottery.com, which is on schedule to become a publicly listed company through a definitive agreement with Trident Acquisitions (NASDAQ: TDAC, TDACU, TDACW), a special purpose acquisition company. To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/FtayR

Lottery.com is a next generation platform where consumers can play the lottery online – in browser or via smartphone app. The platform offers users access to official lottery games sanctioned by their individual states and also provides lottery data to more than 400 digital publishers, including Google and Amazon Alexa.

Lottery.com was founded in 2015, launching at the LAUNCH festival and soon turning into a leader in the industry. With headquarters in Austin, Texas, the company is dedicated to helping advance the lottery industry into the digital age and works closely with state regulatory bodies to achieve this goal.

The company recently entered into a definitive agreement for a business combination with special purpose acquisition company Trident Acquisitions Corp. (NASDAQ: TDAC) (“Trident”), which will result in Lottery.com becoming a publicly listed company. Once the transaction is complete, the combined company will be trademarked as Lottery.com, with its common stock to remain listed on Nasdaq under ticker symbol ‘LTRY’.

Lottery.com Online Platform

The Lottery.com online platform works closely with state regulators, advancing the lottery into the digital age. With the online platform, the company offers enhanced regulatory capabilities by leveraging innovative blockchain technology and capturing the untapped market of digitally native players.

Players go online in a browser or through a mobile application to use the interface. The process includes:

• Players Choose a Game: Players can play officially state sanctioned multi-state games and other games offered in the states in which they live. Players can also find winning numbers, jackpot totals, draw dates and more for hundreds of other lottery games around the world.
• Players Pick Numbers: Players can play their lucky numbers or do a quick pick of randomized numbers in as simple as two taps. “Tap, Tap, Ticket!”
• A Safe and Secure Way to Play: Purchases for up to 50 tickets can be made at one time through the online interface. Lottery.com handles everything after purchase, letting users know when they win.
• Collect All Winnings: Consumers keep 100% of their winnings. All winnings stay in the Lottery.com balance for future ticket purchases, or a cashout can be requested. Company representatives contact winners who hit big jackpots, instructing them on the redemption process.

A Better Way to Play the Lottery

Lottery.com has an innovative e-commerce platform that is using blockchain to maintain an accurate ledger. From 2016 to 2020, Lottery.com grew gross revenue at a CAGR of 363%, and it forecasts gross revenue equal to approximately $71 million in 2021, $279 million in 2022, and $571 million in 2023.

Lottery.com is leveraging a successful playbook, with $398 billion in global lottery sales but only 6.7% online penetration. The large market opportunity is expected to shift to online transactions within the next decade.

The platform is currently available in 12 states across the United States, and the company plans to expand to 34 by the end of 2023. Global expansion is also on the horizon, with partnership plans in Turkey and Ukraine.

Key features that make the Lottery.com experience unique include:

• All the Games Users Love – For consumers who live in applicable LIVE states, Powerball and Mega Millions are available right from the mobile application.
• Convenience – Lottery.com makes playing the lottery on mobile devices easy. After setting up an account, users can begin playing in moments or set reminders to play when the jackpot is high.
• Easy Cashouts – Users can cash out winnings straight to a bank account, safely and securely, with no commissions.

The company is also gamifying charitable giving, fundamentally changing how nonprofits engage with donors and raise funds. WinTogether.org is a platform designed to offer charitable donation sweepstakes to incentivize donors to take action by offering large cash prizes and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Strong Advisory Board Presence

Lottery.com is expected to continue to gain support, leaning on the experience of its advisory board and notable investors from the venture capital, gaming and entertainment industries. These include:

• Jason Robins, CEO of DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG)
• Ben Narasin, Venture Partner of NEA
• Peter Diamandis, Chairman of XPRIZE Foundation
• Matthew Le Merle, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Fifth Era and Keiretsu Capital
• Paraag Marathe, President of Enterprises and EVP of Football Operations for the San Francisco 49ers
• Jamie Gold, The Poker Philanthropist

Management Team

Tony DiMatteo is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lottery.com. He is a serial entrepreneur and highly sought-after industry speaker and thought leader. He has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, VentureBeat, TechCrunch Inc. and more for his approach to entrepreneurship, the gaming industry and cryptocurrency.

Matt Clemenson is the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Lottery.com. He is responsible for the company’s strategy. Mr. Clemenson was steeped in corporate and enterprise engineering processes at Hotwire and Expedia before going on to be CEO at LesConcierges, the world’s largest concierge company, which merged into John Paul and sold to Accor Hotels. Clemenson and DiMatteo have been partners for more than 10 years.

Ryan Dickinson is the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. He has a diverse background in business, technology, product, design and sales, which has aided him in producing many successful outcomes throughout his career. Notably, as Senior Vice President of a SaaS company, Mr. Dickinson produced profitability from a negative $1.4 million division within the first year by reinventing the product offerings, streamlining processes and establishing a go-to-market strategy. Additionally, he produced three record breaking revenue years in a row for AccuWeather, the world’s largest weather provider, by increasing every KPI for all flagship properties by no less than 5%.

Luc Vanhal is the company’s Chief Financial Officer. He has served in C-level executive roles since the 1990s, including a nine-year tenure for The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) from 1990 to 1999. From 2001 to 2004, he managed the development of the World of Warcraft massively multiplayer game, which, by the end of 2020, still had over five million active subscribers. As the CFO of Lottery.com, Mr. Vanhal leads the company’s global finance organization, with treasury responsibility, accounting, analysis and financial planning.

Recent News

• InvestorNewsBreaks – Lottery.com Subsidiary Enters into Agreement for New Charitable Initiative
• InvestorNewsBreaks – Lottery.com Names WinTogether Sweepstakes First-Ever Winner
• InvestorNewsBreaks – Trident Acquisitions Corp.’s (NASDAQ: TDAC) Pending Business Combination Partner, Lottery.com, Enters Strategic MOU

Sonoma Biologics Corp.

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Sonoma Biologics Corp.

Sonoma Biologics is stepping up their efforts to build a global cannabis brand through a variety of disciplines and cost-efficiencies.  Sonoma Biologics is a producer of high quality, low cost, organic-equivalent cannabis. As part of their standard operating measures, they use organic products for both fertilization and pest management.  Sonoma Biologics produces product for flower, organic extracts for recreational and medicinal cannabis applications, ingestible, creams and lotions. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.OwnSonomaBiologics.com.

Sonoma Biologics Corp. is an ultra-premium cannabis grower focused on the medicinal and recreational cannabis markets. The company’s business model includes acquiring additional farming/cultivation properties in the prestigious wine counties of California, as well as continuing to enter into joint ventures and revenue sharing cultivation opportunities with other landowners/farmers/vineyards. The company’s goal is to become one of the largest organic-equivalent, environmentally friendly cannabis suppliers in northern California.

Sonoma Biologics’ use of solar power in its low cost, highly efficient growth processes exemplifies the company’s commitment to having as close to zero environmental impact as possible.

The company currently holds local and state cannabis cultivation licenses for its existing facilities. Since entering the cannabis industry, Sonoma Biologics products have passed stringent California quality control laboratory testing each year. The company exclusively adheres to organic cultivation methods, reinforcing its commitment to yielding the highest quality cannabis.

Sonoma Biologics is currently prepping to certify with the State of California’s comparable-to-organic cannabis standards. The OCal Program will ensure that cannabis products bearing the OCal seal have been certified to consistent, uniform standards comparable to the National Organic Program.

Current Operations

Sonoma Biologics has been cultivating premium cannabis outdoors for the last four years, taking advantage of the favorable climate in its operating region. The company is currently aggressively expanding its model. As the California weather minimizes the need for climate control technology and artificial lighting, the company boasts a significantly lower cost of production when compared to both indoor and outdoor grow operations in areas with less suitable climates. The company pours its efforts into screening and optimizing specific genetic strains that grow the best in local farming conditions, thereby maximizing its yields and taking full advantage of the well-known benefits of the Sonoma soils.

Locations

Sonoma Biologics’ target locations span three well-known wine country counties in California: Sonoma County, Mendocino County and Lake County.

The company’s current locations in Sonoma County provide for up to two acres of outdoor cultivation (pending licensing and county regulations).

The company has a Mendocino joint venture (JV) agreement, which, when completed, will expand its overall cannabis related assets and operations. The joint venture provides the company with additional licensed cultivation, licensed nursery operation, potential dispensary (pending licensing) and employees.

Manufacturing

Highlights of the company’s manufacturing capabilities with the JV include:

• An existing 5,000 square foot warehouse currently being built out to facilitate manufacturing and distribution and
• Additional proposed facilities to manufacture cannabis-related products.

With applications for manufacturing currently in process, these facilities offer further scalability opportunities for the company. Additionally, the Anderson Valley location can intake surplus cannabis from numerous licensed farms in the region and focus on “onsite” and “managed” streams for superior economics.

Investing in California Cannabis

Sonoma Biologics is currently accepting investments from accredited investors under Rule 506(c) of Regulation D. The minimum investment amount is $5,000 per investor, with the overall goal of raising $10 million. The company is also preparing a Reg A+ filing with the SEC for summer 2021. In alignment with its environmentally low impact business strategy, the company has created a streamlined, completely paperless online subscription process for investors.

The company offers those looking to invest in California-grown cannabis the opportunity to invest at an attractive valuation. Sonoma Biologics’ operations are large-scale, low-cost and managed by industry leaders with experience in large-scale farming, making the company an attractive investment opportunity in the expanding cannabis market in California and worldwide.

The global legal cannabis market is estimated to reach $84 billion by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 14.3% from 2021 to 2028 (https://nnw.fm/M5sZo). Of the $24.6 billion in global cannabis industry revenue reported in 2020, 60.3% was attributed to the recreational adult-use segment. Furthermore, 91.1% of the revenue can be attributed to North America, spurred by early legalization of medical and recreational cannabis in a number of jurisdictions (https://nnw.fm/r4gUg).

The California market for cannabis is expected to reach $6 billion by 2025 and account for roughly a sixth of all legal cannabis sales in the United States (https://nnw.fm/bNDJE).

Management Team

Paul Caracciolo is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Sonoma Biologics Corp. He has a Master’s in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado. After obtaining his degree, he developed human-grade biopharmaceuticals for a company that was eventually acquired by Amgen. Mr. Caracciolo has spent much of his career in the health care industry, holding positions such as Chief Technology Officer for Dignity Health, Duke University Health System and Stanford’s Hospitals and Clinics. In 2008, Mr. Caracciolo and his wife, Margaret, founded Mill Station Vineyards. Mill Station spans 8.5 acres of ultra-premium Pinot Noir grapes, sold and used in some of the most coveted Pinot Noir blends in the Russian River Valley.

Hal Reuling is the owner of the Anderson Valley Property. He has a long history of real estate development and management projects, from inception to realization. He began his career as a general contractor in Colorado, establishing Bluefootprint Construction and specializing in single-family and custom-built homes. Mr. Reuling’s next venture took him to Florida, where he developed raw land parcels into subdivisions. In 2007, he moved to Northern California to capitalize on property development, including that of the cannabis industry. Durango Organics approached Mr. Reuling in 2015 to design and build a 20,000 square foot fully integrated cultivation facility. More recently, he developed a 110-acre, 11-lot cultivation site in Southern Colorado. He purchased the Anderson Valley Property in 2016 as California began passing cannabis laws. Now, it is being used for co-developing into cultivation, nursery and manufacturing.

Directors

Alexander Somjen, Director, has extensive experience serving as an officer and director of publicly listed and privately held companies. Since December 2019, he has served as President of Hollister Cannabis Inc., a diversified, multi-state cannabis company whose securities are quoted on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) and the OTC Pink Market maintained by OTC Markets. Hollister provides manufacturing and white label services to help build new brands and support influencers and is also involved with the manufacturing of various cannabis related products (such as pre rolls, capsules and vape formulation). Additionally, since January 2018, he served as President and CEO of Global Care Capital Inc. (formerly Rescinco Capital Partners Inc.), whose securities are quoted on the CSE and the OTC Pink Market. Global Care Capital is a global investment company which specializes in providing early-stage financing to private and public companies. Global Care Capital also has a sector focus on cannabis pharmaceutical opportunities. Mr. Somjen was Vice President of Capital Structure Products at Desjardins Capital Markets from January 2015 to January 2018, where he served as the co-head of the Capital Structure Products desk and advised issuers (namely banks) on subordinated debt and hybrid and preferred share markets. He held other roles with Desjardins Capital Markets from January 2008 to January 2015, including serving as an associate in the fixed income group (January 2012 to January 2015) and as a trader in the fixed income group (January 2008 to January 2012). Mr. Somjen received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Toronto and is working to obtain an Executive MBA from the Instituto de Empresa Business School (IE) in Madrid, Spain.

Robert James Metcalfe, a Lawyer, was a senior partner with the law firm Lang Michener LLP for 20 years. He is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Armadale Properties and Counsel to all of the Armadale Group of Companies, with significant holdings across numerous industries including finance, construction of office buildings, airport ownership, management and refurbishing, land development, automotive dealerships as well as newspaper publishing, radio and television stations. Mr. Metcalfe was a director of Canada Lands Company Ltd., one of the largest real estate corporations in Canada, and was a director and Chairman of the Board of the CN Tower Ltd., the tallest communications structure in the world. Mr. Metcalfe has served as a director of numerous public and private corporations and currently serves as a director of publicly listed companies Gran Colombia Gold (Lead Director), Blue Star Gold (Chairman), Medcolcanna Organics (Chairman), Pasofino Gold and BetterLife Pharma Ltd. (Chairman). As director and shareholder, Mr. Metcalfe has been engaged in numerous acquisitions, divestitures, corporate reorganizations, financings and corporate improvements, as well as serving on numerous special committees across many sectors. He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and a member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Recent News

Sonoma County as a Major Cannabis Appellation
• InvestorNewsBreaks – Why Sonoma Biologics Corp. Is ‘One to Watch’
• Sonoma Biologics Corp. Is ‘One to Watch’

TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF).

TAAT(TM) Global Alternatives Inc. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP2), formerly known as TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd., has officially changed its name. The change, effective immediately, will not impact the company’s symbol or ticker; TAAT common shares will continue to trade as TAAT on the Canadian Securities Exchange. Outstanding share and warrant certificates are also unaffected by the change. To listen to the podcast, visit https://ibn.fm/mwzGK. To view the full press releases, visit https://ibn.fm/7g18L and https://ibn.fm/8sC12.

TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF) is a life sciences company dedicated to giving legal-aged smokers the choice to keep the smoking experience that they enjoy with no nicotine and no tobacco.

The key players of TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness are from leading tobacco brands. They are guiding the mission with the company’s proprietary product, TAAT(TM), which uses the company’s proprietary Beyond Tobacco(TM) base material. The base material undergoes a 14-step process to taste and smell just like tobacco and uses a patent-pending refinement technique.

This provides the company with unique opportunities on the global tobacco market, which was estimated at $849 billion in 2019, with approximately 1.3 billion people using tobacco in some form worldwide (https://nnw.fm/bvKFL).

TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Las Vegas, Nevada.

TAAT(TM)

TAAT is a smokable alternative to tobacco cigarettes using the Beyond Tobacco base material, which contains zero tobacco and zero nicotine. The current TAAT offering comes in three varieties: Original, Smooth and Menthol, which were launched during Q4 2020 in Ohio. The company’s Ohio tobacco wholesaler also distributes for major tobacco industry names such as Altria, RJ Reynolds (a subsidiary of British American Tobacco) and ITG.

The TAAT Beyond Tobacco experience was created to replicate the sensory elements of smoking a tobacco cigarette. Market testing in California and Nevada reached a consensus that TAAT products offered no significant differences in experience when compared to tobacco cigarettes, in terms of the following aspects:

• Visual – the nearly identical product packaging and enhanced smoke volume
• Auditory – the “crackling” sound of the base material when it is ignited
• Smell – when burning, TAAT emits a tobacco-like scent
• Taste – the patent-pending Beyond Tobacco base material undergoes a refinement process that creates a tobacco-like taste
• Touch – TAAT satisfies the “hand-to-mouth” fixation and motor habits, such as flicking ashes

TAAT Beyond Tobacco Targeting Current Smokers

TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness is currently targeting the market of legal-aged smokers with its proprietary product. The company aims “not to create a new problem, but to solve an existing one.” TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness offers a non-addictive alternative to tobacco, with several competitive advantages making it a promising option on the United States market, such as:

• Price – TAAT can be offered at a lower price than competing products in the tobacco category, which adds to the propositioned value for current legal-aged smokers.
• Experience – TAAT appeals to current smokers who wish to give up the tobacco and nicotine but keep the smoking experience they enjoy.
• Branding/Packaging – TAAT is American-grown and American-made, with its Beyond Tobacco base material serving as a legacy to the combustible tobacco products.

The current alternatives to cigarette smoking do not offer a comparable experience. Previously marketed products, like vaping, proved difficult for some legal-aged smokers to adopt, as the experience was too different from traditional cigarettes.

Market Outlook

In 2016, the United States tobacco market was valued at over $100 billion, a number that’s expected to grow over the next decade (https://nnw.fm/yd8oP). In terms of volume, over 215 billion cigarettes were sold to roughly 34 million adults in the United States in 2018. These numbers represent almost 14% of the adult population. Of those, almost two-thirds smoked more than 15 cigarettes in one day. A standard pack is comprised of 20 cigarettes.

The company’s Beyond Tobacco, as a non-tobacco product, has a price-driven consumer advantage in many states. While state taxes on traditional cigarettes vary, most tend to average around $1.82 per pack. Washington D.C. is on the higher end of the tax spectrum at $4.50 per pack, whereas Missouri is only $0.17 per pack (https://nnw.fm/D3WnT).

TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness estimates that, if one pack of TAAT Beyond Tobacco was sold at 20% of all United States tobacco points of sale, the product would capture 0.25% of the market, the equivalent of approximately 2.7 million cartons of cigarettes per year.

Management Team

Setti Coscarella is the Chief Executive Officer of TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. He is experienced in investment banking, private equity and entrepreneurship. In 2017, Mr. Coscarella was the lead strategist for Reduced-Risk Products at Philip Morris International. While there, he worked with thousands of smokers to better understand how to position smoking alternatives, developing programs that could help smokers convert to reduced-risk products. Mr. Coscarella holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, specializing in finance, marketing and corporate strategy. He also has a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and physics from the University of Toronto.

Tim Corkum is the company’s Chief Revenue Officer. He has a lengthy history in the tobacco industry, having served 21 years at Philip Morris International. Mr. Corkum has experience leading the international commercialization of combustible cigarettes and working on reduced-risk product offerings. During his 21-year tenure, he held senior positions in business development, sales strategy, key account management and corporate affairs. He holds a BA from Carleton University with a concentration in law.

Joe Deighan is Founder of TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness and oversees research and development. He is the founder of vape liquid ‘JJuice’, created in 2012. JJuice was distributed across all of the United States and in 26 other countries, alongside the private label production that was done for other brands. Mr. Deighan sold JJuice in a cash deal that was valued at over $800,000 in 2017. He currently handles all R&D and production for Beyond Tobacco, knowing the product better than anyone else in the company.

TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. (TOBAF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $3.52, up 3.2258%, on 385,409 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 326,968 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.100000001/$4.73999977.

Recent News

• InvestorNewsBreaks - TAAT Global Alternatives Inc. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP2) Changes Corporate Name, Announces CEO as Featured Podcast Guest
• InvestorNewsBreaks - TAAT(TM) Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP2) Applies for Listing on Nasdaq Capital Market
• TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF) Market Survey Yields Valuable Insights, Reveals Positive Impression

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (CSE: NTAR) (OTCQB: NEXCF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (CSE: NTAR) (OTCQB: NEXCF).

Nextech (CSE: NTAR) (NEO: NTAR) (OTCQB: NEXCF) (FSE: N29), a leading provider of web-based augmented reality for e-commerce, advertising and virtual events, was featured on The Dealmaker Show, a fast-paced and high-energy forum hosted by bestselling author Oren Klaff. Nextech President Paul Duffy joined the latest episode to discuss the potential of augmented reality as it continues to gain mainstream attention. To view the full press release, visit http://ibn.fm/16cB7

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (CSE: NTAR) (OTCQB: NEXCF), based in Vancouver, Canada, is a leading provider of web-based augmented reality for e-commerce, advertising and virtual events, with technology ranging from simple 3D images to using 360-degree videos. Nextech AR provides businesses with a powerful end-to-end augmented reality platform designed specifically to increase online sales.

The company is currently pursuing four unique verticals with its innovative technology, including:

• Virtual Conference Platform: Nextech’s advanced Augmented Reality and Video Learning Experience Platform for Events leverages an SaaS model to give organizations the ability to create engaging virtual event management and learning experiences. Automated closed captions and translations for over 64 languages are available. The global virtual events market was valued at $90 billion in 2020 by Grandview Research, and it’s expected to reach more than $400 billion by 2027.
• ARitize™ for eCommerce: Launched in early 2019, the company’s SaaS platform for webAR in eCommerce serves as a ‘full funnel’ end-to-end e-commerce solution for the AR industry. The solution includes the Aritize360 app for 3D product capture, ‘Try it On’ technology for online apparel, 3D and 360-degree product views, ‘one click buy’ and much more.
• ARitize™ 3D/AR Advertising Platform: Launched in Q1 2020, this ad platform is being marketed as the industry’s first end-to-end solution leveraging 3D asset creation for 3D/AR ads. In 2019, according to IDC, global advertising spend totaled roughly $725 billion.
• ARitize™ Hollywood Studios: The studio is in development as a means of producing immersive content using 360-degree videos and augmented reality as primary display platforms.

Unique Marketing Strategy

Nextech AR’s efforts to disrupt the market for web-based augmented reality for e-commerce are supported by a unique go to market strategy. First, the company seeks to build or acquire platforms targeting a number of rapid growth industries, most notably AR, edTech, e-commerce, 3D/AR advertising and virtual & hybrid events.

After identifying these market opportunities, the company seeks to integrate new AR technologies into existing or novel platforms in an effort to secure market share and promote growth. These technologies include WebAR, Human Holograms, 360 Portals, ScreenAR, Genie in the bottle and AiRShow.

Nextech AR then aims to leverage these platforms to land and expand partnerships with a number of blue chip customers. The company’s current customer base includes the likes of Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, ViacomCBS, Toyota and Carnegie Mellon University.

Growth Capital

Nextech AR generates revenue through a software-as-a-service model from technology services, delivery of service revenue and sales of products through e-commerce.

As noted in its latest investor presentation, the company achieved record bookings in Q4 2020 of $7.3 million (estimated), marking a greater than 275% year-over-year increase. The company also realized greater than 235% revenue growth for calendar 2020, reporting $20 million for the 12-month period. Nextech AR attributes its 2020 increase in revenues to the contracts secured with new customers, expanded agreements with existing customers and additional conversions from e-commerce channels.

With its newly launched 3D ad network now bolstering its operations, Nextech AR is projecting revenues in excess of $50 million for 2021.

Recent Company Highlights

• February 16, 2021: The company announced it has hired Zak Mcleod, formerly of Fastly, as its new Senior Director of Sales – EMEA. The company also announced that Rory Ganness, formerly of Salesforce.com, has joined the Nextech team as Director of Enterprise Sales – North America.
• February 11, 2021: The company announced the launch of version 2.0 of its AiR Show app, an application that turns top music artists into interactive ‘live’ holograms, providing an immersive and engaging AR experience.
• February 8, 2021: The company announced the launch of new standardized chat features within its Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) and recently-launched ARoom collaborative streaming solution. Nextech will also offer the chat platform as a stand-alone SaaS service externally, increasing the company’s revenue potential for 2021.
• January 26, 2021: The company announced, in partnership with ARB Meetings and Events, it has signed a six-figure annual contract to supply its InfernoAR video conferencing and virtual events platform to NAMD.
• January 25, 2021: The company announced that Strategic Site Selection (SSS), a 15 year old site selection leader in the meeting and events industry, has selected Nextech AR as a preferred channel partner, making Nextech’s industry leading virtual experience platform and services available to SSS clients.
• January 20, 2021: The company announced that Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Services platform will be a standard offering across its virtual experience platforms and consumer apps, enabling hyper-scalable, secure and immersive events and applications for users.
• January 15, 2021: The company signed a renewal agreement with Poly with an initial value of $470,000 for a six-month term and the potential for additional revenue after the six months.

Management Team

Evan Gappelberg is CEO and Founder of Nextech AR. He is an experienced operating executive specializing in creating, funding and running hyper-growth startups in both the public and private sectors. Notably, he took Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) public with a market cap of $30 million and played a key role in guiding its growth to a current market cap of roughly $14 billion. Mr. Gappelberg has extensive experience as both a hands-on operating executive and a public markets professional.

Paul Duffy is the company’s President. He is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in successfully starting, expanding, diversifying and selling global technology companies. Mr. Duffy is the creator of the HumaGram and inventor of the patent for Holographic Telepresence over the Internet (TOIP).

Augen Winschel is the COO of Nextech AR. He is an 18-year SAP executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in the areas of business management, business operations, marketing, product management, digital business and enterprise artificial intelligence.

Kashif Malik, CPA, CA, is the company’s CFO. He has over 15 years of financial experience spanning IPOs, M&A activity, corporate restructuring and capital raising. Mr. Malik has worked globally with public and private companies, including Merck & Company Inc. (NYSE: MRK), Real Matters Inc. (TSX: REAL) and Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU). He obtained his Chartered Accountant designation while working at Deloitte.

Hareesh Acchi is the company’s President of 3D/AR Advertising. He is a 20-year Microsoft technology veteran with experience leading digital transformation and scaling businesses and enterprise organizations across the advertising industry.

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (NEXCF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $3.01, up 8.29%, on 203,249 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 300,908 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $1.75/$5.41120004.

Recent News

• InvestorNewsBreaks - Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (CSE: NTAR) (NEO: NTAR) (OTCQB: NEXCF) (FSE: N29) Featured on The Dealmaker Show
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (CSE: NTAR) (NEO: NTAR) (OTCQB: NEXCF) (FSE: N29) to Host Virtual 2021 Investor Day
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (CSE: NTAR) (NEO: NTAR) (FSE: N29) (OTCQB: NEXCF) Releases Financial Report for Q4 2020

Pressure BioSciences Inc. (PBIO)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Pressure BioSciences Inc. (PBIO).

Pressure BioSciences (OTCQB: PBIO), a leader in the development and sale of broadly enabling, pressure-based instruments, consumables, and platform technology solutions to the worldwide biotechnology, biotherapeutics, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, and food & beverage industries, has signed a letter of intent (“LOI”) to purchase to purchase the assets of an internationally based developer and supplier of organically natural, eco-friendly agrochemicals. The company noted that the acquisition enables PBIO to enter the agrochemical market with alternatives to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. To view the full press release, visit http://ibn.fm/Nuv60

Pressure BioSciences Inc. (PBIO) develops, markets and sells proprietary laboratory instrumentation and associated consumables to the life sciences sample preparation market. Sample preparation refers to the wide range of activities that precede most forms of scientific analysis. It is often complex and time-consuming, yet a critical part of scientific research. The market for sample preparation products is currently estimated at $6 billion worldwide.

The Company’s product line can be used to exquisitely control the sample preparation process. It is based on a patented, enabling technology platform called pressure cycling technology (“PCT”). PCT uses alternating cycles of hydrostatic pressure between ambient (14.5 psi) and ultra-high levels (up to 100,000 psi) to safely and reproducibly control critical biological processes, such as the lysis (breakage) of cells, the digestion of proteins, and the inactivation of pathogens.

Pressure BioSciences’ product line is led by its newly released, next-generation Barocycler 2320EXTREME instrument. Named a finalist in the prestigious 2017 R&D Awards (also known as the “Oscars of Innovation”), the Barocycler 2320EXT is already being touted by some key opinion leaders as an essential element of the $1.8 billion U.S. “Cancer Moonshot” program. For example, Professor Phil Robinson, Co-head of the cancer research center of the Children’s Medical Research Institute (Sydney, Australia), said in a recent interview: “We are collecting the whole proteome on 70,000 tumor samples from all classes where complete clinical outcome is known. Due to its unique capabilities, the Barocycler 2320EXT has become a critical part of our program. It is the primary enabler of the high-throughput component of the project. Without this step, our project simply could not be done. In fact, the Barocycler 2320EXT works so well we have just purchased two more.”

Momentum is building when it comes to the potential for using the Company’s unique PCT technology platform. Leading scientists are intrigued by Pressure BioSciences’ approach, which among other attributes, revolutionizes the process of rupturing cells (lysis) for further study, yielding superior biomolecules for investigation. The Company’s technology transcends current methods of breaking open cells, which use chemicals, blades, metal beads, or other damaging and altering methods that can ultimately adversely affect the result for researchers. Pressure BioSciences’ PCT technology utilizes customized, controlled hydrostatic (water) pressure to rupture cells in a chamber, enabling exquisitely customized levels of pressure to optimally break open different types of cells at prescribed pressure levels—something never before accomplished in a commercial setting. Using this pioneering method, the result is a truer, more legitimate sample, which boosts the efficacy of research and the quality of results. The potential impact of this technology on scientific advancement is enormous, enabling research scientists to begin their studies with biological samples of unprecedented integrity, with the potential to improve research outcomes at the earliest, most critical step. PCT can additionally inactivate pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria) using hydrostatic pressure, making the samples safer to study—another innovation with astronomical potential for application in a variety of markets.

The Company’s high-pressure instruments for research purposes are marketed throughout the United States, Europe, China and Japan. To date, Pressure BioSciences has installed nearly 300 PCT Systems in over 165 leading academic, government, biotech and pharma laboratories around the world. Its primary applications are in biomarker discovery, forensics, agriculture and pathology. Over 100 scientific papers have been published on the advantages of the PCT platform, which is also being used in the specialized fields of drug discovery and design, bio-therapeutics characterization, soil and plant biology, vaccine development and histology.

Impressive as their biotech business is, there is more to the PBI story. Pressure BioSciences recently received two patents in China for its novel Ultra Shear Technology (UST), a process that has potential in a wide range of industrial applications, including extending the shelf life of some food products and making two insoluble liquids (like oil in water) soluble. Patents have also been filed in many other countries worldwide. UST is a novel technique based on the use of intense shear forces generated from ultra-high-pressure valve discharge.

This important technology has the potential to play a significant role in a number of commercially important areas through its ability to create high-quality, stable nanoemulsions. Scientific studies indicate that improved absorption, higher bioavailability, greater stability, lower surfactant levels and other advantages can be achieved with nanoemulsions — all hugely important factors in the fields of nutraceuticals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and in various medical products. There is an enormous opportunity in the cannabis market, since the technology can potentially reduce oil droplets containing cannabidiol (CBD) to nanoparticles, after which they can be safely suspended in a stable water solution—something many companies have endeavored to achieve without success. Researchers looking for a way to increase the bioavailability of cannabinoids in the body will find this technology a game changer.

The Company’s UST technology also has possibilities in the production of clean label foods, which are currently processed using several innovative methods, including high-pressure treatments (such as Starbucks’ Evolution line of juices). In 2015, the worldwide market for high-pressure processed (HPP) food was estimated at U.S. $10 billion. UST uses ultra-high pressures and certain valves to generate intense shear forces under controlled temperature conditions to produce nanoemulsions, and which also significantly reduces food-borne pathogens. Pressure BioSciences’ initial focus with this technology will be to evaluate UST for the production of high-quality dairy products and beverages.

Pressure BioSciences Inc. (PBIO), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $2.15, up 0.46729%, on 1,910 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 16,855 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $1.28999996/$4.48999977.

Recent News

• InvestorNewsBreaks - Pressure BioSciences Inc. (PBIO) Executes LOI to Acquire Global Eco-Friendly Agrochemical Supplier
• Pressure BioSciences, Inc. to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results and Provide Business Update
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Pressure BioSciences Inc. (PBIO) CEO Discusses Measurable Progress on The Stock Day Podcast

VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN).

VistaGen (NASDAQ: VTGN), a biopharmaceutical company developing new generation medicines with the potential to go beyond the current standard of care for anxiety, depression and other central nervous system (“CNS”) disorders, today announced the appointment of Joanne Curley, Ph.D. to its board of directors. VistaGen’s board will be comprised of seven directors following Dr. Curley’s appointment. To view the full press release, visit: https://ibn.fm/HFj1t

VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN) is a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing a new generation of medications that go beyond the standard of care for anxiety, depression and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the “Birthplace of Biotechnology,” among the largest cluster of biotechnology companies in the world.

New Generation Medications

VistaGen currently has three innovative CNS drug candidates in its pipeline: PH94B, PH10 and AV-101. With a differentiated mechanism of action and an exceptional safety profile in all clinical studies to date, each of VistaGen’s three drug candidates offers significant commercialization potential in multiple large CNS markets.

PH94B

Fast-acting (10-15 minutes), non-systemic and non-sedating in Phase 2 clinical studies, PH94B is a first-in-class neuroactive nasal spray that, administered in microgram doses, binds to chemosensory receptors in the nasal passage that trigger neural circuits responsible for suppressing fear and anxiety caused by stressful social or performance situations.

PH94B is currently being developed as an acute treatment of anxiety in adults with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). In December 2019, PH94B became the first drug candidate to be granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for development of a treatment for SAD, positioning it to potentially become the first FDA-approved fast-acting acute treatment for adults with the anxiety disorder, if planned Phase 3 studies are successful.

A successful Phase 2 program has been completed, and, after achieving consensus with the FDA in mid-2020 that the design of its Phase 3 studies of PH94B in SAD may mirror the design of the highly statistically significant (p=0.002) Phase 2 public speaking study of PH94B in SAD, the company’s preparations for pivotal Phase 3 clinical development of PH94B are underway.

To support Phase 3 development and commercialization of PH94B for anxiety disorders in large anxiety disorder markets in Asia, VistaGen recently entered into a strategic licensing and collaboration agreement with EverInsight Therapeutics, a company formed and currently funded by a large global venture capital firm, CBC Group. The company received a $5 million non-dilutive upfront license payment from EverInsight in August 2020. If Phase 3 development is successful, VistaGen is eligible to receive additional development and commercial milestone payments of up to $172 million, plus tiered royalties on sales of PH94B in Greater China, South Korea and Southeast Asia. VistaGen retains exclusive rights to develop and commercialize PH94B in all other markets.

VistaGen is also assessing potential Phase 2A clinical development opportunities to evaluate PH94B in a range of other anxiety disorders, including:

• Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Postpartum Anxiety
• Perioperative Anxiety
• Panic Disorder
• PTSD

PH10

PH10 is an investigational fast-acting synthetic neuroactive nasal spray with therapeutic potential in a wide range of neuropsychiatric indications involving depression and suicidal ideation. VistaGen is initially developing PH10 as a potential fast-acting, non-sedating, non-addictive new generation treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Upon self-administration, a microgram-level dose of PH10 sprayed into the nose binds to nasal chemosensory receptors that, in turn, activate neural circuits in the brain that lead to rapid-onset antidepressant effects, without side effects, systemic exposure or safety concerns that may be caused by FDA-approved drug treatments for MDD, including oral antidepressants and intranasal esketamine.

In a published exploratory Phase 2A MDD study, PH10 demonstrated rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant effects without the serious psychological side effects and safety concerns of ketamine-based therapy.

Following successfully completed Phase 2A development of PH10 for MDD, the company is currently preparing for a Phase 2B program in MDD.

VistaGen is also assessing the potential for Phase 2A clinical development of PH10 in a range of other depression-related indications, including:

• Postpartum Depression
• Treatment-resistant Depression
• Suicidal Ideation

AV-101

Part of a class of new generation investigational medicine in neurology and neuropsychiatry known as N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) modulators, AV-101 is an oral prodrug of 7-chloro-kynurenic acid (7-Cl-KYNA), a potent and selective NMDAR glycine site antagonist. This drug candidate has the potential to serve as an innovative treatment for MDD and multiple neurological indications where current therapies are unsatisfactory.

VistaGen is currently evaluating AV-101, in combination with FDA-approved probenecid, in a range of neuropsychiatric and neurological indications, with both MDD and Neuropathic Pain already granted Fast Track designation by the FDA. The company is assessing the combination for a potential Phase 1B study to support a potential Phase 2A program in one or more of the following indications:

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Neuropathic Pain
• Levodopa-induced dyskinesia associated with Parkinson’s disease therapy
• Epilepsy
• Suicidal Ideation

CNS Therapeutics Market Outlook

The global CNS therapeutics market is estimated to reach $130 billion by 2025. The market was valued at approximately $82.3 billion in 2017 and is anticipated to grow at a healthy CAGR of more than 5.93% from 2018 to 2025. Even before the onset of the anxiety- and depression-provoking stressors from the COVID-19 pandemic, this growth was expected to be driven by a rise in mental illnesses and increased awareness of psychiatric disorders (https://nnw.fm/K2m0s) – all likely to be amplified by the diverse impacts of the pandemic.

The two most common mental health conditions – anxiety and depression – cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion each year. The impact of these conditions is particularly devastating among the young. Industry data suggest that approximately 20% of the world’s children and teens are affected by mental health conditions, and suicide is the leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds (https://nnw.fm/oftNb).

VistaGen’s mission is to help address the unmet needs of patients suffering from CNS disorders whose current treatments are either inadequate or generate debilitating side effects and serious safety concerns, including risk of abuse and death.

“Now more than ever, the new generation anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications we are developing at VistaGen – PH94B, PH10 and AV-101 – are relevant, necessary and demand the highly-focused and passionate efforts of our team and partners, with the support of our stockholders, to advance them to patients whose lives are disrupted by anxiety and depression disorders,” VistaGen CEO and Director Shawn K. Singh said in his closing remarks at the company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of stockholders.

Management Team

Shawn K. Singh, J.D. is the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of VistaGen. He has served on the company’s board of directors since 2000. He has nearly 30 years of experience serving in numerous senior management roles across multiple industries, including private and public biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, venture capital, contract research and development, and law. Singh has a B.A. with honors from the University of California – Berkley. He has a J.D. degree from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. He is also a member of the State Bar of California.

H. Ralph Snodgrass, Ph.D., is the Founder, Chief Scientific Officer and Director of the company. Snodgrass has more than 20 years of experience in the biotechnology field as a senior manager. He is recognized as an expert in stem cell biology, with over 28 years of experience using stem cells as biological research tools to promote development and drug discovery. He received a Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Pennsylvania. Snodgrass has published over 50 scientific papers with more than 17 patents and a number of patent applications.

Mark A. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., is VistaGen’s Chief Medical Officer He has over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, primarily with CNS drug development. Smith has been a successful leader in the discovery and development of approximately 20 investigational new drugs. He has been a part of numerous CNS-related clinical trials. Smith received a bachelor’s and Master of Science from Yale University and a Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of California – San Diego. He completed his residency in the psychiatry department at Duke University Medical Center.

Jerrold D. Dotson, CPA, is the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of VistaGen. He has over 25 years of experience in senior management positions in finance and administration at both public and private companies. Dotson is a licensed CPA in California and received his B.S. degree (Cum Laude) in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Abilene Christian College.

Mark A. McPartland is the company’s Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations. He has over 20 years of experience in senior management roles in corporate development and investor relations at both public and private companies. McPartland received his Bachelor’s in business administration and marketing from Coastal Carolina University.

VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $2.12, up 0.952381%, on 1360,759 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 3,008,524 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.349999994/$3.18000006.

Recent News

• BioMedNewsBreaks - VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN) Announces Board Appointment of Dr. Joanne Curley
• BioMedNewsBreaks - VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN) Presents Data Regarding Drug Candidate for Replacement of Addictive Benzodiazepines
• BioMedNewsBreaks - VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN) Announces Participation Schedule for Upcoming March Investor Conferences

XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE: XPHY) (OTCQB: XPHYF) (FSE: 4XT)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE: XPHY) (OTCQB: XPHYF) (FSE: 4XT).

XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY)(OTCQB:XPHYF)(FSE:4XT) ("XPhyto" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has delivered 2,000 of its rapid 25-minute PCR tests ("Covid-ID Lab") to an established medical distributor in Israel for clinical evaluation of Covid-ID Lab for the purpose of commercial regulatory approval and potential product distribution.

XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE: XPHY) (OTCQB: XPHYF) (FSE: 4XT) is a bioscience accelerator focused on next-generation drug delivery, diagnostic and new active pharmaceutical ingredient investment opportunities. This includes products that are being readied for commercialization within the coming weeks, such as a rapid COVID-19 PCR test kit that reduces turnaround times to less than 30 minutes.

The company has research and development operations in North America and Europe and an operational focus in Germany. Its regulatory approval and commercialization focus is currently on products for the European market.

XPhyto was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Business Strategy & Milestones for 2021

On January 18, 2021, XPhyto issued a news release detailing its business strategy for the coming year. The company noted that it is “on the cusp of transformational change as product development programs advance from the laboratory to the clinic.” In addition to continuing to leverage its scientific expertise and operations in North America and Europe for product development and optimization, XPhyto intends to pursue growth through the commercialization of existing products and adherence to a focused investment strategy targeting impact-driven innovation with “the potential for extreme value creation.”

In particular, XPhyto is well positioned to execute on opportunities across its current business divisions, including:

• Commercialization of infectious disease diagnostics
• Clinical validation of transdermal and sublingual drug formulations
• Continued investment and development in psychedelic medicine

“2020 was a very productive year for XPhyto. We made significant progress in all areas of our business,” Hugh Rogers, CEO & Director of XPhyto, stated in the update. “We have ambitious milestones for 2021 with multiple product launches on the horizon, multiple clinical drug programs underway, and an aggressive commitment to psychedelic medicine. I am extremely confident that our team can execute on the company’s business plan for 2021.”

Infectious Disease Diagnostics

XPhyto’s lead diagnostic product, secured through an exclusive global commercialization agreement with 3a-diagnostics GmbH (“3a”), is a rapid and highly portable PCR diagnostic test. Notably, PCR testing “has emerged as the only internationally recognized standard for COVID-19 testing” and is expected to play a key role in facilitating the recovery of the domestic and international travel industries, among others.

Successful validation of the PCR system was achieved in Q4 2020, and XPhyto has expressed confidence that it will achieve European commercial (CE-IVD) approval in Q1 2021. In preparation for this milestone and an anticipated Q1 product launch, the company is currently in discussion with manufacturing and distribution partners in Europe and the Middle East.

In addition to COVID-19 products, XPhyto and partner 3a are developing and commercializing a portfolio of low-cost oral biosensors. The company’s lead biosensor product is an oral health screening test for the detection of peri-implantitis for which XPhyto is targeting a late 2021 European commercial approval.

XPhyto does not make any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drug Formulation & Delivery

In 2020, XPhyto’s German subsidiary, Vektor Pharma TF GmbH (“Vektor”), reported significant advancement in four therapeutic programs targeting neurological indications with significant market demand. Vektor also successfully developed a sublingual drug formulation on contract for a major generic drug manufacturer and distributor.

XPhyto will look to build on this progress in 2021, with plans to complete human pilot studies evaluating its four lead therapeutic products:

• Rotigotine transdermal patch for Parkinson’s disease
• CBD oral/sublingual strip for treatment resistant epilepsy
• THC oral/sublingual strip for anorexia/nausea
• CBD:THC (1:1) oral/sublingual strip for multiple sclerosis associated spasticity

Per its 2021 business update, the company is currently in “ongoing discussions with multiple potential commercial partners, licensors and distributors and will be reviewing monetization opportunities on a continued basis.”

Psychedelic Medicine

Psychedelic compounds are a highly promising new class of active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) demonstrating strong potential for a variety of mental health conditions. XPhyto is positioned to capitalize on this promise through two strategic initiatives:

• An agreement for the development of industrial scale biotechnology processes for the production of psilocybin
• An agreement for R&D related to multiple psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, mescaline, LSD, MDMA and DMT, among others

XPhyto intends to advance and expand its programs focused on the industrial scale production of psychedelic API in 2021. The company also plans to launch new programs for the development of psychedelic drug formulations, with a focus on sublingual and transdermal therapeutics and the integration of these products into established clinical programs relating to mental health indications.

Management Team

Hugh Rogers is the CEO and Director of XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. He is an entrepreneur and lawyer with private and public start-up company experience in various industries and operational roles. His recent advisory work has focused on public listings and corporate restructuring. This restructuring has occurred in the life science (cell therapy and medical device) and natural resources (natural gas co-gen and conventional oil) industries. Mr. Rogers holds a bachelor’s degree in Cellular Biology and Genetics and a law degree. He is a member in good standing of the Law Society of British Colombia.

Christopher Ross is the CFO of XPhyto. He is a professional accountant with broad financial experience across numerous industries, including forestry, distribution, construction, mining and multi-family real estate. He has provided advisory services to private and public companies in the areas of financial accounting, strategic analysis, audit and taxation. Mr. Ross holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce. He is a member in good standing with the Chartered Professional Accountants Association of British Columbia.

Wolfgang Probst serves as Director of XPhyto and Managing Director of BUNKER Pflanzenextrakte GmbH. He is a seasoned management and financial consultant based in Bavaria, Germany. He has consulting experience as branch head working with private clients and corporations of high net worth. In 2017, Mr. Probst assumed the CFO role of BUNKER and continues to play a key role in its operational and financial development.

Professor Dr. Raimar Löbenberg serves as Director of XPhyto. He holds a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from Johannes Gutenberg-University and a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University. He is the co-founder of RS Therapeutics Inc., which concentrates on foam-based topical drug delivery systems.

Professor Dr. Thomas Beckert is the Founder and Managing Director of Vektor Pharma TF GmbH. His expertise includes the formulation and machine development of transdermal therapeutic systems and ODFs. Professor Beckert holds a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from the University of Freiburg and a Ph.D. in pharmacy and economics from the University of Tubingen.

XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (OTCQB: XPHYF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $1.9559, up 1.6686%, on 5,635 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 81,225 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $1.3125/$3.0999999.

Recent News

• XPhyto Pursues Market Access in Israel for its COVID-19 PCR Rapid Test
• 420 with CNW - Is Regulating Cannabis by Potency a Good Move?
• New Study Suggests That Psilocybin Could Boost Neuroplasticity

Hero Technologies Inc. (OTC: HENC)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Hero Technologies Inc. (OTC: HENC).

Hero Technologies (OTC: HENC), a cannabis company focused on a vertically integrated strategy, has shared estimated numbers for its exclusive indoor cannabis-growing system. The system will feature proprietary technology for aeroponic cultivation and high-efficiency sun chambers from HENC’s subsidiary, BlackBox Systems and Technologies Inc. The company anticipates that the new system will produce cannabis that can be sold at ~$100 per pound and that is grown in an environmentally sustainable process. To view the full press release, visit: https://cnw.fm/6YwyN

Hero Technologies Inc. (OTC: HENC) is a cannabis company with a vertically integrated business model and plan that includes cannabis genetic engineering, farmland for medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production licenses, distribution licenses, consumer packaging, retail operations and dispensaries that make the organization a multi-state operator (MSO).

The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Dover, Delaware.

Portfolio

The company holds the majority stake in BlackBox Systems and Technologies LLC, an aeroponic cannabis cultivation firm focused on providing optimal conditions to enhance photosynthesis and cultivation. Hero Technologies is planning expansion in cultivation and dispensary operations in Colorado through wholly owned subsidiary Mile High Green LLC, while expansion in Massachusetts is planned through another wholly owned subsidiary, MassCannabis LLC.

Hero Technologies also owns and operates HighlyRelaxing.com under Highly Relaxing LLC and recently acquired the assets of V Brokers LLC, now operating as Veteran Hemp Co. at VeteranHempCo.com.

BlackBox Systems and Technologies LLC

BlackBox Systems and Technologies LLC markets a proprietary cannabis aeroponic cultivation system designed for the large-scale production of top-shelf cannabis products. BlackBox offers the optimal conditions to enhance photosynthesis and promote the cultivation of large flowering plants. The system’s dry room, process room and secure storage were designed for precise control through each phase of the cannabis lifecycle. Weekly harvests are achieved using 13 separate BlackBox systems in independent modules.

The system provides a series of key benefits, including:

• High-pressure nutrient delivery, with no nutrient or PH deficiencies
• Sterile, 100% nutrient solution
• Drain to Waste (no reuse of wastewater)
• Low water usage (1 gallon per plant per day)
• Constant PH and EC in reservoirs
• Modular design (1 to 100 pods in any configuration)
• Innovative proprietary engineering
• Minimal cleanup
• Media-less growing, suspended in the air, with no media waste
• No pesticides

Highly Relaxing LLC

Highly Relaxing LLC is an emerging Henderson, Nevada-based operation dedicated to providing customers with honestly labeled, high-quality hemp-derived CBD products. Its current offerings include a topical CBD cream that provides localized relief from potential discomfort.

Veteran Hemp Co.

Veteran Hemp Co.’s mission is to provide a quality, consistent and delicious product for Americans looking to enjoy the hemp smoking experience. Its product is brought in by only the finest farming operations delivering the best genetics. Veteran Hemp Co. has its own custom harvest plans, drying facilities and all of the logistics that fall between. Veteran Hemp Co. prides itself on being a veteran-approved company.

Market Outlook

The global legal cannabis market is anticipated to reach $84 billion by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 14.3% from 2021 to 2028. The driving factor for this forecast expansion is the increasingly widespread legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use. Recreational use accounted for 60.3% of industry revenue in 2020.

North America provided the largest revenue share in the cannabis market, accounting for 91.1% of the global market in 2020. Due to the early legalization of medical and recreational cannabis in the region, the customer pool has increased exponentially (https://nnw.fm/snpHh).

The global CBD market was valued at $2.8 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.2% and reach $13.4 billion by 2028. North America is considered the most progressive region for cannabis and its derived products, with the highest number of CBD companies being based on the continent. The B2B (business to business) segment dominates the CBD industry, accounting for the largest revenue share at 59.6% in 2020 (https://nnw.fm/cGxXQ).

With its vertically integrated business model and development into a multi-state operator across multiple sectors of the cannabis industry, Hero Technologies is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the fast-growing market and the growing number of opportunities emerging as a result of legalization and increased popularity among consumers.

Management Team

Gina Serkasevich, CPA, CMA, is the Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of the Hero Technologies. She previously worked for Holloman Corporation as its Director of Finance beginning in June 2012 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Holloman Energy Corporation in August 2014. She has more than 30 years of domestic and international corporate accounting and finance experience. She served as U.S. Controller for EFLO Energy Inc., a company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas assets in North America. Prior to 2012, Ms. Serkasevich worked in the oil and gas tanker transportation industry as a Regional Financial Manager for AET Inc. Limited (2011-2012), as a Financial Consultant for OSG Ship Management Inc. (2009-2011) and as a Financial Controller/CFO for Stena Bulk LLC (1998-2008). During her 11-year tenure at Stena Bulk LLC, she established the financial, accounting and reporting requirements for its new joint ventures and tanker pools with Sonanagol USA and held the Company Secretary position on both of those companies’ boards of directors.

Dan McCarthy is the company’s Corporate Development Manager. He has spent more than 12 years in the institutional investment community, holding various investment banking and private equity executive roles. Thus far, he has been a part of over $1 billion in transactional value ranging from debt and equity to acquisitions and diversities throughout his career. Mr. McCarthy’s most recent role was Managing Director at Petro Capital, a Dallas-based private equity and investment bank. He began his career working for a private international consulting firm based in Washington, D.C., helping corporations and funds expand into non-G7 countries utilizing World Bank financing. He is also a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Business and completed the Mergers and Acquisitions program at the New York Institute of Finance.

James Rowland is Hero Technologies’ Marketing Advisor and an expert in marketing and e-commerce. He has held many high-level marketing and business-related roles. He is the Founder and current CEO of PerfectCheckout.com and the current Business Development Specialist at Fulfillment.com. Mr. Rowland has held multiple high-level positions throughout his career, which have provided him with the experience needed to bring success-backed marketing leadership skills to his current role with the company.

Hero Technologies Inc. (HENC), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.095, up 2.1505%, on 516,365 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 1,196,655 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.0229/$0.317400008.

Recent News

• CannabisNewsBreaks - Hero Technologies Inc. (HENC) Announces Plans for Profitability, Sustainability in Proprietary Indoor Cannabis-Growing System
• Hero Technologies' Cannabis Grow Plan Prioritizes Sustainability against Climate Change
• CannabisNewsBreaks - Hero Technologies Inc. (HENC) Retains Patent Attorney to Solidify Cannabis Intellectual Property Rights

Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF).

Golden Leaf Holdings (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF), operating as Chalice Brands, a premier, consumer-driven cannabis company specializing in retail, production, processing, wholesale and distribution, today announced its results for the fourth quarter 2020 and the year-ended December 31, 2020. Among the highlights, the company reported record total revenue of $21.9 million for FY 2020, a 39% year-over-year increase compared to $15.8 million for FY 2019. To view the full press release, visit: https://cnw.fm/Pexhc. Also today, the company was featured in the 420 with CNW by CannabisNewsWire.

Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF) is a premier consumer-driven cannabis company powered by the Chalice retail and consumer brands. GLH takes a diversified approach to growth through innovation, strategic partnerships and retail expansion, as well as a brand portfolio focusing on health and wellness. The company features best in class retail cannabis experiences backed by cultivation, processing and developing wholesale distribution. With over 160 employees, GLH is one of the largest cannabis operators in Oregon. The company holds licensing in Oregon, as well as partnerships for manufacturing and distribution in California. Its current product portfolio includes recognizable brands such as Chalice(TM), Elysium Fields(TM), GOLDEN(TM), Jackpot(TM) and RXO(TM).

Brands

Golden Leaf Holdings offers an innovative product line that addresses current market needs and looks forward to meet emerging trends. The company’s goal is to offer something for everyone through the wholesale and retail marketplaces. Its current product offerings include:

Chalice(TM)

The Chalice Farms(TM) brand is focused on how cannabis enhances lives and ignites purpose. By offering the highest quality of cannabis in an array of flower, extracts, oils, edibles and full-body care products, the brand provides full efficacy in both the retail and wholesale markets. The Chalice Farms team has over 100 years of combined cannabis experience and continues to be an industry leader for both medical and recreational cannabis use – providing state-of-the-art farming practices, excellent retail and complete product innovation.

Elysium Fields(TM)

Elysium Fields(TM) is a “soil-to-oil” craft cannabis brand intended for cannabis connoisseurs who want the highest quality THC and boldest terpene flavors. Made from small-batch live resin, Elysium Fields creates an experience described as a remarkable entourage effect. The C-Cell cartridge has a 30% strain specific HTE with a 70% high THC distillate. The resin is created from a sustainable, organic garden flower that is flash-frozen upon harvest to preserve the terpenes for a heavenly experience.

RXO(TM)

RXO(TM) features Chalice Farms’ purest and most versatile Rick Simpson Oil products. RXO was developed by the Steele brothers in collaboration with medical professionals and is a potent, strain-specific Ethanol Hash Oil (EHO) purified through a proprietary process. Through this process, various consumption methods can be accommodated, including edible, topical, sublingual and smoking (shatter and vape).

GOLDEN(TM)

GOLDEN(TM) offers a wide variety of craft cannabis products for a diverse population of cannabis users. Sourced from the finest raw materials from local growers, GOLDEN products are high-quality and innovative. Premium cannabis distillate vaporizer cartridges and fruit chew edibles made from organic ingredients are made using the most flavorful terpenes for enhanced health, wellness and enjoyment. Products are distributed online and through Chalice Farms or other dispensary partners.

Jackpot(TM)

Jackpot(TM) products offer a powerful combination of flavor and potency. With 70% THC content in each cartridge, Jackpot adds full-spectrum cannabinoids and flavorful infused terpenes in short-run limited strains for on-the-go fun seekers. The quality hardware of the cartridges makes them easily recyclable and guarantees to produce a large volume draw each time.

Cannabis Market Outlook

In 2020, the legal cannabis market was valued at approximately $23 billion, and it is expected to top $73.6 billion in revenue by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 18.1% during the forecast period (https://ibn.fm/LdkhG). One of the biggest factors driving the cannabis market’s growth is legalization around the world.

As cannabis sales generally increased during the pandemic, Golden Leaf Holdings achieved record financials for Q3 2020, reporting quarterly revenue of $6.2 million, a year-over-year increase of 42%. For the first time in its history, the company also reported positive cash flow in excess of $417,000 (https://ibn.fm/LY1b2).

Golden Leaf Holdings is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the growth of both the medicinal and recreational marijuana market segments through a rich product offering that successfully addresses current consumer needs.

Management Team

Jeff Yapp is the CEO and President of Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. He has created a culture at GLH that operates under his mantra of ‘Crawl, Walk, Run’. He is an accomplished entrepreneur and corporate executive who has built a successful career through his ability to recognize opportunity, even when it isn’t obvious. Mr. Yapp has an extensive background in retail, marketing and entertainment. In the past, he has been committed to bringing innovation to Fortune 25 companies such as Microsoft, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo and more. As a strategic partner for Microsoft, he is an integral driver of growth for online and retail operations. He graduated with honors from the University of Michigan, majoring in Business Administration. He also graduated with honors from JL Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

John Varghese is the Executive Chair of Golden Leaf Holdings and is responsible for all capital markets initiatives at GLH. His background is in mergers and acquisitions, investing, operations and capital markets, with professional experience that ranges from private equity, venture capital and investment banking to senior management positions and director roles in both private and public companies. He has served on over 20 boards, acting as the chairman of six of them.

Andrew Marchington is the company’s CFO. His public accounting career experience includes time with start-up, high-growth and enterprise-level organizations, including five years of prior cannabis industry experience. He has a rich understanding of the priorities and best practices within accounting, finance and management. Mr. Marchington’s past experience includes time with companies like Deloitte, Moss Adams, Cambia Health Solutions and C21 Investments.

John Ford, Golden Leaf Holdings’ Chief Revenue Officer and VP of Retail, is a seasoned and dynamic retail leader with extensive experience in the retail industry who has led the launch of major retail brands such as Apple and Microsoft in China and Australia. His goal is to help retailers transition their businesses to modern experiential locations where customers can engage with products and brands in new ways. At Apple, Mr. Ford was the only field expat sent to launch Apple Retail in China. He set several records for Apple while in China, not just in sales but also in inventory management and employee turnover. Mr. Ford left Apple to lead Microsoft’s international retail expansion, where he also managed its e-commerce presence.

Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (GLDFF), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $0.049, up 1.4493%, on 2,478,661 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 3,385,752 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.009499999/$0.088100001.

Recent News

• CannabisNewsBreaks - Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF) Announces Record 2020 Revenues of $21.9M
• 420 with CNW - How Various Organizations, Brands Celebrated 4/20
• CannabisNewsBreaks - Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF) Announces Second Annual Record-Breaking 420

Friendable Inc. (FDBL)

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

Friendable (OTC: FDBL), a mobile technology and marketing company, today announced its recent spike in live channel growth for the company’s Fan Pass live streaming artist platform. This growth comes as new technology and various enhancements for both artists and their fans are being implemented and tested in the company’s version 2 of the platform. Fan Pass completed 22 live artist channels across various music genres at the end of March 2021 and, with live event performances doubling from the previous month, April was the month Fan Pass had projected a steep ramp-up in bringing additional new artist channels live. To view the full press release, visit http://ibn.fm/SsdP4

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 $0.01986, up 5.6383%, on 536,268 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 5,919,464 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $0.007799999/$0.174999997.

Recent News

• InvestorNewsBreaks - Friendable Inc.'s (FDBL) Fan Pass Achieves Steep Spike in New Live Artist Channels
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Friendable Inc.'s (FDBL) Fan Pass Sets the Stage for Virtual Events
• Friendable Inc. (OTC: FDBL) Fills Gap in Massive Live-Streaming Market

Infobird Software Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: IFBD)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Infobird Software Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: IFBD).

Infobird Software Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: IFBD) was featured today in a publication from ChineseWire detailing various investment considerations and how the company is “One to Watch.”  Read more »

Infobird Software (NASDAQ: IFBD), a software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) provider of AI-powered customer engagement solutions in China, offers holistic software solutions to support its growing corporate clientele deliver and manage customer engagement activities from beginning to end of the sales process; the company’s services even extend beyond to pre-sales and post-sales client support and involvement. Infobird combines its proprietary cloud computer structure with patented Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) and AI and machine learning capabilities as well as a no-code development platform for a flagship customer engagement offering unlike anything else in the industry. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Infobird.com

Infobird Software Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: IFBD) is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider of AI-powered customer engagement solutions in China. Infobird leverages a self-developed cloud computing structure, AI and machine learning capabilities, patented Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application technologies, a no-code development platform and in-depth industry expertise to best serve its growing client base.

Founded in October 2001, Infobird empowers clients with value-driven business solutions designed to increase revenue, reduce costs and enhance service quality and customer satisfaction. The company currently specializes in corporate clients in finance and a broad array of ancillary industries.

Infobird is headquartered in Beijing, China, and began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April 20, 2021, following an initial public offering of 6.25 million ordinary shares at a public offering price of $4.00 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions.

Product Offering

Infobird’s flagship customer engagement software can handle both AI Customer Engagement and AI Salesforce Management.

• AI Customer Engagement
  • Intelligent Omni-Channel Customer Service – This offering allows clients to connect with their customers anytime and anywhere through a comprehensive suite of cloud-based tools.
  • Cloud Call Center – This service puts Infobird’s years of technical and operational experience to work for clients, with options including intelligent IVR technology, call monitoring, routing strategy and ticketing systems, all supported by multi-dimensional data reports.
  • Intelligent Telemarketing – Infobird’s AI bots can help clients navigate “never-ending lists” of potential customers, filter out the most promising leads and increase the working efficiency of agents, keeping agents focused on high-value tasks.
  • AI Voice Chatbot and AI Text Chatbot – This technology allows clients to create human-like interactions offering 24/7 availability and multi-round dialogue capabilities, decreasing labor costs by up to 80% while greatly improving efficiency.

• AI Salesforce Management
  • Intelligent Quality Inspection – Infobird’s platform aims to improve quality inspection rates and service levels through the use of real-time smart monitoring with comprehensive coverage.
  • Intelligent Training – Interactive training programs allow clients to ensure and continuously improve the performance level of their agents, lessening the impact of high turnover rates common throughout the customer service industry.

Infobird’s client base includes roughly 10,000 paid user accounts representing 358 customers in the industries of finance, education, public services, consumer products and health care – as reported on June 30, 2020.

Market Outlook

Cloud infrastructure services spending in China increased by 32% ($39.9 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2020. For all of 2020, total services grew to $142 billion, up from the reported $107 billion in 2019. This growth can be attributed to rising demand for cloud infrastructure over physical software solutions (https://ibn.fm/rHZUh). China is the second-largest market for cloud infrastructure solutions after the U.S., accounting for roughly 14% of the global industry.

Likewise, SaaS has demonstrated considerable growth potential in recent years. In 2020, the SaaS industry in China was valued at $3.3 billion, representing an increase of 43.5% over 2019, as companies continue to leverage artificial intelligence and Big Data technologies to increase efficiencies and promote expansion.

As one of the leading and longest standing providers of domestic SaaS solutions and with a comprehensive portfolio of intelligent, customizable and scalable solutions, Infobird is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the market’s expansion and resulting opportunities for corporate growth.

Management Team

Yimin Wu is the CEO and Founder of Infobird. He has served as the Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of the company since it was founded. From August 1990 to March 1993, Mr. Wu was a software engineer for the Software Center of Tsinghua University and was sent to the U.S. to co-develop the HP_UX operating system at HP Inc. From April 1993 to May 2000, he served as the general manager for Beijing Jing Zhou Computers Co. Ltd., a company responsible for marketing and developing interactive voice response systems. From July 2000 to October 2001, Mr. Wu was the general manager for Beijing Jing Zhou Rong Hua Internet Technology Co. Ltd, a company responsible for developing middleware for call center establishments. He received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in computer sciences from Tsinghua University.

Hsiaochien Tseng is the EVP of Infobird and has held the title since January 2020. From March 2010 to September 2018, he served as a sales director for the Credit Card Center of China Guangfa Bank, where he was responsible for integrating and managing online and offline sales channels, establishing overall and regional sales strategies and creating training systems to increase the client base. From October 2018 to January 2020, Mr. Tseng served as SVP of Hua Tuo Digital Technology Group Co. Ltd., a financial information technology company. He received a bachelor’s degree in information management from Fu Jen Catholic University and a master’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University.

Chunhsiang Chen is the VP of Infobird, a position he has held since April 2012. From June 1990 to February 1993, he served as an advisory programmer of International Business Machine Corp. (IBM). During that time, he participated in the design and development of the Multiple Protocol Transport Network. From February 1993 to September 1996, Mr. Chen served as an associate professor in the Information Education Department of National Taiwan Normal University. He founded GenNet Technology Co. Ltd., an information technology company, in 1993 and served as the president until joining Infobird in 2012. Mr. Chen has a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences from the National Chiao Tung University and a master’s degree and doctoral degree in computer sciences from Northwestern University.

Lianfang Zhou is the CFO of Infobird and has been with the company for over 10 years. From September 2004 to July 2008, she served as the head of accounting at Beijing Saishuo Technology Co. Ltd., a software development company specializing in port services. From August 2008 to December 2009, Mrs. Zhou served as the head of accounting for Beijing Lianhe Lida Investment Co. Ltd., a property management services company. She holds an intermediate accounting qualification certificate issued by the Ministry of Finance of the PRC. Mrs. Zhou also has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Renmin University of China.

Infobird Software Co. Ltd. (IFBD), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $4.33, even for the day, on 711,593 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 2,135,100 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $4.11409997/$11.25.

Recent News

• Infobird Software Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: IFBD) Is 'One to Watch'
• WestPark Capital Announces Closing of $25 Million IPO for Infobird Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: IFBD)
• Yimin Wu - An AI-SaaS Pioneer from the East

Mohawk Group Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MWK)

The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter would like to spotlight Mohawk Group Holdings Inc. (MWK).

Mohawk Group (NASDAQ: MWK) had an impressive FY2020 as it reported its revenue increased by 62.3% or $71.3 million year-over-year to $185.7 million. This performance was influenced by the improved profitability and increase in sales and revenue in the fourth quarter. “This 62.3% revenue increase marked a consistent trend year-on-year for the two most recent reporting periods, given that it reported a growth in revenue of 56.2% in 2019 compared to 2018,” reads a recent article on the matter. The article further notes that this upward trajectory is expected to continue based on Mohawk’s earnings guidance, which projects between 88-105% revenue growth for FY 2021, backed by potential mergers and acquisitions. It quotes CEO Yaniv Sarig as saying, “We are currently evaluating a strong pipeline of potential M&A targets that in total have trailing twelve month’s net revenue of $522 million and trailing twelve month’s EBITDA of $97 million.” To view the full article, visit https://ibn.fm/3wTe7

Mohawk Group Holdings Inc. (MWK) is a leading tech-enabled consumer products platform that uses machine learning, natural language processing and data analytics to design, develop, market, and sell products. The company’s proprietary AIMEE(R) platform leverages data and AI to automate the design, development and launch of best-selling consumer products.

Mohawk owns and operates 12 brands and sells consumer products in multiple categories ranging from kitchenware and home appliances to environmental appliances, beauty products and even consumer electronics.

Founded in 2014, Mohawk has offices in the United States, Canada, China and the Philippines. The company is always working to capitalize on the strength of the different cities and time zones in which it operates to ensure continued excellence around the world and achieve its goal of becoming the most consumer-centric product company.

AIMEE(R) Platform

AIMEE(R) (AI Mohawk E-commerce Engine) is Mohawk’s proprietary platform that leverages data and AI to:

• Identify new market opportunities;
• Launch new products;
• Automate marketing variables; and
• Analyze and optimize company-owned and operated consumer product brands.

The platform’s core functionalities include:

• Research: Automated research using live market data that tracks exposure and product trends, allowing for the swift discovery of new market and product opportunities;
• Financials: Places data insights in one place, enabling execution across multiple channels to track new product planning, financial projections, inventory levels, media buying and more;
• Trading: The result of an algorithmic solution that has been optimized for live decisions to scale sales and built to implement automated marketing strategies with learning through experimentation; and
• Logistics: Manages logistics to enable faster delivery of products to consumers.

Mohawk’s Business Model

Mohawk’s unique business model is designed to drastically shorten go-to-market time, decreasing the typical 18- to 24-month process to just 6- to 8-months. Using AIMEE(R), Mohawk leverages real-time data-driven opportunities and trend tracking to replace the idea focus group research and development of the standard model.

Marketing time is also reduced between the two models using the AIMEE(R) Trading Engine for data-driven automated marketing and product lifetime management. Through the AIMEE(R) trading engine, the traditional 3-month marketing for a standard go-to-market model is cut to a fraction of the time.

The AIMEE(R) Fulfillment Engine allows for dynamic inventory allocation, fulfillment selection, cost optimization, a third-party logistics network and a 2-day shipping period across almost all of the United States. The standard business model doesn’t support direct distribution or an FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) structure.

Opportunities for Growth and Profitability

Mohawk’s plan to drive growth and profitability in the market includes:

1. The continued optimization of product economics by lowering manufacturing and logistical costs through an increase in purchasing power
2. The pursuit of higher-value products with larger target markets
3. Opportunistically adding new products and categories through acquisitions
4. Expansion into the international and new domestic e-commerce marketplaces
5. Monetization of its proprietary AIMEE(R) platform by providing access to third-party brands

Mohawk’s long-term goal is to increase its profit margin from 14% in 2020 to 18-20%, using higher average selling prices and lower fulfillment costs as primary drivers. Due to its technology and platform effect, Mohawk’s corporate overhead is expected to increase at a slower pace than sales. Its fixed operating costs long-term target goal is 5%, which follows the current trend (2019 – 19%, 2020 – 13%). It aims for an adjusted EBITDA of 13-15%.

Management Team

Yaniv Sarig has been Mohawk’s President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2018. He is also a co-founder of Mohawk Group Inc. Mr. Sarig has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mohawk Group Inc. since June 2014. Before his role at Mohawk, he led the Financial Services Engineering department at Coverity, a software startup providing code and security solutions to top financial institutions and hedge funds in New York to include the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, JPMorgan Chase and Barclays. Before his Coverity role, Mr. Sarig held lead technical roles at Bloomberg and EPIQ Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: EPIQ). He holds a Bachelor of Science from Touro College. He is fluent in English, French, Hebrew and C++.

Fabrice Hamaide has been the Chief Financial Officer of Mohawk since September 2018. He has also retained the position of Chief Financial Officer for Mohawk Group Inc. since July 2017. Before Mohawk, Mr. Hamaide held numerous financial, CFO and presidential roles in various technological and consumer product companies across Europe and the United States, including Piksel Inc., Atari, Parrot and Logitech. Mr. Hamaide holds an impressive set of credentials, including an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MS in Information Systems Design from Sorbonne University, and a BS in Applied Mathematics from Jussieu University.

Mihal Chaouat-Fix has been the Chief Product Officer for Mohawk since September 2018. Prior to taking this role within the company, she was the Chief Operating Officer, handling the day-to-day leadership and operational management of Mohawk. Before joining Mohawk, Ms. Chaouat-Fix worked in various roles at Gottex Models Ltd. At this international fashion swimwear firm, her focus on marketing, operations and manufacturing saw supply chain and distribution of 12 million units per year to over 40 countries worldwide.

Tomer Pascal has been the Chief Revenue Officer for Mohawk since 2018. He has also served as the Chief Revenue Officer for Mohawk Group Inc. since 2017. Before he joined the Mohawk team, he was the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of OMG Studios. Throughout his career, Mr. Pascal has held many different co-founder and general management roles, focusing on companies’ marketing and revenue growth in the media and technology industries.

Roi Zahut has held the role of Chief Technology Officer for Mohawk since 2019. Before Mohawk, he served in numerous roles, including CTO of the Advanced Analytics global consulting team at IBM and architect of IBM Metropulse. While in Israel, Mr. Zahut held several senior technical, business and data science roles in startups and consulting to include IBM Israel, Brainbow Ltd. and Matrix IT Ltd. He holds an MSc in Neuroscience with distinction from Bar Ilan University.

Mohawk Group Holdings Inc. (MWK), closed Tuesday’s trading session at $24.24, off by 5.3125%, on 639,154 volume. The average volume for the last 3 months is 1,072,429 and the stock's 52-week low/high is $2.17000007/$48.9900016.

Recent News

• InvestorNewsBreaks - Mohawk Group Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MWK) Forecasts 88% to 105% Revenue Growth in 2021
• InvestorNewsBreaks - Mohawk Group Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MWK) Sets Date for First Quarter 2021 Earnings Announcement and Investor Conference Call
• Mohawk Group Sets Date for First Quarter 2021 Earnings Announcement and Investor Conference Call