Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:24 AM on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
Personas’ ChatCash service allows users to provide (and charge for) one-on-one private tutorials, consulting services, help desk services and any other service that is typically delivered through one-on-one chat
TORONTO, Jan. 08, 2019 – Peeks Social Ltd. (TSXV:PEEK) (OTCQB:PKSLF) (“Peeks Social†or “the Companyâ€) is pleased to provide an update on the pending launch of the Personas social network (“Personasâ€).
Personas is an ecommerce enabled video and image sharing social
network that provides users with a video chat based payments system
(ChatCash). Personas’ ChatCash service allows users to provide (and
charge for) one-on-one private tutorials, consulting services, help desk
services and any other service that is typically delivered through
one-on-one chat
Personas technology and policies are purpose designed to satisfy user
demands for a “Hate Free Space†on the internet where personal privacy
is protected. Personas provides greater privacy in a variety of ways;
for one, by allowing users to segment their social media following into
several profiles: friends, family and followers. In addition, as a
policy Personas does not sell user data. Future releases of Personas
will allow users to create additional profiles on demand.
A significant market opportunity has emerged as a result of rising
user concerns over social media privacy, trolling, fake news and misuse
of private data. These concerns are reflected in a recent Pew Research
Center poll, that reported; “42% of US adult Facebook users have taken a
break from the site in the past 12 months for several weeks or more,
54% adjusting their privacy settings and 26% deleting the app from their
phone entirelyâ€.
Major development of release 1.0 of the Personas is complete and is
currently in beta testing. Personas will be submitted for approval to
the Apple and Google app stores in the coming weeks and subsequently
available for download.
The Peeks Social App can be downloaded in either the Google or Apple app stores, or by visiting www.peeks.social
For further information, please contact:
Peeks Social Ltd. Mark Itwaru Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 416-635-5339 [email protected]
David Vinokurov Director Investor Relations 416-716-9281 [email protected]
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this Release.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:19 AM on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
Announced today that it has signed a mutually exclusive Partnership Agreement with Aubert & Duval, together the “Partiesâ€, a subsidiary of the ERAMET Group (2017: Sales: > Can$5.4 Billion; Assets: > Can$4.9 billion; Paris Stock Exchange: ERA.PA).
Agreement outlines a multi-step strategy between the Parties to supply plasma atomized titanium powder, on a mutually exclusive basis, to the Additive Manufacturing Market in Europe
MONTREAL, Jan. 08, 2019 – PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (http://pyrogenesis.com) (TSX-V: PYR) (OTCQB: PYRNF) (Frankfurt: 8PY: FRA)  a TSX Venture 50® high-tech company, (the “Company”, the “Corporation†or “PyroGenesis”) a Company that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma atomized metal powder, plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, is pleased to announce today that it has signed a mutually exclusive Partnership Agreement (the “Agreementâ€) with Aubert & Duval, together the “Partiesâ€), a subsidiary of the ERAMET Group (2017: Sales: > Can$5.4 Billion; Assets: > Can$4.9 billion; Paris Stock Exchange: ERA.PA). The Agreement outlines a multi-step strategy between the Parties to supply plasma atomized titanium powder, on a mutually exclusive basis, to the Additive Manufacturing (“AMâ€) Market in Europe (the “Marketâ€). The Agreement envisions establishing production capability in the Market on mutually agreeable terms.
Aubert & Duval is a world leader in industrializing
high-performance steel, super alloy, aluminum and titanium alloys for
over a century. More specifically, they are a recognized supplier of
metal powders for additive manufacturing, serving the Aerospace, Energy,
Transport, Medical, Defense, Automotive and other large scale,
demanding markets.
“Aubert & Duval, founded in 1907, is a recognized supplier of
fine metallic powders for AM in demanding markets such as aerospace,
energy, medical, defense and automotive,†said Mr. Massimo Dattilo, Vice
President of PyroGenesis Additive. “They have a strong metallurgical
expertise, and a long history in powder atomization. The addition of
PyroGenesis’ capabilities complements their current product offerings in
a field in which they are an established supplier. Aubert & Duval
has a history of supporting their customers in AM, from the development
of product to mass production, and we are happy to partner with them.â€
“This Agreement establishes the framework within which Aubert &
Duval and PyroGenesis shall work together to distribute the titanium
powders manufactured by PyroGenesis to the Market. There are provisions
for the expansion of the Market upon mutual agreement by the Parties,â€
said Mr. P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis. “This
relationship will undoubtably accelerate our growth in our AM business
line and complements our corporate strategy to team up with established
players who have an impeccable reputation and a strong balance sheet, to
accelerate our growth. This is a very significant milestone not only
for PyroGenesis and Aubert & Duval, but for the industry as a
whole. This strategic partnership speaks to the Parties’ complementary
strengths: PyroGenesis’ extensive plasma expertise as the inventor of
Plasma Atomization, and Aubert & Duval’s large network of customers,
strong balance sheet, and extensive knowledge of the market.â€
PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a TSX Venture 50® high-tech company, is the world leader in the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced plasma processes and products. We provide engineering and manufacturing expertise, cutting-edge contract research, as well as turnkey process equipment packages to the defense, metallurgical, mining, advanced materials (including 3D printing), oil & gas, and environmental industries. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and technicians working out of our Montreal office and our 3,800 m2 manufacturing facility, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of technology development and commercialization. Our core competencies allow PyroGenesis to lead the way in providing innovative plasma torches, plasma waste processes, high-temperature metallurgical processes, and engineering services to the global marketplace. Our operations are ISO 9001:2015 certified and have been since 1997. PyroGenesis is a publicly-traded Canadian Corporation on the TSX Venture Exchange (Ticker Symbol: PYR) and on the OTCQB Marketplace. For more information, please visit www.pyrogenesis.com
About Eramet:
Eramet is one of the world’s leading producers of: Manganese and
nickel, used to improve the properties of steels, and mineral sands
(titanium dioxide and zircon), parts and semi-finished products in
alloys and high-performance special steels used by industries such as
aerospace, power generation, and tooling.
Eramet is also developing activities with strong growth potential,
such as lithium extraction and recycling, called to play a key role in
the energy transition and the mobility of the future.
The Group employs around 12,600 people in 20 countries. www.eramet.com
About Aubert & Duval:
Aubert & Duval, a subsidiary of the Alloys division of the Eramet
group, is a metallurgist expert and one of the world leaders in
high-performance steels, superalloys, titanium and aluminum. Aubert
& Duval designs and develops advanced metallurgical solutions in the
form of closed-die forged or forged parts, long products or metal
powders for projects in the most demanding industries: aeronautics,
energy, defense, nuclear, medical. www.aubertduval.com
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including, without limitation, statements containing the words “may”,
“plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”,
“expect”, “in the process” and other similar expressions which
constitute “forward- looking information” within the meaning of
applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the
Corporation’s current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited
to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the
market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the
capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research
and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new
product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory
approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the
Corporation with respect to future events and are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in
the Corporation’s ongoing filings with the securities regulatory
authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com, or at www.otcmarkets.com. Actual
results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward- looking statements either as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) nor the OTCQB accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this press release.
Tags: 3D Printing, tsx-v Posted in All Recent Posts, PyroGenesis Canada Inc. | Comments Off on PyroGenesis $PYR.ca Signs Mutually Exclusive Partnership Agreement with Aubert & Duval to Supply Plasma Atomized Titanium Powder to European Union Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing Market
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 1:42 PM on Monday, January 7th, 2019
Scheduled a conference call at 3pm EST on January 7, 2019 to discuss the acquisition of The Sims Resource
TORONTO, Jan. 07, 2019 — Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (“Enthusiast†or the “Companyâ€) (TSXV: EGLX), announces that the Company has scheduled a conference call at 3pm EST on January 7, 2019 to discuss the acquisition of The Sims Resource (“TSRâ€) previously announced this morning (see release here). Individuals will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with senior management of Enthusiast regarding the acquisition. Conference call details are as follows:
Enthusiast Gaming Conference Call
Date of call: 01/07/2019 Time of call: 3:00 PM Eastern Time
US/CANADA Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number:
(866) 691-5896
US/CANADA Participant International Dial-In Number:
(409) 216-0841
Conference ID:
5661438
Enthusiast also announces that it has engaged Native Ads Inc. (“Native Adsâ€) to provide and manage a comprehensive digital media marketing campaign for the Company.
The Company has entered into an eight (8) week programmatic digital
advertising campaign for a total cost of C$150,000. The campaign
includes, but is not limited to: content creation, web development,
media buying and distribution, advertising development, and campaign
reporting and optimization. A budget of C$112,500 from this payment will
be allocated for digital advertising, paid distribution, and media
buying and C$37,500 will be allocated for consulting, managed services
and management fees over the campaign period. Neither Native Ads nor any
of its directors and officers own any securities of the Company.
About Native Ads
Native Ads is a full service ad agency, that owns and operates a
proprietary ad exchange with over 80 integrated SSPs (supply side
platforms) resulting in access to 3-7 billion daily North American ad
impressions.
About Enthusiast
Founded in 2014, Enthusiast is the fastest-growing online community
of video gamers. Through the Company’s unique acquisition strategy, it
has a platform of over 80 owned and affiliated websites and currently
reaches over 75 million monthly visitors with its unique and curated
content. Enthusiast also owns and operates Canada’s largest gaming expo,
Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo, EGLX, (www.eglx.ca). Over 30,000 people attended EGLX in October 2018. For more information on the Company, visit www.enthusiastgaming.com.
This news release contains certain statements that may constitute
forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. All
statements, other than those of historical fact, which address
activities, events, outcomes, results, developments, performance or
achievements that Enthusiast anticipates or expects may or will occur in
the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking
information. Such information may involve, but is not limited to,
comments with respect to strategies, expectations, planned operations
and future actions of the Company. Often, but not always,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such
as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”,
“estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or
variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or
statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain
actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will”
(or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or
come to pass. Forward-looking information is based on currently
available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans,
strategies or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors
that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
Enthusiast to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
information. Such factors may be based on information currently
available to Enthusiast, including information obtained from third-party
industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on
management’s current expectations or beliefs regarding future growth,
results of operations, future capital (including the amount, nature and
sources of funding thereof) and expenditures. Any and all
forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly
qualified by this cautionary statement. Trading in the securities of
the Company should be considered highly speculative.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
The securities of the Corporation have not been and will not be
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended
and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration
or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This press
release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 12:07 PM on Monday, January 7th, 2019
Transformative acquisition to add approximately 35% to Enthusiast’s rapidly growing revenue base
Company to acquire 100% of the assets of The Sims Resource from Generatorhallen AB and IBIBI HB on an arm’s length basis for US$18 million in cash and US$2 million in stock for an aggregate purchase price of US$20 million
TSR generated C$7 million in revenue and C$5.25 million in Adjusted EBITDA2 Â and approximately C$4.5 million in net income
world’s largest female video gaming content and community destination online.
Sims™ franchise has sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide and is widely considered one of the best-selling video games series of all time.
TORONTO, Jan. 07, 2019 — Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (“Enthusiast†or the “Companyâ€) (TSXV: EGLX), is pleased to announce that it has, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, signed a definitive agreement on January 3, 2019 (the “Agreement“) for the Company to acquire 100% of the assets of The Sims Resource (“TSRâ€) from Generatorhallen AB and IBIBI HB (the “Vendorsâ€) on an arm’s length basis for US$18 million in cash and US$2 million in stock for an aggregate purchase price of US$20 million (the “Purchase Price“).  Thirty percent (30%) of the Purchase Price is payable on closing and the balance payable by the first anniversary date of closing, subject to certain customary adjustments (the “Transaction“). Completion of the Transaction is subject to satisfaction of a number of customary conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and is expected to close prior to February 15, 2019.
THE SIMS RESOURCE
Established in 1999, TSR (www.thesimsresource.com)
has grown to become the world’s largest female video gaming content and
community destination online.1 The website offers custom content built
around the popular Sims™ video game franchise, which can be downloaded
by users to alter and/or expand gameplay. Published by Electronic Arts,
The Sims™ franchise has sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide and is
widely considered one of the best-selling video games series of all
time.
“The Sims Resource is one of the largest video game communities,
ranking in the top 5 independent sites in total views in the US, Canada
and the UK. It currently generates more than 10% of the total views of
Twitch.com, the largest video game website, which was acquired by Amazon
in 2014 for approximately US$1 billion,” said Menashe Kestenbaum, CEO of Enthusiast Gaming (Source: Comscore Media Metrix Multi-Platform/®, Games – Gaming Information, Total Views, November 2018, U.S., Canada, U.K.). “Further, with the rapidly growing female video game segment, TSR provides us with immediate reach into this valuable audience.â€
TSR is the largest female video gaming content site in the world
generating in excess of 2.5 billion page views per year (Google
Analytics);
Comscore’s Gaming Information category currently ranks TSR in the top 5 independent video game websites;
The site ranks #7 on Quantcast’s Top 25 websites with the highest
concentration of female audience in the United States, closely behind
Oprah.com and Bravotv.com (Quantcast, Top 25 websites with the most
female audience, 2017);
In 2018 TSR generated C$7 million in revenue and C$5.25 million in
Adjusted EBITDA2 and approximately C$4.5 million in net income
(CohnReznick LLP unaudited “Quality of Earnings†report prepared for
Enthusiast); and
Approximately 60% of revenue is derived from advertising with 40% received from monthly recurring subscribers.
“We see three key growth opportunities associated with this acquisition,†Kestenbaum continued. “Initially
we intend to drive significant organic growth in advertising revenue
via direct sales, an area of strategic importance to Enthusiast in
recent months. Further, we now have an opportunity to monetize with
advertisers seeking a large female video game audience. Finally, TSR’s
subscription model has the potential to add considerable revenue across
our entire portfolio.â€
TRANSACTION TERMS
As consideration for the acquired assets, Enthusiast will pay, at
closing, an initial amount of US$4 million in cash and US$2 million in
common shares in the capital of the Company valued at C$1.00 per share;
The Company will pay a deferred payment (the “Deferred Paymentâ€) of US$14 million on or before the first anniversary of closing;
Enthusiast will enter into a transition services agreement, pursuant
to which the Vendors will manage, operate and administer the acquired
assets and in particular the relationships with the TSR community for a
period of up to one year;
Until the Deferred Payment is made, the Company has agreed on a
profit-sharing split of 70% in favour of the Vendors, which decreases
proportionally if the Company elects to prepay a portion of the Deferred
Payment; and
Pursuant to the Transaction, the Company will acquire all of the
assets related to TSR, including, but not limited to, customer and
supplier lists, trade names, business goodwill, intellectual property,
software, the domain name, website content, social media accounts and
the Company will not assume any liabilities or obligations of the
Vendors outside of those normally assumed in relation to employment and
certain other contractual obligations.
The acquisition of TSR is the largest acquisition to date for
Enthusiast and follows the successful completion of seven strategic
acquisitions in 2018. The Company anticipates that it will need to
secure financing in order to meet the Deferred Payment. The Company
expects to continue to grow through a combination of organic growth and
acquisition utilizing its balance sheet as well as being opportunistic
with respect to additional equity and/or debt financing to execute on
its defined growth strategy.
About Enthusiast
Founded in 2014, Enthusiast is the fastest-growing online community
of video gamers. Through the Company’s unique acquisition strategy, it
has a platform of over 80 owned and affiliated websites and currently
reaches over 75 million monthly visitors with its unique and curated
content. Enthusiast also owns and operates Canada’s largest gaming expo,
Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo, EGLX, (www.eglx.ca). Over 30,000 people attended EGLX in October 2018. For more information on the Company, visit www.enthusiastgaming.com.
This news release contains certain statements that may constitute
forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. All
statements, other than those of historical fact, which address
activities, events, outcomes, results, developments, performance or
achievements that Enthusiast anticipates or expects may or will occur in
the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking
information. Such information may involve, but is not limited to,
comments with respect to strategies, expectations, planned operations
and future actions of the Company. Often, but not always,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such
as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”,
“estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or
variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or
statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain
actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will”
(or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or
come to pass. Forward-looking information is based on currently
available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans,
strategies or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors
that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
Enthusiast to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
information. Such factors may be based on information currently
available to Enthusiast, including information obtained from third-party
industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on
management’s current expectations or beliefs regarding future growth,
results of operations, future capital (including the amount, nature and
sources of funding thereof) and expenditures. Any and all
forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly
qualified by this cautionary statement. Trading in the securities of
the Company should be considered highly speculative.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
The securities of the Corporation have not been and will not be
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended
and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration
or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This press
release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful.
____________________ 1 See Comscore Media Metrix Multi-Platform and Quantcast report referenced below.
2 Adjusted EBITDA as used by the Company means earnings before
interest and financing costs (net of interest income), income taxes,
depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring
and other non-recurring costs, and non-controlling interests. Adjusted
EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure. Enthusiast believes this non-IFRS
financial measure provides useful information to both management and
investors in measuring financial performance, the ability to fund future
working capital needs, to service outstanding debt, and to fund future
capital expenditures. This measure does not have a standard meaning
prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similarly
titled measurers presented by other publicly traded companies and should
not be construed as an alternative to other financial measures
determined in accordance with IFRS.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:41 AM on Monday, January 7th, 2019
SPONSOR: Esports Entertainment $GMBL – Esports audience is 350M, growing to 590M, Esports wagering is projected at $23 BILLION by 2020. The company has launched VIE.gg esports betting platform and has accelerated affiliate marketing agreements with an additional 42 Esports teams, bringing total to 176 Esports teams. Click here for more information
—————-
Twitch Sees Significant Growth From In Real Life Streaming in 2018
By The Numbers
Total Hours Watched in 2018: 540M (IRL and Just Chatting).
Total Hours Watched in 2017: 207.96.
Most-Watched Day: June 3 with 2.43M hours watched.
Peak CCV: 159.69K on May 29 when Bethesda released a Fallout teaser on its official channel.
Most-Watched IRL Channel: Chance “Sodapoppin†Morris with 49.85M hours watched.
Most-Watched Just Chatting Channel: Chance “Sodapoppin†Morris with 8.26M hours watched.
Twitch’s
“In Real Life†or “IRL†category experienced a huge re-work in the fall
of 2018 as the platform realized that more streamers were not only
using it, but using for a plethora of different reasons.
At the end of September, the category
was divided into several new categories including “Just Chatting,â€
“Sports and Fitness,†“Special Events,†“Food & Drink,†and “Talk
Shows & Podcasts.†Before that point, IRL content on Twitch
consistently drew some of the strongest viewership week-to-week in 2018
and regularly competed with some of the most-watched games on the
platform.
Despite the division of one of
Twitch’s most-watched categories, the momentum of IRL wasn’t stalled. If
anything it served as a catalyst for its growth. As soon as IRL was
divided, “Just Chatting†emerged as one of the most popular forms of
content. Streamers regularly began streams by “Just Chatting†with their
viewers before they started to get into whatever game they were
playing.
Some streamers like Chance “Sodapoppin†Morris even began to expand the scope of what the category could be,
and despite just three months of existence, the Just Chatting category
on Twitch managed to sneak into rankings as one of the top 10 most-watched types of content for all of 2018.
When combined with the success of IRL prior to it’s extinction, the two
personality-driven forms of content made up 540M hours watched on
Twitch, enough to be the third most-watched category on the platform.
It wasn’t solely Just Chatting that
saw use on the platform either. While Just Chatting was by far the most
used subcategory, the other 12 categories that were born from IRL
elicited airtime from streamers.
Year-Over-Year
Even though IRL was removed from
Twitch on Sept. 26, its 388M hours watched was enough to deliver a
massive year-over-year net positive for the category. Without even
existing the last three months of the year, IRL had around 180M more
hours watched in 2018 than it did in 2017 (207.96M). In just three
months, the Just Chatting category alone drew 151.17M hours watched.
The exponential growth of IRL
justified its division into sub-categories, but even after the split,
Just Chatting averaged more hours watched per month than IRL. As more
streamers look to grow their viewership by maintaining interactive
communities, the necessity to “just chat†with subscribers and fans has
become increasingly important.
Unlike many forms of entertainment,
Twitch is most known for its game-driven content and its interactive
interfaces. The maturation of Just Chatting and IRL is the most tangible
sign of Twitch’s continued growth. Despite its short life, viewership
for Just Chatting notably increased in 2018. That was paired with a
significant increase in total airtime as well—a sign that influencers
are aware of the trend.
Influencer Impact
IRL is all about the influencer;
there isn’t much in the way of esports that comes with “real lifeâ€
content unless its a Twitch personality giving their thoughts about a
recent gaming tournament. Morris seems to have mastered the art of
interacting with his viewers in a unique and personal way that keeps
them coming back. Not only was he the most-watched IRL streamer, but he
led the Just Chatting category once it came into existence. In fact, his
channel accounts for eight of the top ten IRL or Just Chatting sessions
in 2018.
As more streamers continue to use
Just Chatting—as well as Twitch’s other non-game specific channels—as a
way to interact with their chatroom and grow a sense of community among
viewers, the opportunity for personal growth and increased sponsorships
will proliferate throughout the platform.
While the battle royale craze and Fortnite
have dominated Twitch in 2018, the life of any specific game as a form
of personality streaming content is historically limited. As Twitch
evolves, the personalities that thrive are the ones that are able to
adapt and maintain viewership with their personality—not just their
skill at a specific game. This new category’s success and rapid growth
are an indication that streamers are becoming privy to the opportunities
that are associated with…well…just chatting.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:01 AM on Monday, January 7th, 2019
The heartbeat of cardiovascular medicine and telemedicine
Specializing in the software engineering of computer based
electrocardiogram (heart monitoring) management and reporting software
Software permits physician interpretations of ECGs and supports private and public payer fee-for-service billings
ECGs are electrical recordings of the heart and performing an ECG is one of the most common diagnostic tests performed
Successfully launched technologies that enable the use of new
medical devices and communication portals utilizing internet and
cellular based technologies for the recording, transmission and viewing
of ECGs
Recent Highlights
CardioComm Solutions’ HeartCheck(TM) CardiBeat and Smart Phone App Enter Final Stage of FDA 510(k) Review Read More
Market Release of HeartCheck(TM) CardiBeat and GEMS(TM) Mobile Application Set For Early 2019
Completed its response to the USA Food and Drug Administration for
additional information following the Company’s filing of its premarket
notification 510(k)
Class II medical device clearance application for the HeartCheck™ CardiBeat and GEMS™ Mobile Application
HeartCheck™ CardiBeat is the second of several planned Bluetooth-enabled ECG recording devices to be marketed by the Company
Launched 12-Lead ECG Smart Wearable Garment Monitoring Solution Read More
Announced joint partnership sales plans for the commercial launch of
its newest software release designed to support an innovative and easy
to use wireless, 12 lead ECG, vital signs, arrhythmia and ischemia
monitoring wearable smart garment manufactured by Israel-based
HealthWatch Technologies Ltd.
Company to Receive Royalty Payments from Biotricity Read More
Confirmed progress on a royalty licencing agreement with Biotricty Inc.
Royalty payment phase became active following confirmation that all
necessary clearance and software development pre-conditions have been
achieved
Royalty fees are due from the use of the ECG software Cardiocomm
developed, or any derivative products, on a per patient monitored basis
First Company to Receive Approval for ECG Product Sales Direct to Consumers Read More
CardioComm was the first company to be approved to sell an ECG
product directly to consumers in North America as evidenced by OTC Class
II medical device clearances by both the United States Food and Drug
Adminstration and Health Canada in 2012
HeartCheck ECG PEN is currently available for OTC sales on the shelves of Canadian pharmacy chain Shoppers Drug Mart.
Completed HeartCheck(TM) Clinical Validation for Long-Term,
Self-Managed, Remote Monitoring of Atrial Fibrillation Patients
Post-Ablation Read More
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Indian e-learning startup Byju’s eyes US deals after raising $540m
Indian online tutorial startup Byju’s, which recently received $540 million in investment from South African fund Naspers and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, has begun talks with four or five U.S. peers toward an acquisition to speed its global expansion.
World’s most valuable education tech unicorn has global expansion plans, CEO says ROSEMARY MARANDI, Nikkei staff writer January 04, 2019 14:22 JST
MUMBAI — Indian online tutorial startup Byju’s, which recently
received $540 million in investment from South African fund Naspers and
the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, has begun talks with four or
five U.S. peers toward an acquisition to speed its global expansion.
The world’s top education technology unicorn, valued at $3.8 billion,
seeks to finalize a deal within six months, using part of the money
from its recent fundraising round, founder and CEO Byju Raveendran told
the Nikkei Asian Review in an interview.
Byju’s wants to make an acquisition “that will eventually help us
launch in a new market,” Raveendran said. “We are also looking for
products that will have a global offering because we don’t know today
which country we want to launch in.”
The company also is considering tie-ups with, as well as acquisitions of, content distribution companies for its platform.
“If both can come together, nothing like it, but there are not many
options where you get a good product offering and a significant amount
of reach,” the CEO said.
Byju’s, formally known as Think & Learn, has seen rapid growth in
India, where it has reached 2 million paid subscribers and over 30
million general users.
The company, which began as a provider of preparation for competitive
exams such as the GMAT and GRE, also enjoys backing from investors such
as Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings,
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s multibillion-dollar philanthropy
venture and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corp. Together,
they have invested around $800 million in several rounds of funding.
Byju’s doubled its revenue over the past three years and expects to
triple the amount to 15 billion rupees ($209 million) during the fiscal
year that ends in March.
Byju’s founder and CEO Byju Raveendran is
eager for a U.S. deal that would mark the startup’s fourth acquisiton
since it began in 2015. (Photo by Rosemary Marandi)
By the July-September quarter, Byju’s will make its app available in
the U.S. and some Commonwealth countries such as the U.K., Australia and
New Zealand to test its traction in these markets.
The startup will introduce its signature high-production-value videos
and content — which simplify subjects such as math and science for
Indian students as young as kindergarten age — for 5- to 8-year-olds in
these countries.
Byju’s has brought in teachers from across English-speaking countries
to record videos in its studios in Bangalore. These teachers are chosen
from popular educators on YouTube, and Byju’s is hoping their fans will
follow them to its learning app.
Byju’s “has aggressive plans for international market expansion and
will make bold investments in technology that will help to further
personalize learning for students,” according to the company.
A U.S. deal would mark Byju’s fourth acquisition since its launch in
2015. In July, the unicorn acquired Bangalore-based education
startup Math Adventures for an undisclosed amount. The team of Math
Adventures now forms a part of Byju’s content and research and
development team.
In 2017, it acquired two companies, TutorVista and Edurite, from
London-based education group Pearson, the former owner of the Financial
Times. It also bought student assessment platform Vidyartha that year.
Other Indian e-learning startups are moving beyond the country’s borders to boost their revenue.
Education technology startup Mindler, for instance, is already
present in five countries, including Russia and Singapore. Fellow
startup Aspiring Minds has entered countries such as China and the U.S.,
while Xseed Education is present in the Philippines, Singapore and the
Middle East.
These startups believe in the fitness of their products to attract markets abroad.
According to a study by Google and accounting group KPMG, India’s
online education industry is expected to grow eightfold to $1.96 billion
by 2021, with the number of paid users rising sixfold to 9.6
million from 1.6 million now.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:40 AM on Monday, January 7th, 2019
Announced today that it has been awarded a contract for a 900 kW plasma torch system for more than CAD $1MM.
This contract was won in a competitive bid put out by RISE Energy Technology Center AB of Sweden
MONTREAL, Jan. 07, 2019 — PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (http://pyrogenesis.com) (TSX-V: PYR) (OTCQB: PYRNF), a TSX Venture 50® high-tech company, (the “Company”, the “Corporation†or “PyroGenesis”) a Company that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma atomized metal powder, plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, is pleased to announce today that it has been awarded a contract for a 900 kW plasma torch system for more than CAD $1MM. This contract was won in a competitive bid put out by RISE Energy Technology Center AB of Sweden (the “Client†or “RISEâ€).
The invitation to participate was announced on November 11th, 2018
and the deadline for submitting applications was December 12th, 2018.
Technical and commercial discussions took place in Sweden December
18-21st, 2018. The competition was narrowed down to two other companies
besides PyroGenesis. The 10-day standstill period, in which participants
could contest the decision based on procedure, expired January 2nd,
2019, and as such the contract was awarded to PyroGenesis. The Client
and PyroGenesis are now in the process of finalizing contract terms. The
torch is scheduled to be delivered by Q3 2019.
Mr. P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis, provides further information in the following Q&A format:
Q. You announcedtoday a 900KW torch systemsale. What doesthis mean for theCompanyexactly?
A. This is a giant step forward for PyroGenesis and its torch sale strategy, for three reasons.
First, we won this contract against stiff competition. One was a
European powerhouse, and the other was a local company. Being the only
non-European competitor did not help either. We were determined to win
this contract, and not sacrifice our margins, and we did.
Second, as you know, we are plasma torch experts, and have sold
plasma torches in the past. Our main lines of business typically use
torches between 10-550 kW so that is what we typically sell as well.
However, there is a significant market for high powered plasma torches (
~ 1 MW range), and one we have targeted for some time now.
Notwithstanding the fact that our businesses do not use 1 MW torches, we
developed this capability in-house, with support from the Canadian
National Research Council, with our eyes set on addressing this market.
This announcement today is the first step in that direction.
Third, we announced on October 26, 2017 that we were granted two US
patents, one of which was a torch patent targeting this exact
application.
Q.Andwhatapplication is that?
A. Iron ore pelletization.
It is a process in which fossil fuel burners are typically used in
abundance. Fossil fuel burners are naturally bad for the environment in
that they generate greenhouse gases. Amongst its many advantages,
PyroGenesis’ Plasma torches do not.
We are extremely happy to be working with RISE on this project as we
share many of their views and values. Sweden is committed to becoming a
zero-carbon dioxide emission society and, as such, is developing fossil
free technologies across all sectors. This contract is aimed at
developing fossil-free energy-mining-iron-steel value chains and thereby
provide a basis for governance and industrial strategies for
transformative change across all of Sweden.
We are proud to be part of this initiative by providing our patented torch technology (US patent #9,752,206 entitled Plasma heated furnace for iron ore pellet induration) as a basis for this change.
Q. When do you thinkyou will conclude the contract?
A. Within the next six weeks.
Q. Anyrisk itwon’t be signed?
A. There are always risks, but we are highly confident it will be signed. Maybe even sooner than what we expect.
Q.Lastbutnotleast,what is yourgoalfor this market?
A. We have one of the largest
concentrations of plasma expertise under one roof. We make some of the
most unique plasma torches in the world. We run torches on air, oxygen,
argon, helium, and even water which is quite uncommon. Our torches are
compact, lightweight, easy to operate, fully-automated, with high levels
of safety, and impressive reliability. PyroGenesis torches can operate
for extremely long periods without maintenance, and they can easily
restart without manual intervention.
Winning this public tender not only speaks to our capability of
meeting existing needs, but also to our ability to develop new plasma
torches for unique and demanding situations.
We have effectively expanded our plasma torch offerings to now
include high powered plasma torches and, as such, we expect to very
quickly become a significant player in this market segment.
PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a TSX Venture 50® high-tech company, is the world leader in the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced plasma processes and products. We provide engineering and manufacturing expertise, cutting-edge contract research, as well as turnkey process equipment packages to the defense, metallurgical, mining, advanced materials (including 3D printing), oil & gas, and environmental industries. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and technicians working out of our Montreal office and our 3,800 m2 manufacturing facility, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of technology development and commercialization. Our core competencies allow PyroGenesis to lead the way in providing innovative plasma torches, plasma waste processes, high-temperature metallurgical processes, and engineering services to the global marketplace. Our operations are ISO 9001:2015 certified, and have been since 1997. PyroGenesis is a publicly-traded Canadian Corporation on the TSX Venture Exchange (Ticker Symbol: PYR) and on the OTCQB Marketplace. For more information, please visit www.pyrogenesis.com
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including, without limitation, statements containing the words “may”,
“plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”,
“expect”, “in the process” and other similar expressions which
constitute “forward- looking information” within the meaning of
applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the
Corporation’s current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited
to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the
market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the
capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research
and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new
product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory
approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the
Corporation with respect to future events and are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in
the Corporation’s ongoing filings with the securities regulatory
authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com,oratwww.otcmarkets.com.Actualresults,events,and
performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Corporation
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-
looking statements either as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither
the TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term
is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the OTCQB
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press
release.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:46 PM on Friday, January 4th, 2019
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Mobile esports on the rise
These days, you can pick up your mobile phone and play against other people in real time – all you need is a decent internet connection.
This is a major part of why mobile esports is on the rise and why many predict it will take off in a huge way in the not-so-distant future.
2018 is
over, and nobody will deny that it was a ridiculous year for the esports
industry. Celebrity investors, new competitions, almost-unbelievable
organisation valuations, and a plethora of incredible game play have all
made it a year to remember, but what’s to be expected in 2019?
Here at
Esports Insider we cover the business side of esports so, naturally, our
predictions will be based on such. Of course, we’d love to speculate on
how Astralis will fare in CS:GO in the new year and whether the FGC
will ever stop squabbling or not, but business is what we live and
breathe.
Let’s get into our five predictions for the esports industry in 2019!
Overwatch League troubles?
Activision Blizzard has brought in eight new investors to own expansion teams in the Overwatch League at $30-60 million a piece,
but things aren’t perfect. A vocal portion of esports fans think the
game is too hectic to follow (which could well make the game less
accessible to new viewers), average viewership – excluding China and
potential bots – declined steadily over the course of the inaugural
season, and the developer is fully in control of everything that happens
in the competition which is a scary prospect.
Overwatch League
A slew of
inappropriate behaviour and, subsequently, suspensions were present in
the first season of the premier Overwatch competition, which isn’t
attractive to sponsors. The OWL has acquired a roster of prominent
sponsors and secured a ludicrous amount of money at the same time – but
what happens if they decide to drop out? How easy will it be to acquire
new sponsors if everything isn’t as great as it’s being portrayed?
The second season of the Overwatch League
kicks off on February 14th, and we feel as if it’ll be pivotal. If the
aforementioned problems are addressed as much as possible and faith in
the game is restored in those who have become disillusioned in it, then
things could be OK for the foreseeable future. If not, then franchise
owners could well start to feel a little iffy about the future of their
trusty investments.
Battle Royale remains relevant
2018 was
undoubtedly the year of the Battle Royale genre. With PlayerUnknown’s
Battlegrounds and Fortnite both having their fair share of the limelight
in terms of player base and viewing figures, the genre was truly put on
the map in a casual basis; it’s had a harder time from a competitive
viewpoint, however. From H1Z1 Pro League coming and going,
PUBG’s dwindling popularity, and Epic Games’ questionable esports
efforts, there’s plenty of room for the genre to grow when competition
is involved.
We
predict that Battle Royale titles will continue to thrive in 2019 – with
games similar to Call of Duty’s Blackout being released and making a
wave in the market, albeit briefly – but people will still argue over
the genre’s status as a legitimate competitive format. PUBG Corp. is launching six Pro Leagues with three additional pro circuits and Epic Games still has millions of dollars to give out over the course of the year, so it’s an interesting time for the industry.
Traditional sports clubs continue to invest
Over the
last couple of years there have been a number of trends in the esports
industry, many of which aren’t as significant as traditional sports
clubs and their involvements in video games. Whether it’s straight-up
acquiring majority shares in organisations (such as OpTic Gaming and compLexity Gaming), investing and partnering with local companies (Pittsburgh Knights and the Pittsburgh Steelers, most recently),
or entering the scene through a safe route (football teams expanding
into FIFA, for example), there’s been an abundance of instances in
recent times.
Pittsburgh Knights joins forces with Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s hard
to imagine this will slow down. With that being said, if a bunch of
clubs that have already invested decide to back out of esports now as is
hasn’t been immediately fruitful monetarily, then it may heed a warning
for those looking for a quick cash-grab. This isn’t a bad thing for the
esports industry at all, though. In 2019, we expect to see more and
more crossover between traditional sports and esports when it comes to
ownership of organisations and teams.
Mobile esports on the rise
These
days, you can pick up your mobile phone and play against other people in
real time – all you need is a decent internet connection. This is a
major part of why mobile esports is on the rise and why many predict it
will take off in a huge way in the not-so-distant future.
When we attended the Clash Royale League World Finals
in Tokyo, Japan, we saw a potential glimpse into the future. Not too
different from esports as we currently know it, the arena was filled
with impassioned fans that were happy to pay to see the best players in
the world compete.
Accessibility
is a huge factor in the attractiveness of mobile esports, but titles
such as Clash Royale have proven that mobile games don’t need to merely
be a portable version of PC titles. MOBAs such as Dota 2 and League of
Legends are undeniably popular and so it’s understandable that mobile
versions of the genre are flooding the scene, but originality may well
trump all. We truly think we’ll find out more in regards to this theory
in 2019.
Course corrections
Even as valuations for organisations and companies continue to rise, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing in 2018. Echo Fox announced that it would undergo an organisational restructure
in October to better position itself for profitable and sustainability
in the future – releasing its Call of Duty and Gears of War rosters, as
well as fighting game competitors and other select players.
On a bigger scale, Infinite Esports and Entertainment – the parent company of OpTic Gaming, Obey Alliance, the now-defunct Allegiance and a host of supporting companies – released a whole host of staff members
around the same time as Echo Fox. Growing too fast was where blame was
placed, following a rapid expansion and a suite of acquisitions
following the majority share sale of OpTic Gaming in November 2017.
We
wouldn’t be surprised to see this happen at other prominent companies
and organisations in the upcoming year, too. Spend is ridiculously high
when you occupy spots in League of Legends and the Overwatch League,
player demands are ever-growing, and contract buyouts are nearing
unfathomable heights. Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to
move forward in a stronger state, and it should be expected as the
industry edges towards a potential bubble.
