Agoracom Blog

CLIENT FEATURE: Vertical Exploration $VERT.ca: Partners with AREV Brands to Distribute Wollastonite to the Cannabis and Hemp Industries $TORR.ca $FA.ca $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 1:33 PM on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019
  • Definitive distribution agreement to partner on the sale of Vertical’s wollastonite from its world-class St-Onge Deposit in place.
  • Supplying the fast growing cannabis and hemp industries.
  • Vertical’s high quality Wollastonite has been shown to be beneficial to cannabis plants in a variety of ways
  • In every case the most optimal results occurred with an admixture rate of 10% to 15% wollastonite to the growth medium.
  • The high-grade St-Onge Wollastonite deposit has pit-constrained mineral resources of: 7,155,000 tonnes Measured@ 36.20% Wollastonite & 6,926,000 tonnes Indicated@ 37.04%
  • B.C. Buds Testing Confirmed Wollastonite is critical to marijuana growers
  • Engaged AGRINOVA over the past year to conduct research and testing of Vertical’s St-Onge wollastonite on a range of important agricultural end uses.

WOLLASTONITE

  • St-Onge-Wollastonite Deposit located approximately 90 kilometres Northwest of the city of Saguenay, in St-Onge township, in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec, Canada.
  • Wollastonite is a calcium inosilicate mineral that may contain small amounts of ironmagnesium, and manganese substituting for calcium
  • Research and testing in the Phase 1 program for use in cannabis growth was managed and monitored by AGRINOVA, a highly-regarded Center for Research and Innovation in Agriculture in Quebec

St-Onge-Wollastonite Deposit:

VERT Hub on Agoracom

FULL DISCLOSURE: Vertical Exploration is an advertising client of AGORA Internet Relations Corp.

BetterU Education Corp. $BTRU.ca – Indian #Edtech stands to unlock immense growth $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:33 AM on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019
SPONSOR:  BetterU Education Corp. aims to provide access to quality education from around the world. The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated ecosystem. Click here for more information.

Indian Edtech stands to unlock immense growth

  • Recent research suggests that the global Edtech market is expected to grow to USD 341 bn by 2025.
  • Armed with massive opportunities and ideas, global leaders in the Edtech sector recently came together at the 2019 Global Education Summit (GES) in Beijing.

Hans News Service

New Delhi: As the global education ecosystem continues to grow and evolve at a rapid pace, the space has witnessed an increase in the number of Ed-tech players. Recent research suggests that the global Edtech market is expected to grow to USD 341 bn by 2025. Armed with massive opportunities and ideas, global leaders in the Edtech sector recently came together at the 2019 Global Education Summit (GES) in Beijing. The summit revolved around exploring effective solutions from diverse perspectives, centered on the theme “Education for All”.

Representing India were top Edtech players, Gradeup, Toppr and Vedantu, who shared key insights on the test preparation and tutoring markets for competitive exams in the country. Also Read – Rajya Sabha passes bill to amend SPG Act, Amit Shah rejects charge of political vendetta, Congress stages walkout China, which is the leader in the Edtech space, has made significant strides by specifically focusing on student success and effective tools for measuring learning outcomes.

Chinese Edtech companies witness tremendous growth every year due to improvements in sales and recruitment process, teacher’s training and technological upgrades relevant to their offerings. By the end of 2019, the Chinese Edtech market is expected to reach 41 billion, growing at a rate of 20% annually. Also Read – Rajnath warns BJP MPs of Modi’s dissatisfaction with absenteeism in Parliament.

India, the Edtech market is expected to reach 1.96 billion by 2021, with test preparation being the fastest growing category with a CAGR of 64%. The current numbers are an indication that there is a lot to do and learn for Indian Edtech players from the Chinese. Sharing his insights, on the gap in Edtech markets in both countries, Shobhit Bhatnagar, Co-founder–CEO, Gradeup said, “With a focus on student outcomes, Chinese Live tutoring players have successfully been able to scale and innovate over the last 3 years. There is a lot that the Indian Edtech landscape can learn from this. This exchange has only reinforced Gradeup’s commitment towards further driving live online classes and strengthening our technology and product. We also plan to intensify our focus on Student Success in order to ensure greater efficacy of learning outcomes.”

The 2019 Global Education Summit saw the participation of over 200 representatives from the education, political and business sectors sharing their insights on the future-oriented development of education. The key focus was on facilitating greater inclusivity and equal access to education.  

The development of the Edtech market in India and the success of existing players will be largely driven by their focus on Live tutoring, with student success and learning outcomes at the very core. Shaping and realigning their delivery of Edtech content in a manner that is tailor-made and suited to the country’s continuously evolving educational landscape is the need of the hour. It will propel the growth of the sector in the future, and further boost the goal of democratized access to quality education for students pan-India. Gradeup is India’s largest exam preparation destination. It helps more than 15 million students prepare for various exams & score better. Established in 2015, it recently received $7 million in Series A funding from Times Internet and total funding amounts to $10 million.

Source: https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/young-hans/new-delhi-indian-edtech-stands-to-unlock-immense-growth–586588

CardioComm $EKG.ca Collaborates with ZANA Technologies GmbH to Integrate Mobile #ECG Management and Smartphone App Technologies #Mhealth $TLT.ca $OGI.ca $ACST.ca $IPA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:55 AM on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019
  • Karlsruhe, Germany-based start-up ZANA Technologies GmbH entering into a business collaboration where CardioComm
  • ECG technologies to be tested within ZANA’s remote patient monitoring platform in 2020

Toronto, Ontario–(December 3, 2019) – CardioComm Solutions, Inc. (TSXV: EKG) (“CardioComm” or the “Company” or “CCS“), a global provider of consumer heart monitoring and electrocardiogram (“ECG“) acquisition and management software solutions, and Karlsruhe, Germany-based start-up ZANA Technologies GmbH (“ZANA“) confirm entering into a business collaboration where CardioComm’s GEMS™ ECG reviewing and HeartCheck™ ECG monitoring technologies are being evaluated to support ZANA’s novel, voice-directed, remote patient monitoring and patient management platform.

Through the use of deployable versions of the GEMS™ Mobile Smartphone, the GUAVA ECG viewer and GEMS™ ECG management software, ZANA will embed CardioComm’s ECG management technologies into its mobile app and patient engagement platform. ZANA users will be able to download one Smartphone app through which ECG recordings and clinical feedback will be provided using ZANA’s cloud-based patient engagement platform where CardioComm’s hospital ECG management software technologies will have been incorporated.

ZANA has decided to partner with CardioComm Solutions and its HeartCheck™ CardiBeat ECG device and GEMSTM software solutions to be evaluated by multiple medical centres throughout Europe in ZANA’s bid to become a preferred vendor for telemedicine solutions for monitoing a patient’s post-hospital discharge. ZANA’s disruptive patient enagement platform uses an intelligent, voice-/chat-based assistant with interactive and learning technologies that permit home-based, continuous health monitoring, designed to improve the health outcomes of its patients. As patient ECG monitoring requirements evolve, CardioComm will provide ZANA support in expanding the user’s access to other ECG monitoring methodologies that may be requested as part of any comprehensive physician-directed hospital discharge plan. This will include the use of 12 lead ECGs and long-term continuous ECG monitoring devices.

The companies will provide updates on the clinical testing results as they become available. To learn more about CardioComm’s products and for further updates regarding HeartCheck™ ECG device integrations, please visit the Company’s websites at www.cardiocommsolutions.com and www.theheartcheck.com.

About CardioComm Solutions

CardioComm Solutions’ patented and proprietary technology is used in products for recording, viewing, analyzing and storing electrocardiograms for diagnosis and management of cardiac patients. Products are sold worldwide through a combination of an external distribution network and a North American-based sales team. CardioComm Solutions has earned the ISO 13485:2016 MDSAP certification, is HIPAA compliant and holds clearances from the European Union (CE Mark), the USA (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada).

About ZANA

Zana Technologies GmbH is an award-winning digital health start-up based in Germany that offers cutting-edge conversational AI and wearables integration for remote health monitoring. The main product offering is an intelligent voice assistant that establishes a direct bridge between patients and doctors. The innovative remote care solution is designed to improve and lower costs of post-operative and chronic care. ZANA combines active conversation in natural language with real-time monitoring through connected devices, all from the comfort of a patient’s home through a Smartphone or smart home device. ZANA’s backend collects and presents the monitored patient’s data through an innovative dashboard system that updates doctors about their patient’s health continuously and securely.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Etienne Grima, Chief Executive Officer
1-877-977-9425 x227[email protected]
[email protected]

Forward-looking statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of CardioComm Solutions and certain of the plans and objectives of CardioComm Solutions with respect to these items. Such statements and information reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information.

In evaluating these statements, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained in this release other than as required by applicable laws, including without limitation, Section 5.8(2) of National Instrument 51-102 (Continuous Disclosure Obligations).

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/50342

Affinity Metals $AAF.ca – Gold Is New Obsession for East Europe’s Nationalist Leaders $SII.ca $TUD.ca $GTT.ca $AMK.ca $OSK.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 3:30 PM on Monday, December 2nd, 2019

Sponsor: Affinity Metals (TSX-V: AFF) a Canadian mineral exploration company building a strong portfolio of mineral projects in North America. The Corporation’s flagship property is the Drill ready Regal Property near Revelstoke, BC. Recent sampling encountered bonanza grade silver, zinc, and lead with many samples reaching assay over-limits.  Further assaying of over-limits has been initiated, results will be reported once received. Click Here for More Info

  • Slovakia joins a host of countries seeking to repatriate
  • Serbia, Poland and Hungary have boosted their bullion reserves

Gold is all that nationalist leaders in Europe’s east can talk about these days.

Just this week, Poland’s government touted its economic might after completing the repatriation of 100 tons of the metal. Over in Hungary, anti-immigrant Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been ramping up holdings of the safe-haven asset to boost the security of his reserves.

Hungary's Prime Minister Victor Orban Attends The Opening Session Of Parliament
Viktor Orban Photographer: Akos Stiller/Bloomberg

The gold rush mirrors steps by Russia and China to diversify reserves exceeding $3 trillion away from the dollar amid flaring geopolitical tensions with the U.S. Motivations in Europe’s ex-communist wing, however, can vary.

Take the latest example. Former Slovak Premier Robert Fico, who has a shot at returning to power, urges parliament to compel the central bank into bringing home gold stocks stored in the U.K.

The reason? Sometimes your international partners can betray you, Fico said, citing a 1938 pact by France, Britain, Italy and Germany allowing Adolf Hitler to annex a chunk what was then Czechoslovakia, and — more recently — the Bank of England’s refusal to return Venezuela’s gold stock over political differences.

“You can hardly trust even the closest allies after the Munich Agreement,” Fico told reporters. “I guarantee that if something happens, we won’t see a single gram of this gold. Let’s do it as quickly as possible.”

His comments came despite the U.K. being one of Slovakia’s closest allies after the Soviet empire crumbled, helping ease the path to European Union and NATO. Fico said Brexit and the risk of a global economic crisis put Slovak gold stored in Britain in a dangerous situation.

The gold Poland brought back also came from the U.K., though there was no questioning of Britain’s reliability by central bank Governor Adam Glapinski.

Poland's Central Bank Governor Adam Glapinski News Conference As Rates Held And Hawks Sidelined
Adam GlapinskiPhotographer: Piotr Malecki/Bloomberg

Instead, he said he wanted to demonstrate the strength of his nation’s $586 billion economy — the largest in the EU’s east. Poland has doubled its gold holdings in the past two years and now has the region’s biggest stockpile.

Hungary, though, has been an active buyer too. Gold reserves surged 10-fold last year, setting the clamor for the metal in the countries around it in motion.

Serbia’s strongman leader Aleksandar Vucic took note, ordering the central bank to boost reserves and prompting the purchase of nine tons in October. Vucic said last week that more should be bought because “we see in which direction the crisis in the world is moving.”

The biggest nation to emerge from the breakup of Yugoslavia still keeps some of its gold abroad, the central bank said by email. The region is buying more of the metal because of global uncertainty over trade and politics, Brexit and low interest rates, it said.

Romania had also sought to relocate some of its gold reserves from the U.K., but those plans were put on hold when the government behind them was ousted in October.

For the no-nonsense leaders that have come to dominate eastern Europe, the main benefit may be the message to voters that hefty holdings of the precious metal conveys.

“Gold is a symbol,” said Vuk Vukovic, a political economist in Zagreb. “When states purchase it, people everywhere see it as a sign of economic sovereignty.”

By Andrea Dudik and Radoslav Tomek

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-29/gold-is-the-new-obsession-for-east-europe-s-nationalist-leaders

Labrador Gold $LAB.ca: Gold and Silver Miners Stage One Base $RIO.ca $WHM.ca $SIC.ca $NXS.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 2:30 PM on Monday, December 2nd, 2019

SPONSOR: Labrador Gold – Two successful gold explorers lead the way in the Labrador gold rush targeting the under-explored gold potential of the province. Exploration has already outlined district scale gold on two projects, including over a 40km strike length of the Florence Lake greenstone belt, one of two greenstone belts covered by the Hopedale Project. Click Here for More Info

It’s that time of year again, tax selling in North America which leads into a seasonally strong period there after for mining stocks. Today i’ll focus on strong potential set ups that are in a stage one base, looking to move higher. Stage analysis example for those new to that approach.

Image
Source: Sprott

Historical data supports a strong move higher in Gold / Silver Miners in late Q4 into Q1.

Both $GDX mainly Gold miners and $SILJ both since 2016 bottoms, has lead into strong periods for the months ahead.

Looking at the big picture first in GDX. Built a base since the 2013 break down, which was retest in 2016 and mid 2018.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/GTJdQVab/

Current situation GDX in a large bull flag, building energy in a possible attempt to retest 31usd GDX, and if it can break, not much above resistance to 40usd GDX.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/PDoqONUD/

$SIL Silver Miners ETF Monthly showing similar though lagging price action. Miners have lead Silver (see below). If 32-33usd is taken out, a move into the 50usd+ level could come quick.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/1PjNfa56/

Gold and Silver

Gold broke out this year of a long term base, whilst Silver has failed to take out 18.75ish on a weekly close thus far in 2019. Gold moves has been strong, and after the peak at 1560usd, Gold miners has continued to act well, indicating the consolidation in Gold and a possibly upwards move is incoming. Watching to see if Gold will follow the miners and break a flag to retest 1560usd.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/tG2DFE6i/

Silver 18.75 weekly close and we will be looking at 20+ Silver. 2020 targets would show 24-26usd very possible thereafter. The way stocks like $AG $PAAS have acted, could be a leading indicator.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/gL2Ub3DR/

Favourite leading set ups.

In no particular order, charts that are leading the sector, and have strong bases and look set to push higher. I may miss a few, but these set ups look solid. The longer the base, the higher in space as they say.

$CNL #TSX Has broken out on shorter time frames. Up near 180% in 2019. Looking at the big picture in a large multi year base.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/QUrcO9Ef/

$TGZ #TSX Looking like a nice power, ready to break higher.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/wlDOZ1Ao/

$AUY #TSX after a near 100% rise in 2019, has been basing despite Gold pull backs. 3.80$ break out and could be ready to retest $6 2016 high.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/chd4IIkT/

$PRU #ASX #TSX Had an excellent 2019, rising from mid 30c to high of 95c AUD. 250k oz pa looking to double production to 500k+ in Africa. Retesting 2013 levels, a break above 95c and nothing but air to 1.50$.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/hVJnxr7M/

$KNT #TSX retesting all time highs, has been the best performing producer, a killer move. Targets from brokers i have seen are up to 4.75$.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/Gplj86a8/

$SILV #TSX continues its uptrend and upward trajectory

https://www.tradingview.com/x/qLEc9DYw/

$WDO #TSX Like Silver Crest, powers higher into new highs..

https://www.tradingview.com/x/uif9sSRD/

$SSRM #NYSE Solid numbers and growth. Base nearly complete and price action starts turning higher.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/G583BMQR/

$EGO #TSX up 200% in 2019, building a nice flag here

https://www.tradingview.com/x/HkZs0N1e/

$CDE #TSX Inverse H&S break out after earnings, pulling in for a possible retest, completion of the move is 8.8$usd or 50% + circa.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/WnUKhPIj/

$AG #NYSE Another power base from First Majestic Silver .. If Silver runs to 24-26usd, perhaps this will outperform. The fact that Silver peaked at 19.5usd and back to 16.50ish, AG held it’s own. Bullish price action.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/B7hfQ6Z1/

$PAAS #NYSE up 100% YTD, another strong Silver runner, making 52 week highs and showing excellent relative strength. Cheap on a EPS basis.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/IPg8H3vV/

$BTO #TSX B2Gold building a power base here too..

https://www.tradingview.com/x/b56cAB8Q/

$WPM #NYSE Another strong Silver stock larger C+H in play.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/vqgjSUSl/

Juniors to watch ..

As producers have been the main beneficiary of this rally, i do like mid cap development plays with solid management teams. The valuation gap is one of the largest on record.

Image
Source: Sprott

$GDX / $GDXJ ratio which has been in an uptrend for nearly a decade, favouring large producers, looks to be testing break trend line. A break down and we could see money moving to the development and exploration plays that thus far have lagged.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/XKcmjzhG/

Stocks to add to your watchlist, and ones i like. Charts don’t look pretty on some, but any rotation, and they will rally hard.

$Rio.v Rio2 5moz Chilean development play run by Legendary Alex Black. Potential double bottom.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/qQtUATmz/

$MZZ.ax Matador on the ASX is my favourite developer. Down the road from $MOZ in Canada, trading at near 1/10th of the valuation, will be producing before MOZ and a profile of 100kpa. Broker targets of 70c, still in a stage one base.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/F6GUgee5/

$PRB Probe run by ex Barrick, with ahigh grade 2moz in Canada.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/9qVT83AH/

$AXU #Silver High grade Silver developer

https://www.tradingview.com/x/izwGpI1y/

$MAG Silver Tier one Silver Miner, fully funded to development

https://www.tradingview.com/x/WqGKhocS/

$NHK Nighthawk Solid LT exploration play, good buying in low 30s

https://www.tradingview.com/x/nRpKIGVF/

$MKO Mako up 110% YTD, fully funded to production as well as finding and expanding resource with very high grade hits.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/fqD7PFgb/

$ADT Needs no introduction up 700% since IPO in 2018. One of my larger holdings, continues it’s solid uptrend, much more left in the tank.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/1kDHwWdz/

As you can see, the sector is strong and the set ups moving forward look favorable in this period especially using historical data. Judging on the price action, we continue to move higher into 2020. Have a good Christmas..

Advance Gold $AAX.ca – Gold Discovery Rates Continue To Slide $SIL.ca $FA.ca $ANG.jo $ABX.ca $NGT.ca $MGG.ca $TECK.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 11:25 AM on Monday, December 2nd, 2019

SPONSOR: Advance Gold AAX.v – Advance Gold controls 100% interest in the Tabasquena Silver Mine in Zacatecas, Mexico. A cluster of 30 Epithermal veins have been discovered, with recent emphasis on exploring a large anomaly to drill. Advance also owns 13.5% of the Kakamega JV attached to Barrick Takeover Offer for Acacia Mining. Click Here For More Info

  • Just 215.5 million ounces has been discovered in 41 discoveries over the past decade, compared with 1.72 billion ounces in 222 discoveries in the preceding 18-year period.

S&P Global Market Intelligence’s annual Gold Discoveries report found that gold exploration budgets peaked in 2012, but remain at historically high levels.

Explorers have allocated US$54.3 billion to gold exploration over the past decade, 60% higher than the $32.2 billion spent over the preceding 18 years.

Despite the effort, just 215.5 million ounces has been discovered in 41 discoveries over the past decade, compared with 1.72 billion ounces in 222 discoveries in the preceding 18-year period.

Over half of that amount is contained in just 10 discoveries, with Zhaojin Mining Industry Co’s 16.4Moz Haiyu deposit in China the largest.

Other deposits in the top 10 including Barrick Gold’s Goldrush, White Rivers Exploration/Harmony Gold’s JV, SolGold’s Cascabel and Cardinal Gold’s Namdini.

S&P says that even after adjusting for more recently identified deposits that might eventually surpass its threshold for a major discovery, and for major discoveries with potential to expand, it forecasts that the gold in major discoveries might only increase to about 363Moz over the next decade.

S&P Metals & Mining senior research analyst Kevin Murphy said previous research into gold lead times showed that it took about 20 years for an asset to advance from early exploration to production.

“This timeline implies that the reduced discovery rates of the last decade will limit the pool of projects that could come online in 15 to 20 years,” he said.

“Unless discovery rates begin an upswing in the near future, there could be a lack of quality assets available for development in the longer term.

“The declining discovery rate shows the importance of continuing exploration and funding companies responsible for exploration to maintain a healthy future pipeline of assets available for development.”

Majors Barrick and Newcrest Mining reported declines in reserves this year.

Barrick’s reserves dropped to 64.4Moz from 86Moz, mainly due to divestments and reclassification, while Newcrest’s dropped by 3Moz to 62Moz.

Newmont Mining’s remained unchanged at 68.5Moz, though the average grade fell by 5%.

Newmont has increased its 2018 exploration budget to US$350-400 million from $200 million last year, Barrick is boosting its spend to $185-225 million from $149 million, and Newcrest is spending $70-90 million in FY18, up from $58 million.

SOURCE: https://www.mining-journal.com/research/news/1337480/gold-discovery-rates-continue-to-slide

BetterU Education Corp. $BTRU.ca – Indian #EdTech startup #Credenc scores $2.5 million led by #Omidyar Network to grow its education loans platform $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:25 AM on Monday, December 2nd, 2019
SPONSOR:  BetterU Education Corp. aims to provide access to quality education from around the world. The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated ecosystem. Click here for more information.

Indian EdTech startup Credenc scores $2.5 million led by Omidyar Network to grow its education loans platform

  • Commenting on the funding, Mayank Batheja, Co-founder, Credenc, said, “Currently only 5% of the ~$50 billion annual spend on college tuition fee is financed by organised lenders.
  • We believe this penetration should be at least 15%,” to which Avinash Kumar, Co-founder added, “Our target segment consists of the top 10,000 colleges in India, and we would like to ensure that we are available for the top 10% of students from these colleges.”

Getting student loans for higher education in developing countries is a daunting task. According to India-based EdTech startup Credenc, 30% of Indian students’ families sell assets to fund their education. 20% borrow from local money lenders at rates as high as 3% a month. Another 30% give up on a college education. Credenc is a new education technology startup on a mission to provide higher education loans to students in India.

The start-up has mapped 70,000 job roles across 50,000 companies in India and developed a deep understanding of employability in India, to change the status quo. After providing financial support, Credenc works with students and helps them with employability services, handholding applicants as they transition from student to professional life.

Today, Credenc announced it has raised $2.5 million(INR 17.8 crore) in seed funding to expand operations to 1,000 colleges across 50 cities over the next 2 years. Credenc also plans to hire across technology, credit and banking partnerships. The round was led by Omidyar Network India with participation from EMVC , Better Capital, and IIMK Alumni Fund. Over the next 5 years, the startup plans to loan up to $0.5 billion.

Founded in 2017 by Avinash Kumar and Mayank Batheja, the Delhi, India-based Credenc, works as the digital finance desk of 200+ management colleges across 17 Indian cities. To date, the startup has approved loans of about $15 million (INR 100+ crore). With more than 200 loan requests a day, Credenc undertakes a rigorous evaluation process using a proprietary AI model which tracks 15 million data points to predict the future income of students applying for loans. Industry-wide, approval for education loans can take up to 2 months, vis-a-vis Credenc which qualifies applications within a fraction of that time.

Commenting on the funding, Mayank Batheja, Co-founder, Credenc, said, “Currently only 5% of the ~$50 billion annual spend on college tuition fee is financed by organised lenders. We believe this penetration should be at least 15%,” to which Avinash Kumar, Co-founder added, “Our target segment consists of the top 10,000 colleges in India, and we would like to ensure that we are available for the top 10% of students from these colleges.”

The annual spend on college fees in India is US $50 billion or INR 3.5+ lakh crore, of which only 5% is financed by organised lenders. For the USA, this figure stands at more than 60%. Credenc intends to change the segment perception and reduce underwriting risk basis its future employability score, which will help this percentage go up to 15%, as it partners with more than 3,000 colleges in 100+ cities to build an INR 3,500+ crore loan book in the next 5 years.

“Credenc’ differentiated lending model provides financing to deserving students, which helps them access post-secondary education and get meaningful employment. Avinash and Mayank’s solution will help in creating a level playing field for students from the Next Half Billion population by making quality education more accessible. We see this partnership as an opportunity to demonstrate that a highly impactful and profitable business can be built in the large and untapped higher education financing space,” said Sarvesh Kanodia, Associate, Omidyar Network India.

Source: https://techstartups.com/2019/11/29/indian-edtech-startup-credenc-scores-2-5-million-led-omidyar-network-grow-education-loans-platform/

ThreeD Capital Inc. $IDK.ca – Why Germany’s Friendly #Crypto Bill Is a Big Deal #Bitcoin #Ethereum $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:46 AM on Monday, December 2nd, 2019

SPONSOR: ThreeD Capital Inc. (IDK:CSE) Led by legendary financier, Sheldon Inwentash, ThreeD is a Canadian-based venture capital firm that only invests in best of breed small-cap companies which are both defensible and mass scalable. More than just lip service, Inwentash has financed many of Canada’s biggest small-cap exits. Click Here For More Information.

Why Germany’s Friendly Crypto Bill Is a Big Deal

  • In November, Germany became the leader of the free world where government acceptance of cryptocurrency is concerned.

By: William M. Peaster

In November, Germany became the leader of the free world where government acceptance of cryptocurrency is concerned.

That’s because last week, a bill was pushed forward by the Bundesrat, the upper house of Germany’s legislature, that would allow German banks to directly sell and custody cryptocurrencies for their clients as of January 1st, 2020.

Next up the country’s 16 states will make a final decision on the bill, though domestic analysts don’t expect resistance to the legislation at the national level.

That means the way is paved for the bill to officially come into law, a development that would mark a watershed moment not only for Germany but also for cryptocurrencies in general.

Crypto Goes Mainstream in Heart of Europe

Germany is one of the largest economies in the world and the EU’s most influential state. To that end, the country often sets the tone economically and politically for many nations in Europe.

With its new crypto bill, Germany’s legislators are signaling to their constituents and to the international stage that cryptocurrencies are to be embraced, not rejected. This dynamic will make Germany attractive to crypto projects around the globe who are interested in having a base in a very pro-crypto country.

“Germany is well on its way to becoming a crypto heaven,” Sven Hildebrandt, the lead consultant at major consulting firm DLC, said last week. In extension, other European countries and beyond may follow in Germany’s stead in passing ensuing waves of pro-crypto legislation. If in one decade’s time more banks than not directly deal with cryptocurrencies, German banks will have been the trailblazers.

Moreover, it cannot be overstated just how much Germany’s new friendly crypto bill does to move in the direction of normalizing and legitimizing cryptocurrencies as another avenue of mainstream finance. If digital currencies do go on to become widely adopted global financial tools, one could look back on Germany’s legislation as one of the important dominoes that dropped along that way.

The passing of the crypto bill comes on the heels of the German government publishing a national blockchain strategy for the first time back in September. The strategy put the country on course toward becoming a hub for blockchain enterprises.

“Germany should be an attractive location for the development of blockchain applications and investments in their scaling,” two government ministries said in a joint announcement at the time.

Germany Is Epicenter for “Digital Euro” Movement

Just like the U.S. Federal Reserve and China’s central bank, Europe’s top financial officials have taken serious notice of the Facebook-backed Libra stablecoin project.

In response, some European leaders have called for tougher restrictions on cryptocurrencies in general, though others yet have argued the European Union should become a hub for crypto innovation.

In that latter camp is the Association of German Banks, a group of 200 private German banks that serve as finance industry lobbyists in the EU’s biggest economy. Weeks ago, the association argued that Europe’s major stakeholders to back the development of a digital euro that had smart contract capabilities, saying they would commit to supporting the effort:

“The German private banks will play their part in establishing a sustainable and innovative monetary system. For this purpose, a programmable account and crypto-based digital euro should be created and its interoperability with book money ensured. The condition for this is establishing a common pan-European payments platform for the programmable digital euro.”

The association’s plea for a digital euro came one month after German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz should create its own public cryptocurrency.

“We should not leave the field to China, Russia, the US or any private providers,” Scholz said.

Source: https://blockonomi.com/why-germanys-friendly-crypto-bill-is-a-big-deal/

LOMIKO Metals $LMR.ca: Annual Special Meeting Results – 99.76% of Shareholders Voting Approve Sale of Lomiko Technologies $CJC.ca $SRG.ca $NGC.ca $LLG.ca $GPH.ca $NOU.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 9:14 AM on Monday, December 2nd, 2019

Lomiko Metals Inc. (the “Company”) (TSX-V: LMR, OTC: LMRMF, FSE: DH8C)   is pleased to announce that on November 29, 2019 it held its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”).   A total of 32,423,014 common shares (43.23% of the outstanding common shares) were represented at the Meeting in person or proxy.  

1.      Number of Directors

The number of Directors to be set at four (4) was approved by resolution passed by a vote by ballot with 26,771,300 (98.07%) total votes cast “FOR” and 527,137 (1.93%) votes cast “AGAINST”.

 2.     Election of Directors 

 Each of the following individuals were elected as directors of the Company as approved by a vote by ballot, for a term expiring at the conclusion of the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company or until their successors are elected or appointed, as follows: 

Name  Votes “For” (%)Votes “Withheld” (%)
A. Paul Gill 26,547,134 (98.07%)751,297 (2.75%)
Jacqueline Michael 26,963,004 (98.77%)335,427 (1.23%)
Julius Galik 27,048,046 (99.08%)250,385 (0.92%)
Gabriel Erdelyi 27,047,530 (99.08%)250,901 (0.92%)

3.            Appointment of Auditor 

The appointment of Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the auditors of the Company, the authorization for the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors and the change of auditors from Galloway, Botteselle & Company, Chartered Professional Accountants, to Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants which became effective February 8, 2018 was approved by a resolution passed by a vote by ballot, with 32,380,390 (99.88%) total votes cast “FOR” and 39,557 (0.12%) total votes “WITHHELD”. 

4.           2019 Stock Option Plan

The 2019 Stock Option Incentive Plan was approved by a resolution passed by a vote by ballot with 26,107,574 (95.64%) total votes cast “FOR” and 1,190,857 (4.36%) total votes cast “AGAINST”. 

5.           Sale of Subsidiary

 The sale of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in accordance with the Business Corporations Act (BC) to Promethieus Technologies Inc was approved by a special resolution passed by a vote by ballot, with 21,079,430 (99.76%) total votes cast “FOR” and 51,463 (0.24%) total votes cast “AGAINST”.   The resolution was non-arm’s length transaction and 6,167,538 votes were excluded from voting. Further to the Company’s press release dated September 30, 2019 and November 25, 2019 shareholder approval has been obtained to the transaction.  The Company has been advised that the closing of the sale is subject to a financing to be completed by Promethieus Technologies Inc. of $3,670,750.  Promethieus has advised the Company that closing will be on or before December 31, 2019, subject to regulatory approval.

6.           Other Matters

 At the first meeting of the newly constituted Board of Directors held immediately after the Meeting, A. Paul Gill was elected to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer and Jacqueline Michael as Chief Financial Officer until the next annual general meeting of the Company.  The Board also elected Julius Galik, Gabriel Erdelyi and Jacqueline Michael to serve as the Company’s Audit Committee until the next annual general meeting of the Company.   

For more information on the Company, review the website at www.lomiko.com, contact A. Paul Gill at 604-729-5312 or email: [email protected]

On Behalf of the Board,

LOMIKO METALS INC.

A. Paul Gill,

Chief Executive Officer

betterU $BTRU.ca to announce their Enterprise SaaS Skills Platform at India’s Prestigious Leadership Summits #Edtech $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:18 AM on Monday, December 2nd, 2019
  • Named as the Education Partner for the 17th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit taking place in New Delhi, India December 6-7.
  • betterU will be announcing the launch of its new B2B software-as-a-service (SaaS) Enterprise Skills Platform to an audience of over 800 senior politicians, bureaucrats, diplomats, business executives, thinkers, commentators and analysts

OTTAWA, Dec. 02, 2019 — betterU Education Corp. (TSX VENTURE: BTRU, Frankfurt: 5OGA) (the “Company” or “betterU“) is pleased to announce that it has been named as the Education Partner for the 17th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit taking place in New Delhi, India December 6-7. betterU will be announcing the launch of its new B2B software-as-a-service (SaaS) Enterprise Skills Platform to an audience of over 800 senior politicians, bureaucrats, diplomats, business executives, thinkers, commentators and analysts coming together to hold ‘Conversations for a Better Tomorrow’, which is a foundational theme of this year’s event.

betterU’s CEO, Brad Loiselle, will share the stage with 23 global leaders including: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6413f09f-7e08-4517-8530-b8fc2f74d8dd

Mr. Loiselle has been asked to share his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities of continual reskilling and upskilling in corporate competitiveness, and what emerging technology companies like betterU are doing to address continual change and disruption. Mr. Loiselle will demonstrate betterU’s breakthrough B2B SaaS Enterprise Skill Platform, which will be showcased throughout the event.  

https://www.hindustantimes.com/htls/hindustan-times-leadership-summit-2019/

The Company is also pleased to announce that its B2B SaaS Enterprise Skill Platform will be a global offering open to enterprise clients in both developed and developing economies. betterU if offering special promotions to companies with 50 to 50,000 employees who wish to immediately participate as beta customers in advance of full commercial launch in early 2020. betterU greatly appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the 17th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit and to build awareness for the Company’s breakthrough B2B SaaS Enterprise Skill Platform.

About betterU Education Corp.

betterU is an education-to-employment technology company offering an end-to-end skilling solution using artificial intelligence and skill automation designed for organizations who are seeking to skill, reskill or upskill their talent.

betterU has curated and collaborated with over 100 global organizations who has provided access to their content, technology and support the developed of skills assessments/reassessments, learning paths, and career development opportunities in betterU’s easy to use integrated platform. betterU’s eco-system includes full job / skill / employer / educational profile for essentially every country and every city with detailed job profiles (automation, skills, employers, etc) for 3,000 standardized jobs. They have also added taxonomy for 30,000+ skills with clustering and hierarchy and 30,000+ educational institutions and their individual programs mapped across Job / skill / talent profiles for millions of companies globally. The collaboration solution is the only way forward to solve mass skilling challenges for employers and employees globally.

We are helping India build better companies by developing better employees.

CONTACT INFORMATION

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
betterU Education Corp.
Brad Loiselle, CEO

CONTACT INFORMATION

Investor Relations
1-613-695-4100
Email: [email protected]

Speakers of Leadership Summit

Dec 6-7 Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. betterU is the Education Partner and CEO will be announcing new Enterprise Skill Platform