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Star Navigation $SNA.ca Provides a Refocused Business Strategy Update

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:57 PM on Wednesday, July 24th, 2019
Sna
  • STAR-A.D.S. ® system installed on a major VVIP private operator in the Mid-East has been operating for more than one year now, to the satisfaction of the customer.
  • Contract for 5 aircraft installations with a scheduled flights airline in Egypt has been implemented.
  • Production of 27 STAR-A.D.S.® System units has commenced in order to meet ongoing requirements.

TORONTO, July 24, 2019 – Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. (CSE: SNA) (CSE: SNA.CN) (OTCQB: SNAVF) (“Star” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update on its current 2019 re-focused business strategy.

The STAR-A.D.S. ® system installed on a major VVIP private operator in the Mid-East has been operating for more than one year now, to the satisfaction of the customer. Discussions are being finalized to expand the installation of the STAR solution of real-time monitoring to the rest of the customers’ fleet.

The contract for 5 aircraft installations with a scheduled flights airline in Egypt has been implemented. The first installation is scheduled for Fall 2019 as scheduling permits, with the balance of fleet installations to match the C-check schedule of the remaining aircraft in the fleet.

Production of 27 STAR-A.D.S.® System units has commenced in order to meet ongoing requirements.

An adaptation of the STAR-A.D.S. ®, System has been installed on a Bombardier Global 7500 test aircraft for almost 2 years, as part of a government Research and Development study on the effects of high altitude flights on the health of crew, passengers and equipment. Our System has proved its flexibility and adaptability, being connected in record time to existing avionics systems of the aircraft, and by being installed and interfaced with very specific sensors. While the R&D program is successfully extended for all of 2019, a derived commercial version of that application is also under discussion.

STAR-A.D.S. ® System adaptations on a fleet of small sized transport and liaison aircraft (10 passengers) and helicopters as retrofit systems were recently presented to a large Asian Defense organization. Star Navigation is actively pursuing this prospect with a proposal requested for Fall 2019, concurrent with the customer’s budgetary cycle.

The STAR M.M.I.™ Division (displays), continues to service, repair and offer case-by case new unit build for legacy LCD panels for Lockheed Martin (P3 aircraft), Northrop Grumman, and Blue Aerospace. Star qualified for these activities as a stable, long-term and direct offsets (Industrial Regional Benefit “IRB”) provider to these main US based integrators.

The STAR-ISAMM™ and STAR-LSAMM™ systems have generated a rapid and growing interest in the North American market. A Distribution and Sales agreement with AMS Heli Design has been signed, with the first contract covering 6 installations on EMS helicopters awaiting final approval by the end customer. If approved, installations are expected to start at the end of 2019.  

A Cooperation Agreement has been signed with AIRMEDIC relating to the integration of the STAR-ISAMM™ system into their fleet of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, with the possible extension of the integration of the STAR-LSAMM™ equipment into affiliated ground ambulance service providers.

STAR-ISAMM™ presentations have been made targeting Canadian Defense retrofit programs. Star has received a high level of interest from the military industry and market segments.

Two applications have been submitted to the Federal and Provincial governments for Research and Development funding covering mid-2019 to end of 2021.

As a result of the recent much needed reorganization efforts, the Company has achieved cost savings of over $500,000 per annum.

Viraf Kapadia, Chairman & CEO of Star said:

“A significant part of the recent corporate reorganization involves the Sales Department at Star, which has not performed to expectations. The Company is actively working on building a new Sales team with proven aviation experience, drive and commitment. There have also been many developments on the technical and product front. The Company has recently successfully completed its regular AS 9100 Rev “D” quality audit. Additionally, stages 1 and 2 of ISO 13485 & MDSAP (Medical Device for Single Audit Program) for medical devices are also now completed and awaiting certification. We are in the process of obtaining Health Canada and FDA licenses required for STAR-ISAMM™ and STAR-LSAMM™, and are working on various new G3 STAR-A.D.S.® STCs, as well as on improvements to our GUI. We have three products awaiting certification, and we have just passed CGR inspection review at our new premises. I am proud to say that our Company is able to demonstrate a quality profile that offers a potential customer a blend of the Aerospace standard AS 9100 Rev “D”, ISO 9001:2015 and the medical standard ISO 13485. This is a unique combination that may open many sales opportunities.”

About Star Navigation:

Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. owns the exclusive worldwide license to its proprietary, patented In-flight Safety Monitoring System, STAR-ISMS®, the heart of the STAR-A.D.S. ®, STAR-ISAMM™ and STAR-LSAMM ™ Systems. Its real-time capability of tracking performance trends and predicting incident-occurrence enhances aviation safety and improves fleet management while reducing costs for the operator.

Stars’ M.M.I. Division designs and manufactures high performance, mission critical, flight deck flat panel displays for defence and commercial aviation industries worldwide. These displays are found on aircraft and simulators, from C-130 aircraft, to Sikorsky and Agusta Westland helicopters, as examples.

Stars’ subsidiary, Star-Isoneo Inc. is a specialised software firm, developing complex solutions in engineering, simulation and development for Canadian customers. Star-Isoneo works closely with Star in the development of the Company’s MEDEVAC (STAR-ISAMM™ and STAR- LSAMM™) applications of the patented STAR-A.D.S. ® technology, and on its current R&D program with Bombardier.

Certain statements contained in this News Release constitute forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “expected” and similar expressions, as they relate to Star or its management are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect Star’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause Star’s actual performance or achievements to vary from those described herein. Should one or more of these factors or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Star does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this release.

Please visit www.star-navigation.com or contact

Viraf S. Kapadia, CEO (416) 252-2889 Ext. 230 

[email protected]

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Esports Entertainment Group $GMBL – #Dota 2’s The International 2019 Prize Pool Surpasses $30M #Esports $EPY.ca $FDM.ca $WINR $TCEHF $ATVI $TNA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:50 AM on Wednesday, July 24th, 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 190 Esports teams. Click here for more information
GMBL: OTCQB

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Dota 2’s The International 2019 Prize Pool Surpasses $30M

  • The prize pool for Dota 2‘s The International 2019 tournament has topped $30M USD to date.
  • The total is primarily crowdfunded via in-game Battle Pass sales, with 34 days of funding left until the final tally is reached.
  • The International 2019’s prize pool has now surpassed the $30M pool of this coming weekend’s Fortnite World Cup.

Andrew Hayward

The prize pool for The International 2019—the de facto Dota 2  world championship—has topped $30M to date, beating the prize pool for the upcoming Fortnite  World Cup finals.

As of this writing, The International’s prize pool sits at $30.2M, which beats the 2018 record of $25.5M. The prize pool can continue to grow for another month, as well, until the end of the actual tournament on August 25.

The International’s prize pool primarily comes via crowdfunding. Dota 2 publisher Valve  contributes the first $1.6M, with the remainder provided by a percentage of sales from the game’s Battle Pass. The purchase lets players unlock in-game content and access The International Compendium, which includes a Fantasy Challenge for the tournament.

Every edition of The International has surpassed the prize pool of the previous year ever since Valve introduced the Battle Pass in 2013. Each tournament has also set a new record for the largest prize pool for any single esports event. Last year’s winner, OG , took home $11.2M of the $25.5M pool.

This year’s prize pool surge is especially interesting in the wake of this coming weekend’s Fortnite World Cup finals, which has a $30M prize pool provided entirely by Epic Games .

With 34 days of crowdfunding left and the $30.2M tally already 29% of last year’s prize pool total at this point (according to the Dota 2 Prize Pool Tracker), the final amount could still be significantly higher. The International 2019 takes place at the Mercedes-Benz  Arena in Shanghai from August 20-25.

Source: https://esportsobserver.com/dota2-ti19-prize-30m/

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BetterU Education Corp. $BTRU.ca – #Edtech Startups: A Highway Towards Rich Quality #Education For #India $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:19 AM on Wednesday, July 24th, 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.
BTRU: TSX-V

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Ed-tech Startups: A Highway Towards Rich Quality Education For India

  • As per the reports released by Google and KPMG in 2017, the online education market in India currently stands at USD 247 million and is estimated to rise to $1.96 billion by 2021
  • At present, there are about 1.57 million users of online education. This user base is said to increase to 9.5 million by 2021.

By Aakanksha Ahire

Since ages, the Indian education system has been following rigid methods of educating the students. Right from the tender age of 5, children are made to fall into the vicious cycle of sitting for classes in school, surviving through the long hours at tuition classes, filling out hundreds of pages as homework, rote learning from textbooks, vomiting it out on the answer sheets during examinations and then anxiously waiting for the results, only to repeat the same cycle but at a higher level.

Its way past high time we change the ways we acquire education and make it more student-friendly to foster effective learning. This seems possible only if the education system holds the hands of technology and decides to move forward. The development of technology is boosting by leaps and bounds. In such a scenario, the education sector must make the most of it.  

Education Technology startups, more commonly called as ed-tech startups are a pragmatic solution to better the education system of India. Edtech startups is a platform that combines education and innovative technology and provides to students effective learning methods and solutions which are very different from the education imparted at the brick and mortar schools.

Image Credits: Inside Higher Ed

As per the reports released by Google and KPMG in 2017, the online education market in India currently stands at USD 247 million and is estimated to rise to $1.96 billion by 2021. At present, there are about 1.57 million users of online education. This user base is said to increase to 9.5 million by 2021.

These figures clearly indicate that the students have started demanding for quality options in the field of education. They have started looking out for gaining a deep understanding of the concept at lower costs. To cater to this demand for education by the students, the ed-tech startups have dived into the education sector.

The ed-tech startups are undoubtedly going to be a harbinger of change in the education system of our nation. They have already brought in AR(Augmented Reality), VR(Virtual Reality), MR(Mixed Reality) in order to present effective education solutions. These provide students with practical and experiential learning through AR and fosters interactions via VR. Some of the best examples of edtech startups which are into AR and VR would be NewGenApps, Smartivity, and Veative. These startups are not just providing top class and effective educational experience but are also cost-efficient since the hardware and software used in making these technologies available too are cheaper.

With the advent of ed-tech startups:

  • Websites and apps are being developed by the ed tech startups that provide on-the-go study material and content which makes it easily accessible on laptops and mobile phones. The app and website are also updated from time to time with new concepts and topics.
  • Since every student signs up individually, the website has each student’s individual profile which enables the website to track the student’s progress, analyse the weakness and accordingly provide study material and tests for further improvement.
  • Schools too have welcomed the efforts made by the edtech startups by developing STEM and Innovation labs to teach subjects like Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Engineering, etc. in a practical way.
  • Further, the use of AI (Artificial Technology) has enabled the tracking of a student’s progress and helps in customising the learning approach based on the performance. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions fail to realise that every student learns at his/her own pace. By providing personalised education, edtech startups like Byju and Vedantu who are equipped with customised learning algorithm help each student to grasp subjects at his/her own pace. 
  • Edtech startups bridge the knowledge gap that exists between the urban and rural education by providing the same education to all which doesn’t happen in traditional education as the skills and knowledge of teachers teaching in urban India and rural India differ vastly. 
  • Moreover, in a highly competitive world where a zillion of careers has been created, an intense need is felt, for education that trains the pupils for such careers. Ed tech startups like upGrad are the perfect platforms that provide innumerable courses which range from Blogging to Data Science and Blockchain.
  • As edtech startups are the birth children of technology and are accessible on digital mediums, the content put up is highly visually appealing, even the most complicated concepts are made easy to understand for the students thus strengthening the students’ knowledge.  

In India, there are many small as well as big edtech startups that performing greatly in the market. Some of the small edtech startups include Open Door, ClassPlus, NeoStencil, etc. Big startups that have risen to massive success over the past few years include Byju, the largest funded edtech startup in the country founded by Byju Raveendran, upGrad, a higher education platform co-founded by Ronnie Screvala, Embibe, the largest Artificial Intelligence platform for education in India, and Unacademy, which provides around 50,000 courses.

At present, India is home to over 3,500 ed-tech startups. The loopholes present in the Indian education system is such that they cannot be filled overnight. If we all join hands and together and shift our likes from the traditional methods of schooling to online education, and for a change instead of participating in the mad race of scoring more marks, focus on deeply understand concepts, the country will blossom producing not just highly qualified individuals but also intellectual and experienced professionals. 

Source: https://youthincmag.com/ed-tech-startups-a-highway-towards-rich-quality-education-for-india

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Tartisan #Nickel $TN.ca – Can #Metals Supply Keep Up With Electric Vehicle #EV Demand? $ROX.ca $FF.ca $EDG.ca $AGL.ca $ANZ.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:54 AM on Wednesday, July 24th, 2019

SPONSOR: Tartisan Nickel (TN:CSE)  Kenbridge Property has a measured and indicated resource of 7.14 million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33% copper. Tartisan also has interests in Peru, including a 20 percent equity stake in Eloro Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria property. Click her for more information

Tc logo in black
TN: CSE
Fact Sheet
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Can Metals Supply Keep Up With Electric Vehicle Demand?

Wood Mackenzie

EVs and the energy transition

Battery raw materials could face a supply crunch by the mid-2020s. In every electric vehicle (EV) battery, there’s a complex chemistry of metals – cobalt, lithium, nickel and more. The electrification of transport is transforming the demand and supply of those battery raw materials. In fact, we expect to see double-digit growth for battery raw materials over the next decade. And our latest research suggests they could face a supply crunch by the mid-2020s, increasing the pressure on the raw material supply chain.

What does the long-term outlook for battery raw materials mean for electric vehicle penetration, the metals supply chain and those who invest in it?

What’s driving demand?

Retreat in lithium prices underway

Spot prices for lithium carbonate have fallen by just under US$7,000/t since June 2018.

We are seeing the same weakness in the realised prices of the majors and their expectations for H1 2019. And this is in an environment where the major brine producers in South America have failed to ramp up capacity. Clearly, the first responders to the lithium boom – Australian hard rock mines – have the capability to quickly deliver the required tonnages. Meanwhile, the bottleneck in Chinese conversion capacity that was supporting prices is giving way as China emerges as a net exporter of lithium chemicals to the region.

It has only taken a few years for the battery sector to become the largest demand driver for lithium. Lithium’s use in every lithium-ion battery type means it will have double-digit annual growth, making up over 80% of total lithium demand by 2030.

Cobalt prices have plummeted this year

Like lithium, cobalt prices have softened over H1 2019. The low prices may defer some mine projects and are likely to see reduced artisanal output from the DRC. However, the industry must still contend with an oversupply of intermediates until 2024. And the existence of swing supply in China is likely to keep a lid on any major price upside. Although cobalt looks challenging in the long-term, the adoption of high-nickel batteries in EVs means the emerging deficits look more achievable than previously expected.

Indonesia key for nickel

Although the battery sector share of nickel demand is much smaller than other metals, getting the quantity of nickel that EVs will need by the mid-2020s will be a challenge. A low nickel price has hindered any project development and with lead times often up to 10 years, investment needs to happen now.

While high-nickel ternary batteries will mean higher corresponding demand for nickel, like cobalt, our long-term deficits are becoming more feasible. Much of this is due to growing capacity in Indonesia, to serve both the stainless steel sector and emerging battery demand.

Business as usual for graphite

For graphite, there is little change in fundamentals. While the scale of demand is huge, we don’t expect any supply-side challenges in terms of natural graphite flake due to the growing supply out of East Africa. Synthetic graphite presents more of a challenge, given potential disruption to needle coke feedstock as a result of the new IMO 2020 regulations and growth in China’s steel sector.

Manganese central to NMC batteries

The manganese industry is overwhelmingly driven by the steel sector, something unlikely to change no matter how many EVs are on the road. While a steady supply of manganese sulphate will be crucial for NMC battery producers, we do not foresee any supply-side issues in this space.

What does this mean for investors in battery raw materials?

Despite strong growth in demand on the horizon, there’s not yet much for investors to get excited about. Meeting demand is not a challenge for key metals at present. In many cases supply is chasing demand. Increase electric vehicle penetration to 10% and above, and it is a different matter altogether. Are the current falling prices and weak sentiment setting the world up for a crunch down the road?

Unless battery technology can be developed, tested, commercialised, manufactured and integrated into EVs and their supply chains faster than ever before, it will be impossible for many EV targets and ICE (internal combustion engine) bans to be achieved – posing issues for current EV adoption rate projections.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/woodmackenzie/2019/07/24/can-metals-supply-keep-up-with-electric-vehicle-demand/#39f095e56c9b

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Tartisan #Nickel $TN.ca – Demand for electric vehicles #EV bodes well for nickel $ROX.ca $FF.ca $EDG.ca $AGL.ca $ANZ.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:58 PM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019

SPONSOR: Tartisan Nickel (TN:CSE)  Kenbridge Property has a measured and indicated resource of 7.14 million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33% copper. Tartisan also has interests in Peru, including a 20 percent equity stake in Eloro Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria property. Click her for more information

Tc logo in black
TN: CSE
Fact Sheet
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Demand for electric vehicles bodes well for nickel

  • The reason many are bullish on prices long-term is the expected demand for nickel for EVs, a key component in electric batteries.
  • Right now, two-thirds of the world’s nickel is used for stainless steel production, and three per cent for batteries.

By: Darren MacDonald

While nickel analysts expect the price of nickel to dip again despite the impressive gains it has made in recent weeks, demand for the metal is bright thanks to the increasing demand for electric vehicles.

Nickel was trading at US $6.40 on Monday afternoon on the London Metals Exchange (LME), down from last week’s high of US $6.85, but still up more than 20 per cent in the last two weeks.

Commonwealth Bank commodities analyst Vivek Dhar told the Financial Review that the reasons some have given for the recent surge – falling LME stockpiles and an impending export ban in Indonesia – are not new revelations, and are factors traders have known for a long time.

“That’s what’s got all of us scratching our heads,” Dhar said in the article. “It’s not like LME stockpiles have just fallen in July. They’ve been heading down for a while, so why would you see an acceleration in price like just now?

“In terms of how sustainable is it, we’re very bullish over the long run but in terms of the rise since the beginning of July, it’s come out of nowhere.”

The reason many are bullish on prices long-term is the expected demand for nickel for EVs, a key component in electric batteries. Right now, two-thirds of the world’s nickel is used for stainless steel production, and three per cent for batteries.

“Changes in battery technology that improve the longevity and cost profile of batteries are likely to lift the proportion of nickel used in batteries, which combined with significantly higher battery production, is expected to open new opportunities for nickel producers from the 2020s onward,” says a June analysis by the Australian government.

“World consumption is forecast to increase from 2.3 million tonnes in 2018 to 2.7 million tonnes in 2021, growing at an average rate of 4.7 per cent a year.”

Devin Arthur, president of the Electric Vehicle Society’s Greater Sudbury chapter, says car makers such as Ford and Volkswagen and Toyota are ramping up their capacity to build electric batteries, joining Tesla in the race to build fully electric cars.

“All that means is people are going to need more nickel,” Arthur said. “We have a lot of it, so it’s good for us.”

Up until now, car makers have usually contracted out production of batteries from companies with limited production capacity. Tesla decided it would make its own batteries, and other car makers are following suit.

“Volkswagen, for example, have kind of said ‘OK, we need make our own battery factories,’” Arthur said. “We’re going to do it all in-house. So right now we’re in this really large kind of transition period where all these companies are investing billions of dollars in battery plants.

“Once these plants are up and running, I think you’re going to see nickel prices just shoot through the roof.”

It’s not just Arthur saying that – according to the Australian government’s analysis, there is a chance it could “boom.

“There is potential for nickel consumption to boom, as electric vehicle battery manufacturing picks up and technological advances are married with market developments, supportive policy and changing consumer preferences,” the analysis said. 

The evolution of the batteries is important too, Arthur said. His Chevy Bolt can go as far as 400 kilometres between charges, depending on the temperature and other conditions. With improvements to battery and charging technology, longer and longer trips with shorter and shorter recharging times are on the way.

Porsche says a high-voltage charger it has developed can recharge a EV battery in eight minutes, Arthur said.

“So a typical charge stop would probably take as long as pumping gas – if not shorter,” he said.

And software can tell a driver how much they need to charge their car, depending on the length of the trip and the location of the next charging station.

“A lot of the newer vehicles, you’re looking at the 500-600 kilometre ranges on a full charge,” he said. “The technology is evolving so fast that you’re going to see is just massive updates every time they come up with new models. I think once Volkswagen and other major manufacturers start actually releasing their models, I think you’ll this ‘range anxiety’ isn’t going to be much of a problem anymore.”

With production ramping up, and EV production expected to take off beginning in 2021 and beyond, Arthur said groups like the Electric Vehicle Association – which has chapters across the province – is working to not only spread the EV message, but advocate for the charging infrastructure to be in place to meet the demand for new EV owners. In Sudbury, the number of EV owners has grown to about 170, up from 95 last year, with the growth rate expected to increase as more products hit the marketplace.

In addition to new companies developing charging stations, traditional companies such as Petro Canada have plans to build a national charging network from coast-to-coast.

“I guess even (fossil fuel companies) know that this is the future and if they don’t get get in now, you know, they’re kind of going to be left behind,” Arthur said. “So the future will see charging stations everywhere the way we see gas stations today.” 

Source: https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/demand-for-electric-vehicles-bodes-well-for-nickel-and-for-greater-sudbury-1599309

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Spyder Cannabis $SPDR.ca – 5 Essential #Cannabis Trends You Can’t Afford to Miss – #CBD will take center stage $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:49 PM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019

SPONSOR: Spyder Cannabis Inc. (TSX-V: SPDR) An established chain of high-end vape stores in Ontario, Canada. The company has an aggressive expansion plan already in place that will focus on Canadian retail and US Hemp-Derived kiosks in high traffic areas. Click here for more info.

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(TSX-V: SPDR)
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5 Essential Cannabis Trends You Can’t Afford to Miss

New research indicates these events will drive the global cannabis market.
  • Until recently, the cannabis market was dominated by THC products, but now CBD is on everyone’s lips. What happened? In 2018, two regulatory events changed the direction and growth trajectory for the cannabis market. Troy Dayton and Roy Bingham

Figuring out where the cannabis industry is heading next is no easy task. The industry is filled with a seemingly daily deluge of noise and breaking news. But there are a handful of trends and events you should keep an eye on. Arcview Market Research in partnership with BDS Analytics has discovered key data points that reveal some of the big industry levers shaping things to come.

1. CBD will take center stage.

Until recently, the cannabis market was dominated by THC products, but now CBD is on everyone’s lips. What happened? In 2018, two regulatory events changed the direction and growth trajectory for the cannabis market.

First, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) approved GW Pharmaceutical’s seizure medication, Epidiolex, the first CBD pharmaceutical-grade drug. 

Second, hemp (the cannabis plant high in CBD and low in THC) was legalized for commercial production across the U.S. 

Pharmaceutical companies have since unleashed numerous studies and clinical trials — racing to isolate treatments for a diversity of diseases – from cancer to sleep disorders. And, due to less government restrictions placed on CBD, cannabis dispensaries no longer hold domain over the sale of cannabis products. 

Over time, fortune 500 companies will stampede into the CBD market. In many U.S. markets, general retail stores are now free to stock hemp-based products. And as creams, craft beer, and other CBD infused products make their way onto grocery store shelves in growing numbers, licensed dispensaries will be pushed to stay competitive. 

Just how big is the U.S. CBD market expected to get? 

Our research shows that CBD spending will grow from $1.9 billion in 2018 to a forecast of $20.1 billion by 2024. Include THC sales in the number, and the total U.S. cannabinoid market will soar from $10.5 in 2018 to $44.8 billion as we turn the calendar to 2024. 

This is a 49 percent compound annual growth rate forecast for cannabis and hemp-derived CBD products.

2. Eased regulations will be a catalyst for the cannabis market.

Fear of federal prosecution, the inability to easily use every-day banking services (including depositing money), and little clarity around CBD as a food additive, has been deadweights for the U.S cannabis industry. However, two ground-breaking pieces of legislation are working their way through the legislative labyrinth that should remedy these problems.

First is an amendment to the STATES Act that will exempt the state’s legal activities from the Controlled Substances Act (which classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 substance). The STATES Act would effectively ease federal cannabis prohibition by ceding the regulation of cannabis to the state level. Secondly, the SAFE Banking Act — which would allow federally chartered banks the ability to accept money from state-legal cannabis businesses.

On the CBD front, the FDA is under pressure to regulate and confirm the rules of the game. Once these guidelines are announced, they are likely to be the trigger for mass adoption of CBD.

3. Canada is still a significant player, but there are clouds on the horizon.

Canada’s historic legalization of adult-use cannabis last year quickly spawned the world’s largest cannabis companies. Our research indicates that by 2024, the Canadian adult-use market will expand to almost $4.8 billion from $113.5 million (in the partial year of 2018).

In the short term, limitations on distribution and the marketing of edibles and concentrates are likely to hamper growth. However, regulations are expected to ease in October. But it will take suppliers several months, maybe even years, to catch up with the product selection and branding strategies, which are the chief drivers of U.S. market growth.

The success of the continued retail roll-out and the federal election in October could potentially dampen the Canadian growth story. Should the liberals be ousted at the polling booths, a change in government policy may curtail the growth trajectory.

4. Other countries will get in the game. 

The global expansion of medical cannabis is attracting investor attention. Our research shows that the international markets’ contribution to global legal sales will rise from 4.7 percent to 13.2 percent between 2018 and 2024. That’s a not inconsequential 33 percent compound annual growth rate through the period.

Internationally, Germany leads the pack, making Europe the leading region. But Uruguay’s pioneering legal adult-use, Luxembourg, Mexico, and New Zealand could also have adult-use sales by 2024.

Reforms in Asia and Africa are also afoot. Patients in South Korea and Thailand will gain access to medical cannabis treatments — albeit highly restricted. And Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are all in various stages of program development.

But, as a consequence of the opening up of these markets, there may be a shift in the migration of production to regions like Africa and Latin America. Canadian LPs could be left with stranded assets

5. Money will flow to M&As, as companies specialize and rationalize operations.

In two short years, an industry starved for funding is now seeing billion-dollar deals. But the availability of money is becoming less significant. Now it’s about how it will be spent.

Vertically integrated companies are buying out other operations for scale, and the start of a trend towards diversification and specialization is underway.

Over the medium term, a second wave of M&A to ‘rationalize assets’ (i.e. match a firm’s investment in various types of assets to its projected requirements, for achieving optimum ROI) may follow. Companies in maturing industries usually work out what they are best at and divest operations to those better suited to operate these.

Once federal prohibition ends, it’s also no stretch to imagine the mainstream industry giants stepping in and buying out cannabis companies. Courageous entrepreneurs will be richly rewarded for having built attractive take-out targets.

Source: https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/5-Essential-Cannabis-Trends-You-Can-t-Afford-to-14113323.php

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Enthusiast Gaming $EGLX.ca – Las Vegas #Esports arena evolving with latest gaming trends $EPY.ca $FDM.ca $WINR $TCEHF $ATVI $TNA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019

SPONSOR: Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: EGLX) Uniting gaming communities with 80 owned and affiliated websites, currently reaching over 75 million monthly visitors. The company exceeded 2018 target with $11.0 million in revenue. Learn More

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EGLX: TSX-V
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Las Vegas Esports arena evolving with latest gaming trends

  • “It’s almost like an actual sports stadium feel,” General Manager Nico DeGeorge said. “We want people to have that awe-inspiring moment like when they go to Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park.”

By Lukas Eggen Las Vegas Review-Journal

Prior to the opening of the Triple Crown Royale at the HyperX Esports Arena at Luxor, employees were buzzing about a new opening hype video.

The video showcased not only the arena’s production capabilities but was a step toward proving this isn’t your ordinary video game gathering spot.

“It’s almost like an actual sports stadium feel,” General Manager Nico DeGeorge said. “We want people to have that awe-inspiring moment like when they go to Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park.”

When the HyperX Esports Arena hosted the Triple Crown Royale, it featured three of the most popular battle royale games, Fortnite, Apex Legends and PUBG.

Several professional gamers took part in the event, as well as local players and gamers from across the country.

“We wanted to make it open to the fans,” NewEgg’s Vice President of Marketing, Mitesh Patel said. “Yet, we also wanted to leverage our relationship with so-called influencers and give people the opportunity to play with and compete against these professionals. The arena allows us to give gamers a chance to play with professionals on the same type of equipment that the professionals play with.”

The tournament featured two groups of players that competed in each game.

Organizers pulled out all the stops, including commentators, multiple cameras and giveaways.

“Right now, we see esports on more of a local, community level,” DeGeorge said. “Now, the broad focus is broadcast in general, being more content driven.”

Since its opening, the arena has held several events.

“We’re putting more effort into the content space and it’s also helping make people more aware of esports,” DeGeorge said. “We have people walk in here every day and try and figure out what’s going on. Events like this can be something fun and informative as well.”

Source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/las-vegas-esports-arena-evolving-with-latest-gaming-trends-1808750/

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BetterU Education Corp. $BTRU.ca – Six Quick Things You Should Know About the #Edtech Marketplace $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:09 AM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 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.
BTRU: TSX-V

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Six Quick Things You Should Know About the Edtech Marketplace

Students gather around a table during a plumbing class at an IACM Smart Learn Ltd. learning center in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg By: Derek Newton

  • Investors continue to be enticed by education technology companies and products.
  • So much so that edtech investment isn’t a fringe pastime anymore, it’s grown into a robust, big market that, according to education research firm HolonIQ, will surpass $7.5 billion this year.
  • They say some 400 deals have moved more than $3.5 billion already this year with a whopping 90 deals north of $5 million in funding.

While the movement of capital to and among edtech projects is substantive, investors still make some mind-numbing mistakes such as depending on technologies that aren’t practical, sales cycles that can’t exist or, even more common, market forces that don’t apply to education.

Nonetheless, whether you’re an investor or an observer, here are a few things you may want to know about the edtech marketplace.

The US is Flat

The U.S. edtech market is remarkably stable in terms of spending and enrollment demand. There are a few demographic crests and troughs expected over the next ten to fifteen years but nothing outside 5% in either direction. And for the past five years, edtech investment in American markets has been stable too – never more than $1.6 billion, not less than $1.0 billion.

The Demand is Global

It’s not just that the American market is tepid, the growth is elsewhere.

According to HolonIQ, 70% of the global investment in education technology took place in just two markets – India and China. Four of the five largest investment deals in edtech so far this year have been logged in China. Their report says matter-of-factly, “The US and Europe will steadily lose ground to China and India” over the next 20 years.

Pivot to Workforce

More and more companies that launched as education reformers intent on creating market change by design, technology or pedagogy are shifting to workforce training instead, banking on demand for lifetime learning, a constant need to retrain or refresh workers on technology skills. In many cases, the long sales cycles and lack of demand have stalled the early projections.

Outside the Classroom

Most of the successful technology innovations in education will be outside the classroom. According to a 2016 report by McKinsey, “Educational Services” was the least vulnerable sector to technology disruption and automation. “The importance of human interaction is evident in two sectors that, so far, have a relatively low technical potential for automation: healthcare and education,” it read.

That doesn’t mean the door is closed. It’s somewhat open outside the classroom. “27 percent of the activities in education—primarily those that happen outside the classroom or on the sidelines—have the potential to be automated with demonstrated technologies,” McKinsey said.

Online Higher Ed is Splitting

While enrollment in online higher ed classes continues to increase, the pool of students is bifurcating. Competition for enrollment online is increasingly being narrowed to two concerns – global brands that can compete anywhere and hyper-local ones.

According to the 2019 Online College Students Report by Learning House, a Wiley brand, more and more students who study online are doing it closer and closer to home. “When this study was first conducted in 2012, 44% of online college students chose a school within 50 miles of their residence. However, in 2019, 67% of online college students are enrolling at schools within 50 miles of their residence, and 44% of those students live within 25 miles of their school,” the report said.

Coding and STEM Skills Merging

Discrete, tech-heavy skills such as coding are increasingly being rolled into existing education offerings by established education providers. Mergers, take-overs or expanded offerings by community colleges and even four-year schools will expand and stand-alone, bootcamp-style models will struggle due to increased competition, lack of scale, non-competitive branding and lack of access to federal student funding support.

This convergence is taking place against the backdrop of a repeated employer surveys showing that so-called soft skills such as writing, teamwork and flexibility are as important as the hard skills of coding, for example.

Unfortunately, these quick points don’t easily melt into a neat package of what’s happening in edtech. Nonetheless, a few themes emerge. For example, investors who don’t think and look globally may be missing the biggest growth opportunities. Another is that, in the U.S. at least, innovations designed to work outside the classroom and/or support career training may be better bets than those intended to change teaching or compete with or disrupt established education norms.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereknewton/2019/07/22/six-quick-notes-on-the-edtech-marketplace/#1fb1dcdd4505

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Marijuana Company of America $MCOA Announces Prelaunch of Premier #Cannabis Delivery Service $AERO $CBDS $CGRW $APH.ca $GBLX $ACG $ACB $WEED.ca $HIP.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:36 AM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019
15233 mcoa
MCOA:OTCQB
  • Company began sign-ups for Viva Buds Inc., a cannabis delivery service developed with joint venture partner Natural Plant Extracts of California
  • Viva Buds’ staff and marketing team have successfully initiated the prelaunch for prospective customers ahead of its official 2019 launch date.

ESCONDIDO, Calif., July 23, 2019 — via NetworkWire - MARIJUANA COMPANY OF AMERICA INC. (“MCOA” or the “Company”) (OTCQB: MCOA), an innovative hemp and cannabis corporation, is pleased to announce the prelaunch of cannabis delivery service Viva Buds Inc. in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California, with sign-ups now available on its website at https://vivabuds.com.

Viva Buds’ staff and marketing team have successfully initiated the prelaunch for prospective customers ahead of its official 2019 launch date. By signing up for free for the Viva Buds prelaunch, customers will have the opportunity to make referrals before the actual launch date. Viva Buds will offer customers a dynamic opportunity to purchase low-cost premium cannabis products and utilize the “call your friend” approach to build their own personal business. Viva Buds will have its own user-friendly app and will utilize its strategic partnership with MassRoots Inc. to reach out to thousands of its social media followers, beginning in the San Fernando Valley.

In March, Natural Plant Extracts of California (“NPE”) and MCOA announced they had established a joint venture to form Viva Buds, sharing the net profits on a 50-50 basis. NPE will manage all operations pertaining to distribution, manufacturing and delivery of cannabis products, and MCOA will provide capital, consulting and marketing services. Additionally, MCOA is the direct owner of 20% of NPE.

“Our management team is excited to provide this innovative opportunity to future customers of Viva Buds in one of the largest U.S. markets for recreational cannabis,” said Mr. Don Steinberg, CEO of Marijuana Company of America.

“We are excited to be a partner in what we believe will be a game changing and disruptive delivery model in the marketplace,” said Mr. Alan Tsai, CEO of Natural Plant Extracts of California. “We offer an incentivized program that is mutually beneficial for our customers as well as the company. We are confident this adds a lot of unique value and will position Viva Buds as a key player in the delivery sector.”

For more information on Viva Buds and to sign up, please visit https://vivabuds.com. Join the live virtual launch party on August 9th, 2019 at http://www.vivabuds.live.

About Marijuana Company of America, Inc.
MCOA is a corporation that participates in: (1) product research and development of legal hemp-based consumer products under the brand name “hempSMART™â€, that targets general health and well-being; (2) an affiliate marketing program to promote and sell its legal hemp-based consumer products containing CBD; (3) leasing of real property to separate business entities engaged in the growth and sale of cannabis in those states and jurisdictions where cannabis has been legalized and properly regulated for medicinal and recreational use; and, (4) the expansion of its business into ancillary areas of the legalized cannabis and hemp industry, as the legalized markets and opportunities in this segment mature and develop.

About Our hempSMART Products Containing CBD
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized CBD as a safe and effective drug for any indication. Our products containing CBD derived from industrial hemp are not marketed or sold based upon claims that their use is safe and effective treatment for any medical condition as drugs or dietary supplements subject to the FDA’s jurisdiction.

About Natural Plant Extracts of California
NPE is a fully licensed cannabis manufacturing, distribution and non-store front retail delivery. The Company has secured its licenses with the state of California and city of Lynwood, CA. For more information about the Company, please visit its website at https://nldistribution.com The owners and founders of NPE are marijuana industry veterans with decades of experience in establishing retail, manufacturing and distribution of cannabis in California, including obtaining the first retail dispensary licenses in Los Angeles, CA.

Legal Status of Cannabis
While legalized in California for recreational and medicinal use, cannabis remains a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 811) and illegal under the federal law.

Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” which are not purely historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities and words such as “anticipate”, “seek”, intend”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, or similar phrases may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company’s reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based products. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-12G, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please visit www.sec.gov.

Contact:
[email protected]
888-777-4362

Corporate Communications Contact: 
NetworkWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com 
212.418.1217 Office 
[email protected] 

For more information, please visit the Company’s websites at:

MarijuanaCompanyofAmerica.com
hempSMART.com
NetworkNewsWire/MCOA

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CLIENT FEATURE: In An Effort to Further Skill #India, #BetterU CEO $BTRU.ca Discusses Partnership With National Skill Development Corporation #NSDC $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:00 PM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019

betterU and NSDC officially launched their partnership on July 15th, World Youth Skill Day in Delhi India. This partnership will support efforts to Skill India. Through collaboration, betterU and NSDC will work together to further develop programs to support each industry.

During the media conference, betterU also announced the launch of their Mobile App and Upskill Engine that will put the world’s education in the hands of anyone across India and help support efforts for individualized learning.

Hub On AGORACOM / Read Recent Release

FULL DISCLOSURE: BetterU Education Corp. is an advertising client of AGORA Internet Relations Corp.

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