Agoracom Blog Home

Posts Tagged ‘CSE’

#Blockamoto.io signs strategic partnership with #RaiStone Agency for #blockchain and #tokenization $IDK.ca $HIVE.ca $CODE.ca $BLOC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:38 AM on Tuesday, December 5th, 2017

Threed capital

  • Blockamoto.io Corp, has signed a strategic partnership with Rai Stone Agency (www.raistone.me) for blockchain and tokenization
  • Agency is a blockchain launchpad focused on preparing companies looking to create a Token Generation Event with expertise on business development, legal governance, and sales/marketing
  • Rai Stone Agency is a Partnership formed in Ontario where by one of the partners is a company controlled by Sheldon Inwentash, the CEO of ThreeD Capital

TORONTO, Dec. 05, 2017 – ThreeD Capital Inc. (“ThreeD” or the “Company”) (CSE:IDK) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Blockamoto.io Corp, has signed a strategic partnership with Rai Stone Agency (www.raistone.me) for blockchain and tokenization.

Rai Stone Agency is a blockchain launchpad focused on preparing companies looking to create a Token Generation Event with expertise on business development, legal governance, and sales/marketing. Rai Stone Agency is a Partnership formed in Ontario where by one of the partners is a company controlled by Sheldon Inwentash, the CEO of ThreeD Capital.

The collaboration between Blockamoto.io and Rai Stone Agency will ensure the acceleration of early stage funding to blockchain solutions to reach to a Minimally Viable Product as well as a successful token generation event prior to the distribution of tokens.

The partnership will add a much needed institutional level due diligence to companies using blockchain.

About Blockamoto.io

The name Blockamoto.io pays homage to the name behind the person who designed bitcoin and the first blockchain database, Satoshi Nakamoto. Blockamoto.io is an early stage investor platform that supports companies who use blockchain to enhance the value of new and existing ventures. We look at disintermediate blockchain paradigms for deployment and distribution of relevant tokenization across a full spectrum of verticals.

About Rai Stone Agency

Rai stone aims to be a leader in funding innovators and their ideas, through the widespread adoption of blockchain technology. The team at Rai Stone is comprised of experienced entrepreneurs with a collective history of successful launches and innovations between them. Rai Stone provides practical knowledge, experience, and end-to end consultation when it comes to helping businesses raise funds through the development of cryptocurrency-based crowdfunding applications.

About ThreeD Capital Inc.

ThreeD is a publicly-traded Canadian-based venture capital firm focused on opportunistic investments in companies in the junior resources, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain sectors.

ThreeD seeks to invest in early stage, promising companies where it may be the lead investor and can additionally provide investees with advisory services, mentoring and access to the Company’s network in order to earn increases to the Company’s equity stake.

For further information:
Gerry Feldman, CPA, CA
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
[email protected]
Phone: 416-606-7655

FEATURE: American Creek $AMK.ca encounters high grade Au/Ag at Treaty Creek north of, and in the same system as #Seabridge Gold $SA $SEA.ca KSM project

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:27 PM on Monday, December 4th, 2017

AMK: TSX-V, OTCBB: ACKRF

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Encountered numerous high grade gold/silver intercepts in preliminary drilling at the new HC zone at the Treaty Creek Project Read More
  • Additional gold discovery of 5.1m of 9.57 g/t gold from 249.35m to 254.45m Read More
  • Tudor Has Discovered a New Gold Zone at Treaty Creek: 110 M of 0.909 g/t Gold, Upper 316 M of Hole Yet to Be Assayed
  • Specimens from the Electrum property average 27,092 gm/tonne silver and 248 gm/tonne gold. Read More
  • Tudor has now completed the previously announced Magnetotelluric survey and has commenced drilling Read More
  • Hole CB-16-03 returned 0.526 g/t gold over 629.7 meters
  • Included within this wide 629.7 meter interval is 338 meters of 0.70 g/t gold
  • Also included 54 meters (from 88 to 142 meters) of 1.117 g/t gold and 122 meters of 0.965 g/t gold
  • Reports That JV Drill Program is Well on Its Way to Defining a Gold Resource

View Presentation

Sony $SNE Details #Blockchain Use for Education Data #Blockstation $IDK.ca $HIVE.ca $CODE.ca $BLOC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:22 AM on Monday, December 4th, 2017
Dec 4, 2017 at 07:30 UTC
  • New patent filing from Sony highlights how the Japanese tech conglomerate may be using blockchain as part of an education platform.
  • In August, Sony announced that it was working with IBM to build a suite of educational services, which would use the tech in part to secure student records and form part of a system for sharing that data between agreed-upon parties.

The application from Sony, published last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), points to how that might work in practice.

For example, “nodes” on the education network could be run by teachers, students or other parties that might need access to those records. It refers to how “educational experiences” would be cemented on the chain after being signed by the relevant users.

As the application explains:

“In this example, the [blockchain], which is a trust chain, may be used to store information such as education experiences, certificates and so on of a user. The information contains, for example, studying which courses and possessing which certificates. In addition, based on concepts of a smart contract and a smart property, knowledge may also be exchanged, transacted and transferred via the block chain as a property.”

The filing, entitled “Electronic Apparatus, Method for Electronic Apparatus and Information Processing System,” hints at other possible uses for the tech as well, including for connecting vehicles across a common network.

That “Internet of Vehicle” network would, as envisioned, enable cars to report road conditions to one another, according to the application’s authors.

“By applying the electronic apparatus of the present disclosure to a vehicle (i.e., a node), trust can be transferred between uncorrelated entities using the [blockchain] technology, and real and valid real-time road conditions information is obtained in real-time according to the consensus,” they wrote. “In this way, decentralized real-time road conditions observation and further a navigation system may be realized.”

Sony image via Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock

Source: https://www.coindesk.com/sony-patent-filing-details-blockchain-use-managing-education-data/

PyroGenesis $PYR.ca Signs Non-Disclosure Agreement with Second Global Aircraft Engine Manufacturer $DDD $SSYS $ PRLB

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:43 AM on Monday, December 4th, 2017

Pyr header 1

  • Signed a non-disclosure agreement with a second global aircraft engine manufacturer.
  • Name of the Client has been withheld and will remain confidential for competitive reasons
  • “We are very happy to have signed an NDA with a second global aircraft engine manufacturer in less than a month, and we look forward to developing a more substantive relationship with them,” said P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis.

MONTREAL, Quebec, Dec. 04, 2017 — PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (http://pyrogenesis.com) (TSX-V:PYR) (OTCQB:PYRNF), a high-tech corporation (the “Corporation” or “PyroGenesis”) that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, announces today that it has signed a non-disclosure agreement (“NDA”) with a second global aircraft engine manufacturer. The name of the Client has been withheld and will remain confidential for competitive reasons.

“We are very happy to have signed an NDA with a second global aircraft engine manufacturer in less than a month, and we look forward to developing a more substantive relationship with them,” said P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis. “I must once again caution readers not to draw any premature conclusions from this announcement. Though, once again, it does signal an interest in our capabilities, and yes, that interest does come from a very discerning, demanding, and sophisticated party, we are still at the very preliminary stages and there is no guarantee that anything of any commercial value will materialize from these efforts. We feel that these recently concluded NDAs are material in the sense that they confirm both our strategy to become a powder producer to the additive manufacturing industry, as well as our premise that there is a significant demand within the additive manufacturing industry for our products.”

PyroGenesis is the inventor of Plasma Atomization – a plasma-based process that produces small, spherical, metal powders for the Additive Manufacturing (“AM”) industry, particularly 3D printing, and which has become the gold standard.

The Corporation recently announced the successful completion of the ramp-up of its first (1st) plasma atomization system since announcing, in 2015, that it would become a supplier of powders to the AM industry. During ramp-up, the Corporation not only received several sample purchase orders, but also developed new Intellectual Property which effectively allows the manufacture of very narrow particle size distributions, at higher production rates, with little-to-no waste. The Corporation feels that this breakthrough could be even more game changing than its original Plasma Atomization patent.

About PyroGenesis Canada Inc.
PyroGenesis Canada Inc. is the world leader in the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced plasma processes. PyroGenesis provides technical and manufacturing expertise, cutting-edge contract research, as well as turnkey process equipment packages to the defense, metallurgical, mining, additive manufacturing (3D printing), oil & gas, and environmental industries. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and technicians working out of our Montreal office and 3,800 m2 (approx. 40,900 square feet) manufacturing facility, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of technology development and commercialization. Its core competencies allow PyroGenesis to lead the way in providing innovative plasma torches, plasma waste processes, high-temperature metallurgical processes, and technical services to the global marketplace. Its operations are ISO 9001:2008 certified, and have been ISO certified since 1997. PyroGenesis is a publicly-traded Canadian corporation on the TSX Venture Exchange (Ticker Symbol: PYR) and on the OTCQB Marketplace (Ticker Symbol: PYRNF). For more information, please visit www.pyrogenesis.com

About PyroGenesis Additive.
PyroGenesis Additive, a division of PyroGenesis Canada Inc., the inventor of Plasma Atomization, specializes in providing plasma atomized spherical metallic powders with some of the most spherical, pure, dense, and highly flowable properties, which are highly sought after in the Additive Manufacturing (“AM”) Industry. With PyroGenesis’ extensive plasma expertise, PyroGenesis Additive is not only able to convert traditional metals and alloys into high purity spherical powders, but also create specialty powders on an exclusive basis. The versatility of the process allows PyroGenesis Additive to quickly adapt to a customer’s needs both in terms of Particle Size Distribution (PSD), and type of metal powders required. The metal powders produced by PyroGenesis Additive are ideal for the additive manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical, thermal spray, and metal injection molding industries.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “may”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “in the process” and other similar expressions which constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Corporation’s current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Corporation with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Corporation’s ongoing filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com, or at www.otcmarkets.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

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

For further information: Rodayna Kafal, VP, Investor Relations and Communications, Phone: (514) 937-0002, E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

 

Source: GlobeNewswire (December 4, 2017 – 8:35 AM EST)

FEATURE: Peeks Social $PEEK.ca Revolutionizing Video Streaming With Real Time Monetization $BCOV $AVID

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:42 PM on Friday, December 1st, 2017
PEEK: TSX-V

WHAT IS PEEKS?

Peeks is a new live streaming app where people can interact and transact in real time by sending cash tips as appreciation for content and or selling goods and services to their live viewers.

  • Evolution of social media, television, digital advertising, and mobile commerce naturally converge
  • Peeks Social is revolutionizing the way the world interacts and transacts.
  • Worlds first; purpose built, video streaming monetization platform.’
  • Allows both users and advertisers to monetize a global audience in ways previously thought to be impossible.

The Shifting landscape

  • ·     Digital marketing spend is projected to grow from $57.3B USD in 2014 to $103.4B USD in 2019
  •       Viewers spend 8x longer with live video than on demand:  42.8 min vs. 5.1 min
  •       Live video is outpacing growth of other types of online video with 113% increase in add growth yearly
  •       100,000,000 internet users watch online video everyday
  •       By 2019 online video will be responsible for 80% of global internet traffic.
  •       In the U.S. online video will be responsible for 85% of domestic US traffic

CHECK OUT OUR RECENT INTERVIEW

betterU Education Corporation $BTRU Extends Letter of Intent Deadline to Complete Definitive Agreement for $10 Million Media Investment With #Hindustan Times $ARCL $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:05 AM on Friday, December 1st, 2017

Betteru large

  • Agreed with Hindustan Times to extend the deadline date from December 1st, 2017
  • As outlined in the Letter of Intent announced October 3rd, 2017 to a closing date on or before December 15th, 2017 for the Definitive Agreement with HT Overseas Pte. Ltd

OTTAWA, Dec. 01, 2017 — betterU Education Corp. (TSX-V:BTRU) (FRANKFURT:5OGA), (the “Corporation” or “betterU”), has agreed with Hindustan Times to extend the deadline date from December 1st, 2017 as outlined in the Letter of Intent announced October 3rd, 2017 to a closing date on or before December 15th, 2017 for the Definitive Agreement with HT Overseas Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of HT Media Limited (“HT”). The delay for completion of the Definitive Agreement is related to the recent halt of the Corporation’s shares which have be released for trading today.

Up to $10 Million in media investment will to be utilized over 2 years to provide betterU’s marketplace with an increased visibility and brand awareness to millions of people across India. The Corporation is expected to start using the first tranche of $1.25 million in marketing dollars January 2018.

The proposed media investment will be made in eight (8) equal tranches of CAD $1.25 Million. Each Tranche shall result in HT receiving common shares (the “Shares”) in the capital of betterU from treasury. The Shares shall be issued at a price equal to the volume weighted average price of the Shares on the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”), calculated by dividing the total value by the total volume of Shares traded for the thirty (30) days ending on the day which is one trading day prior to the date of issuance, or such higher price as the TSXV may require.

The obligations of HT and betterU to complete the proposed media investments are subject to approval from TSXV for each of the individual tranche transactions.

About HT Media

HT Group has built a Pan India reach via its various print, radio and digital properties. The combined reach is an astonishing ~10% of Indian population. In print alone, HT Group’s Hindustan Times (English medium); Hindustan (Hindi medium), Mint (English Business daily) give a combined readership of over 29.9 million. This readership is multiplied significantly through HT’s radio channels (104 Fever and 107.2 Nasha) which have dedicated audience of over 21.7 million in Delhi, Kolkata, UP, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and the Indo Gangetic belt. This is further complemented by HT’s digital presence including hindustantimes.com; livehindustan.com; livehindustan.com; desimartini.com and shine.com.

Geographically, HT Group has the following reach:

  • In West, HT is able to reach 7 million population in Mumbai through their highly recognised Brands in Print(HT/Mint), Radio(Fever/Nasha) & Digital.
  • In North, HT Group’s mediums directly touch “8 out-of every 10” population in Delhi NCR. Print readership of around 4.3 million complemented by leading radio channels such as 104 Fever and 107.2 (giving an additional audience of 8.1 million) makes HT Group a clear leader in the Delhi NCR region.

Hindustan Times is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded in 1924 and the flagship publication of HT Media. Hindustan Times is one of the largest newspapers in India, by circulation. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations and it has a circulation of 1.16 million copies as of November 2015. HT is one of the top most widely read English newspaper in India. It is popular in North India, with simultaneous editions from New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi and Chandigarh.

About betterU

betterU, a global education marketplace, aims to provide access to quality education from around the world to foster growth and opportunity to those who want to better their lives. 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 education-to-employment ecosystem. betterU’s offerings can be categorized into several broad functions: to compliment school programs with flexible KG-12 programs preparing children for next stage of education, to provide access to global educational opportunities from leading educators, to foster an exceptional educational environment by providing befitting skills that lead to a better career, to bridge the gap between one’s existing education and prospective job requirement by training them and lastly, to connect the end user to various job opportunities.

www.betterU.ca and www.betterU.in

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. Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which include completion of the proposed Investment, the anticipated use of the proceeds of the Investment, the development and expansion of betterU’s operations, and other matters. There can be no assurance that the Investment will be completed as proposed or at all. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as “may”, “expect”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “believe” and “continue” or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, the development of competitive technologies, the marketplace acceptance of betterU’s products, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of betterU. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, betterU disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, betterU undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. Further information on betterU’s public filings, including their most recent audited consolidated financial statements, are available at www.sedar.com.

For further information, please visit http://www.betteru.ca/investor-overview/

Brad Loiselle
President and CEO
1-613-695-4100 Ext. 233
Email: [email protected]

Investor contact:

Gurinder Sandhu
Investor Relations
1-613-695-4100 Ext. 233
Email: [email protected]

Namaste $N.ca Featured on Capital Ideas TV, Cannabis Special Episode! $AERO $CBDS $CGRW $APH.ca $GBLX

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:52 AM on Friday, December 1st, 2017

 

Nlogo

Capital Ideas Media publisher Mark Bunting examines the growth potential and trends in the global cannabis sector using some great charts and stats.

Mark speaks to Namaste Technologies co-founder and CEO, Sean Dollinger, about how the company plans to capitalize on its world-leading position as the number one seller of vaporizers. The stock has surged lately but is still undervalued.

Canadian #Marijuana awards show lights up with first-ever gala #MMJ $TBP.ca $N.ca $MCOA

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:48 AM on Thursday, November 30th, 2017
  • You know marijuana is going mainstream when the list of attendees who reserved tables reads like a who’s who of Canada’s haze of law and accounting firms, including Torys LLP, Dentons, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Bennett Jones LLP, investment dealer Eight Capital and accounting giants KPMG and MNP
By Lisa WrightBusiness Reporter
Wed., Nov. 29, 2017

What do you do if you’re a budding awards show trying to create a buzz around Canada’s $8.7-billion cannabis market?

First you weed out the best producers from the very large crop of products out there. Then you book a swanky joint and roll out the red carpet for business types looking to get in on the potential pot of gold surrounding legalization next summer.

The CEO of Lift Co., the online marketplace for the medical marijuana industry that is holding the event, says it was high time for a grass gala to highlight the fourth annual Canadian Cannabis Awards – previously held only online – in an effort to add some legitimacy to the often stigmatized cannabis community.

“It’s really going to be a mini Oscars” of pot, said Matei Olaru of the awards show being held Thursday night at the historic Carlu at College Park.

You know marijuana is going mainstream when the list of attendees who reserved tables reads like a who’s who of Canada’s haze of law and accounting firms, including Torys LLP, Dentons, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Bennett Jones LLP, investment dealer Eight Capital and accounting giants KPMG and MNP.

“These are recognizable names excited to be associated publicly with the industry,” said Olaru.

“The industry has matured enough and there are enough players, so it’s the right time for this,” he added.

In fact they will hand out a whopping 75 awards to producers and numerous other players in the marijuana business during an evening of cocktails and plenty of munchies over a sit-down dinner. The laughs will officially be provided by famed comedian twins The Lucas Brothers of 22 Jump Street and Netflix fame, who will be performing standup before the after party.

Categories range from the traditional — employer of the year, startup of the year, innovator of the year, deal of the year and even lifetime achievement award — to the offbeat, including the best in show of vape lounges, cannabis chefs, desktop and portable vaporizers, top testing lab and best home growing box.

“It’s a way to showcase those achievements,” said Olaru, whose mission is to demystify the continued confusion around the medical marijuana market as it grows like a weed.

For instance pot smoking rapper Snoop Dogg recently partnered with Canadian licensed producer Tweed, which is nominated in multiple categories.

Another sign that legalization is around the corner is Lift landing official support this week from MADD Canada as it develops Canada’s first retail training certification program for frontline staff at cannabis retailers who will have legal storefronts as of July 2018.

“Our experience with alcohol sales has shown that having comprehensive training and responsible service guidelines for front-line staff is crucial to reducing alcohol-related harms, including impaired driving,” says MADD Canada chief executive officer Andrew Murie.

“The same will be true of cannabis retail sales. MADD Canada is pleased to partner with a leader like Lift and support this program, which will ensure that all those involved in the retail sales of cannabis are well-trained about the products, about safe usage guidelines and about social responsibility principles,” he said in a release.

Source: https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/11/29/canadian-marijuana-awards-show-lights-up-with-first-ever-gala.html

Alibaba $BABA betting on long-term gain from #Esports investment, bodes well for $GMBL $ATVI $TTWO $GAME $EPY.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:16 AM on Thursday, November 30th, 2017

  • Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba believes it is only a matter of time before its bet on competitive video gaming comes up big
  • Alibaba’s sports arm Alisports was opened in 2015 with the aim of cashing in on the rapidly growing world of electronic sports, where players square off in lucrative video game tournaments that draw millions of viewers online

BARCELONA: The booming eSports industry may not yet attract the sponsors and television rights of real life sports, but Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba believes it is only a matter of time before its bet on competitive video gaming comes up big.

Alibaba’s sports arm Alisports was opened in 2015 with the aim of cashing in on the rapidly growing world of electronic sports, where players square off in lucrative video game tournaments that draw millions of viewers online.

“We are prepared to lose money. We can accept the losses now as we hope to promote this sport,” Alisports CEO Zhang Dazhong told AFP in an interview at the European final of the second edition of Alisports’ World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) in Barcelona, which wrapped up on Sunday (Nov 26).

“For a sport that has a lot of participation, it must have a bright future. Even if for now you don’t make a lot of money, in the future, you’ll definitely be rewarded. This is something we firmly believe in.”

In 2016, Alisports entered into an agreement with the International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) to create the WESG, a market-leading international tournament.

The first edition of the WESG saw 63,000 participants from 125 countries battle for a share of the US$5.5 million prize pot.

Yet the results weren’t so lucrative for Alisports, who lost 70 per cent of their investment.

“We estimate that we will be losing money for the next five years,” admitted Zhang.

LONG-TERM RETURNS

Alisports’ strategy, though, is a long-term one.

“We estimate that in five to ten years … the business model will be more complete. On top of the competitions, we have to bear in mind the electronics business and marketing related to eSports,” added Zhang.

Participation in eSports has soared as virtual games gain traction with a worldwide fan audience now estimated at 400 million people according to a study by Deloitte, more than that for baseball or American football’s National Football League.

The size of the eSports market will more than double to US$696 million this year from US$325 million in 2015, according to Deloitte’s study. It predicts the market will be worth US$1.5 billion in 2020.

But the market is fragmented, with different operators staging their own tournaments, and sales of television rights and merchandising remain weak.

An eSport fan brings only three euros to the table annually on average, according to a recent study by market research group Nielsen Sports, compared to 30 euros for a football fan.

Yet, Alibaba believes its position as the market leader in China, the worldwide powerhouse of eSports, ensures the return on eSports will be plentiful.

“In China we have 1.8 million eSport fanatics and 65 per cent of those are between 18 and 25,” continued Zhang.

“They play video games, but they also buy all sorts of products from Alibaba. We understand them very well.”

OLYMPIC DREAM?

The leap in popularity has helped fuel talk that professional gaming could become an Olympic discipline, but not everyone is convinced.

“I think we have to differentiate eSports and gaming in general,” Zhang said when he was asked about the controversy.

“Gaming of course isn’t a sport, but eSports involve high-level confrontation, teams, individual resistance, so I think it’s a sport. And I think that sport in general is evolving towards a combination of technology and physical activity.”

Zhang said he hopes eSports will be part of the 2024 Olympics in Paris or the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“It could happen, because at this year’s Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, we already gave a demonstration of games. In the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022, it’s already an official event,” he said.

The director of the Paris 2024 Olympics committee said earlier this month that the door to the Games was “not closed” to eSports.

Source: AFP/zl

Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/alibaba-betting-on-long-term-gain-from-esports-investment-9453652

Marijuana Company of America $MCOA Partners with #HoneyB Healthy Living to Launch the #Benihemp Brand $AERO $CBDS $CGRW $APH.ca $GBLX

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:54 AM on Thursday, November 30th, 2017

15233 mcoa

  • Announced that it has partnered with the founders of HoneyB Healthy Living to develop Convenient Hemp Mart, LLC’s “BeniHemp” branded products
  • Targeting convenience stores for CBD product distribution. MCOA has invested $100,000 into the start-up project for a 25% equity stake.

Escondido, California–(November 30, 2017) – MARIJUANA COMPANY OF AMERICA INC. (OTC: MCOA) (“MCOA” or the “Company“), an innovative hemp and cannabis company, is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the founders of HoneyB Healthy Living to develop Convenient Hemp Mart, LLC’s “BeniHemp” branded products targeting convenience stores for CBD product distribution. MCOA has invested $100,000 into the start-up project for a 25% equity stake.

BeniHemp products includes topicals, tinctures and edibles conveniently packaged in 1-day, 2-day and 30-day supplies. The target markets are convenience stores, smoke shops, gas stations and similar types of small retail businesses where CBD commerce has significant potential to generate sales from the impulse buyer at the register.

Convenient Hemp Mart is in the process of developing unique sample sized packaging for consumers to try its BeniHemp products. When customers have a positive experience with BeniHemp sample products, they will then be able to purchase a monthly supply and sign up for auto ship online. Store owners will continue to generate additional revenue without the burden of managing inventory and shelf space.

MCOA Chief Executive Officer Donald Steinberg observed: “The BeniHemp model is attractive to convenience store operators, who understand the value of selling sample sized packages of CBD products that will ultimately generate online sales for monthly orders where they can generate revenues from sales they never see or have to manage. We believe this is an attractive model for small retail business owners looking for every opportunity to tap into the rapidly emerging CBD market to generate additional revenue. We have high expectations for what the experienced HoneyB team can accomplish.”

HoneyB Healthy Living and Convenient Hemp Mart are working with MCOA and Space Cowboys, Inc. in Loveland and Longmont Colorado to establish a secure and consistent supply of quality cannabinoids to fulfill demand for current and future product development and distribution.

The expectation is that BeniHemp will soft launch in December 2017 with the full launch in January 2018. The BeniHemp website is in development and will be launched in January as well. Benihemp products have already been manufactured are pending shipment once the package designs, including counter top displays, floor displays and related marketing materials are complete.

Frank Phillips, Conveniant Hemp Mart’s Chief Executive Officer commented: “We are extremely excited to come to market with the very highest quality products designed specifically for curious first-time cannabinoid users. The CBD market is experiencing exponential growth and we intend to capture market share in one of the highest trafficked marketplaces, convenience stores. Because of the expertise of Space Cowboys in producing some of the highest quality hemp oil on the market, and the proven manufacturing and formulation abilities of our Honey B Healthy Living team, we believe that our introductory products coming to convenience store shelves will generate considerable traffic to our online portals for monthly order placements creating an absolute win for the stores carrying our products.”

About Marijuana Company of America, Inc.
MCOA is a corporation engaged in business including, but not limited to: (1) product research and development of legal hemp-based consumer products containing CBD under the brand name “hempSMART™”, 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 recreations 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.

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.

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

MarijuanaCompanyofAmerica.com
hempSMART.com
agoracom.com/ir/MarijuanaCompanyofAmerica

Marijuana Company of America, Inc.
Investor Relations
1+(888)-777-4362
[email protected]

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