DraganFly ($DFLY) and Windfall Geotek ($WIN) have combined world-class drone technology with artificial intelligence to create an “incomparable solution” solving the global landmine epidemic.
With 60 – 110 million landmines needed to be found, the market is estimated to be worth $700M per year … But that pales in comparison to the value of lives that will be saved and economic prosperity created from ridding regions plagued by landmines.
Our thesis at AGORACOM is that small cap disruptive technology companies are going to create 3X more wealth this decade than the last 3 decades combined, thanks to the convergence of powerful tech such as Artificial Intelligence, IoT sensors and so on.
Why? The costs to develop, deploy and scale new applications powered by these new technologies have come down to a point where small cap companies can compete head to head with just about anybody. In fact, their size makes them more nimble and able to pivot into emerging trends much quicker than most tech giants.
Which companies will actually succeed in delivering is a determination you have to make. But one company to consider is Predictiv AI (PAI:TSXV / INOTF:OTCQB), whose proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning platform provides predictive and prescriptive solutions in the public safety sector.
In layman’s terms, PAI uses AI and Machine learning to create solutions that can predict danger.
For example, the Company’s Thermal Pass Fever Detection System was recently used at a Carolina Panthers NFL game. Watch this short video to see it in action. Highlights of the system include:
As you can imagine, Thermal Pass can be used for almost any high-traffic location you can think of. But the big question is …. will anybody actually use it? Because truth be told 99% of us are not in a position to be able to assess how any AI solutions of any company stack up against the competition. The only thing we can rely on is AGORACOM’s favourite metric – 3rd party acceptance. In short, if your product is good, people will want it.
By that measure, PAI is off to a great start with:
3rd party acceptance at this early stage – CHECK
Watch our interview with Michael Lende in which we do a deep dive into PAI tech, products and future plans.
AGORACOM followers have given us great feedback on our hit series “Beyond The Press Release” (BTPR) in which we speak with small cap CEO’s about important press releases in greater depth and, quite frankly, in layman’s terms for investors to truly understand their significance.
Nowhere is this more important than in the world of disruptive technologies, biotech and pharma. Each of these industries share two distinct traits:
Whereas BTPR tells these stories from the side of small cap public companies, Beyond The Expert (BTE) tells these stories from the perspective of experts on these topics – and we couldn’t think of anyone better to start off this series than Leigh Hughes.
Leigh is a Venture Capitalist who I’ve personally watched conduct incredible due diligence and invest into many small cap companies that have generated incredible returns over 12-18 month periods.
Leigh is so good at what he does that many global private equity funds and institutions take his call and often follow him into investments he chooses to make. Moreover, he serves as an advisor to several small cap companies.
If you ever wanted to truly learn how to become a great small cap investor, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Without further adieu, watch this great interview with Leigh Hughes and make sure to provide us with your feedback via comments on Twitter, YouTube or wherever you may be watching or listening.
TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2021 — POET Technologies Inc. (“POET” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: PTK; OTCQX: POETF), the designer and developer of the POET Optical Interposer™ and Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) for the data center and tele-communication markets, announces that it has completed its previously announced brokered private placement (the “Placement”) of 14,706,000 units of the Company (the “Units”) at a price of $0.85 per Unit (the “Issue Price”) for gross proceeds of approximately $12.5 million. Founder and former chairman of Origin House, Marc Lustig was the lead participant in the Placement.
Cormark Securities Inc. acted as lead agent together with a syndicate of agents that included IBK Capital Corp. and PI Financial Corp. (collectively, the “Agents”). The Agents exercised in full an option (the “Agents’ Option”) for the purchase of an additional 2,941,200 Units on the same terms. Gross proceeds from the exercise of the Agents’ Option were approximately $2.5 million bringing the aggregate proceeds raised from the Placement to approximately $15.0 million from the issuance of the cumulative 17,647,200 Units.
Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a “Common Share”) and one Common Share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of $1.15 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the issuance date thereof. The Warrants are subject to an accelerated expiry, exercisable at the option of the Company, if, on or following the date that is four months and one day after the date of issuance of the Units and prior to the expiry date of the Warrants, the daily volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares exceeds $2.30 for ten consecutive trading days. The Issue Price represents a discount of 5.5% of the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) for the 5 trading days ended immediately prior to the announcement of the Placement on January 26, 2021.
Read more: https://agoracom.com/ir/POETTechnologies/forums/discussion/topics/755177-poet-technologies-completes-c-15-million-private-placement/messages/2303234#message
Los Angeles, CA., Feb. 11, 2021 — Draganfly Inc. (OTCQB: DFLYF) (CSE: DFLY) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, today announced that it has advanced field testing of the EagleEye™ land mine detection solution with Windfall Geotek (TSX-V: WIN) (OTCQB: WINKF).
Windfall Geotek is a mining services company and a leader in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced knowledge-extraction techniques since 2005 in the mining sector. This test included joint research, AI development, and engineering support for the development of drones and sensor equipment.
Every day approximately 10 people around the world lose their lives or are maimed due to an anti-personnel mine (” APM “). This means that about 4,200 people are hurt or killed worldwide every year of which 35-42% are estimated to be children. It is estimated that there are between 60-110 million landmines in the ground right now and an equal amount is in stockpiles waiting to be planted or destroyed. Approximately 82 countries around the world are contaminated by APMs. Source: United Nations, Office for Disarmament Affairs .
An estimated US$540,000,000 was spent by industry and government in 2018 to deal with this problem of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of war (identify multiple APM and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a variety of terrain and contexts). Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2019 .
“Since 2020, Draganfly has invested in new capabilities in drone-based magnetometer technology and other remote sensing equipment,” commented Dinesh Kandanchatha, Chairman of Windfall Geotek. “The depth of the Draganfly engineering team, drone services group, and expert advisory in public safety was instrumental to get us to these first tests.”
“Windfall Geotek is the industry leader in AI-based digital exploration for mining. We now have the right mixture of equipment and data to move to the commercialization of an advanced AI-based platform to help solve the global problem of landmines,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. “The two companies share a mission of saving lives through technology. These tests are critical to helping create a new solution to this age-old problem. The new and expanded revenue streams for both companies in the Defense sector, Public Safety, and other markets are significant and represent an area where combined offering can excel.”
“For years our foundation has support organizations removing land mines, this type of technology and innovation by Draganfly and Windfall is exactly what is needed to solve this global challenge on a massive scale,” said Admiral Hayward, former head of the US Navy and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Watch the video to learn more.
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 10, 2021 – ImagineAR (CSE: IP) (OTCQB: IPNFF) an Augmented Reality Company that enables sports teams, brands and businesses to instantly create mobile phone AR campaigns, is pleased to announce a partnership with Blue United Corporation as its official agency to launch the ImagineAR Augmented Reality Platform in Japan. Blue United clients include Kashima Antlers, Matsumoto Yamaga , Yanmar, Under Armour, Omiya Ardija and the Pacific League Marketing (holding that represents the commercial interests of 6 teams of the Japanese Baseball League) and Sevilla FC, among others.
Blue United Corporation is a marketing, PR, and business development agency with offices in New York , Tokyo and Nagano . With a vast experience in International expansion and business development, Blue United Corporation, focuses on elevating brands on a global scale and help them on expanding internationally (business development and expansion, PR/Communications, social media, marketing, etc.), owns and manages the only football professional tournament between club teams that are part of the Pacific Rim Region (Pacific Rim Cup), and is the owner of esports Blue United eFC, current Asian champion of FIFA.
ImagineAR believes Blue United’s experience will significantly accelerate the Company’s presence and sales throughout Japan , a strategic new market for ImagineAR.
Takehiko Nakamura , CEO of Blue United, said; “ImagineAR is the most advanced sports fan engagement Augmented Reality platform in the global market today and we are excited to assist the company to launch its sales and marketing initiatives in Japan . Sports teams can drive new fan engagement and brand activation using ImagineAR and the Japan sports market requires this type of advanced immersive mobile experiential platform to drive new revenue streams.”
Read More: https://agoracom.com/ir/Imaginear/forums/discussion/topics/755071-imaginear-otcqb-ipnff-announces-blue-united-corporation-as-its-official-agency-for-japan-expansion/messages/2303014#message
Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 09, 2021 — Draganfly Inc. (OTCQB: DFLYF) (CSE: DFLY) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, today announced, subject to customary governance approvals, Jamie P. Dwyer M.D. has joined as a member of the Board of Advisors of Draganfly.
Dr. Dwyer is a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University, President of the Collaborative Study Group, and Co-Founder of Innovative Renal Care. Previously he served on the faculty of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Dwyer has extensive experience working with FDA processes in particular devices and software.
Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly, said: “We are excited and truly honored to have Dr. Jamie Dwyer join Draganfly’s outstanding Board of Advisors. Dr. Dwyer brings an incredible understanding and experience with FDA processes and will be key in evolving our Vital Intelligence technology.”
“Draganfly has impressed me with the work they have done with their Smart Vital assessment platform and telehealth app. I am honored to assist a company that has built a solid foundation for innovation within the telehealth sector,” said Dr. Jamie Dwyer.
Dr. Dwyer holds an Sc.B degree in mathematics and Latin from Brown University, and an M.D. with Distinction from Brown University Medical School. He trained in Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic Florida, where he served as Chief Medical Resident. He trained in Nephrology and Clinical Research at VUMC. After a faculty appointment at Mayo Clinic, he joined the Nephrology Division of VUMC in 2008.
Read More: https://agoracom.com/ir/Draganfly/forums/discussion/topics/754974-dr-jamie-dwyer-professor-of-medicine-at-vanderbilt-university-joins-draganfly-board-of-advisors/messages/2302818#message
VANCOUVER, BC and ERIE, Pa., Feb. 8, 2021 – Imagine AR Inc (CSE: IP) (OTCQB: IPNFF) an Augmented Reality Company that enables businesses, organizations, and brands to instantly create their own mobile phone AR campaigns, is providing its augmented reality self-service platform to support the Black Owned Institute for its Black History Month initiatives. The after-school initiative program is operated by BlackOwned.com which seeks to unite and catalyze the efforts of black business people to generate value in American society.
“Our mission is to help African Americans learn about their heritage by overhauling how Black history is taught in schools,” stated Pamela F. Nichols , President of BlackOwned, CEO of Black Owned Institute and Black Talent Hub. “We are excited to launch our Black History Month program featuring ImagineAR’s augmented reality platform available on any mobile phone which will enhance our distribution and help build our AR network for future programs.
The ImagineAR program includes using the ImagineAR mobile app to deliver a historical video message about the program from a group of educational influencers from the Black Owned Institute. Educators and students will be asked to download the ImagineAR app and scan an African Historical image to instantly experience the video on their mobile phone. In the future, ImagineAR’s platform will create trophy cards to be used for social media programs to extend program awareness and create fun interaction for the students.
Neal Bendesky , Vice President of Sales for ImagineAR Inc., said, “We are proud to support the BlackOwned and their Black Owned Institute for their enhanced school outreach program. Pamela Nichols and CEO Quentin Anderson’s commitment as a stakeholder in African Historical Studies is the type of leadership that represents necessary strides in our country. We’re excited to utilize our platform to create social media activations and build the BlackOwned’s AR community as they strive to generate support for their youth education activities.”
Read More: https://agoracom.com/ir/Imaginear/forums/discussion/topics/754884-imaginear-otcqb-ipnff-partners-with-the-black-owned-institute-for-black-history-month-initiatives/messages/2302629#message
Platform will empower consumers, governments, and business to manage, issue and verify digital identity and personal data.
TORONTO, ON / February 3, 2021 / KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. (CSE:KABN) (OTC:TRWRF) (FRA:4T51) (the “Company“, “KABN North America” or “KABN NA“) (www.kabnsystemsna.com), a North American Fintech solutions company specializing in empowering individuals to manage, control and generate value from their biometrically-verified Self Sovereign Identity (“SSI”) through its Liquid Avatar (www.liquidavatar.com) platform, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Delaware based PBC (Public Benefit Corporation), Indicio (https://indicio.tech/), a professional services firm specializing in decentralized identity architecture, engineering, and consultancy. Together, the team will build and launch the Liquid Avatar Verifiable Credentials Ecosystem (“LAVCE”), to support and enable online identity assurance which includes a digital credentials wallet and platform for issuers, verifiers, and individuals to support the issuance, verification, and management of verifiable credentials for digital identity.
The Company believes that digital identity is addressable to 100% of the online market. This solution is one of the first global platforms to support governments, healthcare, workplaces, hospitality and other businesses and organizations as they begin to issue digital credentials and to empower users, at no cost, to manage and take full control over storage and use of these credentials, their digital identity, and personal data.
Using the LAVCE, individuals, or “holders” will be provided with a digital wallet that will be able to, within Liquid Avatar, support a wide range of verifiable identity and other digital credentials based on the Trust over IP (www.trustoverip.org) open-source governance and technology stacks, to which KABN is a steering committee member, and industry standard data models.
Together, with the Liquid Avatar app and its high-quality digital image icons that can represent various facets of a user’s personality, the system will usher in new tools and services to create verifiable digital identities allowing for new and innovative ways for users to create a holistic profile of themselves that they manage and control, through self-defined personas. KABN North America will pay for the build and operate the LAVCE and the new verifiable identity credentials program creating an open-source solution to drive industry adoption and support standards that everyone can build to. This program is expected to ultimately replace the Company’s current KABN ID solution.
“With over 5 Billion people online and about 400 million people in the US and Canada the world continues to get smaller through increased digital presence and opportunities. Providing individuals with a no-cost service that allows them to prove who they are and verify, manage, control and generate value from their digital identity has the potential to create significant consumer and commercial opportunities,” said David Lucatch, CEO KABN North America. “The creation of the LAVCE and our new digital identity credentials align with our goal to make Liquid Avatar engaging and simple to use as governments and industry continue to move swiftly towards adopting increased levels of security, regulation and compliance, enabling consumers to control their identity and data usage. This program also supports our industry efforts with the Trust over IP Foundation, Lumedic Exchange and other company efforts.”
Liquid Avatar will be releasing its live, open beta app globally in Google Play and Apple App Store on February 18, 2021, subject to all final approvals. The LAVCE is expected mid-spring as part of Liquid Avatar’s ongoing release schedule.
Using the LAVCE, issuers, like governments, workplaces, financial services, and others will be able to issue verifiable credentials that are linked to a holder’s verifiable identity credential, creating a higher level of security and safety. Verifiers who want to make sure that an individual has the credential and is who they say they are will be able to scan a Liquid Avatar icon and to request a verifiable presentation to determine acceptance.
“We are excited to be working with KABN and the Liquid Avatar team to build and deploy the Liquid Avatar Verifiable Credential Ecosystem to enable issuers, verifiers and consumers to use verifiable credentials to deploy digital identity solutions that preserve privacy while enhancing security and safety,” said Heather Dahl, CEO Indicio
“Liquid Avatar and the LAVCE will potentially provide a paradigm shift in the way that individuals manage, control and use their digital identity and will be interoperable with a host of emerging ecosystems and solutions through its open-source protocols,” said RJ Reiser, Chief Business Development Officer KABN North America. “We believe that our digital wallet will be a foundational piece that will empower consumers to fight against fraud in all its forms. Working with Indicio and its world-class, industry leading team, we will be creating one of the world’s first consumer facing digital wallet programs that will enable issuers, verifiers and consumers to easily and simply adopt and deploy verifiable identity and additional credentials solutions.”
Liquid Avatar, available at no cost to consumers, makes it easy for individuals to start and maintain the process of managing their SSI/digital identity while giving users the ability to share it with their friends, family, colleagues, and others easily, safely, and cryptographically secure through biometrically enabled Self Sovereign Identity tools and services.
The Liquid Avatar platform allows users to create high quality digital icon representations of the various facets of their online personalities and identity, which can be used to easily share what they want, when they want, and with whom they want. Liquid Avatar users will also be able to create digital wallets to manage and store a wide range of verifiable identity and access credentials, and to take their conventional identity online, allowing users to prove themselves as easily and effectively as they do in the “physical world”.
Read More: https://agoracom.com/ir/KABN/forums/discussion/topics/754517-kabn-north-america-partners-with-indicio-to-build-the-liquid-avatar-verifiable-credential-ecosystem-to-support-digital-identity-credentials-for/messages/2301769#message
VANCOUVER , CANADA, ERIE, PA and RIVERSIDE, CA , Feb. 2, 2021 – ImagineAR, an Augmented Reality Company that enables businesses, organizations, and brands to instantly create their own mobile phone AR campaigns, is honored to announce a three-year partnership agreement with Footsteps to Freedom LLC and Black Voice Foundation Inc., to provide a white-label mobile AR app subscription platform. This partnership will deliver immersive (AR) Augmented Reality experiences to bring history, primary source artifacts and the heroic stories of the Underground Railroad to ‘life’ for educational purposes. This new AR subscription platform will be the central resource of history and primary source to experience papers, books and artifacts that are over 200 years old. Financial terms of this agreement have not been disclosed.
Hardy Brown II , Managing Principal Footsteps to Freedom and Chairman, Black Voice Foundation said; “ImagineAR is an advanced digital immersive communication platform which will deliver the impact of our work in historical empathy with next generation mobile experiences. We are expecting to introduce this AR program to over 50 school districts and over 1 million students in Southern California ( San Bernardino , Riverside and Los Angeles counties). We are truly excited to integrate AR into our exhibits and Underground Railroad tours.”
ImagineAR believes this multi-year partnership, as well as being recognized as a national sponsor for these programs, clearly demonstrates the company’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and more importantly, conversations of historical empathy and learning each others’ story.
Read More: https://agoracom.com/ir/Imaginear/forums/discussion/topics/754417-imaginear-signs-multi-year-agreement-with-footsteps-to-freedom-black-voice-foundation/messages/2301560#message