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PyroGenesis $PYR.ca Announces Significant Development: PyroGenesis Additive Can Now Offer Tungsten-Free Titanium Powders

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:49 AM on Monday, March 19th, 2018

Pyr header 1

  • PyroGenesis Additive can now offer Tungsten free metal powders to the Additive Manufacturing industry
  • Significantly improved on its original design

MONTREAL, March 19, 2018 — PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (http://pyrogenesis.com) (TSX-V:PYR), (the “Company”, the “Corporation” or “PyroGenesis”) a Company that designs, develops and manufactures plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch systems, is pleased to announce today that PyroGenesis Additive can now offer Tungsten free metal powders to the Additive Manufacturing (“AM”) industry.

“The impact of Tungsten inclusions in a final part can have serious consequences1,” said Mr. Pierre Carabin, Chief Technology Officer of PyroGenesis. “They can be the cause of failures.  Since the melting point of Tungsten is higher than that of Titanium, it does not melt during the AM printing process. As a result, tungsten inclusions can become preferred sites for crack initiation. This has led to catastrophic failures and is clearly unacceptable, particularly in the aerospace industry.”

PyroGenesis, the inventor of plasma atomization, and known for its plasma torch expertise, has significantly improved on its original design, such that today it produces Titanium powders with no Tungsten inclusions. PyroGenesis’ quality control process thoroughly screens for any form of contamination. Tungsten-free powder is highly sought after by the aerospace and medical industries.

“We know of no other plasma atomization process (using DC torches) which uses tungsten free nozzles. Plasma torches with tungsten nozzles are at high risk of having tungsten inclusions in their powders. We no longer have that risk,” said Mr. P. Peter Pascali, CEO & President of PyroGenesis. “This is a significant development in powder production. What is noteworthy is that within a few short months of having been made aware of this problem, by significant players in the industry, PyroGenesis was able to find an answer.  This not only underscores PyroGenesis’ ability to quickly find solutions to complex issues, but how these solutions can lead to economically valuable alternatives, and open the door to addressing this need with potential clients.”

About PyroGenesis Additive

PyroGenesis Additive, a division of PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (http://pyrogenesis.com) (TSX-V:PYR), (the “Company”, or “PyroGenesis”), 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”) and Metal Injection Molding (“MIM”) 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 in terms of controlling the Particle Size Distribution (PSD) of the bulk powder, it can produce any size cut with little to no waste which is game changing for the industry as it significantly reduces costs to the end-user. The metal powders produced by PyroGenesis Additive are ideal for the additive manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical, thermal spray, and metal injection molding industries.

About PyroGenesis Canada Inc.

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

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

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

SOURCE PyroGenesis Canada Inc.

For further information please contact: Rodayna Kafal, VP, Investor Relations and Strategic Business Development, Phone: (514) 937-0002, E-mail: [email protected]

RELATED LINKS: http://www.pyrogenesis.com/

Tetra Bio-Pharma $TBP.ca Completes Acquisition of Remaining 20% Interest in PhytoPain Pharma Inc. $AERO $CBDS $CGRW $APH.ca $GBLX

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:13 AM on Monday, March 19th, 2018

Logo tetrabiopharma rgb web

  • Announced the completion of the previously announced acquisition of the remaining 20% interest in its PhytoPain Pharma Inc. subsidiary
  • Transaction is an important milestone for Tetra Bio-Pharma and all our stakeholders

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(March 19, 2018) – Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. (“Tetra” or the “Corporation“) (TSX VENTURE:TBP)(OTCQB:TBPMF), today announced the completion of the previously announced acquisition of the remaining 20% interest in its PhytoPain Pharma Inc. subsidiary (the “Transaction“) from entities controlled by André Rancourt, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and Guy Chamberland, Chief Scientific Officer of the Corporation (collectively, the “Sellers“).

“The Transaction is an important milestone for Tetra Bio-Pharma and all our stakeholders,” said Bernard Fortier, Tetra’s CEO. “It allows Tetra to gain 100% control of PhytoPain Pharma, a key asset in the development of our pipeline of cannabinoid-based drugs and gives Tetra full flexibility to enter into other partnerships or agreements in the future.”

The purchase price for the Transaction was comprised of a combination of cash, promissory notes and common shares of Tetra, some of which will be released to the Sellers upon the achievement of key milestones. The terms of the Transaction are detailed in the Corporation’s news release dated January 2, 2018 which is available on SEDAR under the Corporation’s profile. The Corporation used $500,000 out of the proceeds from the recently completed bought deal offering to repay a portion of the principal amount owing to the Sellers under the promissory notes.

About Tetra Bio-Pharma:

Tetra Bio-Pharma (TSX VENTURE:TBP)(OTCQB:TBPMF) is a biopharmaceutical leader in cannabinoid-based drug discovery and clinical development. Tetra is focusing on three core business pillars: clinical research, pharmaceutical promotion and retail commercialization of cannabinoid-based products.

More information at: www.tetrabiopharma.com

Source: Tetra Bio-Pharma

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

Forward-looking statements

Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “may”, “will”, “should”, “continue”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “believe”, “intend”, “plan” or “project” or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Corporation’s ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Corporation to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the failure to obtain sufficient financing to execute the Corporation’s business plan; the success of the Rx Princeps product offering and inhalation device; guidance on expected sales volumes associated with the Rx Princeps product offering and inhalation device; competition; regulation and anticipated and unanticipated costs and delays, and other risks disclosed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Corporation does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation.

Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc.
Dr. Anne-Sophie Courtois, DVM
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
(438) 899-7575

For investors information, please contact:
[email protected]
(438) 504-5784

BREAKING: Namaste $N.ca $NXTTF Receives ACMPR Medical #Cannabis Production License $ATT.ca $ABCN.ca $ACG.ca $ACB $WEED.ca $HIP.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:04 PM on Friday, March 16th, 2018

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  • Wholly owned subsidiary, Cannmart has received its Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations Production License
  • Cannmart may now place initial orders with ACMPR licensed producers
  • Confident in its ability to execute and complete the final steps towards receiving its Sales License in a timely manner
  • With receipt of the production license, Namaste now expects to execute on its overall vision of becoming an all-inclusive online cannabis marketplace

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 16, 2018 – Namaste Technologies Inc. (“Namaste” or the “Company”) (CSE:N) (FRA:M5BQ) (OTCMKTS:NXTTF) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Cannmart Inc. (“Cannmart”) has received its Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (“ACMPR”) Production License (the “License”). Under the guidelines set forth by Health Canada, Cannmart may now place initial orders with ACMPR licensed producers. Upon receipt, packaging and testing of the initial shipments of medical cannabis, the Company is then required to demonstrate compliance with standard operating procedures (“SOPs”) and other ACMPR regulatory requirements with Health Canada. Once these objectives have been achieved and following an initial inspection, Cannmart will be able to book a Pre-Sales License Inspection after which the Company will be eligible to receive its ACMPR Sales License. Cannmart believes it is well prepared and confident in its ability to execute and complete the final steps towards receiving its Sales License in a timely manner.

If Cannmart receives its Sales License, Cannmart will then operate as one of the first aggregators of medical cannabis, sourced from handpicked ACMPR licensed producers. The Company has identified the need for a competitive landscape where patients have the ability to access a larger variety of medical cannabis strains and oils, without the need to change licensed producers. Through a combination of strategic service and supply agreements, Cannmart will be well-positioned to provide Canadian patients with access to a wide range of medical cannabis products through the most diverse online platform in the Canadian cannabis market. Namaste acquired Cannmart as a late-stage ACMPR applicant, with the intention of creating Canada’s most expansive marketplace for medical cannabis. The receipt of the Production License represents a significant milestone for the Company and will help to propel Namaste to become one of Canada’s leading e-commerce retailer of medical cannabis.

Namaste currently operates one of the largest global e-commerce platforms for cannabis delivery devices and plans to leverage its technology and consumer data with the end goal of acquiring medical patients. In order to facilitate growth at an accelerated rate, the Company plans to utilize its recently launched mobile application under its wholly owned subsidiary, NamasteMD Inc. (“NamasteMD”). This revolutionary medical cannabis app is Canada’s first virtual patient consultation portal to be approved by Apple and Google to be used on both iOS and Android devices. NamasteMD will serve the company as a patient acquisition tool, allowing patients to connect with doctors and nurse practitioners in a safe and secure online environment from the comfort of their homes. NamasteMD was designed to streamline the patient onboarding process in comparison to traditional brick-and-mortar clinics.

With receipt of the production license, Namaste now expects to execute on its overall vision of becoming an all-inclusive online cannabis marketplace and creating a platform that consolidates many of the best product offerings by the top ACMPR Licensed Producers in Canada. Namaste believes it can now deliver on its promise of providing patients with a true “one stop shopping” experience. Namaste will continue creating strategic partnerships through various agreements in attempt to innovate in the Canadian medical cannabis industry.

Further to this news release, Namaste will host a special edition Namaste Live420 on the Company’s YouTube channel via the link below, on Monday, March 19th, 2018 at 8:30 AM EDT to discuss and answer shareholder questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOGWr21c-rE&feature=youtu.be

Management Commentary

Sean Dollinger, President and CEO of Namaste comments; “This important milestone represents an incredible achievement for Namaste and its shareholders. Receipt of the ACMPR Production License not only validates Namaste’s strategy but it serves as a critical component of the Company’s anticipated growth moving forward.  We are very proud to have met our goal of receiving our ACMPR medical cannabis Production License from Health Canada as we look to explore the tremendous opportunities that exist in the Canadian cannabis market. While we are excited with this achievement, management remains highly focused on completing the final protocols set forth by Health Canada and plan on executing the final steps towards receiving our “Sales Only” License.  If the Sales Licence is received, we fully intend on leveraging our data and technology through our global network of operations where we believe we will be well-positioned to implement the same strategy in other legal markets where the Company has established strong market share.”

About Namaste Technologies Inc.

Namaste is the largest online retailer for medical cannabis delivery systems globally. Namaste distributes vaporizers and smoking accessories through 24 e-commerce sites in 20 countries and with distribution hubs located around the world. Namaste has majority market share in Europe and Australia, with operations in the UK, Canada and Germany and has opened new supply channels into emerging markets including Brazil, Mexico and Chile. Namaste, through its acquisition of Cannmart Inc., a Canadian based late-stage applicant for a medical cannabis sales (under the ACMPR Program) is pursuing a new revenue vertical in online retail of medical cannabis in the Canadian market. Namaste intends to leverage its existing database of Canadian medical cannabis consumers, along with its expertise in e-commerce to create an online marketplace for medical cannabis patients, offering a larger variety of product and a better user experience.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

“Sean Dollinger”

Chief Executive Officer

Direct: +1 (786) 389 9771

Email: [email protected]

Further information on Namaste and its products can be accessed through the links below:

namastetechnologies.com

namastevapes.ca

everyonedoesit.ca

namastevaporizers.co.uk

everyonedoesit.co.uk

australianvaporizers.com.au

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, Namaste assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company’s disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company’s profile on www.sedar.com. This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither reviewed nor approved the contents of this press release.

#Blockchain: The Building Block of the Supply Chain of Tomorrow? $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca #Blockstation

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 1:42 PM on Friday, March 16th, 2018
  • Blockchain for supply chain management is, in effect, a network application
  • Instead of being a centralized application, it is built on the distributed databases of supply chain partners in an extended supply chain
  • Decentralized architecture

Steve Banker , Contributor

I cover logistics and supply chain management. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

At the HighJump Elevate conference this week in Dallas, one session – attended by roughly 600 conference attendees – was called “Blockchain: The ‘Building Block’ of the Supply Chain of Tomorrow. Really, the title of the panel should have had a question mark at the end – like the title of this article – because the panel was in large part composed of industry analysts who tend to be far more cautious about our assessment of blockchain than the broader technology community.

The panel was composed of me, a Vice President of Supply Chain Services at ARC Advisory Group; Dwight Klappich, a Vice President at Gartner; Victoria Brown, a Research Manager at IDC; and Piyush Dewangan, an Industry Research Manager at Quadrant Knowledge Solutions. There was one member of the panel, Kurt Wedgwood, North America Blockchain Leader at IBM, who represented the view of the technology community, which tends to be far more bullish on this technology than analysts.

Ms. Brown and I were asked the first question, which was to describe the technology. My answer was to try and put the technology in a context, using a vocabulary, that supply chain practitioners are familiar with.

“We understand that supply chain applications work better when they have access to network data from participants in our extended supply chains. If we can get access to near real-time data from further upstream and downstream in our supply chains, we can make better service and cost decisions. Further, supply chain networks, which are centralized Cloud applications that all network transactions flow through, eliminate the ‘he said, she said’ kinds of disputes. Because the transactions flow through the network, network master data can be used to resolve disputes among participants.”

“Blockchain for supply chain management is, in effect, a network application. But instead of being a centralized application, it is built on the distributed databases of supply chain partners in an extended supply chain. It is a decentralized architecture. It has the advantages of existing network solutions and, in theory, will also have better IT security than existing supply chain applications.”

Later I was asked to explain the difference between blockchain and bitcoin. “When I began my research into blockchain, I began by looking at the one place where blockchain is in general usage, cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin. When I dug into how these solutions work, I thought ‘This will never work for supply chain management! Not in a million years!” But blockchain for supply chain management differs from Bitcoin in fundamental ways.”

But the best exchanges among the Panel participants centered around the maturity of blockchain for supply chain management. Even Mr. Wedgwood from IBM was cautious. He saw the technical challenges as being much less difficult to solve than both internal cultural issues and getting different parties in an extended supply chain to participate in these proof of concepts. He saw these people issues as representing perhaps 60 percent of the challenge.

Mr. Klappich, of Gartner, said “I view the cultural issues as being 90 percent of the challenge.” Mr. Klappich went on to compare the hype surrounding blockchain as being like what occurred surrounding RFID in the early 2000s. RFID was mandated by Walmart, the analyst community raved about the prospects of this technology, but the initiative was abandoned by Walmart, and RFID even today is not in widespread usage for supply chain tracking.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebanker/2018/03/16/blockchain-the-building-block-of-the-supply-chain-of-tomorrow/#3da56d304aff

Mobile gaming: there’s a new entertainment player in town, Women $KUU.ca #Kuuhubb $TCEHY $ATVI $CYOU

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:17 AM on Friday, March 16th, 2018

  • Research by Google found that women make up 52% of total usage time, illustrating mobile gaming’s attraction to a broad, diverse audience.

A switch to the smaller screen

It’s no secret that games consoles dating as far back as the Sega Mega Drive and Nintendo SNES have enjoyed pride of place in living rooms around the world, providing a welcome dose of entertainment and a brief escape from reality.

But, thanks to incredible advances in mobile technology – just look at the iPhone X and Google Pixel 2 – gaming on the small screen in your pocket is giving the latest consoles a run for their money. And that means big opportunities for marketers.

Mobile makes its mark

Back in 2012, people spent just over an hour a day using a mobile device online.

In the five years since, this has risen to over three hours, according to WARC. In 2017, mobile advertising spend overtook desktop for the first time, and it now stands to become a staple advertising platform – afforded the level of thought and attention currently demanded by more traditional channels like TV and cinema.

women make up 52% of total usage time

Once, mobile gaming may have been tarred with the archetypal young, male gamer brush – but this profile is long since out of date. Research by Google, for example, found that women make up 52% of total usage time, illustrating mobile gaming’s attraction to a broad, diverse audience.

That makes it a powerful branding tool, and brands are taking note. According to a report by Sensor Tower, mobile spending – driven by games – was up globally across the board in 2017.

Gaming’s huge potential for brands

The opportunity for brands lies in tapping into this huge, entertainment-seeking audience through relevant content in the context of the game being played. We are working with companies like Disney and Universal to realise the potential of mobile gaming.

But marketers need to remember, when it comes to mobile, how precious and personal our devices are to us.

Disruptive banner ads or invasive pop-ups appearing on personal devices can easily irritate consumers – especially when screens are small enough to cause accidental clicks. We need to ensure that we are only serving content that adds to the experience.

Creating branded mini-games and sponsored in-game events, carefully tailored to players’ interests, will see players develop positive affiliations with branded advertising. It’s a simple method, but one we know works.

Mobile’s growth shows no sign of slowing, and brands need to act on the unique role mobile gaming can play in the entertainment mix.

Source: https://www.marketingtechnews.net/news/2018/mar/12/mobile-gaming-theres-new-entertainment-player-town/

12 Startups Utilizing #Blockchain Technology in New Ways $SX $SX.ca $IDK.ca $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:55 PM on Thursday, March 15th, 2018

Image credit: monsitj | Getty Images
Jonathan Long
  • Cryptocurrency created quite the buzz this past year
  • Although the technology has been around for a few years, 2017 was the year it really took off
  • However, the technology behind these tokens, blockchain, has far more applications than just cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin, the first application of cryptocurrency technology, hit $20,000 a coin, while coins like Ethereum also saw their prices increase. However, the technology behind these tokens, blockchain, has far more applications than just cryptocurrencies.

Through a network of smart contracts that operate utilizing decentralized information on a ledger, blockchain is able to provide unmatched security and speed for data transfers. This means that blockchain technology has an application in nearly every industry where value is exchanged.

For this reason, many startups have started to explore how this technology can change the way the world works. Here are twelve of those startups, each of which are utilizing blockchain technology in new ways.

1. Fr8

Fr8‘s blockchain network facilitates the digitization of record-keeping related to the trade of assets, even in scenarios where intermediaries and brokers are incentivized to resist change. Last year, trucks drove 29 billion empty miles in the U.S. alone. By applying blockchain, Fr8 helps to streamline and organize the industry in a trustworthy manner.

2. IOST

The internet of Services (IOST) is a new cryptocurrency that is attempting to solve scalability problems. A technological descendant of Ethereum, IOST is a blockchain with the purpose of serving as infrastructure for developers to create decentralized applications. Building on top of a blockchain allows businesses to cut out intermediaries, and also gives them peace of mind in terms of data safety, as blockchain networks are notoriously secure.

3. ImpactPPA

ImpactPPA is creating the SmartPPA (PPA stands for power purchase agreement), a platform that connects the blockchain community with environmentally concerned and socially impactful projects that fuel the development of sustainable solutions. The platform is designed to manage renewable energy resources from generation to distribution to payment. Its aim is solving the globe’s most pressing environmental and humanitarian issues.

Related: Steal These 4 Proven Customer-Retention Strategies

4. ShipChain

ShipChain is a freight and logistics platform built on blockchain. The platform focuses on an end-to-end track and trace, which allows for unification across the entire supply chain, among all carriers. ShipChain is member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) alongside Microsoft, and the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), alongside UPS and DHL. The company recently announced a pilot program with Perdue Farms.

5. Nano Vision

Nano Vision is empowering global citizens to step up and lend their efforts to furthering disease-prevention research and development. Through blockchain’s inherently decentralized solution, anyone, whether they are scientists, doctors or simply engaged civilians, will have access to the data that has been collected and the research that has been recorded on Nano Vision’s platform. The initiative anticipates that this will fuel new steps in the research process, thus sparking faster innovation.

Related: 25 Tips for Earning Customer Loyalty

6. Inveniam

Inveniam is the first organization to successfully structure and tokenize a debt instrument that is capable of being listed on a public market. Equipped with a working product, Inveniam uses Decentralized Ledger Technology (DLT) and “regulated” contracts and tokens to transform structuring, clearing, custody and settlement of fixed-income instruments. This “regulated” token acts as the passkey for all of the underlying documentation associated with the debt, which trades with the token for the life of the instrument.

7. BuzzShow

BuzzShow is a platform that incorporates proof of contribution to reward online video users. It focuses on creating a decentralized social video ecosystem with a full economic cycle and rewards for creating, curating, viewing and sharing videos. Users retain full privacy and control over their video within the social media space. The platform currently has over 15,000 users.

Related: 5 Ways to Build Killer Relationships With Customers

8. Patron

Patron is a global influencer marketing platform built with blockchain technology. Started by Atsushi Hisatsumi, a Japanese influencer and entrepreneur, the company seeks to connect global influencers with brands in a secure and transparent ecosystem. Benefits of the platform include the elimination of most common intermediary fees, incentivization and voting using tokens to match parties. The company has raised over $10 million to date.

9. Photochain

Photochain is a decentralized stock photography platform built on the blockchain. Using the Photochain marketplace, photographers can retain up to 95 percent of their potential earnings, while ensuring all copyrights and protections are in place using the company’s Digital Copyright Chain (DCC) solution. The marketplace will also connect buyers for a fair and seamless experience, eliminating most of the fees and copyright problems currently found in the stock photography market.

10. ODEM

ODEM is the world’s first decentralized on-demand education marketplace. Using the power of blockchain technology and its smart contract-based payment platform, ODEM will enable students and professors to interact directly and participate in the exchange of education and learning, without the involvement of intermediaries. This means greater access to quality education at a lower cost, helping bridge the educational gap for millions of students globally.

11. MEvU

MEvU is a decentralized P2P (peer-to-peer) betting application that allows people to bet on anything, at any time and against anyone. MEvU uses smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain to store players’ funds and information, providing players with confidence that their wagers will be executed securely and quickly. The goal is to reduce black market gaming, while promoting fun and transparent gaming between parties.

12. Boon Tech

Boon Tech is an artificial intelligence-powered micro-job platform on blockchain. With a technology developed to eliminate cryptocurrency volatility in their platform, Boon Tech has the potential to revolutionize the freelance economy. As an IBM business partner, Boon Tech uses IBM’s Watson AI algorithms in its ranking and review systems available on the platform.

Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310373

#Esports: Why pro video #gaming will be bigger than the #NFL $GMBL $ATVI $TTWO $GAME $EPY.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:44 PM on Thursday, March 15th, 2018

Players of ‘Dota 2’ and ‘League of Legends’ reap millions

SHOTARO TANI, Nikkei staff writer

Teams face off at the League of Legends Champions Korea tournament in Seoul on Feb. 1. (Photo by Koji Uema)

TOKYO — For those above a certain age, sports are all about pushing the lungs, muscles and mind to the limit in the pursuit of victory. They are played in the open air on a track or field, or indoors on a court or in a pool.

But for many people who have never known a world without the internet, that definition looks incomplete. For them, sports are just as likely to be played sitting in a comfortable chair in front of a glowing PC. Instead of a bat, racket or ball, they are equipped with bulky headphones, state-of-the-art keyboards and a lightning-fast mouse.

Han Ki-hoon, a 25-year-old from South Korea, is one of these new athletes. Sitting in a small room on the seventh floor of an apartment on the outskirts of Tokyo, curtains shut to block out the sunlight, Han quivers his mouse with his right hand, directing his character where to go next. On the screen his half-human, half-monster character faces off against other digital creatures, and a number pops up every time a character inflicts damage on another.

Han, whose gaming name is viviD, is one of the millions who play the online game “League of Legends,” or LoL for short. What sets him apart from the rest is that he plays professionally, lending his talents to Japanese gaming team DetonatioN Gaming.

Han’s esports career prompted his move to Japan two years ago. “I was playing for a South Korean team, but it ran into operational difficulties,” Han recalled. “I declared myself a free agent, and DetonatioN Gaming came calling.”

South Korean esports pro Han Ki-hoon came to Japan on an athletic visa. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

LoL is a strategy game that pits teams of three or five players against each other. Good communication among teammates is essential — so much so that Han lives, eats, sleeps and trains with four other DetonatioN LoL players and a coach in room 701 of their apartment building. They call it “The Gaming House.”

It is easy to dismiss the idea that playing video games, even at a high level, is the same thing as athletics. But esports players argue that the act of professionally competing in top titles such as LoL, which require quick thinking, fast reflexes and dedication, is as demanding as standard sports. When Han is not playing the game, he is either eating or sleeping. “I don’t play any other games,” he said, not even for fun.

Whatever the purists may say, Han has some important supporters who have little doubt that he is an athlete — including the Japanese government. Han was one of the first esports players to be granted an athletic visa by Japan.

Japan is just one of the countries seeking to catch up with the more developed esports markets — South Korea, China and the U.S. — in the hope of nurturing a new, fast-growing industry. The Hong Kong government recently vowed to invest HK$100 million ($12.7 million) to develop the Cyberport business park as an esports training and competition venue.

Such official support is understandable, given projections that the industry will generate around $1 billion a year by 2021. For Japan, nurturing the esports scene should pay off later by boosting tourism and helping its domestic gaming companies, like Nintendo and Capcom.

 

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/Features/Cover-story/Esports-Why-pro-video-gaming-will-be-bigger-than-the-NFL


FEATURE: $AAO.ca Why Augusta Industries is an under valued company

Posted by AGORACOM at 1:43 PM on Thursday, March 15th, 2018

 

 

Augusta Industries Subsidiary FOX-TEK Canada Inc is a rare Gem of a tech company where its technology, potential and capabilities are undervalued and therefore discounted. Investors don’t seem to appreciate that FOX TEK is making great strides with its available resources while developing industry disruptive technology capable of meeting current value expectations. The patient investor understands and values a company that is creating new and disruptive technological tools

Sales and revenue evaluation of a company is great when you are invested in GE, FORD, GM, IBM and Apple, but the real value missed here by a few shareholders is what FOX-TEK’s engineers are able to create. FOX TEK first started with the FT Systems as its sole technology and below is living proof of what FOX-TEK has been able to create.

1) Electric Field Mapping (EFM) Corrosion monitor

Used predominately to measure, with great accuracy, the material loss in pipelines and vessels due to corrosion/erosion. The technology has been successfully used as a validation of existing integrity programs. The technology can also be used in research and material testing applications.

2) Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) System

Technology based on optical strain sensors. These sensors are inherently safe (due to the fact that the sensors are powered by light) and easy to use. Due to the high bandwidth of the sensors, they can also be used to measure vibrations. There many applications in both the oil & gas sector and civil infrastructure where these sensors can bring a benefit.

3) FG-OD

Novel non intrusive leak detection technology used to detect leaks in pipelines and vessels. Due to its high sensitivity, the sensor cable can also detect VOC due to leaks.  By using smart detection levels and adapting to its environment, this technology will generate zero false alarms.

4) Advanced Sensor Design

Advanced intrusive optical sensor that will, over time, change its optical characteristics when in the presence of various elements. Can be used in applications where specific trace elements can lead to a negative impact on normal operating conditions.

5) Currently as per FOX-TEK’s last Press release, working to develop a new technology to measure the ingress of damaging liquids under insulation/coating. This LOI is indicative of the confidence major parties involved have in the burgeoning technology, be it Federal, Provincial Academic or Business.

http://www.fox-tek.com/home.php

 

Esports Entertainment $GMBL Announces Appointment of #Esports Industry Leader Chul Woong (Alex) Lim as Director $ATVI $TTWO $GAME $EPY.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:06 AM on Thursday, March 15th, 2018

Esports large

  • Company has recently appointed Mr. Chul Woong (Alex) Lim as Director of the Company.
  • Mr. Alex Lim is an Asian esports industry expert

ST. MARY’S, March 15, 2018 – Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (OTCQB:GMBL or the “Company”), a next generation online gambling and 18+ gaming company, is pleased to announce that the Company has recently appointed Mr. Chul Woong (Alex) Lim as Director of the Company. Mr. Alex Lim is an Asian esports industry expert.

From 2010 until recently, Mr. Lim was the Secretary General of the International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) based in Seoul, South Korea where he was responsible for relations with 47 national federations, international sports authorities, and global partners, in addition to organizing and operating the World Championship and other international level esports tournaments. Founded in 2008, the IeSF is a global organisation based in South Korea with a mission is to promote electronic sports as true sports, and become the global body in charge of maintaining, promoting and supporting it. For more information about the IeFS, please see www.ie-sf.com.

During 2010, Mr. Lim was Deputy Manager of Sports Marketing Team with FIRSONS Inc., a Seoul, South Korea based sports events marketing firm. During 2007, Mr. Lim was International Coordinator at the World Taekwondo Headquarters in Seoul. From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Lim was a Researcher with FITEX Inc., an adventure leisure sports company based in South Korea. Mr. Lim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Seoul National University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa.

Mr. Grant Johnson, Esports Entertainment CEO stated, “We are very excited to have a recognized esports industry leader like Alex join our Board of Directors. Alex’s in-depth esports industry knowledge and relationships will be of huge value to Esport Entertainment as we establish vie.gg as the leading esports wagering platform.”

Mr. Alex Lim stated, “I am honored to join the Board of Directors of Esports Entertainment. I clearly share the vision of Esports Entertainment for the future of the esports industry and the Company, and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the Company’s long-term success.”

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. is a next generation online gambling and 18+ gaming company. Initially, Esports Entertainment offers bet exchange style wagering on esports events in a licensed, regulated and secured platform to the global esports audience, excluding the US and EU. In addition, Esports Entertainment intends to offer users from around the world the ability to participate in multi-player mobile and PC video game tournaments for cash prizes. Esports Entertainment is led by a team of industry professionals and technical experts from the online gambling and the video game industries, and esports. The Company holds licenses to conduct online gambling and 18+ gaming on a global basis, excluding the US and EU, in Curacao, Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada. The Company maintains offices in Antigua and Curacao. Esports Entertainment common stock is listed on the OTCQB under the symbol GMBL. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

Corporate Finance Inquiries
Stephen Cotugno
Vice President, Corporate Development
[email protected]
201-220-5745

Investor Relations Inquiries
AGORACOM 
[email protected]
http://agoracom.com/ir/eSportsEntertainmentGroup

Don’t Confuse #Bitcoin With #Blockchain Technology $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:15 PM on Wednesday, March 14th, 2018

Mat Litalien | March 14, 2018 | More on: HBLK HIVE

  • Bitcoin and blockchain technology are often incorrectly used interchangeably.
  • Although the Bitcoin and blockchain are closely related, it is important to note that they are not one and the same

As an example, take this headline from Cointelegraph: “Goldman Sachs Will Start Bank Money ‘Stampede’ Into Bitcoin: Ritholtz CEO”. At first glance, an investor could be tricked into thing that Goldman Sachs is about to get into Bitcoin, when in effect, the quote from Wealth Management CEO Josh Brown does not even mention Bitcoin.

Likewise, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, has been criticized for calling Bitcoin a “fraud.” However, did you know that JP Morgan is actively engaged in developing blockchain technology?

Although the Bitcoin and blockchain are closely related, it is important to note that they are not one and the same.

Let’s start with Bitcoin. Bitcoin was the first and the best-known unregulated cryptocurrency. Bitcoin is the cryptocurrency for which blockchain was invented. Therein lies why the confusion between the two exists. Bitcoin is a medium of exchange, like the Canadian dollar, intended to simplify transactions and eliminate the need for third-party payment processing such as banks and PayPal.

Bitcoin, like other cryptocurrencies, is digital and is considered to have no intrinsic value. It is unregulated in the sense that its supply is not determined by a central bank. Bitcoin is not a file saved on a computer. It is represented by transactions recorded on a peer-to-peer network. Bitcoin can be used to purchase goods and services where accepted.

Blockchain is the technology on which Bitcoin was built and goes far and beyond cryptocurrencies. It is anonymous, distributed, public, and encrypted. Blockchain maintains the Bitcoin transaction ledger. There are thousands of blockchains that exist, all influenced by the original Bitcoin blockchain.

The attractiveness of blockchain technology is easy to understand. Because it is distributed, there is no central database, and it runs on computers worldwide, which makes it very difficult to hack. It is public, which means that anyone can view it any time, offering an unprecedented level of transparency. It also makes use of two-key encryption, which enables unmatched virtual security.

Businesses have come to learn that blockchain technology can be adapted for use in many other areas. Specifically, many companies are investigating the use of blockchain to improve and speed up business processes. It can lead to cheaper and faster financial settlements that could save companies billions in transaction costs. It can transform the way governments are elected by producing immediately verifiable voting results. Canada has long struggled with a true electronic patient medical record due to the significant privacy regulations. Could an electronic medical record built on blockchain technology be the answer? What about solving the corruption surrounding foreign aid? Blockchain can hold organizations more accountable through increased transparency.

Investors wanting to invest in blockchain technology can do so by taking a position in Harvest Portfolio’s Blockchain Technologies ETF (TSX:HBLK). The ETF was only recently launched in February and will invest in companies that are leading the blockchain revolution. Its holdings include development companies such as HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (TSXV:HIVE), Overstock.com Inc., BTL Group Ltd., and BIG Blockchain Intelligence Group Inc. Likewise, it has stakes in some of the larger players in the tech industry who have shown a keen interest in blockchain technology, such as Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, and Visa Inc.

The applications for blockchain technology are endless. Bitcoin has been revolutionary and continues to be the most widely accepted form of cryptocurrency. However, investors need to understand that if a company is invested in blockchain technology, it does not equate to Bitcoin. They can be investigating the use of blockchain for several possible reasons. There exists a significant knowledge gap between the public and blockchain technology. As an investor, you need to be extra vigilant and understand what you are investing in.

While conflict overseas is all media talking-heads seem to mention these days, the billionaire founder of Tesla is losing sleep over what he sees as a far bigger threat.

Elon Musk Warns: This has “vastly more risk than North Korea”

If you missed your opportunity to get in on Google, Microsoft, or Amazon in their early days, don’t let it happen again. This emerging technology trend could offer a second chance for anyone who wishes they took part in these millionaire-maker stocks.

Source: https://www.fool.ca/2018/03/14/dont-confuse-bitcoin-with-blockchain-technology/