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BetterU Education Corp. $BTRU.ca – Byju Raveendran newest billionaire of Indian startup ecosystem #edtech $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:58 AM on Tuesday, July 30th, 2019
SPONSOR:  Betteru Education Corp. aims to provide access to quality education from around the world. The Company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated ecosystem. Click here for more information.
BTRU: TSX-V

Byju Raveendran newest billionaire of Indian startup ecosystem

The founder of BYJU’s joined the billionaire’s gang following the edtech startup’s latest funding, which valued the company at $5.7 billion.

Thimmaya Poojary 29th Jul 2019

  • Byju Raveendran, the founder of the leading edtech startup – BYJU’s, became the latest billionaire of the Indian startup ecosystem after his company’s latest funding round, according to a media report.

A report by Bloomberg stated that BYJU’s valuation is now at $5.7 billion after it raised $150 million in funding earlier this month. Byju Raveendran is reported to be holding a 21 percent stake in the company.

The edtech startup’s founder joins the elite list of billionaires from the Indian startup ecosystem, which includes Flipkart founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, Paytm founder Vijay Shekar Sharma, Media.net founder Divyank Turakhia, and Zerodha Co-founder Nitin Kamath.

The Barclays Hurun India Rich List 2018 – a compilation of the richest individuals in India with a net worth of Rs 1,000 crore or more – saw the entry of 19 entrepreneurs from unicorn companies such as Paytm, Flipkart, Udaan, Oyo, Ola, and BYJU’s, among others.

Byju Raveendran, Founder and CEO, BYJU’S

The list was topped by Divyank Turakhia with a total wealth of Rs 11,600 crore, followed by Vijay Shekhar Sharma at Rs 10,500 crore, and Nithin Kamath and family at Rs 8,600 crore.

BYJU’s has been on a fundraising spree. Earlier this month, it raised $150 million investment led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). The round also saw participation from Owl Ventures, a leading investor in education technology.

In March, 2019, the company secured Rs 214 crore in funding from its existing investors New York-headquartered equity firm General Atlantic and Chinese conglomerate Tencent.

The Bengaluru-based unicorn had earlier announced that it has tripled its revenue to Rs 1,430 crore in FY 18-19, and also turned profitable on a full year basis.

BYJU’s added that its app is recording high adoption, with an 85 percent annual renewal from small towns and cities. This shows an increasing acceptance of digital learning as a primary tool for learning at home.

Source: https://yourstory.com/2019/07/byju-raveendran-billionaire-edtech-startup

HPQ-Silicon Resources $HPQ.ca – The Global Energy Map Is Changing Faster Than You Think $FSLR $SPWR $CSIQ $PYR.ca $XMG.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:38 PM on Monday, July 29th, 2019

SPONSOR: HPQ-Silicon Resources HPQ: TSX-V aiming to become the lowest cost producer of Silicon Metal and a vertically integrated and diversified High Purity, Solar Grade Silicon Metal producer. Click here for more info.

HPQ: TSX-V

The Global Energy Map Is Changing Faster Than You Think

YANGZHOU, CHINA – JUNE 24: Aerial view of fishermen catching crayfish next to photovoltaic solar panels at a fishery-solar hybrid photovoltaic power station on June 24, 2019 in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province of China. (Photo by Meng Delong/VCG)

Enrique Dans Contributor

  • A $20 billion investment aims to supply electricity to Singapore from what will be, for the time being, the world’s largest solar farm: Sun Cable.
  • Located in Australia and linked by a 3,800-kilometer submarine cable, its magnificent 15,000 hectares of solar panels will provide about 10 gigawatts, enough to cover a fifth of the country’s energy needs and replace its combined-cycle power stations, with enough batteries to ensure uninterrupted supply.

An even bigger project, the Asian Renewable Energy Hub, plans to create a hybrid solar and wind farm linked to a hydrogen energy storage plant in Pilbara, a sparsely populated region in Western Australia. The idea is to change Australia’s place within the global energy map and to transition from exporting mainly coal and natural gas to being a leader in clean energy. It is estimated that filling the Sahara desert with windmills and solar panels could generate enough electricity to supply the energy needs of the entire world. In the United States, solar is already the most important source of energy, ahead of gas or wind, despite the tariffs imposed by its ignorant president on imported solar panels.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s Noor-Ouarzazate facility, along with others in India, China, Mexico, the United States or the United Arab Emirates, will fill vast tracts of land and even the sea, with solar panels, completely changing the global energy map, with the concomitant geopolitical consequences.

Renewable energy is already the cheapest and most logical way to produce energy without the need for subsidies. By introducing hydroelectric and geothermal energy into the equation, in addition to solar and wind energy, Costa Rica has already managed to go for 300 days in a row without burning fossil fuels to generate electricity. Portugal has managed four days with only renewable energy, the UK, a thousand hours without burning coal, while US states like Colorado are staggered at the cost competitiveness of renewables, even adding a diverse range of storage infrastructure. Within renewable energies, solar stands out for its increasingly lower costs. The goal of generating 100% of the world’s energy from renewable processes is becoming more feasible and cheaper every day.

More and more industries will depend on the ability of countries to manufacture or supply solar panels and batteries. Solar energy is already the logical choice: in countries as different as the United States or Germany, home installations of solar panels and batteries are the hot new investment opportunities as more facilities are created to interconnect through so-called microgrids. To all intents and purposes, energy is the new internet and, as Elon Musk properly predicted, energy storage becomes the most strategic technology.

All the studies agree that not only that we must stop building and operating fossil fuel power plants, but that we have already built too many and that the fuel needed to supply them will now remain under the ground. The need to make this transition is becoming more urgent every day. Germany has already announced the closure of all its 84 coal-powered plants and India has canceled plans to build any more due to the plummeting cost of solar energy: with every day that passes, action in this regard is more important and more strategic. Only countries that act in time and update their generation policies can hope to win a place on the new global energy map.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/enriquedans/2019/07/16/the-global-energy-map-is-changing-faster-than-youthink/#2f33b46824f1

Bougainville Ventures Inc $BOG.ca – Who are the future #cannabis consumers? $CROP.ca $VP.ca NF.ca $MCOA

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:30 PM on Monday, July 29th, 2019
SPONSOR:  Bougainville Ventures Inc (CSE: BOG) provides strategic capital to the thriving cannabis cultivation sector through ownership and development of commercial real estate properties. The company also offers fully built out turnkey facilities equipped with state-of-the-art growing infrastructure to cannabis growers and processors. Click here for more info.
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Who are the future cannabis consumers?

By Sydney Perelmutter

  • An Ernst and Young (EY) report released in April projects that by 2025, 20 percent of the Canadian population will be cannabis consumers and the size of the market (legal and illegal) could reach up to $11 billion.

The size of the cannabis market (legal and illegal) could reach up to $11 billion by 2025. Getty Images

Cannabis consumers have certainly come a long way since the flower-toting, tie-dye-wearing hippies or the weed-smoking, Cheech and Chong-watching stoners of decades past.

The stereotypes often associated with previous eras of cannabis use seem far less pervasive today, with current, sometimes-surprising consumers hitting more demographic markers. Here’s what recent figures and experts have to say about what this new wave of consumers could look like.

What do the numbers say?

The latest National Cannabis Survey (NCS), released in May, indicates that 5.3 million or 18 percent of Canadians aged 15 or older used cannabis in the first quarter of 2019, up four percent from the same quarter of 2018. This increase can be partially attributed to greater use among male respondents (from 16 percent to 22 percent) and people aged 45 to 64 (from nine percent to 14 percent).

The NCS data also shows an increase in the number of new cannabis users, some being first-timers and others former consumers who sought out cannabis again post-legalization.

Statistics from the National Cannabis Survey, 2019 Statistics Canada

A Pollara survey of about 2,000 people, released in March, notes those who bought legal recreational weed over the last year are likely to do so again in the coming year. In fact, purchasing legally is expected to be twice as popular as buying illegally, with 69 percent of respondents indicating the former and 31 percent indicating the latter.

An Ernst and Young (EY) report released in April projects that by 2025, 20 percent of the Canadian population will be cannabis consumers and the size of the market (legal and illegal) could reach up to $11 billion.

Are there archetypal consumers?

An Early Look Into Consumer Profiles is a report jointly released by Toronto-based Lift & Co. and Washington-based Headset Inc. in early June. Based on 862 recreational customer receipts and 347 respondents on Lift & Co.’s website, the report divides consumers into two main segments: the experienced user, the so-called connoisseur, and the new user.

Matei Olaru, CEO of Lift & Co., suggests that the connoisseurs of the Canadian market tend to be male millennials who know what they’re looking for, while new consumers tend to be 45 and older and require some guidance before purchasing product.

Deloitte LLP released a report leading up to the second wave of legalization—expected to take effect in October, with edibles, topicals and concentrates likely available in December—that classifies current recreational users as “risk-takers” and likely post-legalization users as “conservative experimenters.”

Deloitte’s new and likely user profiles Deloitte

Jennifer Lee, partner and national cannabis sector leader at Deloitte, explains that the risk-takers tend to be less educated and more willing to deviate from the law, while new-to-category consumers tend to be highly educated and have a higher income.

“The new consumers aren’t your typical quote-on-quote ‘stoners’,” Lee says of the conservative experimenters. They tend to be “family people” between the ages of 35 and 54.

Who is buying what?

New users are spending considerably more on balanced and lower-THC products (less than 19 percent THC), while experienced users spend more on higher THC products (over 20 percent THC).

THC percentage chart Ontario Cannabis Store

The Lift & Co. and Headset report shows younger buyers are spending less per purchase (averaging $55) and more on individual items (averaging $24). Buyers aged 55 and older are spending more per purchase (averaging $157), but buying more items at lower price points.

“If we look at what people are buying by age, we see that the older demographic disproportionately buys more oil than flower,” Olaru says. “So there’s an inherent prediction there that as new consumers come on, they will probably buy non-combustible products, such as edibles or beverages.”

Lee predicts that carbonated beverages and teas will be of interest to likely users, which she attributes to the trade-off between alcohol and cannabis.

“We found that usage occasion for cannabis is almost exactly the same as alcohol among older consumers,” Lee says.

Differences in what people buy, Olaru estimates, can be ascribed to experience with cannabis and income. “You can make an educated inference that millennials probably have less disposable income, so they buy fewer products than an older consumer,” he says. “If you look at the older, first-time demographic, they might not know what is good or bad, and believe higher price points equate to better products.”

Are the “canna-curious” the next untapped market?

A report co-authored by Lift & Co. and EY, released in June, reveals four broad consumer segments based on a survey of nearly 3,000 Canadians: pure recreational, pure medical, health and wellness and those who remain unconvinced. Dubbing them the “canna-curious,” Olaru thinks the skeptics can be converted.

“Even the unconvinced say they would still consider cannabis if it could help with something like pain relief. So to us, that says even the unconvinced are looking for some sort of relief or wellness, not for recreational use to party and not pure medical, but somewhere in between,” Olaru says.

The canna-curious, he predicts, will be more open to products that are lower in THC, higher in CBD and non-combustible.

Can the future cannabis consumer truly be defined?

Jenn Larry, president of CBD Strategy Group Inc., says there is “no ceiling on who will be interested in cannabis in the future because all cohorts could find themselves interested.”

Larry understands that consumers are divided into segments for marketing purposes, but says that there will always be a spectrum of groups. She identifies three groups that often go unnoticed by marketers: baby boomers, ‘the dad’ and 33- to 45-year-old females.

“Cannabis provides consumers with an intimate experience, but different people want different things so there’s no reason to limit who the consumer could be,” Larry says.

“I think the cannabis consumer is yet to be defined,” Olaru notes. “That’s really the big opportunity in cannabis.”

 Source: https://www.thegrowthop.com/cannabis-business/who-are-the-future-cannabis-consumers

North Bud Farms Inc. $NBUD.ca – Beverage Companies Look to Capitalize on #CBD Benefits and Accessibility $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:29 PM on Monday, July 29th, 2019

SPONSOR: North Bud Farms Inc. (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

NBUD: CSE

Beverage Companies Look to Capitalize on CBD’s Benefits and Accessibility

  • According to data compiled by Hemp Business Journal, a division of New Frontier Data, sales for the U.S. hemp industry totaled USD 820 Million in 2017.
  • Research suggests that the industry is expected to grow to USD 1.9 Billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 14.4% during the 5-year period.

NEW YORK, July 26, 2019 – For centuries, hemp has been used for a vast array of applications. In particular, hemp was predominantly used to manufacture textiles, paper, and construction materials because of its durability. However, now hemp has become even more popular because of its CBD compound. Hemp is derived from the cannabis plant and is one of the two main families found within the plant, the other being marijuana. Unlike marijuana, hemp’s main active component is CBD or cannabidiol, which does not cause psychoactive effects for its consumer.

Generally, the hemp plant contains less than 0.3% THC levels, which is an insignificant amount. However, because hemp is derived from the cannabis plant, federal regulators deemed hemp to be unsafe, and as a result, hemp and its CBD compound were listed as a controlled substance. Yet, researchers and scientists have begun new studies to better understand the biological makeup of hemp and compiled compelling results that went against the previously established understanding of the plant and its effects. As a result of these studies and the non-psychoactive nature of hemp, regulators lowered the scheduling of hemp and its CBD compound on the controlled substance list.

Moreover, the passage of the U.S. Farm Bill paved the way for the broader CBD industry, further accelerating its presence in legal channels. Previously, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other state departments only allowed pilot programs to study hemp, which allowed for small-scale cultivation. To note, the Farm Bill legalized the commercialization hemp and CBD, which caused a spur of retailers to add the product to their shelves. For instance, local stores and even e-commerce giants have CBD-based products being publicly sold for every-day consumers. Notably, the bill does not put any restrictions on the sale, transport, or possession of hemp-derived products, meaning that CBD is federally legal as long as it is consistent with the law.

Now, the CBD market is one of the fastest-growing market segments within the cannabis industry, due in large part to its lenient guidelines. And as a result, more companies are looking to enter into or expand within the CBD marketplace because of the vast potential that has opened up for the market. According to data compiled by Hemp Business Journal, a division of New Frontier Data, sales for the U.S. hemp industry totaled USD 820 Million in 2017. The research suggests that the industry is expected to grow to USD 1.9 Billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 14.4% during the 5-year period.

In 2017, hemp-derived CBD products accounted for the largest market share, as the segment delivered sales of USD 190 Million, accounting for 23% of the overall market share that year. Other segments such as personal care, food, and industrial care followed closely. However, by 2022, CBD products are expected to take off, outpacing the rest of the hemp sector. Hemp-derived CBD products are anticipated to deliver sales of USD 646 Million by 2022, followed by industrial application sales of USD 527 Million. While other segments are projected to grow, they are nonetheless expected to lag behind the exponential growth of the CBD product segment. CBD can be used to simply relax after a strenuous and stressful day but it is now being leveraged within the medical sector for patients suffering from ailments such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and epilepsy.

In particular, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already legalized a CBD-based drug, Epidiolex, which is used to treat epilepsy. However, the FDA has mentioned that researchers will need to conduct more large-scale positive clinical trials in order for cannabis-based treatments to be approved. Currently, evidence of CBD effects comes from animal testing or very small-scale clinical trials that are minuscule compared to the FDA’s standards. For example, Esther Blessing, a psychiatrist and researcher at New York University, pointed to a 2011 study where a few dozen people who had anxiety disorders were asked to speak in front of a large audience. The study concluded that people who received CBD reported significantly less anxiety compared to those who received the placebo.

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beverage-companies-look-to-capitalize-on-cbds-benefits-and-accessibility-300891710.html

BetterU Education Corp. $BTRU.ca – #Startup #PlayShifu raises $7 M in Series A from #Chiratae, #Inventus Capital, #BIF and others $ARCL $CPLA $BPI $FC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 1:49 PM on Monday, July 29th, 2019
SPONSOR:  Betteru Education Corp. aims to provide access to quality education from around the world. The Company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated ecosystem. Click here for more information.
BTRU: TSX-V

Startup PlayShifu raises $7 M in Series A from Chiratae, Inventus Capital, BIF and others

  • US and Bengaluru-based startup PlayShifu has raised $8.5 million till date, and its primary focus will remain on tech innovation, research on unique phygital interactions and new product developments.

Augmented reality technology startup PlayShifu raised Series A funding of $7 million in a funding round led by Chiratae (formerly IDG Ventures India), Inventus Capital and Bharat Innovation Fund (BIF). Existing investor IDFC-Parampara Fund also participated in the round.

Founded in 2016 by Vivek Goyal and Dinesh Advani, graduates of Stanford GSB and IIT Kharagpur, PlayShifu creates engaging and immersive AR experiences for children that encourage early STEM skills.

With the fresh funding, the startup has an aggressive strategic plan in place to expand on its tech prowess, it said in a statement.

Vivek Goyal, CEO and Co-founder of Playshifu, said,

“We have an exhaustive product pipeline, an incessantly creative and passionate team of innovators, and now, the right partners to make an extremely positive impact on the educational foundations of generations to come.

(LtoR) Vivek Goyal and Dinesh Advani, co-founders of PlayShifu

The US and Bengaluru-based startup raised $8.5 million to date, and the company’s primary focus will remain on tech innovation, research on unique phygital interactions and new product developments, it added.

PlayShifu also plans to update its current products significantly and expand the diverse retail presence from 15 countries to 30 countries in 2020 and beyond. At present, the startup has a retail presence in several markets including the US, Canada, UK, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Hong Kong, South Africa, Middle East, and Japan.

PlayShifu’s first flagship product Shifu Orboot, is an AR-based globe that promises an adventure around the world. The user base has crossed 250,000 kids worldwide

The startup claims that in less than a year, teachers and technology integrators from hundreds of schools in the US, Europe, and India discovered PlayShifu and experimented with adopting the innovative products in their tech-friendly classrooms.

“Today, more than 65 percent of these schools use Orboot every week in their classes. With Orboot 2.0 launching soon (student profiles and progress tracking, teachers’ portal, detailed lesson plans), this engagement will only increase from here, as PlayShifu prepares to expand its reach in schools by 10x this year,” the statement added.

The newest addition, Shifu Plugo, combines physical consoles with new-age digital interactions. The physical consoles bring alive the alphabet, math, engineering, music, steering, and more. With two consoles available today, PlayShifu plans to introduce four more by the end of 2019.

“We now have the tools at our disposal to execute against an even more impactful retail strategy and presence, while we continue to strengthen our position as the segment leader and disruptor in the early learning space,” added Dinesh Advani, Co-founder and COO.

Source: https://yourstory.com/2019/07/playshifu-startup-funding-chiratae-inventus

Spyder Cannabis $SPDR.ca – Top 7 benefits and uses of #CBD oil $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:33 PM on Monday, July 29th, 2019

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

SPDR: TSX-V

Top 7 benefits and uses of CBD oil

  • Cannabidiol is a chemical compound in the cannabis plant and is most often derived from hemp.
  • It’s a naturally occurring substance that is not psychoactive — meaning it won’t impair or impact your mental state of being.

Experts from Charlotte’s Web highlight how cannabidiol can be beneficial in many ways in this guide to the top 7 uses of CBD oil

While an easy-going, uncomplicated and fulfilling life is what we are all after — we can’t all be rosy, all the time. Every aspect of our day-to-day — from professional to personal — is filled with responsibilities and expectations. Though many of these to-do list items are part of the path to success and happiness, sometimes we need a little pick-me-up to make the road easier. This is why certain cure-all ingredients become trendy seemingly overnight. From those that promise to help us lose the belly fat to ones that guarantee a mood-boost–if you can Google it, you can find it.

Though generations across the globe have been utilising the wondrous properties of hemp for hundreds of years, cannabidiol (or CBD) has recently been used as an oil and capsule for general wellness 

As a smart shopper, if you are on the fence about implementing a new product into your routine, you likely want to know how it will boost your vitality. We have been studying and fostering quality, reliable and safe products for years, giving us a first-hand perspective on how this gem from Mother Nature can benefit your health. Though there are countless claims about what CBD can provide, not all are backed by science. That’s why we stand by these specific benefits of CBD oil:

First up, what is CBD?

Cannabidiol is a chemical compound in the cannabis plant and is most often derived from hemp. It’s a naturally occurring substance that is not psychoactive — meaning it won’t impair or impact your mental state of being. Not to be confused with its cousin, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), this derivative is more widely legalised across the country. You should definitely do your homework to understand the rules and regulations of your state, though many allow the use of CBD in various products. 

If you look backwards thousands of years, indigenous people used hemp for many daily uses — including spinning it into fibre to make clothing, controlling weeds and purifying water, to name a few. In modern times, CBD oil can be turned into oils for you skin or to drop on your tongue to support recovery from post-workout inflammation, maintain focus and other perks. 

While most of the time it is humans who use the products, whether topically or orally, there are also a few benefits for man’s (and woman’s!) best friend. And while your best friend may go the oil route, you could be more on Team Supplement since you already take daily vitamins anyway. That’s the beauty of CBD as a health Kickstarter — you can use it however you feel most comfortable.

The benefits below are ones we celebrate — but it is still important to exercise patience. Because of the vast variety and reach of this natural ingredient, using it across various mediums could be beneficial. As with anything, give your body time to adjust to CBD, and don’t expect overnight results. Your system needs time to process, and we generally recommend 30-60 days to witness an impact.

If you are willing to go the long mile and give it a try, here are a few CBD benefits you may experience:

CBD Benefit #1: Help you remain calm during stressful situations.

Think back when you were in college and you were trying to decide on a major. There are some lucky people who have always known what they were destined to do for their career — but for many, it took trial and error to arrive where they are now. Even more, are still figuring out the right trajectory. Regardless of where you happen to be on the career ladder, work-related stress is to be expected. People who are captivated and challenged by their gigs, as well as those who frequently experience the Sunday Scaries, are sometimes bogged down by a seemingly never-ending stream of deadlines and emails. Not to mention client and colleague meetings, business trips and interpersonal, in-office relationships.

However, to be productive and channel your creativity, managing stress is essential. Everyone has their moments when they feel overworked and over-booked, but your ability to prioritise and work through the chaos and collect your thoughts will set you apart. One of the most talked-about benefits of CBD oil is how it can ease your anxiety and worries in your everyday life. And this isn’t limited to career-related angst. Many professionals find this essential to guide them through difficult quarters, overbearing clients and all of the annoyances in between. Our CBD gummies for calm can support in calming your nerves, allowing you to focus on the task at hand. When you need to finish a project, shoot off an email or have a tricky conversation with your manager, the extra zen will go a long way.

CBD Benefit #2: Help you navigate everyday stresses.

Everyday stresses come at us from every angle. The vast majority of the workforce doesn’t work traditional 9 to 5 hours — we’re expected to be on call and available 24/7. Families with children may have two working parents with full-time gigs, making family life that much more demanding. And though friendships are meant to help us navigate life’s ups and the downs, they require accountability too. Juggling all of that maybe when the unthinkable happens: the dishwasher breaks down. Or the pipes need to be replaced. Or the handyman measured the blinds wrong and now they need to be fixed. Just when you feel as if you have everything under control, there always seems to be a wrench thrown into the mix.

For everyday stressors — from the expected to the unexpected — CBD oil can step in as your relaxation agent. Clearing your mind, settling your heart rate and giving you a tool to regain focus and control, it can help you get back on track. Much of life is unpredictable and we can’t always have someone to step in and manage the details for us. Luckily, a trusted CBD oil can make the journey smoother. 

CBD Benefit #3: Help reduce inflammation after a workout

You grew up being active or playing sports — and running around outside until your mother finally made you come in as the sun went down. Or maybe you fell in love with running — or spinning or yoga — as an adult. And now, in an effort to maintain your health, strength and longevity, you somehow make it to a class or to the gym a few times a week. For those who want to live a balanced, energy-filled life, frequent, consistent fitness is non-negotiable.

Even though you know how important it is to get your heart rate going, there are plenty of hurdles that create a barrier to working out. From late nights in the office to hitting snooze on your morning alarm (whoops) — scheduling is sometimes, well, impossible. However, one of the most common reasons folks skip out on their visit is soreness from the day (or days) before. While this is a normal part of the recovery process, aching muscles can be painful to push through, especially when finding the motivation to prioritise fitness.

CBD oil can work wonders here since it fights against workout-induced inflammation. What’s this mean? When we are active and challenge our bodies, we put strain on our muscles, creating tiny cuts in the tissue. This isn’t dangerous, and rather, helps to build our strength — but that doesn’t mean it’s comfortable. Following an intensive, strenuous routine, CBD oil or our CBD gummies for recovery can speed up the recovery process so you can continue to meet your fitness goals. 

CBD oil benefit #4: Help you to sleep better

Think of those Saturday mornings. You know the ones: nothing on your agenda until the afternoon, breezy, comfortable just-right temperature outside. No kiddos or pets — or the garbage pick-up or your neighbours — to disrupt your slumber. Your chest heavy, your breathing relaxed, you zonked out for a solid eight hours and waking up ready to conquer the world. Or at the very least — brunch! More than any other routine we keep up, including working out and smart food choices, our health and energy levels are directly tied to how much time we spend in dreamland. But it’s not just quantity, it’s the quality of sleep that matters as well. You may lay in bed for the recommended hours for our age group — but if you aren’t sleeping soundly, you won’t actually reap the benefits of a good night rest.

How do you know if you are sleeping effectively? Consider these questions — and answer honestly! — to determine how high you rank on slumber hygiene. How long does it take you to drift away? How many times do you wake up in the middle of the night? How do you feel when you wake up — rested or exhausted? Do you go to bed at the same time — and rise like clockwork? If you struggle with most of these, know that CBD oil helps support healthy sleep cycles. An alternative to our CBD oil or capsules is our CBD gummy and melatonin designed specifically with your sleep needs in mind. 

CBD oil benefit #5: Help you fight against dry skin

In the winter, as the temperature falls outside, the dry heat skyrockets inside to keep you warm. Then spring rolls around, and all of those beautiful blooms have your nose feeling itchy. Summer may cause your skin to break out thanks to sunscreen and sweat — but for some folks, dry patches are still an issue, year-round. No matter what season gives your body’s largest organ — skin! — the most trouble, maintaining moisture is essential. Dry skin is uncomfortable and makes it more difficult to apply various products that keep us healthy and glowing. T

hough many people turn to body butters, lotions or other hydrating gems, sometimes, it’s not enough to reach the moisture level our pores are thirsty for. To the rescue could be CBD oil or CBD cream— since one of the benefits of this powerful topical is how it helps our skin to maintain optimal skin moisturisation. As with any new skincare product, you will want to start slow and watch how your pores react. It may take time to start seeing results — so be patient. And when in doubt, talk to a dermatologist about an ideal regimen for your unique chemical makeup.

CBD oil benefit #6: Help your pet feel relaxed

Though Fido has historically been referenced as man’s best friend — we would like to think our beloved pets are the whole family’s pal. From the moment you took him or her from the animal shelter as a pup (or as an older dog!) — they stole your heart, filled up your iPhone with countless photos and of course, most of your bed. That’s why so many pet owners go above and beyond for their pets by feeding them wholesome meals, taking them to training schools and scheduling regular visits to the vet.

This means you are hyper-aware of any shifts in your pet’s personality. If you notice your pet is skittish, anxious or overall, not like themselves, it is normal to worry. Much like humans, dogs will experience various ebbs and flows in their mood — all causes by a variety of factors. During the winter, they may not get as much time outside running around, causing them to have extra energy indoors. Or in the summer, when it’s scorching under the sun, they could overheat and have to retreat back to the couch.

Perhaps they are ageing and experiencing joint pain or tenderness, that while normal, is difficult to manage. Though you should definitely seek veterinary attention if you feel something extraordinary is happening under their fur, one of the benefits of CBD oil extends to your pets. In fact, it’s been shown to calm their nerves and anxiety when used regularly. Test a small drop first — and then see how your four-legged friend responds.

CBD oil benefit #7: Help your pet stay stronger for longer

Before you had a human baby — your pet your first child. They taught you what unconditional love really means — and how much joy a wagging tail can bring. Ask any pet owner and they will be quick to admit that their pets are not just the guardian of the herd — but part of the family. As they’ve watched you cascade through various milestones, you have witnessed the years wearing on them, too. Though they used to run for hours around your backyard, they’re slower these days.

And while they used to serve as your first alarm clock, now you have to wake them up for breakfast. Ageing is hard to see — but you can make your pet more comfortable with the use of CBD oil. Because it has been shown to support healthy hips and joints for animals, a drop of CBD oil will have them moving easier. Even if you — sadly — can’t make your dog live forever, you can keep them fresh and happy by adding a bit of CBD oil to their routine.

Source: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/uses-of-cbd-oil/70200/

ThreeD Capital Inc. $IDK.ca – #Blockchain is finally becoming the next-gen database of choice $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:49 AM on Monday, July 29th, 2019

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

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Blockchain is finally becoming the next-gen database of choice

Image Credit: TimeStopper/Getty

  • In short, a blockchain is a server that can’t crash and a database that can’t be corrupted — all in one easy to deploy package.

Will Martino, Kadena@_wjmartino

When I think of why we need a blockchain, I think of one guy. There was a dev we had hired to build a few important parts of our product for us. A few years previously, in another life, he had been hosting his own servers and one of them crashed. He was telling me this with tears in his eyes: The database, a massive mess full of customer data, point-of-sale info, and inventory information had gone up in smoke. The backups were hosed, as well. And there was no way to rewind the data.

He spent almost 24 hours in an air-conditioned server room, a monitor attached to the rack and a keyboard on his knees, trying to resurrect it. He was partially successful, but the real question was whether the data was accurate. Whether the transactions all matched up, whether he would keep his job in the morning.

Everything turned out fine and, since then, it has gotten a lot easier to do his job. Cloud replaced servers while also being cheaper and more reliable. His lingering fear never went away though. Things are better, but he can’t be 100% sure things will never go sideways again. He believes, though, that there’s a stronger safety net available now than we’ve had before: blockchain.

Benefits like disaster recovery, security, availability, and automation are all baked into blockchain. The serverless architecture of public blockchains makes them powerful proofs of how blockchain can deliver on enterprise-grade reliability for business databases. The costs are also not much higher: Blockchain’s ability to instantly replicate may even allow you to safely get away with the same (or even less) redundancy compared to a traditional database.  Perhaps the biggest advantage? Smart contracts will regulate changes, so a new hire can’t throw a wrench into everything — the blockchain will protect you from changes that could compromise data or stability.

In short, a blockchain is a server that can’t crash and a database that can’t be corrupted — all in one easy to deploy package.

To be clear, blockchain isn’t perfectly suited to solve certain data problems, the same way that email isn’t suited for instant messaging. Big data analytics is crazy expensive to replicate, and unless you are directly monetizing the data (like selling ads), it is not worth the cost to shoehorn blockchain into an analytical workload. Blockchains are best for core business transactional data, like your account balance. They are absolutely mission-critical when it comes to account data and ownership records, the loss of which would be an existential threat to a company. A company like Walmart can probably survive the loss of all website traffic data, but it would be very much at risk if it lost its inventory ledger.

Business continuity is a major concern for enterprise players as customers demand nothing less than always-on availability. As businesses grow though, the pains of migrating databases and updating systems can lead to massive fumbles. According to Boston Computing Network’s research, 60 percent of companies that lose their data will shut down within six months of the disaster. There exists an entire industry of SysOps, DevOps, and others who monitor code pushes and database migrations, giving humans plenty of chances to foul up a launch.

So blockchain represents a big opportunity for businesses to move quickly while keeping their operations secure.

Today, it isn’t just about the speed of transactions, it’s also about verifying and securing those transactions. That’s what has always been missing in system management and is something that anyone from our beleaguered dev to the teams that run databases for Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are learning.

Blockchain tech is the evolution of the database. Smart contracts enforce business rules, while databases are backed up and verified continuously. All of the infrastructure and computational needs are calculated before deployment, and embedded rules ensure compliance from day one onward.

In fact, it looks a lot like the next generation of what APIs look like. You’re encapsulating processes, tying them together with requests for data, and expecting results. Right now, the business logic is processed on central servers of some kind. What’s innovative with blockchain is that you can take that logic, wrapped as a smart contract, and run it on your own. It still adheres to the rules set by the people who created it, and it must interact as expected.

Now, imagine databases on blockchain using these same robust rules. Robust databases that are unkillable. You don’t have to worry about your main server going down. Replication is built-in. Immutable laws exist that you can’t lose or change. If you’re on a public blockchain, this is as robust as possible, and you don’t have to pay for any servers. With a public blockchain, your data is stored cryptographically by the blockchain’s miners all around the world. If you’re on a private blockchain, you may run several replicated systems. Or, you can own all the nodes. You can also use blockchain on cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. The key is that blockchain is built to be replicated, again and again. Traditional databases must be migrated in specific, expensive ways under certain conditions to guard against data loss.

Ultimately, this is where blockchain really proves its worth: combining the basic elements of security, robustness, replication, and business logic all in its “DNA.” Smart contracts are safe, distributed, and secure. Your entire dataset is more secure this way, too. This is why blockchain promises to be the next-generation database.

Will Martino is Founder and CEO of Kadena.

Source: https://venturebeat.com/2019/07/27/blockchain-is-finally-becoming-the-next-gen-database-of-choice/

Tartisan #Nickel $TN.ca – #Tesla $TSLA: How #Elon Musk’s “Terawatt-Hour” Battery Plan May Spark Shift to Clean Energy $ROX.ca $FF.ca $EDG.ca $AGL.ca $ANZ.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:10 AM on Monday, July 29th, 2019

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

Tesla: How Elon Musk’s “Terawatt-Hour” Battery Plan May Spark Shift to Clean Energy

Musk says it’s terawatt-or-bust.

By Mike Brown July 25, 2019 Filed Under Batteries, Clean Energy, Elon Musk, Energy, Sustainable Energy & Tesla

  • Elon Musk wants to transition the world onto renewable energy sources, but to do so, the world’s going to need a lot more energy storage.
  • The CEO outlined a new battery production goal during Tesla’s second-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, hinting that the company could eventually produce multiple terawatt-hours of storage per year.

“In order to really make a fundamental shift in the world’s energy usage and really transform things to a sustainable energy future, if you’re not in the terawatt-hour range, it’s like, it’s a nice news story but it is not fundamentally changing the energy equation,” Musk told investors during the afternoon conference call.

It’s the sort of move that could spark a bigger jump to renewables. Batteries are vital for renewable energy because they ensure a steady stream of power throughout the day.

After all, when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing, solar and wind generators aren’t going to keep the lights on.

The Tesla-built Hornsdale battery in Australia, completed in November 2017, uses 129 megawatt-hours to store wind energy from nearby turbines and provide enough power for 30,000 homes. The Arsenal Football Club in London has a large enough battery to power the stadium for an entire 90-minute match, and GivePower is using batteries and solar to run a desalination plant 24 hours a day.

GivePower in Kiyunga.

In the wake of booming demand and a need for more capacity, battery production is soaring. Benchmark Minerals states that annual global production jumped from 19 gigawatt-hours in 2010 to 160 gigawatt-hours in 2019.

A staggering 68 plants could add a further 1.45 terawatt-hours to the mix by 2028.

There is still a long way to go: The IEA estimates that global electricity demand reached 23,000 terawatt-hours last year. Renewables accounted for around 24 percent of electricity in 2017, a figure that could reach 30 percent by 2023.

Of course, it’s not necessary to produce enough batteries to hold all of the world’s energy at once. Musk previously stated that 100 of his company’s Gigafactories could produce enough storage to transition the world onto sustainable energy. With Musk planning to send Tesla’s production skyrocketing, it could bring this goal within squinting distance.

The Tesla battery in South Australia.

Elon Musk’s Terawatt-Hour Plan: How It Currently Stacks Up

Tesla’s Gigafactory behemoth in the Nevada desert reached an annual production rate of 20 gigawatt-hours in August 2018. That in and of itself was an achievement, as it made the firm the largest producer of battery power in the world, and it meant that Tesla produces more capacity than all other automakers combined.

The Gigafactory now produces around 28 gigawatt-hours of battery capacity per year, Musk 

Work on the Gigafactory is not complete. The company is aiming to reach an annual production rate of 150 gigawatt-hours of battery pack production per year. This would be a rate that Musk has previously described as “faster than bullets leaving a machine gun.”

Musk has stated that 100 such factories would be enough to transition the world onto sustainable energy.

But none of this is enough for Musk, who now wants to see the company reach “multiple terawatt-hours per year.”

More information about this goal could come soon. Musk suggested that a battery day, similar to the autonomous driving day, could offer “a comprehensive review of cell chemistry, module and pack, architecture, and a manufacturing plan that has a clear roadmap to a terawatt-hour per year.” That could arrive sometime between February and March 2020.

Tesla is planning to launch new vehicles next year, like the second-generation Roadster, Model Y SUV, and Semi truck.

But beyond these new vehicles, Tesla’s batteries could be used to help shift the markets to ditch dirty energy sources once and for all.

Source: https://www.inverse.com/article/58024-tesla-how-elon-musk-s-terawatt-hour-plan-may-spark-shift-to-clean-energy

Enthusiast Gaming $EGLX.ca – Canadian teen #HaydenKrueger wins $1.2M in #Fortnite World Cup #Esports $EPY.ca $FDM.ca $WINR $TCEHF $ATVI $TNA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:31 AM on Monday, July 29th, 2019

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

Images
EGLX: TSX-V
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Canadian teen Hayden Krueger wins $1.2M in Fortnite World Cup

‘I wanted to do something different with my life,’ so he practises up to 12 hours a day

Zulekha Nathoo · CBC News · 

  • Canadian Hayden Krueger, 17, finished third on Saturday the first Fortnite World Cup, scoring a cool $2.4 million.
  • He’ll split that with his competition partner, who goes by the name Ceice.

In the New York tennis stadium where the U.S. Open is played every summer, Fortnite players — many not old enough for a driver’s licence — competed this weekend for a $40 million prize pool in a first-of-its-kind tournament.

Like many professional sports, video game competition is dubbed the World Cup. Like many professional athletes, the competitors warm up, train and scrutinize their strengths and weaknesses for hours a day.

“In football and basketball, they’ll go over film of their game,” said Canadian contestant Hayden Krueger, 17. “So every night, we’ll do like an hour of film. And we’ll watch over our films to see what we did good, what we did bad and then just apply it the next day.”

Krueger is better known in the gaming world and to his 20,000-plus Twitter followers as Elevate. He beat 40 million hopefuls to become one of a handful of contestants in the lucrative three-day finals.

He finished third on Saturday, scoring a cool $2.4 million for the ranking, which he’ll split with his competition partner, who goes by the name Ceice.

The winner of Sunday’s solo category will take home $3.8 million, the same amount tennis champions Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep each scored at Wimbledon this month.

Practising eight to 12 hours a day, Calgary-born Krueger, who now lives in the U.S., says he stands to make about $150,000 US in earnings this year from other tournaments. That doesn’t include sponsorship deals or streaming revenues. 

“A traditional job gave me anxiety,” he told CBC News in a Skype interview from his hotel room in New York after his win. “I didn’t want to show up to my cubicle every single day and take my pay cheque. I wanted to do something different with my life.”

Krueger, 17, says he practises eight to 12 hours a day as a professional video gamer. (Steven D’Souza/CBC)

The teenager has a rigid, albeit unconventional, routine.

“I wake up at like 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. and then I’ll play until 3 a.m. into the night,” said Krueger. “It’s like the same hours if not more

[than a 9-to-5-job]

, like eight to 12 hours of this game. It’s pretty scheduled for me.”

The commitment â€” and its payoff â€” is enviable enough that players have fans turning up in droves to watch them perform. Competitors, who range in age between 13 and 24, are often stopped between rounds to sign autographs or pose for selfies.

The award-winning battle royale game, which has become a cultural phenomenon since it was released in 2017, involves 100 players being dropped onto an island to compete for survival. It’s free to play, but part of Fortnite’s internal currency allows participants to make upgrades and purchase add-ons for their avatars, such as “skins” (costumes) and “emotes” (signature dance moves).

Fans filled the stands at the Arthur Ashe stadium in New York and stopped competitors for autographs and selfies between rounds. ( Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Eyes on the prize

It’s left some parents torn between trying to indulge their child’s interests and wondering whether their kids are spending too much time and money on the product. Kim Jeffords, who made the eight-hour drive from from Niagara Falls, N.Y., for her son, Nick, to attend the event, said she’s spent at least $25 a week on game-related purchases for him.

“I really don’t want to add it up because it will probably scare me,” she laughed.

Nick, blond and sporting a Nike T-shirt and polarized Wayfarer sunglasses, said he plays the game “at least 12 hours a day.”

“I don’t take breaks,” he said with a smile.

Kim Jeffords says she spends at least $25 a week on Fortnite-related game purchases for her son Nick, left. (Steven D’Souza/CBC)

At 11, his skills qualified him for the week-to-week round robin action. He was just too young to enter the finals.

“It is easy to get lost [in the game] because you want to become the best,” said esports journalist Victoria Rose. There are a lot of games with that issue.”

Among them, she says, are Grand Theft Auto, Dota and Starcraft. Rose says serious players will often switch to home schooling or take classes online to leave more time for the game.

“It’s mostly these very well trained, very educated players who know how to play efficiently, who know how to balance their work life to become the top players,” she said. “Just being here is a $50,000 guarantee. It gives you eyes to have sponsorships, to have a future.”

While Fortnite is still enjoying widespread popularity and massive revenue, some data suggests the game might be experiencing a slight decline in interest compared to when it burst onto the video game scene two years ago.

Fortnite, which came onto the market in 2017, is a battle royale game that drops 100 players on an island to fight for survival. (Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images)

‘Astronomical’ prize money

The World Cup, launched for the first time this year, could be another way to keep the game top-of-mind. Epic Games, which created Fortnite, has pumped more than $100 million in prizes over the last season of tournaments which is “astronomical in terms of esports,” according to ESPN sports host, Arda Ocal.

“This [event] is a massive deal, if not only for the giant prize pool itself, but also the amount of viewers that this entire season in competitive esports has had,” said the Canadian-born broadcaster. “For Fortnite, this is a great way for people to continue to know and learn about their game but also get engaged and be motivated to play the game after watching it.”

The first World Cup is one way for Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, to ensure fans stay interested in the game. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Krueger says it’s natural for parents to be reluctant to let their kids get too involved with the game, and his were no different. But they came around, he says, after seeing his detailed plan of how he intended to achieve his goals. His mother has also recently decided to shift careers and return to school to study law.

When asked if Krueger might be able to help with her tuition, he laughed: “Maybe.”

Next month, the Dota 2 esports tournament will surpass Fortnite‘s prize pool, offering over $40 million â€” the largest pot for this kind of competition.

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/fortnite-world-cup-2019-1.5227778

CLIENT FEATURE: Tartisan Nickel $TN.ca Kenbridge Property Hosts M&I Resource of 7.14 Million Tonnes at 0.62% Nickel, 0.33% Copper $ROX.ca $FF.ca $EDG.ca $AGL.ca $ANZ.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:30 PM on Sunday, July 28th, 2019

Investment Highlights

  • Kenbridge property has a measured and indicated resource of 7.14 million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33% copper
  • 17.5 (21.8 fully diluted) percent equity stake in Eloro Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria property
  • Signed Binding Letter of Intent to Purchase Sill Lake Lead-Silver Property, Ontario Read More

Kenbridge Ni Project (ON, Canada)

  • Advanced  stage  deposit  remains open  in  three  directions,  is  equipped with a 623m  deep  shaft  and  has  never  been  mined. 
  • Preliminary  Economic Assessment completed and updated returned robust project 
    economics and operating costs including  a  NPV  of  C$253M  and  cash costs of US$3.47/lb of nickel net of  
    copper credits.
  • Plans for Kenbridge include updating PEA, advancing the project through to feasibility and exploring the open mineralization at depth

Sill Lake Silver-Lead property, Sault Ste. Marie Mining Division, Ontario.

  • Closed the acquisition of the past-producing Sill Lake Silver-Lead property, Vankoughnet Twp, Sault Ste. Marie Mining Division, Ontario.
  • Acquisition includes 13 single-cell mining claims and four boundary-cell claims that total some 372.8 hectares.
  • Lead-zinc-silver mineralization was discovered at Sill Lake in 1892; since that time sufficient works have been completed so as to define a (historical) measured and indicated resource of 112,751 tonnes of 134 g/t silver, 0.62% lead, and 0.21% zinc.
  • A 60 g/t cutoff for silver was used, with no cutoff used for base metals content.
  • Some 7,000 tonnes was exploited from the Sill Lake Project to produce a lead-silver concentrate which was sold to nearby smelters.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Tartisan Nickel Corp. is an advertising client of AGORA Internet Relations Corp.