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Going #Mobile: A Global Strategy for New #Tech Niche $KUU.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:20 PM on Monday, March 5th, 2018
  • 30+ million total downloads
  • 7+ million monthly active users (MAU’s)
  • U.S $6.3 million quarterly revenue as of most recent quarter
  • 117% Q/Q revenue growth as of the most recent quarter

Jeff Nielson, Stockhouse

The technology space has never been more exciting for investors. From biotech to blockchain, investing in the tech sector is like being the proverbial “kid in a candy store”.

Many of these applications involve pioneering new technology. However, there are also a lot of companies taking technology that has already reached the marketplace, and then customizing these platforms in order to reach new markets and demographics. This is the strategy of Kuuhubb Inc. (TSX: V.KUU, OTCQB: BCDMF, Forum).

The space in which KUU is operating could be generally termed digital entertainment. But that label won’t convey a lot to readers. More specifically, the Company is targeting online gaming, “lifestyle” sites, and esports.

Few readers will not already be familiar with online gaming. Esports is a more recent evolution: taking this digital, online gaming and (literally) elevating it to a level on par with professional sports. Indeed, esports may become a medal event for the Paris Olympics (2024).

But what are lifestyle sites?

Perhaps a more illuminating term for investors would be hobby sites.  Young or old, rich or poor, male or female; everyone has hobbies. In past generations, these hobbies tended to be physical activities of some kind, set in “the real world”. People engaged in cooking or gardening or even knitting, as a low-tech means to relax, unwind, or simply play.

In the 21st century, however, real-world hobbies have given way to virtual hobbies. Digital technology can now create simulations or virtual representations of almost anything. Kuuhubb’s mission is to take our love of hobbies and recreation, channel this demand into high-traffic lifestyle/recreation sites, and then optimize the revenue streams from these operations.

This somewhat daunting task has been streamlined through a series of internal strategic decisions. In simple terms, it is a strategy all about untapped markets. Specifically, the Company is focusing on:

  1. The least-developed segment of the gaming/lifestyles space.
  2. A large, under-served demographic.
  3. Additional, huge markets with (as yet) minimal penetration.

With respect to the online gaming and lifestyles market, what is the least-developed segment? That question can be answered with one word: mobile.

KUU wasn’t interested in getting in line behind a long list of companies that are already developing and commercializing online games for (primarily) a desktop user base. The Company saw that far less energy had been devoted toward templates created expressly for mobile users.

In the Western world, mobile internet traffic passed desktop traffic about 18 months ago. In Asia, this trend emerged even sooner – roughly two years ago. The largest percentage of internet users are not (yet) receiving an appropriate level of attention from software developers and their website platforms.

This was the first competitive advantage that Kuuhubb sought to gain as it built its mobile online gaming/lifestyles business. Then, within this now-dominant mobile market, the Company is targeting an under-served demographic: women.

image: http://www.stockhouse.com/getattachment/767cbb4f-bb36-4b4f-984e-a8c1cdb579a1/KuuHubb_overview-(2).jpg?width=450&height=124


(click to enlarge image)

Female users actually comprise a slightly larger share of the overall mobile user base than males. Along with this, women have a somewhat greater propensity to try out new/different mobile apps. Yet the vast majority of the gaming industry has had a distinct male focus, perhaps reflecting the fact that the majority of game developers are also males. Whatever the reason, females are an under-served mobile demographic, and Kuuhubb intends to capitalize on this opportunity.

Lastly, the Company has chosen to target huge but relatively vacant markets for expansion: Asian markets (starting with India). Then within these Asian markets, the focus is also on a female demographic.

KUU has an acquisitions-based business model and the Company has already acquired several key assets. These operations provide Kuuhubb with a strong foundation from which to increase revenues and build up market share.

  • 30+ million total downloads
  • 7+ million monthly active users (MAU’s)
  • U.S $6.3 million quarterly revenue as of most recent quarter
  • 117% Q/Q revenue growth as of the most recent quarter

Existing online operations are presently almost entirely based on an iOS user base, with over 90% of revenues derived from iOS. However, overall, more than 80% of all smartphones use an Android platform. By simply making its existing apps Android-friendly, this can/should drive 5 – 10 times as much traffic to its sites, just by boosting user demographics to the industry standard.

The current online centerpiece for Kuuhubb is Recolor. This is a “colouring” app aimed at women, where female users colour-in artistic illustrations. Essentially, it is a virtual colouring book for women.

A colouring site, for adults? Some investors may view this as a rather trivial activity. However, many readers would say the same thing about adults who spend much of their leisure time tending to flowers. Yet in the U.S. alone, “home gardening” is a $275 billion per year industry.

Likewise, the numbers for Recolor speak for themselves. While this is still a relatively new internet lifestyle activity, this one app is already registering 6 million MAU’s. For readers still skeptical about the appeal of such an activity, there are actually a dozen “colouring” websites, aimed at primarily an adult (female) user base.

This leads to an issue that may be a concern for some investors: barriers to entry. Generally speaking, game development and hobby sites are seen as having low barriers to entry. Producing a new game/activity doesn’t require a large capital investment, meaning that (potential) competitors can easily enter the space.

Kuuhubb’s management recognized this concern and has worked to address it – by creating barriers to entry. The Company’s strategy here is multi-faceted. It starts with premium quality.

Anyone can design a game/activity site. However, produce a template of superior quality and you immediately create a barrier to entry: users will gravitate toward the product with the best quality. In selecting Recolor as its initial acquisition, the Company was intent on acquiring the best adult colouring site. With higher-quality illustrations and a larger selection of images, Recolor provides a superior user experience versus its competitors.

However, this is only the starting point in looking to lock-up market share. The next element to this strategy are communities. As with any other hobbyists, the users of these game/lifestyle sites like to interact with each other. Recolor already has a highly evolved community for its user base.

To further enhance the Company’s existing user base, KUU is currently executing several high-profile marketing campaigns. Its partners include household names like Kelloggs, Samsung, and Lionsgate Films.

Lastly there is branding. Companies that are able to establish marquee branding (i.e. celebrities, professional sports, etc.) with their products/sites will distinguish themselves from peers in a manner that will be difficult to duplicate. Kuuhubb is already very active on this front as well.

Currently, these lifestyle sites are primarily Western-oriented: created in the West for Western audiences. The Company’s existing revenue base is almost entirely generated in the West. Given that KUU has already devised a better strategy for market penetration in this space and can dramatically increase its North American market simply through adding Android users, why seek to target Asia for its future growth?

image: http://www.stockhouse.com/getattachment/692613b7-a1b8-4e66-8f25-6ee4d1b5263d/KuuHubb_revenues-(1).jpg

Again, it’s all in the numbers.

On the demand side, India in particular looms as a prime target. With cable internet access still not widely available, India’s internet user base is (by far) a mobile user base. At the same time, as an under-served internet market, user acquisition costs (for paid users) are much lower in India.

The Company’s research indicates current user acquisition costs in India between US$0.07 and $0.12. This compares with several dollars per user to add paid users in the West. Even China can’t compare with India.

image: http://www.stockhouse.com/getattachment/77c6f67d-db5e-45ea-a349-6039b2e74614/KuuHubb_IndianGaming.jpg?width=450&height=266


(click to enlarge)

User acquisition costs in China have recently soared to above US$1. From management’s perspective, India today looks like the Chinese marketplace of 6 – 8 years ago. Once again, KUU’s strategy is to target a relatively vacant market, rather than try to elbow its way into a more crowded space.

India may be a vacant market, but does this mean that investors should automatically expect Kuuhubb to be successful in penetrating this giant market? Here the Company is relying upon the experience and knowledge base of their global team led by CEO Jouni Keränen and Chief Investment Officer, Christian Kolster. Keränen was a resident of India for several years.

India is the single most exciting mobile market growth story in the planet right now. Thanks to the introduction of affordable unlimited 4G data plans and the subsequent growth in the last 15 months, there is no doubt in my mind that India will become one of the top global mobile markets within the next 3 years. Utilising my extensive network of connections from the time I lived in India in early 2000’s, Kuuhubb is executing a unique market entry strategy that will provide rapid growth with limited investment and hopefully enable Kuuhubb to become one of the leading players in the Indian mobile market.

KUU is particularly eager to roll out Recolor in India with a premier branding agreement already in place. It has a partnership with Kwan Media, India’s leading talent agency. In a conference call with Stockhouse Editorial, Kuuhubb’s management team were rather tight-lipped about a marquee branding deal that the Company expects to execute imminently.

What they were willing to reveal was that the branding agreement currently being negotiated centers around:

  1. An “A” list (female) Indian celebrity
  2. She is regarded as a fashion icon by Indian women
  3. She already has her own fashion line

Investors don’t require a lot of imagination to see how such branding could be worked into a colouring site for adult Indian women.

What’s left? Advertising. This is the key factor that KUU expects will transform their successful recreational products into a successful investment for shareholders.

The reality of these gaming/lifestyle sites is that the bulk of user revenues actually come from a small sliver of users. This means that even sites with massive MAU’s may have difficulty generating much free cash flow. On the other hand, the users of these sites typically engage in frequent sessions and/or extended sessions. This creates the instant potential for significant exposure to onsite advertising.

Revenue streams from advertising can be generated in various ways. CEO Jouni Keränen outlined one strategy to Stockhouse that KUU has already identified as being (potentially) extremely lucrative.

The Company loads game-based videos onto their gaming platform, with prominently inserted advertising. Users are offered a game-based, non-monetary “reward” if they view the clip to conclusion. The reward costs Kuuhubb nothing. Their captive audience for advertisers represents a consistent revenue stream.

The Company has already acquired two more online sites to compliment this specific strategy, Neybers (virtual interior design) and My Hospital (build/develop your own virtual hospital). These sites also target primarily a female user base. [details in Appendix below]

More recently, Kuuhubb has added new dimensions to this business model. On January 31, 2018; KUU announced a double-pronged acquisition: Valiance UG, a Germany-based developer of mobile esports that is already working to incorporate blockchain technology into its gaming platform. Further, Valiance’s young, dynamic, and female Co-Founder will be an important asset in designing products/sites with greater appeal to women.

Investors who are interested in KUU’s plans for the esports space should tune-in to an upcoming Stockhouse feature that will center around this new division of operations (hint: think “Community + Blockchain”). Blockchain is technology that is a natural fit for the Company’s current operations which emphasize creating communities.

One feature that most of these game/lifestyle sites share in common is that they already have their own “internal token systems”. Essentially, this is (non-monetary) internal “money”, that users employ to purchase premium features or add-ons. Blockchain is just as functional with respect to internal accounting/payment systems as it is with external payment systems (like cryptocurrencies).

Internet hobbies for adults? This may sound like a simple concept. However, as illustrated by Kuuhubb Inc., transforming these popular products into a money-making opportunity for investors requires a sophisticated strategy and disciplined execution.

Appendix: other Kuuhubb lifestyle/gaming platforms

image: http://www.stockhouse.com/getattachment/fda6eecb-ed63-4421-a280-fe2387fb8f4c/KuuHubb_MyHospital.jpg?width=200&height=107

image: http://www.stockhouse.com/getattachment/e963abc7-f026-4fde-a229-0a7995cf85a2/KuuHubb_Neybers-(1).jpg?width=200&height=107


(click to enlarge images)

Read more at http://www.stockhouse.com/news/newswire/2018/03/05/going-mobile-a-global-strategy-for-new-tech-niche#1U5amTsE8btFS8OZ.99

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A Finnish coloring app helps 4 million Americans ‘fight stress and anxiety’ – and it’s a smash hit #Kuuhubb $KUU.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:06 PM on Monday, February 26th, 2018

  • Finnish app Recolor is seizing a 3D coloring app craze in the US.
  • Popular among young women, Recolor frequently ranks among the top 100 grossing apps in the US.
  • “People are tired of gaming, they want interaction,“ says a Recolor investor, noting a lessening interest in games.
  • Recolor’s growth paints a picture of shifting app demographics, use and monetization in the Entertainment category. 

Smartphones aren’t generally seen as relaxation devices.

But if you ask Tero Kuittinen, an investor in viral coloring app called Recolor, that’s changing: It’s indeed the pursuit of relaxation that has gotten millions of Americans hooked on the app and its myriad motifs ranging from Venice Carnivals to My Little Pony.

“Coloring app appeal is in stress relief – they are used to alleviate anxiety,” says Kuittinen, whose New York-based investment firm, Kuuhubb, recently bought Recolor’s parent app studio, Sumoing.

Recolor has tapped into a veritable explosion in the digital coloring space. Since its launch in 2015, the Finnish app has gained more than four million users in the US and is now making north of $1 million per month from a clique of paying users – mostly college-educated women aged 18 to 44.

Recolor’s founder Ilkka Teppo has said he wants to create the ‘Spotify of colouring books’ with millions of illustrations. Recolor (collage)

‘The most diverse place in App Land’

Nordic gaming hits like Candy Crush and Minecraft may still top app charts, but in the past two years, the rise of apps that enable users to paint, sing, decorate has been total.

Coloring in particular: According to Sumoing founder Ilkka Teppo – whose team found their first global hit in Recolor after picking up on how attached their wives were to coloring books – the niche is fast supplementing games in the US.          “[Coloring] is entertainment, but with a more creative touch. It’s not about competition, but creativity and relaxation,” Teppo told GoodNewsFromFinland earlier.

Gaming app sessions declined 16 percent last year versus a 43 percent surge in the ‘Music, Media and Entertainment’ category, according to Yahoo-owned database Flurry. Flurry

Between January 2015 and March 2016, coloring app downloads in the US went from nearly zero to 10,5 million, LA Times, citing Nielsen research, reported. The growth has kept pace: according to AppAnnie, during many days last December, the US iPad Top 5 charts featured three coloring apps.

“I think people are growing tired of passive gaming; they want interaction and use their phones to create things,“ says Kuittinen, whose Recolor and its main rival Colorfy have captured most growth.

Read More: ‘Color by numbers’ apps are dominating the App Store right now

And it’s a fast-developing market with new trends and features popping up constantly: “Community building, color-by-numbers, and now, 3D coloring booming since the end of January,” Kuittinen, an app industry veteran, says. “This space is like the Galápagos Islands. The most dynamic and diverse place in App Land.”

Coloring is just one part of Kuuhubb’s bigger strategy of investing in a fast-growing category of lifestyle apps for women; it also recently acquired interior design app Neybers.

Shortly after launching an Instagram-inspired redesign of the app in early February, Recolor went from 130th to 17th place on the US iPad Appstore, surging past YouTube and Spotify. Recolor

Finland’s next big app sensation?

Recolor, which estimates it will have 1 billion tasks completed in its app 2018, has not only managed to make women addicted to its myriad coloring tasks – it’s also pulling in major advertisers. In contrast to “the outmoded” and “static” state of the gaming app industry, Kuittinen says, the creative app revolution opens up new ad opportunities.

For example, Lionsgate’s recent ‘My Little Pony: The Movie’ ad campaign in Recolor involved sponsored movie trailers, banner ads and sponsored ad tasks. This way “people will spend a good ten minutes inside the brands’ visual universe,” Kuittinen says. Recolor’s next big growth market, India, will by contrast depend almost entirely on influencers.

With its well-educated female core demographic, Recolor has attracted brand partners like Disney, Cosmopolitan and Lionsgate. Cosmopolitan / Recolor

Besides its growing ad business, Recolor’s other trump card in the “global war” playing out among hundreds competing apps, is advanced technology: “Our 3D pictures recreate the transparency of glass, the gloss of metal; lights and shades,” Kuittinen says.

After Supercell’s hit ‘Clash of Clans’, could Finland’s next big app sensation be a digital coloring book?

Recolor, facts

Launched: August, 2015

Developed by: Sumoing Oy (founded by Ilkka Teppo)

Monthly Active User base: 5 million, of which 80% in the US

User demographics: 85% women, 15% men

Monthly Revenue: +$1 million, mostly subscriptions

Revenue (2016):  $4-5 million

Coloring tasks completed: 200 million per quarter

Source: http://nordic.businessinsider.com/a-finnish-app-with-5-million-users-is-killing-it-in-the-us–and-it-signals-a-wave-beyond-games–

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

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

WHAT IS PEEKS?

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

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

The Shifting landscape

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

CHECK OUT OUR RECENT INTERVIEW

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Peeks Social $PEEK.ca Platform Produces 30 Million Screen Views in August

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:17 AM on Thursday, September 14th, 2017

Peeks large

  • Reached 30 million screen views in the month of August
  • Company announced the appointment of advertising executive Rick Padulo to its advisory board
  • Also pleased to announce the upcoming release of three of its advertising and sales services

TORONTO, ON–(September 14, 2017) – Peeks Social Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: PEEK) (OTCQB: PKSLF) today announced that the Peeks Social app reached 30 million screen views in the month of August. A screen view is the mobile equivalent of a page view. Upon reaching this milestone the Company announced the appointment of advertising executive Rick Padulo to its advisory board. Mr. Padulo is the founder of Padulo Integrated Inc. His clients represent several billion dollars in advertising spend in both traditional and non-traditional media. He is an expert Marketer and a published author. Rick’s published books include I Can Get It For You Retail: Down and Dirty Tales from a Canadian Ad Man. His company was voted one of the 50 Best Managed Private Companies in Canada. Rick has been selected as Entrepreneur of the Year, Marketer of the Year and was recently inducted into the Marketing Hall of Legends by the American Marketing Association. Rick will advise management and the board on the structuring and organization of the Company’s advertising sales division and grant guidance on the Company’s advertising sales strategies and marketing efforts.

The Company is also pleased to announce the upcoming release of three of its advertising and sales services: the Peeks Ad Share Network; the Peeks Get Popular Service; and a new updated version of the OfferBox. All three services are expected to be deployed in the upcoming weeks along with a supporting user interface (“UI”). The new UI will allow an average of 3.5 advertising impressions per screen view on applicable screens.

The Peeks Ad Share Network is a service that will match hash tagged stream titles to potential sponsors. Broadcasters will be prompted to select sponsors for their streams and receive a portion of the advertising revenues earned by the Peeks Social platform. This service will allow users to monetize their popularity without requiring them to sell their own goods or services nor requiring them to receive tips. The Company will also match brands with influencers whose social media following reaches the brand’s desired target market.

The Peeks Get Popular service is a user focused self-promotion tool which will allow users to purchase advertising units for them or their content to be featured in certain positions in the Peeks Social app’s Popular, Live, Channels, and similar pages.

The updated Peeks OfferBox technology is an interactive advertising delivery system that allows users and brands to run context sensitive ads on broadcaster streams. The current user focused free trial of the OfferBox will end and be replaced with a paid version of the service. The new version will require users to purchase advertising unit packages to run ads. Payment processing services related to offers will be restricted to brands and approved broadcasters.

“I am extremely pleased to be involved with Peeks because it’s a best of breed! Peeks represents a quantum leap forward in digital advertising that will positively disrupt the market place. Peeks is preemptively providing the most attractive, effective, and efficient destination for digital advertising spend. If your media folks aren’t looking at this someone better ask them ‘why the hell not,'” said Rick Padulo, founder of Padulo Integrated Inc. and advisor to Peeks Social Ltd.

The Peeks Social app can be downloaded in either the Apple or Google app stores, or by visiting www.peeks.com.

For further information, please contact:

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

Forward-Looking statements:

The information and statements in this news release contain certain forward-looking information relating to the development, functionality, and deployment of certain functionalities of the Peeks Social livestreaming product, including assumptions regarding third party adoption and use. This forward-looking information is subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking information. Peeks Social Ltd.’s forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, Peeks Social Ltd. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

Peeks Social Ltd.
Mark Itwaru
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
647-992-7727
[email protected]

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Peeks Social $PEEK.ca App Becomes the 15th Top Grossing Social App on the #Google Playstore

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:03 AM on Tuesday, September 5th, 2017

Peeks large

  • Peeks Social app has risen in the United States to the 15th top grossing social app on the Google Play Store
  • App is also rapidly approaching the top 100 overall grossing apps on the Google Play Store out of approximately 3 million apps available for download in the United States

TORONTO, ON–(September 05, 2017) – Peeks Social Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: PEEK) (OTCQB: PKSLF) today provided an update on the progress of the Peeks Social app in relation to competitive services on the Google Play Store.

The Company is pleased to announce that the Peeks Social app has risen in the United States to the 15th top grossing social app on the Google Play Store. The app is also rapidly approaching the top 100 overall grossing apps on the Google Play Store out of approximately 3 million apps available for download in the United States. Noteworthy is the fact that Peeks Social is 7 positions higher than its competitor Periscope on the top grossing social category list in the United States. Periscope is a Twitter owned product with reportedly 10 million plus users. The Company attributes the rising standing of the Peeks Social app to be a result of: successful marketing and sponsorship programs; the launch of the Peeks account management portal which can be found at www.peeks.com; recent changes to its digital coin pricing strategies; and to the fact that the Peeks Social service is a purpose built social commerce product which naturally monetizes itself.

The rise in the product’s rankings comes despite significant changes to the service in June 2017, at which time the Company made a strategic decision to further restrict access to content of a mature nature within the app. This decision was made in order to provide a more brand friendly service with the aim of attracting advertising sponsorship sales, and to allow the app to continue to grow as a mainstream service. Although the change did have a temporary impact on revenues, revenues were greater for the quarter ending August 31st, 2017, as compared to the previous quarter, resulting in 3 straight quarters of growth. The Company expects continued growth quarter over quarter for the foreseeable future.

The Peeks Social app can be downloaded in either the Apple or Google app stores, or by visiting www.peeks.com.

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

Forward-Looking statements:

The information and statements in this news release contain certain forward-looking information relating to the future product performance of the Peeks Social app and the related financial performance of the Company. This forward-looking information is subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking information. Peeks Social Ltd.’s forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, Peeks Social Ltd. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

For further information, please contact:
Peeks Social Ltd.
Mark Itwaru
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
647-992-7727
[email protected]

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VirtualArmor Closes USD $330,000 Hardware and Software Order From a Leading American University Hospital Group $VAI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:12 AM on Wednesday, May 18th, 2016

Hublogolarge

  • Announced that it has closed USD $330,000 in hardware, software and professional services sale to a major university hospital in the U.S
  • This leading university hospital has purchased various network solutions from our organization in the past and given the need to update their existing security platform, they have decided to purchase a new best of breed firewall system and deployment services from us for a total of USD $330,000,” said Matthew Brennan, Vice President of Sales.

VirtualArmor Closes USD $330,000 Hardware and Software Order From a Leading American University Hospital Group

VANCOUVER, May 18, 2016 – VirtualArmor International Inc. (“VirtualArmor” or the “Company“) (CSE: VAI) is pleased to announce that it has closed USD $330,000 in hardware, software and professional services sale to a major university hospital in the U.S.

“This leading university hospital has purchased various network solutions from our organization in the past and given the need to update their existing security platform, they have decided to purchase a new best of breed firewall system and deployment services from us for a total of USD $330,000,” said Matthew Brennan, Vice President of Sales. “We are pleased to see that leading organizations entrust in us to make upgrades to their security posture. As the demand for heightened network security measures continues to rise, we expect to see companies from every vertical constantly invest resources in updating their current infrastructure to include leading technologies that are shaping the cybersecurity industry.”

About VirtualArmor

VirtualArmor is a cyber security company that delivers solutions to help enterprises build, monitor, maintain and secure their networks from cloud to core. As a managed security services provider, VirtualArmor’s services run 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year through its primary security operations center (“SOC”) located in Middlesbrough, U.K. and a secondary SOC located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Each member of VirtualArmor’s team supports the three main facets of its business: managed services, professional services, and hardware sales, by handling the design, configuration and installation of advanced network and cloud architecture solutions. VirtualArmor uses best-in-breed partnerships to provide solutions for customers that are affordable, highly reliable, scalable, and backed by thorough knowledge of the related technologies, products, and platforms. VirtualArmor has secured partnerships with established technology businesses specializing in network appliances, software, and systems and provides its services to the mid- to large- enterprise and service provider markets. VirtualArmor customers include a 13-location data center provider, a Fortune 100 oil and gas company, multiple service providers with presences throughout the United States, and household name enterprise organizations located primarily in the western United States. Further information about the Company is available under its profile on the SEDAR website, www.sedar.com, on the CSE website, www.thecse.com, and on its website, http://www.virtualarmor.com/.

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of VirtualArmor. Although VirtualArmor believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information as VirtualArmor cannot provide any assurance that it will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and VirtualArmor disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE VirtualArmor

Company Contact: Todd Kannegieter, President and CEO, Office: 720-961-3304, [email protected]; Investor Relations Contact: Babak Pedram, Office: 416-644-5081, [email protected] CNW Group 2016

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VirtualArmor Receives USD $450,000 Contract Under Its Managed Services Platform From a Leading Specialty Finance Company $VAI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:12 AM on Wednesday, May 11th, 2016

  • Received an order for USD $450,000 under its managed services platform from a leading specialty finance company
  • Agreement is for an initial term of three years with the option to extend paid in equal monthly payments.

VANCOUVER, May 11, 2016 – VirtualArmor International Inc. (“VirtualArmor” or the “Company“) (CSE: VAI) is pleased to announce that it has received an order for USD $450,000 under its managed services platform from a leading specialty finance company. The agreement is for an initial term of three years with the option to extend paid in equal monthly payments.

“We continue to see our recurring revenue managed security services platform gaining traction amongst leading multinational companies that are looking to protect their network from everyday threats,” said Matthew Brennan, Vice President of Sales at VirtualArmor. “Under the agreement, this leading brand will pay a monthly fee of $12,500 for a period of three years, with the option to extend, to have our expert staff provide security intelligence to strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture. In addition, the client spent approximately USD $100,000 in hardware and professional services with us prior to commencing the managed services program.”

“Our managed services platform serves as a source of predictable cash flow as we are engaged for a minimum of three years with every customer, with our longest standing customers having been with us for 10 years,” continued Matthew Brennan. “As cybersecurity threats continue to rise for companies of all sizes, we anticipate our managed services platform will provide a growing base of revenue for our company, while our hardware sales component serves as an entry point with future customers looking to secure every aspect of their network with leading cybersecurity solutions.”

About VirtualArmor

VirtualArmor is a cyber security company that delivers solutions to help enterprises build, monitor, maintain and secure their networks from cloud to core. As a managed security services provider, VirtualArmor’s services run 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year through its primary security operations center (“SOC”) located in Middlesbrough, U.K. and a secondary SOC located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Each member of VirtualArmor’s team supports the three main facets of its business: managed services, professional services, and hardware sales, by handling the design, configuration and installation of advanced network and cloud architecture solutions. VirtualArmor uses best-in-breed partnerships to provide solutions for customers that are affordable, highly reliable, scalable, and backed by thorough knowledge of the related technologies, products, and platforms. VirtualArmor has secured partnerships with established technology businesses specializing in network appliances, software, and systems and provides its services to the mid- to large- enterprise and service provider markets. VirtualArmor customers include a 13-location data center provider, a Fortune 100 oil and gas company, multiple service providers with presences throughout the United States, and household name enterprise organizations located primarily in the western United States. Further information about the Company is available under its profile on the SEDAR website, www.sedar.com, on the CSE website, www.thecse.com, and on its website, http://www.virtualarmor.com/.

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of VirtualArmor. Although VirtualArmor believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information as VirtualArmor cannot provide any assurance that it will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and VirtualArmor disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE VirtualArmor

Company Contact: Todd Kannegieter, President and CEO, Office: 720-961-3304, [email protected]; Investor Relations Contact: Babak Pedram, Office: 416-644-5081, [email protected] CNW Group 2016

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VirtualArmor Posts 2015 Revenue Growth of 53% Year over Year to over USD $7,000,000 (CAD $10,000,000) $VAI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:12 PM on Tuesday, April 26th, 2016

Vai_hub_logo_large_copy

–2015 Revenue Growth of 53% Year over Year to over USD $7,000,000 (CAD $10,000,000)

2015 Financial Highlights

  • Total revenue for 2015 increased by 53% to $7,366,309 compared to $4,813,410 in 2014. The increase in revenue was directly related to a significant increase in the number of customers being served.
  • Hardware and software sales revenue increased by 69% to $5,780,084 in 2015, compared to $3,417,928 for in 2014. The increase in revenue was due to an increase in the number of customers served as well as the size of orders from new and existing customers.
  • Managed and professional services revenue increased by 14% to $1,576,965 in 2015, compared to $1,378,386 in 2014.

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

VANCOUVER, April 26, 2016 – VirtualArmor International Inc. (“VirtualArmor” or the “Company“) (CSE: VAI) today announced fourth quarter (Q4) financial results for the three and twelve-month period ended December 31, 2015. All figures are in USD.

“2015 was a year of market expansion as we saw our top line grow by 53% over the previous year while continuing to partner with leading cyber security technology providers and increasing our customer base to include leading enterprises,” said Todd Kannegieter, CEO of VirtualArmor. “The revenue growth we saw over the past year was driven primarily by an increase in hardware/software sales to new customers as well as existing ones that upsized their orders. In addition, our managed services platform which serves as a source of multi-year recurring revenues saw an increase of 35% in monthly contractual billings at year-end 2015 vs. 2014 as initial product sales turned into three plus year contracts to manage the solutions purchased.”

“Looking forward into 2016, our company has a clear focus to continue partnering with leading cyber security technologies and expanding our sales channel to support incremental revenue growth across all of our business lines,” continued Todd Kannegieter. “In addition, we will continue scaling our hardware/software sales and increase our high margin managed services to become a larger percentage of overall revenues, and ultimately the main driving force to our bottom line.”

“Lastly, during the third quarter of 2015 we began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange and in doing so incurred a onetime listing expense of $4,166,285 which was the primary contributor to our net loss for the year,” said Todd Kannegieter. “In the coming quarters we anticipate this figure to normalize to better reflect our core earnings power as a business.”

Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights

  • Total revenue for Q4 2015 increased by 101% to $2,492,695, compared to $1,236,528 in Q4 2014. The increase in revenue was due to an increase in the number of customers served as well as the size of orders from existing customers.
  • Hardware and software sales revenue increased by 137% to $2,077,923 in the quarter ended December 31, 2015, compared to $877,379for in 2014.
  • Managed and professional services revenue increased by 16% to $413,956 in the quarter ended December 31, 2015, compared to$355,428.
  • Net income and comprehensive income for Q4 2015 was $915,230 as compared to a net loss of $31,433. The increase in net income is due to a gain on the fair value of a warrant derivative liability.
  • As at December 31, 2015, the Company’s cash balance was $250,812 compared to $95,978 as at December 31, 2014.

2015 Financial Highlights

  • Total revenue for 2015 increased by 53% to $7,366,309 compared to $4,813,410 in 2014. The increase in revenue was directly related to a significant increase in the number of customers being served.
  • Hardware and software sales revenue increased by 69% to $5,780,084 in 2015, compared to $3,417,928 for in 2014. The increase in revenue was due to an increase in the number of customers served as well as the size of orders from new and existing customers.
  • Managed and professional services revenue increased by 14% to $1,576,965 in 2015, compared to $1,378,386 in 2014.
  • The Company recorded a net loss of $3,403,391 (0.09 per share) for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to net income of$122,944 (0.00 per share) for the year ended December 31, 2014. The table below details certain non-cash and other transactions that for the purposes of this discussion have been adjusted out of the reported loss to produce an adjusted loss that forms a better basis for comparing the year-over-year operating results of the Company.
2015$ 2014$
(Loss) income for the year as reported (3,403,391) 122,944
Add (deduct):
Listing expense 4,166,285 –
Change in fair value of warrant derivative liabilities (1,169,751) –
G&A expense – share-based compensation 399,674 17,914
Adjusted (loss) income for the year (1) (7,183) 140,858
(1) Adjusted loss for the year is not a term recognized under IFRS. Non-IFRS measures do not have a standardized meaning. Accordingly, non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Operational Highlights:

  • During the quarter, the Company:
    • Commenced trading on the CSE under the symbol VAI.
  • Subsequent to the quarter, the Company:
    • Closed approximately $2,400,000 USD in orders over a 90 day period beginning December 1st, 2015.
    • Reduced shares outstanding with the voluntary escrow of free trading shares and canceled a previously announced private placement due to a favourable exercise of warrants.
    • Added three leading cybersecurity solutions to managed services platform.

About VirtualArmor
VirtualArmor is a cyber security company that delivers solutions to help enterprises build, monitor, maintain and secure their networks from cloud to core. As a managed security services provider, VirtualArmor’s services run 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year through its primary security operations center (“SOC”) located in Middlesbrough, U.K. and a secondary SOC located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Each member of VirtualArmor’s team supports the three main facets of its business: managed services, professional services, and hardware sales, by handling the design, configuration and installation of advanced network and cloud architecture solutions. VirtualArmor uses best-in-breed partnerships to provide solutions for customers that are affordable, highly reliable, scalable, and backed by thorough knowledge of the related technologies, products, and platforms. VirtualArmor has secured partnerships with established technology businesses specializing in network appliances, software, and systems and provides its services to the mid- to large- enterprise and service provider markets. VirtualArmor customers include a 13-location data center provider, a Fortune 100 oil and gas company, multiple service providers with presences throughout the United States, and household name enterprise organizations located primarily in the western United States. Further information about the Company is available under its profile on the SEDAR website, www.sedar.com, on the CSE website, www.thecse.com, and on its website, http://www.virtualarmor.com/.

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of VirtualArmor. Although VirtualArmor believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information as VirtualArmor cannot provide any assurance that it will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and VirtualArmor disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Virtual Armor

Company Contact: Todd Kannegieter, President and CEO, Office: 720-961-3304, [email protected]; Investor Relations Contact: Babak Pedram, Office: 416-644-5081, [email protected] CNW Group 2016

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Why Elon Musk’s Batteries Scare the Hell Out of the Electric Company

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:57 AM on Friday, December 5th, 2014
Tesla Factory in California
Tesla Motor Inc. associates work on a Model S at the company’s factory in Fremont, California. More than 100,000 plug-ins have been sold in California, according to data from HybridCars.com and Baum & Associates, though electric vehicles make up less than 1 percent of all U.S. car sales. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

Here’s why something as basic as a battery both thrills and terrifies the U.S. utility industry.

At a sagebrush-strewn industrial park outside of Reno, Nevada, bulldozers are clearing dirt for Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA:US)’s battery factory, projected to be the world’s largest.

Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk, sees the $5 billion facility as a key step toward making electric cars more affordable, while ending reliance on oil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At first blush, the push toward more electric cars looks to be positive for utilities struggling with stagnant sales from energy conservation and slow economic growth.

Yet Musk’s so-called gigafactory may soon become an existential threat to the 100-year-old utility business model. The facility will also churn out stationary battery packs that can be paired with rooftop solar panels to store power. Already, a second company led by Musk, SolarCity Corp. (SCTY:US), is packaging solar panels and batteries to power California homes and companies including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT:US)

“The mortal threat that ever cheaper on-site renewables pose” comes from systems that include storage, said Amory Lovins, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute, a Snowmass, Colorado-based energy consultant. “That is an unregulated product you can buy at Home Depot that leaves the old business model with no place to hide.”

J.B. Straubel, chief technology officer for Palo Alto, California-based Tesla, said the company views utilities as partners not adversaries in its effort to build out battery storage. Musk was not available for comment.

The Tesla systems are arriving just as utilities begin to feel increasing pressure worldwide from the disruption posed by renewable energy.

Lima Meeting

In Germany, the rapid rise of tax-subsidized clean energy has undermined wholesale prices and decimated the profitability of coal and natural gas plants. Germany’s largest utility EON SE (EOAN) said this week it will spin off its fossil-fuel plant business to focus on renewables in part because of new clean energy competitors coming onto its turf.

Threats to the traditional utility model come as energy and environment take the world stage at the latest round of United Nations climate talks that began Dec. 1 in Lima. Delegates, backed by global environmental groups, want to leave the conference with a draft agreement to tackle climate change by lowering carbon-dioxide emissions — something that has eluded them for years.

The Rocky Mountain Institute’s Lovins has installed solar on his house in Snowmass and uses it to power his electric car. His monthly electric bill: $25. He has a lot of company.

100,000 Plug-ins

In California, where 40 percent of the nation’s plug-in cars have been sold, about half of electric vehicle owners have solar or want to install it, according to a February survey by the Center for Sustainable Energy, a green-energy advocate. More than 100,000 plug-ins have been sold in California, according to data from HybridCars.com and Baum & Associates, though EVs make up less than 1 percent of all U.S. car sales.

Few homes and businesses use solar and back-up-battery storage, proof for some utilities that the systems remain a hard sell outside of states like California or markets like Hawaii where high power costs make solar competitive.

Still, the Edison Electric Institute, a trade group representing America’s investor-owned utilities, recently announced that its members will help to encourage electric vehicle use by spending $50 million annually to buy plug-in service trucks and invest in car-charging technology.

“Advancing plug-in electric vehicles and technologies is an industry priority,” said EEI President Thomas Kuhn.

Charging Stations

Analysts think the industry has been slow to react. Tesla, SolarCity and green-energy companies are already moving aggressively into unoccupied space. “Some of the more nimble companies that think and move more quickly, they are beating the utilities to the punch,” said Ben Kallo, a San Francisco-based analyst for Robert W. Baird & Co.

Tesla has installed 135 solar-powered fast-charging stations across North America where its Model S drivers can refuel for free. NRG Energy Inc. is building a network of public charging stations in major cities that drivers can access on a per-charge basis or for a flat monthly fee of about $15.

And then there’s the home front. In a July report, Morgan Stanley said Tesla’s home and business energy-storage product could be “disruptive” in the U.S. and in Europe as customers seek to avoid utility fees by going “off-grid.”

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-12-05/musk-battery-works-fill-utilities-with-fear-and-promise

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Stria Lithium Announces Funding Commitment from the Government of Canada

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:17 AM on Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

 

Innovation Funding Commitment to assist in the Company’s Development of Novel, Environmentally Sustainable Lithium Processing Technologies

 

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Nov. 12, 2014) – Stria Lithium Inc. (TSX VENTURE:SRA) (“Stria” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has received a funding commitment of up to $137,700 from the Government of Canada through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) in support of the Company’s continuing development of novel lithium processing technologies aimed at producing low-cost, very high purity lithium products.

Stria Lithium is advancing development of proprietary spodumene mineralization to lithium concentrate processing technologies capable of producing a low cost high-grade Li-metal, Li-carbonate and Li-hydroxide products.

On October 17, 2014, the Company announced it had completed a dense media separation study (“DMS”) with SGS Canada Ltd., demonstrating the mineralogical quality and viability for purification of spodumene mineralization from its 100% owned Pontax Lithium Project, Northern Quebec.

The mineralization will be used to feed Stria’s pilot plant located in Kingston, Ontario, scheduled for startup in early 2015.

Stria President and Chief Operating Officer Julien Davy said: “The federal government’s commitment of financial support bodes well for us in meeting our planned future production milestones, beginning with our pilot plant in Kingston. We are extremely grateful for NRC-IRAP’s business and technical advisory services, along with financial support, at this time in our process development.”

“Battery manufacturers are looking to the resource sector to find innovative solutions to lower production costs.

“Our decision to build our business on the development of new, proprietary processing technologies has attracted industry attention,” Mr. Davy added. “We believe our technologies hold the prospect of resolving not only cost and purity issues, but also, an industry imperative to do so on an environmentally sustainable basis.”

Stria’s aim is to license its potential technologies to electric vehicle and large-scale industrial energy storage battery manufacturers.

“Being able to ‘walk the talk,’ environmentally speaking,” Mr. Davy said, “is critical to our future success in the lithium industry.”

About Stria Lithium Inc.

Stria Lithium (TSX VENTURE:SRA) is a Mining Technology company that owns the Pontax spodumene lithium property in Northern Quebec and the Willcox brine lithium property in southeastern Arizona. As announced in January 2014, Stria is developing proprietary, in-house processing technologies for both projects with the purpose of reducing processing costs on an environmentally sustainable basis.

Stria’s technologies, based on recovering lithium metal directly from mineralization and from brine liquids, will be more efficient, will require fewer controls, less chemistry and require less energy from compact facilities designed to enable easy automation.

Forward Looking Statement – Disclaimer

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, being statements which are not historical facts, and discussions of future plans and objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations are in our documents filed from time to time with the TSX Venture Exchange and provincial securities regulators, most of which are available at www.sedar.com.

Stria Lithium Inc.
Mr. Julien Davy
President and COO
[email protected]

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