Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 5:45 PM on Friday, October 18th, 2019
HPQ Silicon makes its strongest case ever for the lead it has taken in the commercialization of its’
Solar grade silicon;
Silicon wafers for Li-ion batteries
High purity silicon for high value niche applications;
Metallurgical grade silicon at prices the industry has never seen before;
More than just lip service that we have typically come to expect from 98% of small cap companies, the Company’s pilot plant is about to go live and produce test samples of silicon wafers for batteries and is supported by not 1 but 2 (TWO) world class technology partners that validate both the HPQ process and commercialization plan.
This is a powerful presentation that is worthy of your time to watch and learn about the rise of HPQ Silicon.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:18 PM on Friday, October 18th, 2019
SPONSOR: Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc.
(TSX-V: EGLX) Uniting gaming communities with 85 owned and affiliated
websites, currently reaching over 150 million monthly visitors. The
company exceeded 2018 target with $11.0 million in revenue. Learn More
The Battle for Esports Dominance is on
As esports teams battle out in front of millions of fans online, companies are engaging in similar warfare as they look to lock up sponsorship deals with some of the most prized assets in the industry
This year, esports sponsorship revenue is projected to be the highest revenue stream at US$456.7 million, growing 34.3% from 2018 (NewZoo, 2019)
The race is on! As esports teams battle out in front of
millions of fans online, companies are engaging in similar warfare as
they look to lock up sponsorship deals with some of the most prized
assets in the industry. This year, esports sponsorship revenue is
projected to be the highest revenue stream at US$456.7 million, growing
34.3% from 2018 (NewZoo, 2019). As casual fans continue to tune into
extended amounts of esports content daily, businesses are beginning to
understand the value proposition that esports
presents; an industry that is ubiquitous, interactive and rapidly
growing. In turn, sponsors provide vast amounts of financial resources
that help transcend the nature of esports events, teams and players,
alike.
Top Sponsors in Esports
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC)
From producing CPUs to dabbling in the game, Intel has held the
longest sponsorship in esports with the Electronic Sports League (ESL).
The two companies announced a partnership in which they will invest
US$100 million towards esports initiatives to help the global growth and
expansion of esports. Intel also sponsors many large esports events,
including Intel Extreme Masters, ESL One, Intel Grand Slam,
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Pro League and the LPL league.
T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS)
T-Mobile is a telecommunications company that started sponsoring some
major teams very early. In 2017, T-Mobile was sponsoring both Cloud 9
and TSM, some of the largest esports teams in North America. Although
they no longer sponsor those teams, T-Mobile continues to make an impact
in the Overwatch League (OWL) by sponsoring the league and two of its
teams, the Houston Outlaws and New York Excelsior.
BMW (ETR: BMW)
BMW is switching gears in 2019 as it begins to watch the esports
landscape closely. The automotive company not only sponsored its first
esports team in 2019 in Cloud 9, but also partnered with Brazil’s paiN
Gaming in the same year.
Nike (NYSE: NKE)
It is hard to imagine a competitive environment in this world that
does not have Nike’s footprint. Nike treats esports the exact same way.
Nike supports esports athletes, such as Jain “Uzi†Zihao (Chinese League
of legends Pro), through endorsement deals and sponsors the Chinese
League of Legends Pro League, supplying the entire 16 team roster with
Nike apparel. Through these synergies, Nike hopes to create sportswear
catered to the esports audience and training programs for gamers to
improve.
SAP (NYSE: SAP)
In a data-driven age, where analytics are helping countless athletes
improve, it is only natural for electronic sports to follow the same
path. In 2018, SAP, a business software company, announced a three-year
sponsorship with Team Liquid to help improve the team’s performance
through innovation in data driven analysis. SAP will use its SAP Huna, a
business analytics platform, along with Team Liquid’s DOTA team’s
collaboration to help pioneer the first wave of deep game analysis. SAP
also sponsors large events, such as ESL and DreamHack, to provides these
live events with data analysis using its cloud platform.
As the arms race heats up for dominance in esports sponsorships, the
companies with established relationships with top tier teams and leagues
will have a strong first to market advantage. However, with the
centrality and fragmentation of the industry, there are still many
untapped pockets for new entrants.
The vast majority of esports companies, be in teams, franchises or
content plays, will be relying on corporate sponsorships to drive
revenue and these companies know, sponsorships are what will continue to
drive their valuations. This market is going to heat up and get way
more interesting.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 2:17 PM on Friday, October 18th, 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.
IDK: CSE
Crypto Correlations Change As Ethereum Becomes Benchmark, and Bitcoin Analysis Today
An important change from Q2 is a gradual ‘flippening’ of Ethereum and Bitcoin.
As the #1 cryptocurrency began increasing its dominance, Ethereum became the benchmark asset for the rest of the market, with most cryptocurrencies showing higher correlation with it than Bitcoin.Â
The cryptocurrency markets are seeing a small retracement today. Bitcoin continues
its low-volatility trading around the $8,400-8,500 level, while
altcoins are still pulling back from their previous gains.
Notable exceptions are 0x (ZRX), Algorand (ALGO) and Chainlink (LINK), which gained 3%, 10% and 5% over yesterday respectively.
Cryptocurrency price dynamics on October 11, by Coin360
Correlations, correlations everywhere in crypto
A report by Binance Research
analyzed the relative performance of cryptos in Q3. As markets slid
downwards from their yearly high in the summer, large market-cap coins
did so in unison.
“Over the third quarter of 2019, the average correlation between
Bitcoin and most other large cryptoassets ​remained in line with the
previous quarter,†the report notes. “​However, the average
correlation among large cryptoassets increased in Q3 2019 with a
significant positive increase in the correlations of BNB, ChainLink, and
Bitcoin SV with other cryptoassets.
An important change from Q2 is a gradual ‘flippening’ of Ethereum and Bitcoin. As the #1 cryptocurrency began increasing its dominance,
Ethereum became the benchmark asset for the rest of the market, with
most cryptocurrencies showing higher correlation with it than
Bitcoin. But correlation with Ethereum Classic was surprisingly among
the lowest, amounting ‘only’ to 0.69.
The report also highlighted the significant correlation between XRP and Stellar, previously noted by Crypto Briefing.
Lastly, cryptocurrencies appear to be specializing in distinct
branches. Proof-of-Work assets such as Bitcoin, Litecoin and Bitcoin
Cash exhibited higher correlation between each other than median. The
same can be said for privacy coins such as Monero, Zcash and Dash, as
well as programmable blockchains including EOS, NEO and Ethereum.
But while some of these trends have a logical underpinning, the report cautions that the future is unknowable. “Yet,
past empirical results are not representative of the future of this
industry. Hence, it remains to be seen whether some of these findings
will repeat in the fourth quarter of 2019,†analysts conclude.
Daily Bitcoin Commentary With Nathan Batchelor
Bitcoin is under downside pressure as we head into the U.S trading
session, after the BTC/USD pair reversed sharply from just above $8,800
level earlier this morning.
Around $10,000,000,000 was wiped off the total market cap of the
entire cryptocurrency market in just under one-hour. Interestingly, the
total market cap of the cryptocurrency market hit its highest level in
two-weeks before reversing.
No apparent fundamental catalyst has been attributed to the news. The
only real bearish news is that one of the largest payment systems in
China, Alipay, has recently promised to ban all payments related to
Bitcoin.
From a technical perspective, traders will likely continue to fade
rallies until the market cap of the entire cryptocurrency starts to
trade comfortably above its 200-day moving average.
Traders are currently selling advances towards the $230,000,000,000
level, as it represents the 61.8 Fibonacci retracement of the September
monthly trading low to the September 24th swing-high.
As far as Bitcoin is concerned, the cryptocurrency is back under
short-term selling pressure while trading below the $8,500 level, with
its 200-day moving average currently located around the $8,660 level.
According to short-term technical analysis, the BTC/USD pair can
expect to find support from the $8,215 and $8,100 levels if the reversal
continues.
If there is a sustained loss of the $8,100 level, we should expect
short-term bulls to capitulate, leaving the door-open for further
decline towards the $7,715 level.
* ‘The weekly time frame is showing that a bullish falling
wedge is forming. A move away from the $9,780 to $7,500 price range will
trigger the pattern’. *
SENTIMENT
Intraday bullish sentiment for Bitcoin has fallen, to 51.50%,
according to the latest data from TheTIE.io. Long-term sentiment for the
cryptocurrency is unchanged, at 61.50%.
UPSIDE POTENTIAL
Buyers need to move price back above the $8,500 level to stabilize
the BTC/USD pair today. A multi-day price close above its 200-day moving
average is currently needing to encourage a technical test of the
$9,000 level.
The daily RSI indicator is starting to roll over and now trades below
40, while the Choppiness indicator on the mentioned time frame is
showing that the market is still lacking a strong trend.
DOWNSIDE POTENTIAL
The loss of the $8,500 level has encouraged traders to test towards
the $8,300 level. A loss of the $8,300 level later today may lead to a
key test of the BTC/USD pair’s weekly pivot point, at $8,100.
Extended intraday technical support for the BTC/USD pair is currently located at the $7,715 and $7,500 levels.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 11:34 AM on Friday, October 18th, 2019
SPONSOR: Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc.
(TSX-V: EGLX) Uniting gaming communities with 85 owned and affiliated
websites, currently reaching over 150 million monthly visitors. The
company exceeded 2018 target with $11.0 million in revenue. Learn More
Visualized: The Esports Journey to Mainstream
Although esports might seem like a relatively new phenomenon, its origins can be traced all the way back to the 1970s.
It was only in the past decade however, that a wave of technological
innovation transformed the entire industry from an underground niche
into a billion-dollar mainstream phenomenon.
Today, the nascent esports industry competes with some of the biggest sports leagues
in the U.S., while global tech giants hastily invest billions of
dollars to make their mark in what many consider to be the future of
sports and entertainment.
How did it evolve into the industry we know today—and more importantly, will it maintain its furious pace of growth?
The History of Esports
Electronic sports (or esports), are organized, multiplayer video game
competitions commonly played by professional gamers. Since its
inception, the industry has continued to exceed expectations and reach
new milestones every decade.
Note: The timeline of events are an abridged version of major achievements in the industry.
1970s: The Birth of Esports
The earliest known video game competition—the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics—took place in 1972 at Stanford University. The winner of the event received an annual subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.
While it was a modest first prize for the industry, it would set a foundation for future prize pools in the millions of dollars.
1980s: More Gaming Options
The 1980s ushered in better consoles for esports. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) took graphics, controls, gameplay, and video game accessibility to the next level.
Five years later, the Sega Genesis console was released in the U.S. and Japan to compete with Nintendo—which held a 95% market monopoly at the time.
1990s: The First Tournaments
Nintendo increased its commitment to esports by hosting the Nintendo World Championships.
After touring 30 cities in the U.S., the finals challenged players to
games like Super Mario Bros. and Tetris, with a 40-inch TV awarded to
the winner.
Developers and gaming entrepreneurs created a flurry of leagues, including QuakeCon in 1996, followed by both the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) and the Professional Gamers League (PGL) in 1997.
In just a few years, these competitions helped esports gain significant traction.
2000s: The Explosion of Esports
Esports fully burst into the mainstream with Amazon’s acquisition of Twitch for $970 million
in 2014. The live video game streaming site gave esports a platform to
reach previously unthinkable heights, with popular games like League of Legends (LoL) and Defense of the Ancients 2 (Dota) receiving millions of views.
In 2019, Google followed suit with its Stadia
streaming service. The cloud-based video game platform aims to eliminate
the need for hardware, allowing Google to aggressively compete in the
esports space.
A Snapshot of Esports Today
The increasing involvement of developers and global tech giants has
not only increased the audience size of esports—it has also led to
bigger prize pools, and larger scale competitions across the world.
Demographics: 50% of esports viewership now comes from Asia.
Engagement: 6 billion hours were dedicated to watching esports in 2018, and will continue to grow to 9 billion by 2021.
Buy-in: The price of one of the 12 Overwatch League teams for sale in 2017 was $20 million.
Incentives: The Fortnite competition prize pool for the 2018 season was $100 million—equal to the entire esports prize pool in 2017.
It’s clear that esports continues to attract rapidly growing
audiences at an unprecedented rate. However, there are still significant
barriers inhibiting the industry from reaching its full potential.
The Future of esports
In order to maintain its furious pace of growth, the esports industry must first address five key challenges:
Diversity of game genres: The industry will need to produce more game genres in order to appeal to a wider audience outside of its current player base.
Geographic expansion of leagues: esports will need to
expand to national, regional, and global levels if it wants to tap into
bigger advertising budgets. However, while esports gains attention from
global media, local events are more difficult to organize.
Regulation of competitions: With multimillion-dollar prize pools at stake, new rules and regulations are needed to combat cheating and match fixing.
Ownership of media rights: Content rights have not been a focus for publishers, as fan-generated content has served as free advertising for their games.
Media alignment: Traditional media brands are still
reluctant to associate themselves with esports, as prejudices against
competitive gaming still exist. For example, gaming culture is viewed as
a harmful distraction, rather than a legitimate sport.
In less than 50 years, esports has evolved into a dominant form of entertainment today, eclipsing film and music industries
by a wide margin. With an increasingly mainstream audience, the
industry’s popularity and profitability shows no signs of slowing
down—despite the challenges it faces.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:26 AM on Friday, October 18th, 2019
SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (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 —————————–
‘It is quite amazing’: CBD oil entering the mainstream
Some people are infusing the cannabis extract in cocktails, others
are buying it in the form of dog treats, while many more are using it as
a form of pain relief.
Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive extract of the cannabis
plant commonly known as THC, cannabidiol doesn’t cause users to get
high.
And it is legal in the UK, assuming it does not contain one part in 10,000 of THC.
“When I first got involved with CBD I wanted to know what it was all
about,†says Richard Butler, part of the management team at CBD Virtue,
between Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton.
“It is still new in the UK.â€
Some of the products
His company uses CBD to make products such as tablets, oils, body creams and balms.
Mr Butler says people are turning to CBD products to alleviate
symptoms from physical ailments like pain and inflammation as well as
mental ones like anxiety and depression.
At present, use of the oil is largely unregulated, and clinical
trials into its usefulness are ongoing, but Mr Butler says he has
witnessed its benefits.
“You learn more from the responses and feedback you get from
customers,†he says. “It helps with pain relief, mental issues,
anxieties.
“It also helps with eczema, psoriasis and acne – it is quite amazing actually.
“A lot of our initial customers were 40 plus and many were buying products for the younger generation.
Dean Burke using a CBD Pod Filler at CBD Virtue
“What has amazed me is the amount of depression and anxiety that exists among teenagers up to people in their late 20s.â€
CBD oil, its proponents say, offers numerous benefits, from pain
relief to reducing anxiety. As an anticonvulsant, it may also help treat
neurological disorders such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
CBD is also one of the biggest buzzwords in food and drink. It has
been hailed the next big thing, with more and more chefs and producers
using the products in their recipes.
After already taking other countries by storm, more businesses in the UK are looking to tap into the market.
Ross Burke viewing the product range at CBD Virtue
Mr Butler insists he has seen some significant success stories of people using the product for remedial purposes.
“I know someone who suffered with Parkinson’s for years who every
time they woke up their whole body would be shaking and during the day
they would shake out of control,†he says.
“I said ‘try this’ and within two weeks they went from their whole
body shaking to feeling a slight twitch in their first finger and thumb.
“I am not allowed to say it cures cancer, but cancer sufferers are
using it. There was someone who had skin cancer and it helped clear up
blisters on their skin.
“My partner was on a lot of medication for various things and after
taking four or five drops a day her stress and anxiety has gone.â€
The product’s relationship to recreational cannabis also means that
some people are reluctant to accept its use, and the medical benefits it
provides have still to be proven beyond doubt.
But Mr Butler insists that the hemp-derived oil should be trusted.
“It is from a natural product that has been around for years,†he
says. “Initially people were sceptical because it relates to cannabis.
Yes, it is derived from cannabis plant, but the ‘high’ has been removed
with the remedial side left behind.
The management team at CBD Virtue: Dean Burke, Richard Butler, Shannon Fyfe and Ross Burke
“We had the over 50s saying ‘ yeah but it’s cannabis, it’s cannabis’,
but once you have explained to them they are willing to try it.
“A big part of my role has been educational. I would spend about two
hours a day on Facebook educating people and answering a lot of
questions.
“Initially it is getting people to try it, then after they see how
effective it is they speak about it to their friends and family – a lot
of it comes down to word of mouth.â€
The plant is grown in Colorado in the USA, and a powdered form of the
product is sent to the UK for the oil to be extracted by Richard’s
team.
CBD Virtue employs 16 people, and is looking to double that by moving to larger premises to cope with demand.
Richard says: “We have a lab which is about 15ft by 20ft where a lot
of our mixing is done. We also have another facility where we do the
bottling up and everything else.
Jean Price packing up an order at CBD Virtue
“We are looking for larger premises due to growing demand and want to
stay local. We employ 16 people and with the way things are going we
are looking to double the workforce.â€
Sales of products containing CBD have skyrocketed by 99 per cent in the UK, according to data.
Analysis by deals firm Wowcher suggests purchases of CBD products
have almost doubled in 2019, with an increasing number of Brits trying
the ingredient.
“The industry is exploding,†Mr Butler says. “Initially as a company
we had a slow start with various issues with banks and online payment
systems, but we have got more and more people on board who know how to
get around these things.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 7:19 AM on Friday, October 18th, 2019
Announced that it has partnered with Hanesbrands Inc.’s Champion® brand to create custom apparel for Enthusiast Gaming’s Esports Division, Luminosity Gaming and loyal fans worldwide
Exclusive launch at Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo, EGLX, October 18-20 in Toronto
TORONTO, Oct. 18, 2019 — Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: EGLX)(FSE: 2AV) (“Enthusiast Gaming†or the “Companyâ€) is excited to announce that it has partnered with Hanesbrands Inc.’s (“HBIâ€) Champion® brand to create custom apparel for Enthusiast Gaming’s Esports Division, Luminosity Gaming (“Luminosityâ€) and loyal fans worldwide. With over 50 professional esports players and influencers reaching 60 million collective followers, the collaboration with the Champion® brand reconfirms Luminosity’s brand power as one of the largest, globally recognized esports organizations in the world.Â
Steve Maida, President of Enthusiast Gaming’s Esports Division, Luminosity Gaming commented, “For
a brand as powerful as Champion to partner with our Esports Division,
Luminosity Gaming, further proves the dominance and sheer size of the
gaming and esports industry. We can now offer our fanbase of over 60
million an opportunity to buy exclusive Luminosity gear and proudly
represent Team Luminosity. HBI’s Champion® brand is a leader in
providing merchandise and attire to loyal esports fans, and we are
excited to continue collaborating with them to create our unique
Luminosity+Champion clothing line.â€
The Luminosity+Champion custom apparel will launch at Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo, EGLX,
taking place on October 18 – 20, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
in downtown Toronto. With 55,000 attendees in 2018, EGLX is the largest
video game expo and esports tournament in Canada. Attendees of the expo
will have an exclusive chance to purchase the Luminosity+Champion
apparel and represent Team Luminosity. The Luminosity roster includes
esports influencers Nicks, Kiwiz, Formula and Plu, Grammy-nominated
rapper Tory Lanz, and Team Captain, NFL star Richard Sherman.
Following EGLX, the Luminosity+Champion custom apparel will be
available exclusively on Luminosity’s website (Luminosity.gg), and
through the organization’s social media channels.
Tyler Lewison, General Manager of Champion® Teamwear (a division of HBI) commented, “Luminosity
Gaming is one of the largest globally recognized esports organizations
in North America. They share the same passion that we have at Champion
Teamwear: to support esports athletes worldwide and positively
contribute to the rapid growth of an exciting up-and-coming sport. This
collaboration allows players and fans to experience high-quality,
comfortable Champion® apparel while supporting one of the most exciting
teams in the industry.â€
In addition to the partnership with the Champion® brand, Enthusiast
Gaming has partnered with some of the world’s leading brands including
Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, Foodora, Nintendo, Bell, and Microsoft. As
the gaming and esports sector continues to grow, more non-endemic
brands are starting to enter the space; as the largest gaming network in
the U.S., reaching over 200 million global gamers monthly, Enthusiast
Gaming is a leading option for brands looking to reach the gamer
demographic.
About Champion
Since 1919, HBI has offered a full line of innovative athletic
apparel for men and women including activewear, sweats, tees, sports
bras, team uniforms and accessories under its Champion® brand. HBI uses
innovative design and state-of-the-art product testing to ensure
uncompromised quality and innovative apparel for our consumers.
Champion® athleticwear can be purchased at department stores, sporting
goods, specialty retailers, and at Champion.com. For more information, please contact us at 1-800-315-0563 or at Facebook.com/Champion, follow us on Twitter @Championusa or on Instagram @Champion.
Champion® is a brand of Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE:HBI).The Champion®
trademarks are owned by HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises LLC a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanesbrands, Inc.
About Enthusiast Gaming
Enthusiast Gaming (TSX.V: EGLX)(FSE: 2AV) is building the world’s
largest network of communities for gamers and esports fans. Already the
largest gaming network in the U.S., the Company’s business is comprised
of three main pillars: Media, Events and Esports. Enthusiast Gaming’s
digital media platform includes 100+ gaming related websites and 900
YouTube channels which collectively reach 150 million visitors monthly.
The media network generates over 30 billion ad requests and over 1
billion page views per month. Enthusiast’s esports division, Luminosity
Gaming, is a leading global esports franchise that consists of 7
professional esports teams under ownership and management, including
the Vancouver Titans Overwatch team and the Seattle-based Call of Duty
team. Collectively, the integrated ecosystem reaches over 200 million
gaming enthusiasts on a monthly basis. Enthusiast Gaming’s event
business, owns and operates Canada’s largest gaming expo, Enthusiast
Gaming Live Expo, EGLX, (eglx.com) with approximately 55,000 people attending in 2018. For more information on the Company, visit www.enthusiastgaming.com. For more information on Luminosity Gaming, please visit luminosity.gg
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Investor Relations:
Julia Becker Head of Investor Relations & Marketing [email protected] (604) 785.0850
Forward-Looking Information Certain
statements in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward
looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical,
including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or
intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or
developments to differ materially from those contained in the
statements, including risks related to factors beyond the control of
Enthusiast Gaming. The risks include risks that are customary to
transactions of this nature and customary to companies which have their
stock traded on the TSXV. No assurance can be given that any of the
events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if
they do occur, what benefits Enthusiast Gaming will obtain from them.
This
press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of
an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The
securities have not been and will not be registered under the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Actâ€) or
any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the
United States or to a U.S. Person unless registered under the U.S.
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from
such registration is available.
Neither TSX
Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is
defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 5:41 PM on Thursday, October 17th, 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.
—————
US retail sales of CBD to increase 133% in 2019, surpass $10 billion by 2024
Retail sales of CBD in the U.S. are expected to surpass $1 billion in 2019 – a 133% increase over 2018 sales
DENVER, Oct. 17, 2019 — Retail sales of CBD in the U.S. are expected to surpass $1 billion in 2019 – a 133% increase over 2018 sales – and may eclipse $10 billion by 2024, according to projections from the newly released 2019 Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook, produced by the editors of Hemp Industry Daily.
The 2019 Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook predicts that retail sales of
CBD in the U.S. are expected to surpass $1 billion in 2019 – a 133%
increase over 2018 sales – and may eclipse $10 billion by 2024.
“The recent surge of consumer demand for CBD, coupled with
increasingly easy access to CBD products, is expected to drive retail
sales to about $1.1 billion-$1.3 billion in 2019,” said Kristen Nichols, editor of the 2nd Annual Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook. “We project retail CBD sales will increase to $10.3 billion by 2024, a five-year compound annual growth rate of 54%.”
When no federal agency tracks hemp as a commodity, the exclusively business focused 2019 Annual Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook provides
understanding of the current and future challenges needed to make the
most accurate and informed business decisions. Research-driven insights,
will help business professionals understand economic, agricultural and
regulatory developments impacting their positions and growth in the
industry.
30+ charts exploring and analyzing the hemp & CBD market from
critical angles including retail forecasts, consumer demand, production
and more.
Top 10 hemp-producing state profiles exploring market conditions and retail trends.
Regulatory outlook, best practices, and future considerations for cultivators and processors looking to meet consumer demand
Benchmarks and wholesale prices, plus prices for hemp seeds and clone varietals
Pain points for growers and processors with a focus on input costs and per acre profits
“Imagine running a race with brand-new shoes and a burst of energy
but no idea what the course looks like. That’s somewhat the position in
which today’s hemp industry finds itself,” said Nichols.
“Relying on deeply researched data points along the way could make the
difference between hitting the finish line and running off course.”
Tags: CBD, CSE, Hemp, Marijuana, stocks, tsx, tsx-v, weed Posted in Bougainville Ventures | Comments Off on Bougainville Ventures $BOG.ca – US retail sales of #CBD to increase 133% in 2019, surpass $10 billion by 2024 $CROP.ca $VP.ca NF.ca $MCOA
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:14 PM on Thursday, October 17th, 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.
IDK: CSE
Crypto is coming for Fortnite – whether it likes it or not
Fortnite’s Chapter 2 launched this week. Will crypto be part of its next big evolution?
Here’s how the game has already crossed paths with blockchain tech.
Epic Games’ enormously popular battle
royale shooter Fortnite made headlines this week after it shut down—but
only for a couple of days. Epic cannily replaced the game’s vibrant map
with a black hole, which fans stared at until it revealed the game’s Chapter 2 update, adding a brand-new environment, fresh gameplay elements, and a refreshed interface.
With some 250 million total players
as of this past spring, Fortnite is a cultural sensation that goes
beyond core gamers—and it’s big business too. The game may be free to
download and play, but in-game costumes and other paid perks have
generated huge revenues for Epic—$2.4 billion in 2018 alone. Naturally, that’s got the blockchain community asking: when will Fortnite include crypto?
You can’t (yet) spend cryptocurrency
in the game itself, but both Fortnite and Epic Games have already
crossed paths with crypto and blockchain in a number of ways. Can
in-game integration be far behind? Here’s a look at the ever-growing
intersection between Fortnite and crypto.
You can bet on Fortnite matches with crypto
Fortnite is one of the fastest
growing esports around, and Epic Games has facilitated its growth by
pumping the competitive scene full of prize money and large-scale
tournaments. According to Esports Earnings,
Fortnite competitions have awarded more than $84 million to date in
prizing, with July’s Fortnite World Cup responsible for about $33
million of that.
With sports inevitably comes betting—and yes, esports betting is definitely a thing. Unikrn
is one of the most popular esports betting sites, allowing users to bet
on the outcomes of official competitive matches, as well as matches
from popular Twitch streamers.
Unikrn betting is based on the platform’s own
UnikoinGold token, which can be bet
on professional Fortnite matches, wagered in your own in-game battles,
and used to enter prize giveaways. The esports industry is rapidly
ballooning in size and value, with esports analytics service Newzoo
estimating a $1.1 billion total
value this year and nearly $1.8 billion in 2022. Betting will only grow
more appealing as more and more people get hooked on esports—and crypto
is already making inroads on the industry.
For a brief moment at the start of
the year, you could actually buy Fortnite merchandise through an
official Epic Games store using Monero (XMR). Monero developer Riccardo
Spagni seemed (understandably) thrilled about the news, and suggested
that it was chosen for its privacy-centric approach compared to Bitcoin.
However, there was a snag in the excitement: Epic Games didn’t actually mean to enable Monero support. After a few days, the option was disabled and company founder and CEO Tim Sweeney tweeted,
“Actually, Fortnite’s brief foray into crypto was accidental. We worked
with a partner to open a merchandise store, and somewhere along the way
Monero payment was enabled.”
Tokenize all the Things
A multimedia collection by Decrypt. Explore how “tokenization†is redefining our relationship to ownership.
While that official crypto dalliance
was sadly unintentional, you can actually purchase V-Bucks—Fortnite’s
premium, in-game currency—with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dash, and
Dogecoin, right now. However, it’s through a third-party service, Bitrefill…
and it’s via a very simple workaround. Essentially, you choose which
game system or platform you play on, and then you’re sent a gift card
code for that store. You can use then use that code to purchase V-Bucks
and load up on silly character skins, colorful weapons, and fancy dance
moves (really).
Epic Games is actually excited by blockchain tech
Epic’s swift shutdown of Monero
support in its merch shop might seem like a sign that the company
doesn’t see a future in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, but
worry not: Sweeney tweeted that they’re into it, but just not ready to
roll it out to a huge, mainstream audience.
“Many of us at Epic are big fans of
the decentralized computing tech underlying cryptocurrency, however a
lot more work is needed on volatility and fraud-proofing before bringing
it to such a broad audience that includes younger gamers,” he tweeted in January, adding that,
“Epic doesn’t have any cryptocurrency partners and aren’t in any crypto
partnership discussions with anyone. We do read lots of papers and talk
to smart people to learn more in anticipation of an eventual
intercept.”
Since then, though, Epic Games has changed its tune; in May this year, it announced a partnership with The Abyss,
a blockchain gaming platform that allows game developers to tap into
Epic’s Unreal Developers Network. Studios that put their games on the
platform can accept Abyss Tokens for both the games themselves and
in-game purchases.
The crypto industry, meanwhile,
continues to chip away at the rock face. Recently, devs for the Nano
cryptocurrency unveiled a beta plug-in for Unreal Engine 4â —the game engine that underpins
Fortniteâ —that lets users pay for in-game items in the Nano
cryptocurrency as well as earning Nano for in-game tasks such as killing
enemies and participating in tournaments.
Call it baby steps, but it’s
certainly something. Sweeney’s comments suggest that a crypto future for
Epic Games could just be a matter of time—and surely interest from the
blockchain community is huge, considering how much money flows through
both Fortnite and the video game industry as a whole (an estimated $152.1 billion in 2019). Until then, we’re sure to see more unofficial crypto initiatives spring up around Fortnite’s fringe.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 12:46 PM on Thursday, October 17th, 2019
SPONSOR: Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc.
(TSX-V: EGLX) Uniting gaming communities with 85 owned and affiliated
websites, currently reaching over 150 million monthly visitors. The
company exceeded 2018 target with $11.0 million in revenue. Learn More
Can Investors Get a Piece of the Esports Action?
There’s huge potential in this subsection of the video game world.
If you’re looking for an industry with a ton of rapid growth behind it and plenty of room for more ahead, you could do worse than to consider video games. The amount of time we spend on them is increasing at a ridiculous clip, as is the amount of money, and the global trends appear promising, which adds up to an opportunity for investors. If you don’t feel ready to take advantage, Motley Fool Answers co-hosts Robert Brokamp and Alison Southwick want to help.
For this podcast, they’ve invited senior analyst Jason Moser back
into the studio, this time to talk about the current situation in the
world of video games and esports from an investor’s perspective: which
companies look strongest, how this particular business might move the
needle for some more diversified companies, and more. In this segment,
they focus specifically on the world of esports. So if you can’t quite
imagine how watching other people play video games could evolve into the
next breakout spectator sport, allow them to walk you through it.
To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool’s free podcasts, check out our podcast center.
Something big just happened
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Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:03 AM on Thursday, October 17th, 2019
Announce the appointment of Sean Homuth as Acting Chief Financial Officer, effective today
Mr. Homuth’s permanent role as CFO will commence upon receiving Health Canada security clearance required for all Officers and Directors of the Company
TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2019 — North Bud Farms Inc. (CSE: NBUD) (OTCQB: NOBDF) (“NORTHBUD” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Homuth as Acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective today. Mr. Homuth’s permanent role as CFO will commence upon receiving Health Canada security clearance required for all Officers and Directors of the Company.Â
“As NORTHBUD expands its presence into the USA with the anticipated
closing of its previously announced letters of intent with the Qlora
Group (California) and Nevada Botanical Science (Nevada), we are
strategically adding additional expertise in international business and
finance,†said Ryan Brown, CEO of North Bud Farms Inc.
Mr. Homuth brings extensive experience with both Canadian and U.S.
publicly traded organizations both in industry as well as from a client
perspective during his tenure at Ernst & Young and, more recently,
as an independent consultant. Previously, Mr. Homuth was Chief Financial
Officer at Orezone Gold Corporation (and Vice President, Finance and
Administration for its predecessor company, Orezone Resources Inc.) a
publicly listed company headquartered in Canada with operations in West
Africa. At Orezone Mr. Homuth led a global team of finance professionals
and was involved in over $800 million in financings and M&A
transactions with the company and its predecessor. Mr. Homuth holds
accounting designations in both Canada (CPA, CA) and the United States
(CPA – Illinois).
“We are pleased to welcome Sean to our dynamic team as NORTHBUD
expands its footprint into the USA,†stated Ryan Brown, CEO of North Bud
Farms Inc. “Sean brings specialty experience in accounting and finance
for international companies as well as a profound knowledge of capital
markets, having worked with and advised many public companies over the
years. He joins NORTHBUD at an exciting time in its development as his
leadership and experience will be essential in executing our strategic
plan and taking the company to its next level of growth.â€
Brendan Stutt, the Company’s incumbent CFO, who has made invaluable
contributions to the Company’s financial leadership and culture, will
work to ensure a smooth transition and will remain with the Company in a
non-executive role.
Mr. Brown stated: “We would like to thank Brendan for his
contributions to the Company, in particular the successful listing of
NORTHBUD on the Canadian Securities Exchange.â€
About North Bud Farms Inc. North Bud Farms Inc.,
through its wholly owned subsidiary GrowPros MMP Inc., is pursuing a
licence under The Cannabis Act. The Company has built a state-of-the-art
purpose-built cannabis production facility located on 135 acres of
Agricultural Land in Low, Quebec, Canada. NORTHBUD through its wholly
owned U.S. subsidiary, Bonfire Brands USA has entered into agreements to
acquire assets in California and Nevada.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSEâ€) nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of
the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Forward-looking statements Certain statements and
information included in this press release that, to the extent they are
not historical fact, constitute forward-looking information or
statements (collectively, “forward-looking statementsâ€) within the
meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking
statements, including those identified by the expressions “anticipateâ€,
“believeâ€, “planâ€, “estimateâ€, “expectâ€, “intendâ€, “mayâ€, “should†and
similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its
management. This press release contains forward- looking statements
including those relating to the entering into of the Definitive
Agreement and closing of the Transaction with the Qlora Group and Nevada
Botanical Science. Forward-looking statements are based on the
reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management
made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current
conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that
management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances
at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be
incorrect.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among
others, the risk factors included in the Company’s final long form
prospectus dated August 21, 2018, which is available under the Company’s
SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such
forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement
speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors
emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company’s
management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the
impact of each such factor on the Company’s business or the extent to
which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect information, events, results,
circumstances or otherwise after the date hereof or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law including
securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: North Bud Farms Inc. Edward Miller VP, IR & Communications Office: (855) 628-3420 ext. 3 [email protected]
Tags: Cannabis, CBD, CSE, Hemp, Marijuana, otc, stocks, tsx, tsx-v, weed Posted in North Bud Farms Inc | Comments Off on North Bud Farms $NBUD.ca Announces the Appointment of Sean Homuth as Acting Chief Financial Officer $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca
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