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2018: The Year #Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence #AI Converge $IDK.ca $SX.ca $SXOOF #Blockstation $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:14 AM on Friday, January 12th, 2018
  • Blockchain technology, which powers most cryptocurrencies, is in nascent stages
  • This past year, we started seeing some early proof points of how this new infrastructure can be used,
  • Including the announcement by the Australian Securities Exchange that it would replace its current post-trade settlement process with a blockchain system, after running both concurrently.
Jan 12, 2018 at 09:14 UTC

Jalak Jobanputra is founder and managing partner of Future\Perfect Ventures, an early-stage venture fund investing in decentralization and digital assets.

The following article is an exclusive contribution to CoinDesk’s 2017 in Review.

2017 was the year that cryptocurrency became mainstream.

But what’s even more exciting to many of us who have been investing in the sector for the past several years is the development of the underlying technology.

Blockchain technology, which powers most cryptocurrencies, is in nascent stages. This past year, we started seeing some early proof points of how this new infrastructure can be used, including the announcement by the Australian Securities Exchange that it would replace its current post-trade settlement process with a blockchain system, after running both concurrently.

This reminds me of the process large enterprises went through in the late 1990s and early 2000s as they moved from client-server software to web-based software, transitioning their supply chain and procurement processes online. They conducted extensive return on investment (ROI) studies to justify the upfront cost of replacing current systems. Twenty years later, the ROI is obvious, but many companies viewed the risk as significant at the time.

I believe we’ll continue to see more companies across more industries in 2018 take a look at how blockchain technology can create efficiencies (and potentially new business models in the future).

When I launched Future\Perfect Ventures in 2014 around the thesis of decentralization, I was most excited about the combination of blockchain with other emerging technologies, including machine learning/AI, security and internet of things. In this way, I expect 2018 will be the year that we start to see the convergence of these technologies to truly create the decentralized computing and communications platforms of the future.

Decentralization, by its very nature, requires that more intelligence shifts to nodes instead of residing in one central server.

We will continue to see the development of semiconductors that are capable of advanced computing in smaller and smaller devices. As devices at the edge become smarter, the smart contracts enabled by blockchain platforms will work better with more advanced data analytics capabilities.

I see a mini-brain in each of our devices, ranging from simplistic ones to ones capable of processing larger datasets and making decisions based on that data.

The open availability of more data and smarter processing at the nodes will enable broader datasets available to more companies and people, instead of proprietary data ownership that currently exists within companies such as Facebook and Google. More importantly, that data will be diverse and representative of the world we live in, instead of being filtered by a few companies that reside in one geography.

While this may not all happen within the next year, we have started an inevitable march towards that future, one that will be even more transformative than the internet was.

Weaving machine via Shutterstock

The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk strives to offer an open platform for dialogue and discussion on all things blockchain by encouraging contributed articles. As such, the opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of CoinDesk.

For more details on how you can submit an opinion or analysis article, view our Editorial Collaboration Guide or email [email protected].

Source: https://www.coindesk.com/2018-year-blockchain-ai-iot-converge/

INTERVIEW – Namaste $N.ca $NXTTF Global Bevarage Supply Agreement With Phivida $VIDA.ca Sets It On The Path Towards Becoming “Namazon”

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:08 PM on Thursday, January 11th, 2018

Today’s press release from Namaste is one of the most important in recent months – but you wouldn’t know it from the press release headline announcing a “supply agreement”.
This is no ordinary supply agreement … this is a GLOBAL supply agreement for CBD infused beverages, with a company whose management can be summarized as follows:

“Phivida’s management team has a strong background from the beverage industry to branding, including former senior executives from Redbull, Proctor and Gamble and McKesson’s”

It gets better … because this is what they said about our Namaste:

“John – David Belfontaine, President and CEO of Phivida reports: “As Phivida continues to expand is CBD product offerings into a $1 Trillion global health and wellness markets, it is critical that we secure the strongest distribution partners. Ecommerce and digital marketing is a core horizontal within our greater strategic business plan, and Namaste is an ideal partner to expand our online presence into emerging markets around the world. We look forward to launching our global digital marketing and distribution platform with Namaste’s support as a key strategic partner.”

When a management team formerly from Redbull, P&G and McKesson’s think this highly of your company, you can only come to one conclusion..

Namazon

ThreeD Capital’s $IDK.ca Artificial Intelligence Investment, #Goldspot Discoveries, Completes $1.3 Million Financing With A Prolific Mining Financier and Hochschild Mining $PNP.ca $ZC.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:20 AM on Thursday, January 11th, 2018

Threed capital

  • Goldspot recently completed a $1.3 million equity financing from a prolific mining financier, as well as Hochschild Mining plc
  • Hochschild is a leading British-based silver and gold mining company operating in North, Central and South America
  • Hochschild produced 17.3 million ounces of silver and 246 thousand ounces of gold
  • Revenues in 2016 were US$688 million
  • Trades on the London Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of US$1.7 billion

TORONTO, Jan. 11, 2018 — ThreeD Capital Inc. (the “Company”) (CSE:IDK), a Canadian-based venture capital firm focused on investments in promising, early stage companies and ICOs with disruptive capabilities, is pleased to announce the following news from Goldspot Discoveries Inc. (“Goldspot”), a developer of Artificial Intelligence capable of significantly improving mineral exploration targeting.  ThreeD owns approximately 18% of Goldspot’s common shares.

FINANCING FROM A PROLIFIC MINING FINANCIER AND HOCHSCHILD MINING

Goldspot recently completed a $1.3 million equity financing from a prolific mining financier, as well as Hochschild Mining plc (“Hochschild”).  Hochschild is a leading British-based silver and gold mining company operating in North, Central and South America. In 2016, Hochschild produced 17.3 million ounces of silver and 246 thousand ounces of gold. Hochschild revenues in 2016 were US$688 million and currently trades on the London Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of US$1.7 billion.

“We are pleased that such key influencers in the mining sector have such confidence in our vision. More importantly, it is testament to the merits of our technology that one of our first clients has a vested interest in our success,” states Denis Laviolette, CEO and President of Goldspot Discoveries. “We believe that big data and machine learning are poised to disrupt the entire mining sector. Our innovation is reinvigorating an archaic sector, reducing significant risk, while giving our stakeholders the most torque for their buck.”

RAMON BARUA AND SHELDON INWENTASH ADDED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Along with the completion of this financing, Goldspot announced the appointment of Ramón Barúa and Sheldon Inwentash to the Board of Directors.

Mr. Barúa is currently the CFO of Hochschild Mining plc, a leading underground precious metals producer focusing on high grade silver and gold deposits, with over 50 years’ operating experience in the Americas. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Barúa served as CEO of Fosfatos del Pacifico, a mining project in northern Peru owned by Cementos Pacasmayo, an associate company of the Hochschild Group. During 2008, Mr. Barúa was the General Manager for Hochschild Mining’s Mexican operations, having previously worked as Deputy CEO and CFO of Cementos Pacasmayo. Prior to joining Hochschild, Mr. Barúa was a Vice President of Debt Capital Markets with Deutsche Bank in New York for four years and a sales analyst with Banco Santander in Peru.

Mr. Inwentash has more than 30 years of investing experience and success, financing hundreds of private and public start-up companies. The Financial Post called him a “A World Leader in financing junior resource firms”. Through two decades leading Pinetree Capital, Mr. Inwentash created significant shareholder value through early investments and subsequent exits in companies such as Queenston Mining (acquired by Osisko Mining Corp. for $550-million), Aurelian Resources (acquired by Kinross for $1.2-billion) and Gold Eagle Mines (acquired by Goldcorp for $1.5-billion), with the firm’s market capitalization exceeding $1 Billion at its peak.

Mr. Inwentash stated, “I want to congratulate Denis and the Goldspot team for achieving yet another important milestone.  Attaining this level of acceptance with two significant influencers in global mining provides third party validation of their Artificial Intelligence capabilities.  I believe this new and disruptive area of Artificial Intelligence will revolutionize the approach toward mineral discovery forever.”

About Goldspot Discoveries Inc.

Goldspot Discoveries is a technology/investment company that has developed a machine-learning algorithm capable of significantly improving mineral exploration targeting on both a regional and local scale. The Goldspot Algorithm is proven to mitigate investment risk and increase the efficiency and success rate of exploration in data-rich environments.  The company plans to lever this technology to create a new and exciting investment opportunity for the market, and to give its stakeholders the greatest upside in the mining sector while reducing the risk.

Goldspot Discoveries is aiming to completely change the investment decision model by using the Goldspot Algorithm to stake acreage, acquire projects and royalties, and invest in public vehicles to ultimately create a portfolio of assets with the greatest reward to risk ratio. Already, the company has staked highly prospective targets in the Abitibi region and is currently working with companies to delineate further targets in Ontario, West Africa, Nevada, Arizona, and South America.

About ThreeD Capital Inc.

ThreeD is a publicly-traded Canadian-based venture capital firm focused on opportunistic investments in companies in the Junior Resources, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain sectors.  ThreeD seeks to invest in early stage, promising companies and ICOs where it may be the lead investor and can additionally provide investees with advisory services, mentoring and access to the Company’s ecosystem.

For further information: Gerry Feldman, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary [email protected]
telephone: 416 606 7655

Monarques Gold $MQR.ca intersects 61.48 g/t Au over 3.9 metres (12.8 feet) at the Beaufor Mine $MUX.ca $SII.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:54 AM on Thursday, January 11th, 2018

  • New zones subparallel to Zone Q intersected with significant grades of:
    • 61.48 g/t Au over 3.9 metres, including 361.00 g/t Au over 0.7 metres
    • 39.05 g/t Au over 1.8 metres, including 99.95 g/t Au over 0.7 metres
    • 15.44 g/t Au over 3.0 metres, including 49.55 g/t Au over 0.8 metres
  • A new area, Zone 1700, returns a grade of:
    • 12.33 g/t Au over 1.6 metres, including 36.25 g/t Au over 0.5 metres

MONTREAL, Jan. 11, 2018  – MONARQUES GOLD CORPORATION (“Monarques” or the “Corporation”) (TSX.V:MQR) (OTCMKTS:MRQRF) (FRANKFURT:MR7) is pleased to report the results of its exploration drilling program at the Beaufor Mine. The 2,239-metre program was aimed at increasing the resource in two sectors of the Beaufor Mine, Zone Q and Zone 1700.

Zone Q Sector

Zone Q is the main zone of current production at the Beaufor Mine.

Two new holes were drilled in the eastern extension of Zone Q, outside the known mineralized envelope, to test the continuity of the structure and check for the presence of mineralized veins in the hangingwall and footwall of the zone. Holes 150-60a and 150-61 (see Sections 1810E and 1855E) were drilled to a depth of 534 and 558 metres, respectively. They intersected Zone Q, as well as several mineralized veins (QH Zone) located 20 to 60 metres from the hangingwall of the zone. A number of mineralized veins were also intersected 10 to 100 metres away from the Zone Q footwall (QF Zone).

These new mineralized zones are similar in nature to the typical known veins at the Beaufor Mine, which are quartz-tourmaline veins with disseminated pyrite associated with diorite dikes.

The best results returned by Zones QH and QF were as follows:

  • Hole 150-60a intersected 15.44 g/t Au over 3.0 metres, including 49.55 g/t Au over 0.8 metres; and 7.70 g/t Au over 2.0 metres, including 14.10 g/t Au over 0.5 metres.
  • Hole 150-61 intersected 61.48 g/t Au over 3.9 metres, including 361.00 g/t Au over 0.7 metres; and 39.05 g/t Au over 1.8 metres, including 99.95 g/t Au over 0.7 metres.

These two holes, spaced at about 45 metres apart, appear to confirm the lateral continuity of Zone QH and Zone Q, which may remain open to the east.

“These initial drill results confirm the strong exploration potential in the area to the east of Zone Q,” said Jean-Marc Lacoste, President and Chief Executive Officer of Monarques. “The intersection of several lenses with significant grades on both sides of the zone is ample reason to explore the area in more detail. Our strategy is to continue testing the mineralization in the east and at depth in order to increase the mineral resource at the Beaufor Mine.”

Zone 1700 Sector

The Zone 1700 sector lies east of the 1500 level of the Beaufor Mine, 458 metres below surface. A few historical holes intersected mineralized lenses with gold values of over 3 g/t.

Four new holes were drilled to test the extensions of those mineralized lenses. The results for holes 152-18, 160-14, 168-04 and 176-01 provided a better understanding of the structure and size of the lenses (see 1500 level plan). Zone 1700 remains open vertically but is not laterally continuous and may be confined by two structures striking N80°.

The most significant grades were intersected in holes 160-14 and 152-18 and appear to indicate the presence of two new zones:

  • Hole 160-14 intersected 10.75 g/t Au over 0.7 metres; 12.33 g/t Au over 1.6 metre, including 36.25 g/t Au over 0.5 metres; and 10.42 g/t Au over 1.1 metres, including 20.30 g/t Au over 0.5 metres.
  • Hole 152-18 intersected 14.25 g/t Au over 0.5 metres.

The extensions of these mineralized lenses are still not well defined and additional drilling is needed for a better understanding of their geometry.

Quality control and qualified person
Sampling normally consists of sawing the core into two equal halves along its main axis and shipping one of the halves to the ALS Minerals laboratory in Val-d’Or for assaying. The samples are crushed, pulverized and assayed by fire assay with atomic absorption finish. Results exceeding 10.0 g/t are re-assayed using the gravity method. Certified standards and blanks are inserted into the sampling stream for quality control purposes.

The technical and scientific content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Élise Bourgault, P.Geo., the Corporation’s qualified person under National Instrument 43‑101.

ABOUT MONARQUES GOLD CORPORATION

Monarques Gold Corp (TSX-V: MQR) is an emerging gold producer focused on pursuing growth through its large portfolio of high-quality projects in the Abitibi mining camp in Quebec, Canada. The Corporation currently owns close to 300 km² of gold properties (see map), including the Beaufor Mine, the Croinor Gold (see video), Wasamac, McKenzie Break and Swanson advanced projects, and the Camflo and Beacon mills, as well as six promising exploration projects. It also offers custom milling services out of its 1,600 tonne-per-day Camflo mill. Monarques enjoys a strong financial position and has more than 150 skilled employees who oversee its operating, development and exploration activities.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Monarques’ actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied therein. 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 press release.

Table 1:  Summary of drill results on the Beaufor Mine

Zone Q sector: True width is approximately 80% of the length of the intersection.
Zone 1700 sector: True width is approximately 50% of the length of the intersection.

SOURCE Monarques Gold Corporation

View original content with multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2018/11/c3572.html

Jean-Marc Lacoste, President and Chief Executive Officer, 1-888-994-4465, [email protected], www.monarquesgold.com; ElisabethTremblay, Senior Geologist – Communications Specialist, 1-888-994-4465, [email protected], www.monarquesgold.comCopyright CNW Group 2018

Marijuana Company of America Launches New CBD Product hempSMART™ Pet Drops $AERO $CBDS $CGRW $APH.ca $GBLX

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:37 AM on Thursday, January 11th, 2018

15233 mcoa

  • Release of hempSMART™ Full Spectrum Pet Drops formulated for cats and dogs.
  • Formulated with 250mg of full spectrum non-psychoactive Cannabidiol (CBD) derived from industrial hemp

 

ESCONDIDO, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NetworkWire – MARIJUANA COMPANY OF AMERICA INC. (“MCOA” or the “Company”) (OTC:MCOA), an innovative hemp and cannabis corporation, is pleased to announce the release of hempSMART™ Full Spectrum Pet Drops formulated for cats and dogs.

Each bottle of hempSMART Full Spectrum Pet Drops is formulated with 250mg of full spectrum non-psychoactive Cannabidiol (CBD) derived from industrial hemp. The new specially formulated product contains naturally occurring CBD derived from hemp seed oil, full spectrum hemp extract, fractionated coconut oil, and a rich bacon flavor.

Donald Steinberg, MCOA’s CEO said, “Our new hempSMART product is a natural option for pet owners who care about supporting their animals’ healthy energy levels as well as optimizing their health. Our hempSMART product line will continue to expand to other popular areas of consumer interest to give our affiliates what they need to succeed.”

In reviewing pet supplement trends for 2017, Watson, Inc.’s Mona Hollums observed that natural pet supplement sales nearly doubled between 2008 and 2014. With the increasing focus on pet health, the market for pet supplements is projected to show significant and continuing expansion. Projections show that U.S. retail sales of pet supplements and nutraceuticals treats will grow 3%-5% annually, bringing the market to $1.6 billion. Globally, the pet supplement market is also expected to grow even further. Between 2016-2020, sales are projected to increase over 5% and will continue to yield lucrative investment payouts.

About Our hempSMART Products Containing CBD
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized CBD as a safe and effective drug for any indication. Our products containing CBD derived from industrial hemp are not marketed or sold based upon claims that their use is safe and effective treatment for any medical condition as drugs or dietary supplements subject to the FDA’s jurisdiction.

About Marijuana Company of America, Inc.
MCOA is a corporation which participates in: (1) product research and development of legal hemp-based consumer products under the brand name “hempSMART™â€, that targets general health and well-being; (2) an affiliate marketing program to promote and sell its legal hemp-based consumer products containing CBD; (3) leasing of real property to separate business entities engaged in the growth and sale of cannabis in those states and jurisdictions where cannabis has been legalized and properly regulated for medicinal and recreations use; and, (4) the expansion of its business into ancillary areas of the legalized cannabis and hemp industry, as the legalized markets and opportunities in this segment mature and develop.

Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” which are not purely historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities and words such as “anticipate”, “seek”, intend”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, or similar phrases may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company’s reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based products. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-12G, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please visit www.sec.gov.

For more information, please visit the Company’s websites at:

MarijuanaCompanyofAmerica.com
hempSMART.com
NetworkNewsWires/MCOA

Corporate Communications Contact: 
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
[email protected]

Namaste $N.ca $NXTTF and Phivida $VIDA.ca Announce Exclusive Supply Agreement $AERO $CBDS $CGRW $APH.ca $GBLX

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:18 AM on Thursday, January 11th, 2018

Nlogo

  • Announce that it has signed a Global Digital Reseller-Supply Agreement with Phivida Holdings Inc.
  • Namaste has been approved as the preferred global online retailer and digital affiliate marketing partner for Phivida’s product line of premium hemp-derived Cannabidiol infused functional beverages and clinical health products

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 11, 2018 — Namaste Technologies Inc. (“Namaste” or the “Company”) (CSE:N), (FRANKFURT:M5BQ), (OTCMKTS:NXTTF) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Global Digital Reseller-Supply Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Phivida Holdings Inc. (“Phivida”) (CSE:VIDA), (OTCMKTS:PHVAF).

As key terms in the agreement, Namaste has been approved as the preferred global online retailer and digital affiliate marketing partner for Phivida’s product line of premium hemp-derived Cannabidiol (“CBD”) infused functional beverages and clinical health products. The agreement includes a global online territory, targeting the launch in Germany and Australia (the “Territories”).

Phivida CBD beverages, extracts, juices and shots are professionally formulated by health care practitioners, made with premium ingredients, tested for quality, safety and manufactured to GMP standards. This Agreement represents a strategic initiative between both companies to promote high quality CBD products through Namaste’s platform and to the Company’s existing databases of users within the Territories. CBD is a cannabinoid compound which can be derived from both cannabis and hemp plants and plays a vital role in the emerging global medical cannabis market.

With Phivida’s management team having a strong background from the beverage industry and branding, including former senior executives from Redbull, Proctor and Gamble and McKesson’s, Namaste is pleased to be able to offer Phivida’s premium CBD beverages and infusions to its patients and practitioners globally, with an initial launch in Australia and Germany.

Terms of the Agreement

  • Namaste has exclusive rights for online retail of Phivida’s products in the Territories
  • The Agreement is valid for a 24-month period
  • The Agreement payment terms are net 30 days
  • Namaste shall be responsible for delivery costs
  • Namaste will under no circumstance retail PHIVIDA products for a price that is less than the regular retail price at which the products are advertised on PHIVIDA’s website
  • The Agreement states that all online product marketing expenses within the Territories will be shared equally between PHIVIDA and Namaste
  • The Agreement is subject to obtaining a legal opinion from a designated legal firm, agreed to by both parties

Namaste’s globally diversified network of e-commerce sites and distribution centers will allow Namaste, in its partnership with Phivida, to reach users in new and emerging medical cannabinoid based medical and consumer health markets. This Agreement further represents Namaste’s commitment to deploy its strategic initiatives in an effort to bring the most innovative products to market. Namaste’s growing global database of consumers continues to provide value to the Company and its partners, as it aims to leverage its technical expertise relating to its cutting-edge SEO and machine learning technologies.

This Agreement represents a pilot project between both companies whereby Namaste will distribute Phivida’s proprietary CBD beverages and infused products within the designated territories. Both companies intend on further expanding distribution through other markets where Namaste maintains significant market share.

While the Canadian market remains a primary focus for Namaste, it has identified additional opportunities in the Australian and German markets, as both countries continue to demonstrate a keen willingness to move closer towards full legalization. This partnership will allow Namaste to transition seamlessly into both markets, as it looks to broaden the scope of the products and services it provides. This Agreement represents an important step for Namaste as it looks to expand its presence into emerging markets and believes Phivida’s CBD beverages, oils and infusions offer Namaste an incredible opportunity to expand its offering globally.

Management Commentary

Sean Dollinger, President and CEO of Namaste comments: “Namaste is extremely excited to be partnering with Phivida and its world-class management team. We’re looking forward to entering the beverage space together with Phivida as we believe there is significant demand for these products in our market. Many of our successes to this point can be largely attributed to our keen ability in identifying industry leaders and then forming strategic alliances.  Our partnership with Phivida further demonstrates that ability, and we feel very optimistic to be collaborating with a management team whose pedigree speaks for itself.   We would like to thank Phivida for granting Namaste rights of its online retail products in the Territories, as we expand our presence globally.

We fully expect this partnership to evolve and fully intend on exhausting all opportunities whereby both parties are able grow and expand their respective market share. Not only does this offer Namaste the ability to expand its product line but so too does it help us in penetrating new markets as we look to create the world’s most expansive online medical cannabis marketplace.”

John – David Belfontaine, President and CEO of Phivida reports: “As Phivida continues to expand is CBD product offerings into a $1 Trillion global health and wellness marketi, it is critical that we secure the strongest distribution partners. Ecommerce and digital marketing is a core horizontal within our greater strategic business plan, and Namaste is an ideal partner to expand our online presence into emerging markets around the world. We look forward to launching our global digital marketing and distribution platform with Namaste’s support as a key strategic partner.”

About Namaste Technologies Inc. 
Namaste is the largest online retailer for medical cannabis delivery systems globally. Namaste distributes vaporizers and smoking accessories through e-commerce sites in 26 countries and with 5 distribution hubs located around the world. Namaste has majority market share in Europe and Australia, with operations in the UK, US, Canada and Germany and has opened new supply channels into emerging markets including Brazil, Mexico and Chile. Namaste, through its acquisition of Cannmart Inc., a Canadian based late-stage applicant for a medical cannabis distribution license (under the ACMPR Program) is pursuing a new revenue vertical in online retail of medical cannabis in the Canadian market. Namaste intends to leverage its existing database of Canadian medical cannabis consumers, along with its expertise in e-commerce to create an online marketplace for medical cannabis patients, offering a larger variety of product and a better user experience.

About Phivida 
Phivida [“fiii-vee-daa”] is a publicly traded company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol “VIDA”. Phivida is a premiere brand of cannabidiol (“CBD”) infused functional foods, beverages and clinical health products, poised for global distribution. Using nanoencapsulation technology, Phivida converts lipid based cannabinoids into water soluble delivery format, enhancing bioavailability, and timed released within the body. Phivida’s nanoencapsulated CBD is infused into CBD beverages, foods and supplements containing a proprietary blend of phytonutraceuticals studied to target a range of health conditions, from chronic pain to terminal diseases. Phivida Enhanced Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Phivida Holdings Inc.) is the clinical division of Phivida responsible for the formulation, manufacturing and distribution of the professional line clinical products under the brand name Vida+. These clinical grade CBD products include sublingual’s, hard capsules and other full spectrum CBD-hemp oil extract infused nutraceuticals and natural health products. The Vida+ label is a professional line of products clinical grade for higher potency and are third party laboratory tested for cannabinoid potency, terpenes, residual solvents, bacteria and pesticides.  Celebrating; Health and Wellness, In Harmony™, Phivida’s mission is to lead the alternative health care sector as the benchmark quality standard in premium cannabinoid infused foods, beverages and clinical products, with a dedication to research, education and investing back into the communities that we so proudly serve.

For investor relations inquiries and updates, please contact Phivida via the information listed below.

Website www.phivida.com  Toll free +1 (844) 744-6646 (ext. #2)  E-mail [email protected]     Twitter  https://twitter.com/Phivida Facebook                                  https://www.facebook.com/phivida YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqvHSMbhKwQ&t=7s

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management’s reasonable assumptions. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law.

Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company’s disclosure documents which can be found under the Company’s profile on www.sedar.com.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The CSE has neither reviewed nor approved the contents of this press release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

“Sean Dollinger”
Chief Executive Officer
Direct: +1 (786) 389 9771
Email: [email protected]

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

www.namastetechnologies.com
www.namastevaporizers.co.uk
www.everyonedoesit.co.uk

i https://blog.euromonitor.com/2012/11/health-and-wellness-the-trillion-dollar-industry-in-2017-key-research-highlights.html

2018 Ground Geophysics Update at the River Valley Platinum Group Metals #PGM #Palladium Project, Sudbury Mining District, Ontario $N.ca $WG.ca $XTM.ca $WM.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 6:59 PM on Wednesday, January 10th, 2018

New age large

  • Line cutting is near completion in the footwall region of the River Valley Deposit
  • Ground IP geophysics on new footwall discovery will commence January 20th to test the footwall regions of the T4 to T9 anomalies
  • Footwall PGM mineralization is a new and additional source of PGMs at the River Valley project and it will be included in the new resource model.
  • Updated NI 43-101 resource calculations with WSP Canada have commenced and will include all the new data on the deposit and the recently acquired southern extension.
  • The new resource calculation is expected to be completed in Q1-2018
  • Mineralogical testing is ongoing
  • River Valley is the Largest Undeveloped Primary PGM resource in Canada, with 3.9Moz PdEq in Measured Plus Indicated including an additional 1.2Moz PdEq in Inferred and has excellent infrastructure within 100 kilometers to the Sudbury Metallurgical complex.
  • The Price of Pallidum the prominent metal at River Valley is trading at $1,078USD (Jan 10, 2018) near its all-time high based on limited supply and increasing demand.

Vancouver, Canada / January 10, 2018 – New Age Metals Inc. (TSX.V: NAM; OTCQB: PAWEF; FSE: P7J.F) is pleased to provide an update of exploration activity at the company’s River Valley PGM Deposit in Ontario. Field exploration presently is concentrated on the upcoming ground IP geophysical survey. WSP Canada is currently working on the upgraded 43-101 compliant resource calculation and mineralogical test of the different PGM grades is ongoing.

The geophysical survey will be a high-resolution OreVision(R) IP survey performed by Abitibi Geophysics (Thunder Bay, Ontario). OreVision IP can reveal targets at four times the depth of conventional IP without compromising near-surface resolution. The goal of the geophysical survey is to test the footwall portion to the main River Valley PGM Deposit, southward of the Pine Zone IP survey (News Release: Jun 19th, 2017) and to cover the area between target anomalies T4 to T9 (Figure 1). This area represents a survey strike length of approximately 2000 metres. The linecutting and grid is near completion and the IP crews are scheduled to mobilize on site for January 20th.

Upon completion of the geophysics, the company will outline a series of drill programs to test the geophysical anomalies generated from the survey. The goal is to examine the potential for continuous PGM mineralization into the footwall area of the main River Valley PGM Deposit.

WSP Canada (News Release: Sept 7th, 2017) is progressing through the new resource calculation for the River Valley PGM Deposit under the supervision of Todd McCracken, Manager-Mining at WSP Canada. The new resource model and calculation will incorporate all the past data, geophysics, new drilling since 2012 and the River Valley Extensions (previous Mustang Minerals ground).


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Drill Hole Distribution Map in the Northern Portion of the River Valley PGM Deposit Showing Regions of Upcoming IP Geophysics.

(Image only represents approximately 3.5 km of the overall strike length of the deposit)

In 2016, the company obtained the Mustang Minerals’ southern portion of the River Valley PGM Deposit (River Valley Extension, News Release – Oct 5th, 2016). This added 4 kilometres of mineralized strike length to the company’s River Valley PGM Deposit.

ABOUT NAM’S PGM DIVISION

NAM’s flagship project is its 100% owned River Valley PGM Project (NAM Website – River Valley Project) in the Sudbury Mining District of Northern Ontario (100 km east of Sudbury, Ontario). Presently the River Valley Project is Canada’s largest primary undeveloped PGM deposit with Measured + Indicated resources of 91 million tonnes @ 0.58 g/t Palladium, 0.22 g/t Platinum, 0.04 g/t Gold, with a total metal grade of 1.28 g/t at a cut-off grade of 0.8 g/t PdEq for 2,463,000 ounces PGM plus Gold. This equates to 3,942,910 PdEq ounces. In the Northern portion of the project (Dana North), not including the new high-grade Pine Zone, there is 24 million tonnes @ 1.58 PdEq. The River Valley PGM-Copper-Nickel Sulphide mineralized zones remains open to expansion. The company has recently completed a drill program on the Pine and T3 Zones.

ABOUT NAM’S LITHIUM DIVISION

The Company has five pegmatite hosted Lithium Projects in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, located in SE Manitoba. Three of the projects are drill ready

Recently NAM announced (News Release: Dec 12th, 2017) a signed Letter of Intent with Azincourt Energy Corp for the Manitoba Lithium Projects.. This Pegmatite Field hosts the world class Tanco Pegmatite that has been mined for Tantalum, Cesium and Spodumene (one of the primary Lithium ore minerals) in varying capacities, since 1969. NAM’s Lithium Projects are strategically situated in this prolific Pegmatite Field. Presently, NAM, under its subsidiary Lithium Canada Developments, is one of the largest mineral claim holders in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field and is seeking JV partners to further develop the company’s Lithium Division.

QUALIFIED PERSON

The contents contained herein that relate to Exploration Results or Mineral Resources is based on information compiled, reviewed or prepared by Carey Galeschuk, a consulting geoscientist for New Age Metals. Mr. Galeschuk is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

“Harry Barr”

Harry G. Barr

Chairman and CEO

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as “continue”, “efforts”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “confident”, “intend”, “strategy”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “project”, “goal”, “target”, “prospects”, “optimistic” or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company’s ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts’ expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

The Explosive Growth of #Esports – Trends to Watch in 2018 $GMBL $ATVI $TTWO $GAME $EPY.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, January 10th, 2018

Esport accomplishments in 2017:

  • Intel Extreme Masters held its premiere tournament in Katowice, Poland with on-site attendance of 173,000 fans, making it the biggest live event in esports history
  • Blizzard opened a dedicated esports stadium called Blizzard Arena at the former studio of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
  • The League of Legends World Championship reached 60 million unique viewers online, compared to 43 million in 2016
  • Overwatch League signed 12 teams for the first-ever global city-based esports league, featuring investments made by some of the most successful owners in the world of sports: Robert Kraft (New England Patriots, New England Revolution), Jeff Wilpon (New York Mets), Stan Kroenke (Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Arsenal FC), Andy Miller (Sacramento Kings) and other noteworthy names from both traditional sports and esports

By Jesse Steinberg, Account Supervisor, Taylor

As an avid fan of video gaming and a counselor to some of the most innovative brands in the space, I can confidently say that 2017 was a banner year for esports. Just look at all of the breakthrough accomplishments last year (list after video). But first, it’s worth taking a moment to watch this video that highlights the celebrities who have made investments in esports:

Esport accomplishments in 2017:

  • Overwatch League signed 12 teams for the first-ever global city-based esports league, featuring investments made by some of the most successful owners in the world of sports: Robert Kraft (New England Patriots, New England Revolution), Jeff Wilpon (New York Mets), Stan Kroenke (Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Arsenal FC), Andy Miller (Sacramento Kings) and other noteworthy names from both traditional sports and esports
  • Riot introduced a franchising model for teams powered by  investments from mostly NBA team owners and the endemic gaming space
  • Intel Extreme Masters held its premiere tournament in Katowice, Poland with on-site attendance of 173,000 fans, making it the biggest live event in esports history
  • Blizzard opened a dedicated esports stadium called Blizzard Arena at the former studio of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
  • The League of Legends World Championship reached 60 million unique viewers online, compared to 43 million in 2016

So where does the sport evolve from here and what does it mean for current and prospective sponsors and their partners? Our experience and alliance working with client partners Comcast and Activision Blizzard (and its Overwatch League) tell us the marketing opportunities within esports will only continue to accelerate and diversify. Here are four overarching trends we’ve identified for the next 12 months within this dynamic industry:

  1. Mainstream consumer awareness of esports will grow faster than predictedWith increased investments from celebrities, teams, and non-endemic brands, it’s not a surprise that esports is growing at an unprecedented rate. Nielsen reported in 2016 that 14% of Americans aged 13 and older are avid fans of esports. And according to industry research group Newzoo, 1.3 billion people worldwide are aware of esports. That leaves more than six billion people around the world who are not aware of esports. Talk about opportunity!The reason behind esports’ record growth and global awareness is because the industry continues to blend in seamlessly with traditional sports and our cultural fabric. As an example of esports and traditional sports culture colliding, Overwatch League aired an ad on ESPN during the 2017 ESPYs awards show (you can watch it here). In case you didn’t watch it live – you’ll see more esports awareness plays like that plugged into bigger cultural moments (football Sundays maybe? Super Bowl even?) where you won’t be able to miss it.
  2. Blue chip, non-endemic brands will continue investing in esports through sponsorshipsThis trend isn’t new to 2018 since it’s technically already happening. Companies like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jack in the Box, Intel, Snickers, Coca-Cola and others are diving into the space,  innovating across an industry that has already generated  $1.5 billion in 2017 alone. At this rate, esports is projected to bring in $2.3 billion by 2022, according to statistics company SuperData.What we will see in 2018 is the accelerated pace of new brands entering the space and the sophistication and reach of these partnerships. No longer is the market so fragmented that brands can’t get a good read on their ROI. Stability and projected longevity from entities like Overwatch League and Riot’s League Championship Series will offer brands more visible, global, robust platforms from which to activate and leverage their sponsorships.
  3. More celebrities, pro athletes, and team owners will be involved in professional esports The massive growth of esports has not only caught the eyes of brands and team owners. The dizzying pace at which celebrities and pro athletes are investing in esports teams, leagues, tech companies, etc. will be an intriguing sidelight to the growing allure of esports. Just to rattle off a few names who entered the space in 2017:
    • Marshawn Lynch
    • Jennifer Lopez
    • Joe Montana
    • Shaquille O’Neal
    • Robert Kraft

      These investments are just another indication of the benefits esports has to offer. Smart investors who jump in early will ultimately reap the rewards of brand integration and awareness and increased revenue stream. This year, when the Kraft Group bought into the Overwatch League, Robert Kraft, chairman, and CEO of the Kraft Group, said this decision was made after careful and extensive research in the industry.
      “We have been exploring the esports market for a number of years and have been waiting for the right opportunity to enter,” said Kraft. “The incredible global success of Overwatch since its launch, coupled with the League’s meticulous focus on a structure and strategy that clearly represents the future of esports made this the obvious entry point for the Kraft Group.”

    Be prepared for many more global influencers to align with the sport. Remember, everyone wants to be first in line when something special rolls around and because this industry is still in its formative years, the opportunities to invest have a very high ceiling. For more on this, see the video above. 

4. Broadcast/streaming convergence as big media players battle for valuable media rights.

Are we moving to a premium viewing model in esports like some experts predict? The answer is not entirely – at least for now. But what will happen is more deals being made with significant streaming partners like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and, of course, Twitch. And when you look at the younger audience demographics, it’s easy to understand why esports has found a home on these platforms. In addition to online media, mainstream television networks will also jump in to grab a piece of this lucrative pie. In 2016, Turner made a bold move by investing in esports. This year, ESL announced a partnership with former Fox Sports chief  David Hill to launch “eSports by Hill” which will provide premium broadcast experiences to esports.

The esports industry is growing at an exponential rate year-over-year. Media rights, advertising, merchandise sales, sponsorship opportunities and revenue streams are all increasing by double digits each year  — and we see no end in sight. Taking the aforementioned four trends into account, marketers should not view esports as building toward a bubble.

With hundreds of millions of streaming hours viewed and revenue generated in this space, we can’t point to a reason why NOT to invest in an area with such a significant potential for marketers.

Source: https://www.holmesreport.com/agency-playbook/sponsored/article/the-explosive-growth-of-esports-trends-to-watch-in-2018

#Gold jumps to near 4-month high as US dollar slips sharply $AMK.ca $EXS.ca $MQR.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 1:35 PM on Wednesday, January 10th, 2018
  • Gold jumped to its highest in nearly four months on Wednesday
  • US dollar tumbled to a six-week low versus the Japanese yen and slid against the euro,
  • lifting assets priced in the US currency and offsetting a rise in global yields

LONDON (Jan 10): Gold jumped to its highest in nearly four months on Wednesday as the US dollar tumbled to a six-week low versus the Japanese yen and slid against the euro, lifting assets priced in the US currency and offsetting a rise in global yields.

The US dollar fell as much as 1.2% against the yen after the Bank of Japan’s move to trim its long-dated government bond purchases earlier this week, putting the US currency on track for its biggest two-day drop in nearly eight months.

The BoJ move also lifted bond yields across the world, generally a negative factor for gold as it increases the opportunity cost of holding non-interest bearing bullion. However, the impact of the US dollar’s fall outweighed that factor.

Spot gold was up 0.9% at US$1,324.40 an ounce at 1107 GMT, having earlier touched its highest since Sept. 15 at US$1,326.56. US gold futures for February delivery were up US$11.50 an ounce at US$1,325.20.

“The story in the markets right now is most certainly the yen story, and that is going to provide enough support (to gold) for the yield story to be ignored,” Saxo Bank’s head of commodity strategy Ole Hansen said. “Dollar/yen is down more than 1%.”

“We are seeing underlying demand for gold here as the year kicks off,” he added.

The US dollar’s slide against the yen also saw it move lower against the euro, with the single currency up 0.6% versus the US unit.

Major government bond yields hit multi-month highs on Wednesday as investors reevaluated the likelihood of continued easy-money policies by the world’s major central banks following the BoJ move. The 10-year US Treasury yield hit 2.57% for the first time since March.

Among other metals, palladium was down 0.1% at US$1,098.50 an ounce, after hitting a record high on Tuesday at US$1,111.40. Tightening emissions standards and a switch away from diesel cars to more palladium-heavy gasoline models has shored up demand expectations for the autocatalyst metal.

“Yesterday once again saw moderate outflows from palladium ETFs,” Commerzbank said in a note. “Since the start of the year, holdings have already been reduced by just shy of 13,000 ounces. The trend seen in recent years appears to be continuing.”

“That said, the exodus from palladium ETFs since the end of 2015 has done nothing to prevent the massive price rise,” it added.

Silver was up 1.2% at US$17.16 an ounce, while platinum was 0.1% higher at US$965.90 an ounce.

Source: http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/gold-jumps-near-4month-high-us-dollar-slips-sharply

#Blockchain Is Changing Our World: Here Are The Best Practical Examples Of How It Is Used In 2018 #Bitcoin #Enthereum $IDK.ca $SX.ca $SXOOF #Blockstation

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:14 AM on Wednesday, January 10th, 2018
  • Blockchains, whether public or private, are a real-time ledger of records stored in a distributed, peer-to-peer fashion independent from any central authority
  • Since every record is encrypted and time-stamped and users can only access and edit the block they “own” through a private key, it’s very secure.

Bernard Marr , Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

The potential of blockchain technology to disrupt nearly every industry in some way cannot be dismissed even though there are still several hurdles to overcome before we see its full transformative impact.

Leaders of major financial institutions where security is paramount and change is often resisted see enough upside in blockchain technology that they have been willing to invest millions in resources to learn how to best implement it. And, they are not alone. Any business with valuable digital assets from contacts to contracts they need to protect can find a legitimate use case for blockchain technology.

What makes blockchain powerful?

Blockchains, whether public or private, are a real-time ledger of records stored in a distributed, peer-to-peer fashion independent from any central authority. Since every record is encrypted and time-stamped and users can only access and edit the block they “own” through a private key, it’s very secure. Every block is linked to the one before and the one after it and whenever a change is made, the entire chain gets updated. Blockchain helps secure and streamline transactions efficiently without requiring intermediaries to manage the process. Blockchain technology is revolutionary in terms of record keeping and can track and document every change in a record or transaction.

What are the practical uses of blockchain?

If you haven’t already realized it, blockchain technology is going to change many systems that you encounter in your day-to-day life. Here are a few of the practical examples:

Contract management and smart contracts

Any industry heavily reliant on contracts such as insurance, financial institutions, real estate, construction, entertainment and law would benefit from blockchain’s indisputable way to update, manage, track and secure contracts. Smart contracts, those that are embedded with if/then statements and be executed without involvement of an intermediary, also use blockchain technology.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2018/01/10/blockchain-is-changing-our-world-here-are-the-best-practical-examples-of-how-it-is-used-in-2018/#194b46214579