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Predictive Oncology Inc.’s (NASDAQ: POAI) Disruptive Platform Overcoming Obstacles in Precision Medicine Industry

  • The global precision medicine market is estimated to reach $84.6 billion by 2024
  • Predictive Oncology is bringing cutting-edge technology to cancer research to develop highly customizable assessment methods that improve patient outcomes
  • POAI leverages unique competitive advantage that stems from readily available access to historical data on tumor profiles and their drug responses

Precision medicine, an approach that seeks to understand the genetic makeup of a patient’s tumor in order to customize a drug targeting the particular gene type for each patient, offers tremendous potential for the treatment of a number of diseases. Predictive Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ: POAI), a data and artificial-intelligence-driven precision medicine company that develops models that predict tumor drug response, possesses a unique competitive advantage in this space, which Mordor Intelligence Inc. estimates will grow at a CAGR of 9.7%, reaching $84.6 billion by 2024 (http://ibn.fm/opuHt).

Despite the industry’s optimistic outlook, technology used in precision medicine faces a serious obstacle due to the lack of available data to enable its application. Pharmaceutical companies have invested heavily in genomics and “big data” to understand each patient’s genome to design target therapies. However, success rates for targeted therapies are low, and uptake in clinical practice is patchy.

As pharmaceuticals realize that the “just genomics” approach is not enough, an unmet need for a comprehensive, multi-omic (genome, transcriptome, epigenome, proteome, responseome and microbiome) picture of the tumor is becoming apparent. Despite evidence that the multi-omic approach is the most promising, leveraging this technology is difficult because few comprehensive, multi-omic datasets currently exist. Such data sets are notoriously difficult to create because it takes years to build multi-omic pictures of the tumors.

Unlike most other competitors, Predictive Oncology already has samples and access to historical data on clinical outcomes, which puts the company in a powerful position to generate value to pharmaceutical companies much more quickly than its competitors. In comparison, companies starting today must invest a considerable amount of funds in data collection and then wait at least five years for the clinical outcome data before they can capitalize on these investments – POAI, on the other hand, merely needs months.

Specifically, POAI can leverage two unique proprietary assets, from its acquisition of Helomics) which virtually eliminate development risk, a factor that considerably weighs on competitors’ efforts in the precision medicine space. First, Predictive Oncology possesses a clinically validated, tumor profiling platform built from data derived from actual tumors collected from patients over more than 10 years. which was clinically validated in ovarian cancer. Second, the company possesses data on the drug-response profiles of over 150,000 tumors across 137 cancer types tested over the same period. Using this valuable historical data, POAI’s platform can help predict drug response and outcome of the specific type of tumor collected from new patients, thus improving the patient outcomes.

Through its subsidiary Helomics, a leader in AI and functional precision medicine, POAI is bringing this cutting-edge technology to cancer research, where it’s working with the pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotech industries to develop predictive models of how tumors response to drugs which can be used both for clinical decision support and research into new therapies.

According to Mordor Intelligence Inc, as precision medicine is primarily focused on better treatment of oncological diseases, oncology is expected to have the largest market share, with estimated market dominance in excess of 30% over other precision medicine segments and a CAGR of 10.3% from 2018 to 2024. With its unique proprietary technology, POAI is poised to capture a considerable portion of this growth potential.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Predictive-Oncology.com

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to POAI are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/POAI

Jerrick Media Holdings Inc. (JMDA) Developed Proprietary Technology to Power its Best-In-Class Creator Platform

  • The Vocal platform, which ranks among top online creator platforms, is built on the idea of a qualified ecosystem involving multiple stakeholders, including creators, audiences, and brands
  • Vocal experiences significant growth, onboarding hundreds of new creators each day
  • JMDA offers Vocal+, a premium subscription membership program with value-added features

After six years of strategic focus and relentless work, Jerrick Media Holdings Inc. (OTC: JMDA), a holding company that creates technology+, has built a distinctive technology platform that ranks among the top online creator platforms in the digital world. Designed to develop, empower, and engage content creators in a cost-effective way, Jerrick’s flagship product, Vocal, has grown to be one of the top online creator platforms, accruing hundreds of new creators daily.

“Vocal is now a scalable and sustainable technology platform ready for the endurance race,” Jerrick CEO Jeremy Frommer stated in the update (http://ibn.fm/zmR9b). “On a daily basis, we onboard 400-500 freemium creators, approximately 5-10% of which upgrade to Vocal+ within seven days, seeking a higher value proposition. The Vocal+ conversion rate is up from what was only 1-2% approximately 60-90 days ago. Underlying this monumental growth potential are accretive math formulas with which we designed the qualified ecosystem that makes Vocal so unique.”

Vocal+ is Jerrick’s premium subscription membership program. Vocal+ members pay a membership fee for value-added features, including increased earnings for their content, reduced platform processing fees on tips received, a Vocal+ badge on their creator page, early access to new features on the Vocal Platform and other rewards. Creators can sign up for free or upgrade to Vocal+, available for purchase on either a $99 annual or $9.99 monthly subscription basis.

According to Frommer, the Vocal platform is built on the idea of a qualified ecosystem, or a well-curated community of individuals, brands, and audiences brought together by a common interest or goal. “Core to the success of this type of ecosystem is a proprietary technology,” said Frommer. “The platform must offer a needed solution to a digital problem while being safe to engage with and efficient to use. From Upwork and Spotify to Vocal and Vimeo, these new platforms are the future of online communities.”

Individuals use these virtual communities of transaction to buy, sell or learn more about products and services; to discuss shared interests; to develop social relations; and to explore new identities. Savvy businesses that create and tap into these powerful virtual communities can experience significant benefits, including increased sales, positive word‐of‐mouth, more effective market segmentation, increased website traffic, stronger brand awareness, higher advertising and transaction fee revenue, and better product support and service delivery.

“Vocal is this type of platform that has cultivated a strong virtual community and is now reaping the benefits,” Frommer noted. “We found success when we stopped believing that we were smarter than the data, and we learned to see where the data was pointing and followed that path.”

Jerrick is focused on the development of digital communities, targeted marketing of branded digital content, and e-commerce opportunities. To accomplish these objectives, Jerrick envisions, designs and builds modern technology companies that redefine how people interact with technology. As the parent company of Vocal, Jerrick has built and shipped products that have influenced millions of people worldwide.

Those interested in weekly news from Jerrick can sign up at http://ibn.fm/NP9QX

For more information, visit the company’s website at https://Jerrick.media

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to JMDA are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/JMDA

MCTC Holdings Inc. (MCTC) Launches Hemp You Can Feel™ Coffee Based on Patent Pending Hemp Extract Infusion Technology

  • Unique hemp extract coffee created via dual infusion clean label process using exclusively natural ingredients without chemical additives
  • Company expands on development of infusion technologies to include exotic cannabinoids such as CBN and THC-V, which may improve sleep and control appetite
  • Industrial hemp market to grow to $26.6 billion by 2025 at CAGR of 34.0%

Cannabinoid science innovator MCTC Holdings Inc. (OTC: MCTC), doing business as Cannabis Global, Inc., announced the launch of Hemp You Can Feel™ Coffee based on its patent pending hemp extract infusion technologies. The coffee will become available to consumers later in January 2020. “The new product is based on our recently completed R&D efforts that resulted in our dual infusion clean label process that uses only natural ingredients and zero chemical additives,” CEO Arman Tabatabaei stated in a company press release (http://ibn.fm/qWpFi). The single serving coffee pods will be in a 100% compostable format.

MCTC Holdings focuses on high-growth and high-margin sub-sectors of the cannabis and hemp industry. Its revolutionary brand Hemp You Can Feel™ is based on an alcohol beverage replacement technology, unique in its delivery method. Traditional consumption of hemp extract shows downsides in terms of not feeling the effects right away. A lot of consumers give it up as a result. This disadvantage is eliminated with Hemp You Can Feel™.

The company’s products are 95% organic and of supreme quality. MCTC Holdings monitors the entire production process as green coffee beans are imported, roasted, and ground on site. The dual infusion process differs markedly from the practices of most hemp coffee brands, which just spray the coffee with extract. The innovative approach is Patent Pending with the U.S Patent and Trademark Office.

MCTC’s organic coffee is infused with only hemp extracts, honey from organic farms, organic non-GMO starches from vegetables, and trace amounts of organic vegetable and coconut oils, a fact reflected in the price and quality of the company’s products.

Each coffee pod contains at least 30 milligrams of cannabidiol (CBD), a large number of additional hemp extract components, and no detectable tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The packaging of Hemp You Can Feel™ coffee is another highlight of the product. While most single-serving coffee pods are either incinerated or dumped in rivers, lakes, and the ocean, Hemp You Can Feel™ is 100% compostable within 120 days of being discarded properly. This includes the packaging, the lid, the coffee pod, and the package inserts.

MCTC Holdings recently announced a pending name change to Cannabis Global, Inc. The integrated cannabis business operation is poised to take advantage of opportunities in the cannabis industry while avoiding overcrowded and potentially problematic niches like retail and cultivation. The company’s initial business interests include a hemp oil remediation business that produces ultra-pure cannabinoids free of psychoactive effect producing THC, an industrial hemp cultivation effort in Southern California, and an innovative nano infused line of THC and CBD powdered drink products.

The company is active in multiple verticals of the fast-growing global cannabis and industrial hemp markets via acquisitions, partnerships and the development of new intellectual property. According to a Research and Markets report, the global industrial hemp market is poised to grow exponentially, from $4.6 billion in 2019 to $26.6 billion by 2025, recording a CAGR of 34% (http://ibn.fm/Grwji).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.CannabisGlobalInc.com

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to MCTC are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/MCTC

New Year’s Holiday Revelries Show Importance of MCTC Holdings Inc. (MCTC) Cannabis Beverage Infusion Developments

  • MCTC Holdings Inc. (soon to become Cannabis Global Inc.) is working to develop cannabis alternatives to alcohol for relaxing beverages
  • Canada’s national legalization of cannabis-infused food and beverage products is pioneering the transformation of the food-wellness industry, and a growing emphasis on funding research in the United States is encouraging advocates
  • MCTC’s growing body of patents focus on the potential of its Hemp You Can Feel™ brand of minuscule cannabinoid extract particles

The sendoff for the old year and welcome of a new one have become annual rites of passage not only for revelers rededicating themselves to a sense of hope for better days, but also for emergency personnel anticipating the consequences of too much alcohol consumption on the nation’s roads as well as in people’s homes.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are peak times for people to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. In order to stem the potential destructive behaviors associated with drinking alcohol, law enforcement officers are called on to work overtime hours during the holiday to intercept drunken drivers (http://ibn.fm/cek6v). Some states forgo the revenue promise of the busiest day of the year for alcohol sales and require liquor stores to close early on New Year’s Eve and / or remain closed New Year’s Day, prompting revelers to ‘stock up’ (http://ibn.fm/Ib3xM). DUI lawyers brace themselves for middle-of-the-night phone calls (http://ibn.fm/wCcQj) and police worldwide expect an increase in reports of domestic violence (http://ibn.fm/2W5wg).

MCTC Holdings Inc. (OTC: MCTC) is a Delaware-registered company that reorganized its management last year to focus its budding cannabis industry strategy on the science of alcohol replacement, utilizing the promise of hemp cannabinoid-infused beverages to provide relaxation to consumers and dodge the most toxic consequences of beer and liquor consumption.

The company, which is in the process of rebranding itself as Cannabis Global, Inc., and moving its licensing to Nevada, is increasing its patent portfolio as laboratory results reveal the potential of its revolutionary Hemp You Can Feel™ brand technology. Recent testing indicated Hemp You Can Feel’s capacity for beverage infusion is greater than originally anticipated, mixing extremely small, potent cannabinoid particles in beverages to such a degree that all hemp extracts and major cannabinoids are undetectable post-infusion by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

“We believe the uses for this advanced infusion technology are many, especially as a replacement for alcohol in various beverages,” MCTC Holdings CEO Arman Tabatabaei stated in a December news release (http://ibn.fm/Z0xdi).

Canada recently began rolling out cannabis-infused food and beverages as part of its ongoing national legalization efforts (http://ibn.fm/daDVv), while the United States’ reticence for federal-level regulations has created problems for companies that have already begun pushing infused beverages in that segment of North America, regardless of whether the cannabinoids contain intoxicating tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) (http://ibn.fm/8VUzP).

Growing support for cannabis research in the United States (http://ibn.fm/PBR0c) is prompting hope among advocates that the Food and Drug Administration’s tardy drug substance approval process (http://ibn.fm/pOjWI) will yield to scientific results.

MCTC Holdings’ ongoing research is leading it toward product launches in the coming year and a licensing strategy that will allow other companies to build their own brands on a “white label” manufacturing base at MCTC’s Los Angeles facility.

The company filed for its fifth patent on December 12 and anticipates several more during the coming year.

“We have produced some spectacular results and test data on this new technology and we are in discussions with several companies that are planning product introductions based on Hemp You Can Feel technology,” Tabatabaei stated in a news release (http://ibn.fm/umolm).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.CannabisGlobalInc.com

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to MCTC are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/MCTC

Predictive Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ: POAI) Working to Create World’s First Comprehensive, Actionable Multi-Omic Data Set for Ovarian Cancer

  • POAI plans to have first predictive model of ovarian cancer ready for initial commercialization in Q1 2020
  • First batch of 400 ovarian cancer subjects in initiative has been sequenced
  • Groundbreaking AI-driven model of ovarian cancer will be capable of predicting tumor drug response, patient outcome

Predictive Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ: POAI), a company focused on applying artificial intelligence to personalized medicine and drug discovery, has updated the commercialization of its pioneering CancerQuest 2020 initiative (http://ibn.fm/gs5Qh). Based on the updated announcement, the company plans on having its first predictive model of ovarian cancer ready for initial commercialization in revenue-generating projects with Pharma in Q1 2020.

POAI’s CancerQuest 2020 initiative has been driven Helomics, a Predictive Oncology subsidiary which has worked closely with collaborators at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)-Magee Women’s Hospital to optimize and scale the genomic and transcriptomic data that has been gathered. The first batch of the 400 ovarian cancer subjects has been sequenced, and Helomics is confident that the remaining subjects will move forward on schedule.

The sequencing marks the completion of one of five milestones outlined by POAI in its groundbreaking initiative designed to look at both tumor mutations (genome) as well as tumor gene expression (transcriptome) to build a comprehensive multi-omic picture of ovarian tumor (http://ibn.fm/noUgA).

“We are also using deep learning on histopathology images of the tumor tissue (tissue-omics) to add an additional dimension to this multi-omic profile,” explained Helomics CTO Dr. Mark Collins. “We believe the combination of the rich multi-omic profile of the tumor and clinical outcome data will allow us to build an AI-driven model of ovarian cancer capable of predicting the tumor drug response and patient outcome (prognosis).”

POAI anticipates receiving the outcome data on the 400 subjects in this retrospective trial from its collaborators at Magee Women’s Hospital shortly. Helomics intends to use the multi-omic data along with existing drug-response profiles and the outcome data to build its first AI-driven predictive model of ovarian cancer; the company expects the model to be commercialized in Q1 2020.

“We believe that this effort will enhance our understanding of the molecular profiles of women with ovarian cancer by using the power of artificial intelligence to create predictive models of therapeutic success,” said Dr. Robert Edwards, professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (http://ibn.fm/I7qrx). “We are excited about the potential for AI-powered, evidence-based decision making to increase our ability to bring about successful outcomes.”

In addition, Helomics intends to sequence 50% of its 38,000-plus ovarian tumors in the upcoming year, creating what may be the world’s first comprehensive, actionable multi-omic data set for ovarian cancer. And Helomics doesn’t plan on stopping there. The company is already evaluating ways to sequence other cancers types in its database to build additional AI-driven predictive models, strengthening the company’s presence in both the clinical and research markets.

Predictive Oncology, which began as a joint venture between Skyline Medical and Helomics, is ideally positioned to harness the power of artificial intelligence and work with the pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotech industries to develop highly customizable assessment methods for cancer patients.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Predictive-Oncology.com

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to POAI are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/POAI

SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX) Releases Results of Holiday Shopping Study, Demonstrates Power of BIGtoken Platform

  • SRAX’s pre-Thanksgiving BIGtoken survey of 116,000-plus American consumers found 28% planned to shop in store, 40% online and 32% both
  • SRAX COO said company’s 2019 Holiday Spending Report demonstrates power of proprietary platform to gather insights from specific audiences
  • SRAX has access to BIGtoken platform audience of more than 16 million, 100% opt-in consumers

SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX) is revealing the potential of its platform’s data, having recently released the results of its 2019 Holiday Spending Report – a survey of 116,000 American consumers (http://ibn.fm/1KD3A). SRAX COO Kristoffer Nelson said SRAX’s BIGresearch survey demonstrates the power of its proprietary BIGtoken platform and the Company’s ability to offer timely and accurate research from specific audiences.

The survey showed that 28% of American consumers polled planned to holiday shop in stores, while 40% planned online purchases and 32% said they would buy both in store and online. Results from the 2019 Holiday Spending Report by SRAX also breaks down results by gender, age, ethnicity and household income. Cyber Monday and Black Friday data results are also specified.

“We are happy to freely share the latest BIGresearch results,” Nelson said in a news release. “Topical surveys such as this demonstrate the power of our platform to quickly and accurately gather insights from specific audiences.”

Survey results found that while online holiday shopping is increasing, that growth is largely driven by a younger audience. BIGresearch found that 46% of online holiday shoppers are between ages of 18 and 24. Online shoppers are primarily Asian and white, with all levels of income level consumers in those categories preferring to shop online. The survey also found that women typically spend less money shopping for the holidays online than men. These results possess untapped potential for the marketing sector, revealing consumer trends which would otherwise go unreported.

The survey also revealed key insights regarding Black Friday shopping for both men and women, which trended towards purchases of furniture, decor and clothing, and footwear. Some 71% of all respondents surveyed also said they would be participating in Cyber Monday shopping, the SRAX 2019 Holiday Spending Report found.

SRAX technology unlocks data to reveal the core consumers of brands and the characteristics of those consumers across marketing channels. The company is building the largest, most-valuable, opted-in data set worldwide. SRAX sells access to data in the form of anonymized segments, and that access can be removed at any time.

SRAX asks users for permission to share data when those users originally sign up for the BIGtoken platform (http://ibn.fm/B6VZd). The company’s machine-learning technology analyzes marketing data, and its BIGtoken platform enables consumers to own, manage and sell access to their digital identity and data. This approach gives SRAX valuable proprietary data and multiple revenue streams (http://ibn.fm/11fIS).

SRAX is a digital-marketing and consumer-data-management technology company that has developed the proprietary BIGtoken platform, which offers a secure and transparent environment for consumers to own and earn from their data (http://ibn.fm/IKpwC). BIGtoken provides an invaluable, fast-growing audience of more than 16 million consumers who have all opted in, creating an invaluable platform that offers accurate and specific information (http://ibn.fm/mYVvl).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SRAX.com

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SRAX are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/SRAX

Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQX: PLPRF) Follows Strategic Plan to Build World’s Strongest Cannabis Brand

  • PLUS works to establish itself as strong CPG company in most valuable part of supply chain in largest market
  • From the outset, company has chosen to be “hyperfocused” on building brand in CPG cannabis space
  • Plus Products doing exactly what it set out to do: capture top product spots and controlling market share

Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQX: PLPRF), a hemp and cannabis food company using nature to bring balance to consumers’ lives, is following a strategic plan to build the world’s strongest cannabis brand. The company’s plan includes firmly establishing itself as a strong CPG company in the most valuable part of the supply chain in the largest market – California – then moving that successful formula to new markets, products and consumers (http://ibn.fm/hsdpB).

In identifying key steps in its plan, PLUS conducted extensive research. As a result, PLUS noted that the strongest companies in the world are typically built by focusing on becoming the best at one thing. As prime examples of this, PLUS cites Cargill in the agriculture sector, Coca-Cola and Budweiser in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sector and Target and Walgreens in the retail sector. With those companies as examples, PLUS chose to become “hyperfocused” on building a brand in the CPG cannabis space, because CPG brands have the highest value potential in traditional industries.

After continued analysis and study, Plus Products notes in its investor presentation that brands are typically built on the foundation of an iconic product. PLUS has been determined to establish an iconic product in the edibles sector, which offers the most defensible price premiums. The company has done exactly what it set out to do: offering iconic cannabis gummies – Plus Uplift and Plus Unwind – that have been ranked the top two best-selling cannabis products in California, controlling 21% of the gummies market share in the state.

With the first step of its plan successfully completed, PLUS is moving forward with the next, which is to grow a national brand through new markets, products and consumers. The company has partnered with well-known celebrity John Legend and direct-to-consumer mattress pioneer Casper to launch into the national, direct-to-consumer market, providing cannabis consumers in 43 states access to the best-selling cannabis gummies in California.

In addition, Plus Products crossed state lines recently when it expanded into Nevada’s recreational THD market through a manufacturing partnership with TapRoot Holdings Inc. “Nevada’s expansive tourism and meaningful size make it an ideal next step for building a national THC brand,” the company announced.

PLUS intends to expand into further jurisdictions outside of California and Nevada using a similar partnership model to ensure quality and consistency across all markets. Key focus markets for the company include Michigan, Arizona, Massachusetts, New York and Illinois, which combined represent a potential $5.45 billion-dollar market for PLUS. In addition, the company is also working on building its brand globally by exploring potential international partnerships. Plus Products’ savvy, deliberate approach to success and growth has firmly established the company as a top player in the burgeoning industry.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.PlusProducts.com

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to PLPRF are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/PLPRF

Amid Extension into US, 2020 is Shaping Up as Banner Year for HTC Extraction Systems’ (TSX.V: HTC) (OTCQB: HTPRF) Cannabinoid Operations

  • HTC Extraction Systems is a Canadian-based builder of efficient extraction systems and a distiller of ethanol and ethanol-based products used in extraction so that they can be reclaimed and reused
  • The company has extended its reach into the hemp distillation industry to take advantage of a startup network of businesses riding a wave of new popularity for the hemp plant’s byproducts
  • HTC faces the prospect of a banner year in 2020 as the recent wave of regulatory changes favoring cannabinoid use in Canada and the United States promises to continue pushing forward

HTC Extraction Systems (TSX.V: HTC) (OTCQB: HTPRF) is a Canadian company that has established itself as a provider of proprietary systems used in extracting gas, liquids and biomass, as well as a purifier of chemical compounds such as ethanol, glycol and other solvents used in the extraction process so that the compounds can be reclaimed and reused (http://ibn.fm/4VFDH).

The company began work over two decades ago on bettering the environment through the capture and storage of carbon dioxide from industrial flue streams, including coal and gas-fired energy facilities. With the rise of the hemp industry, HTC has turned its experience toward the task of improving hemp biomass extraction processes for cannabinoid-infused products.

This pro-environment, pro-cannabinoid mindset attracted an operating partner in California as HTC extended its reach from Saskatchewan’s vast lands in western Canada to the world’s largest market on the west coast of the United States. HTC’s recent share and purchase agreement with Starling Brands Inc. grants HTC ownership of Starling’s subsidiary Kase Farma Inc., a company authorized to work with hemp cultivation, extraction, refining, formulation and distribution in California (http://ibn.fm/lN883).

The success of the strategy behind the agreement hinges on a management services agreement with Starling that provides Starling’s expertise in navigating the business and regulatory climates in California.

“Startups are challenging enough as they are when you’re working in a sector that has been shut down for close to a hundred years in a landscape that’s still federally illegal but where the constituents of our jurisdiction here in California have voted overwhelmingly in favor of cannabis use for medicinal and recreational purposes. It was quite challenging in navigating through the ever-changing regulations,” John Di Girolamo, co-founder of Starling Brands, stated in a December 11 Twitter post (http://ibn.fm/7Agmh).

Starling executives anticipate that 2020 may be the biggest year ever for hemp and cannabis policy reform in the United States, given recent changes in the regulatory landscape such as the 2018 Farm Act’s passage by Congress and the President, The SAFE Banking Act’s passage by the House of Representatives this year, and the Congressional introduction of the marijuana-decriminalizing MORE Act.

Kase Farma is preparing new equipment for processing and distilling up to 12,000 pounds per day of dried hemp biomass for the coming year’s hemp cultivation season, and HTC is likewise preparing to process hemp biomass in Saskatchewan under a tolling strategy coordinated with area farmers.

HTC expects to sell extracted cannabidiol (CBD) through brands under its related entity, Purely Canada Foods, including Purely Canada Hemp™, Purely Canada CBD™, Purely Canada CBG™ and Purely Canada Cannabinoids™.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.HTCExtraction.com

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to HTC are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/HTC

SRAX Inc.’s (NASDAQ: SRAX) BIGtoken Platform Both Empowers and Protects Consumers with Growing Data Privacy Concerns

  • Recent poll shows consumers’ increasing distrust towards companies that collect personal data
  • As concerns over data privacy grow, SRAX’s BIGtoken platform becomes more relevant
  • In addition to protecting personal data, BIGtoken gives users a chance to earn money for providing consumer data

Consumer data is emerging as individuals’ “most ignored and valuable asset,” yet emerging privacy concerns give consumers legitimate pause when it comes to reaping data’s benefits (http://ibn.fm/FBvfn). SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX) is on the forefront of these industry trends due to its diligence in protecting consumers while simultaneously empowering them to benefit from their data. While offering consumers unique technology and tools to safely approve and monetize their personal data, access is then sold to marketers that benefit from accurate consumer information and opinions. SRAX accomplishes all of this through its patented BIGtoken platform, which provides compensation to users who provide consumer data.

The Pew Research Center recently conducted a study regarding people’s feelings towards data privacy. The poll showed that consumers distrust the ways in which companies handle user data now more than ever. An estimated 80% of polled adults said that they were at least somewhat concerned with how companies use the personal data that they collect (http://ibn.fm/Op6er).

The number stayed consistent when survey respondents were asked about the control that they felt they had over personal data being collected; 81% said they felt they had little or no control over this data. As data breaches from massive companies such as Facebook continue to hit mainstream news, more people seem to be aware of data-privacy issues.

This increased awareness is creating a growing interest in SRAX’s BIGtoken platform. BIGtoken is focused on monetizing personal data while also keeping it private. This mobile app gives users the opportunity to take control over their data and turn it into financial rewards at the same time. This approach is in stark contrast to most companies, which collect personal data and make a fortune from selling it without paying the consumers who provide the data.

In addition, BIGtoken effectively addresses concerns over the ways that companies have clumsily used personal data. SRAX’s proprietary platform sells access to data while keeping it fully anonymized, thereby providing value to both consumer and marketing stakeholders. While companies gain access to accurate and valuable consumer data through BIGtoken, consumers receive money for providing this data. Bottom line: BIGtoken is a platform where consumers with concerns over data privacy can feel safe.

BIGtoken is a fully transparent platform that offers a valuable opt-in consumer data set. Currently, the mobile app has more than 16 million users worldwide, and that number is growing every day as consumers become more aware of the value of their personal data and the dangers of sharing it.

An additional concern is new privacy laws across the country, which are starting to change the way that marketers can reach consumers. BIGtoken already operates in compliance with those laws, so the platform looks to be a reliable source for accurate consumer data for years to come.

SRAX works across many industry verticals and uses its technology to identify target consumers for brands and companies in the CPG, investor relations, luxury, and lifestyle realms. By integrating data using verified consumer participation, the company provides useful insights to its client brands to keep those brands ahead in the competitive curve.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SRAX.com

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SRAX are available in the company’s newsroom at  http://ibn.fm/SRAX

Sigma Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: SGLB) Technology Critical to Ensure Performance, Safety of 3D Printed Parts as Military Need Arises

  • Assistant secretary of Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics says 3D metal printing poised to streamline military maintenance, save billions
  • Army’s suppliers reluctant to manufacture highly demanding but low-volume production; 3D metal printing changes this
  • Sigma Labs’ unique quality-assurance software essential for leveraging full potential of 3D metal printing in defense sector

The United States’ defense budget consumes a large portion of its overall spending; in 2018, the cost of replacing the Army’s aviation fleet alone was a staggering $4 billion (http://ibn.fm/TwAW4). Currently, a substantial portion of this cost is tied up in bidding manufacturers to produce specific replacement parts on aging aircraft, creating a critical need for affordable, effective parts manufacturing (http://ibn.fm/2Axy8).

This is where 3D metal printing – deemed a “significant advance in military parts purchasing” – steps in. Sigma Labs Inc.’s (NASDAQ: SGLB) PrintRite3D® software, a revolutionary, real-time, computer-aided inspection technology that enables in-process quality assurance of 3D metal printing, could prove to be an important piece in the U.S. defense sector’s 3D metal printing plans. SGLB’s technology is the only real-time, in-process, quality-assurance solution capable of observing, managing and controlling manufacturing complexities while detecting defects and intervening immediately.

Will Roper, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics, discussed the transformative power of additive manufacturing technology for the military sector in a recent Washington Post article. Additive manufacturing, often called 3D printing, includes methods used to create a three-dimensional object by robotically layering powdered material under computer control. The capability to produce high-quality metal parts has dramatically broadened the practical application of the nascent technology, and the defense industry has been quick to capitalize on its potential.

In recent years, resources have been allocated to investigate the potential of the emerging technology for producing replacement parts. Roper states that 3D metal printing could save the U.S. Army billions of dollars each year on military equipment maintenance related to producing small scale but rather complex parts. Some of the equipment in question, while still useful, was built decades ago. With replacement parts in short supply, maintaining this equipment can be expensive.

Roper also notes that, according to the Government Accountability Office, this upkeep – or “sustainment” in military language – accounts for around 70% of total costs of weapons’ ownership. Just for the 52 C-5 cargo warplanes that the Air Force operates, sustainment amounts to about $620 million per year. The conventional production is proving expensive as manufacturers must create customized parts while meeting a myriad of military specifications, allocating equipment and manpower for a small production that won’t be reordered for many years. The end result is extremely high cost of replacement parts – but 3D metal printing is set to change all this.

“In two short years, 3-D printing has spread across the Air Force,” Roper writes in the Washington Post article. “Today, we print thousands of spare aircraft parts from metals and polymers, lowering operating cost by tens of millions while getting planes back to the fight faster. The need is severe: For example, three C-5s are grounded, awaiting exhaust ducts because our purchase offer of more than $430,000 for eight units did not entice a single supplier for months… When we finally received a bid, the earliest delivery was 34 weeks.”

“Using a 3-D printer, our Air Force engineers made [a] latrine panel for $300, saving $8,200, compared with the open market prices we once paid through the Defense Logistics Agency,” Roper writes. However, Roper noted that differences from printer to a printer can introduce peculiar defects not found in traditional manufacturing. To secure adequate performance and confidence in how the produced parts were made, thereby addressing craft part integration safety, especially under the stress and strain of flight, 3D metal-printing technology needs to address quality control issues such as the variable occurrence of part “lack of fusion porosity” which in turn creates a potentially lucrative opening for Sigma Labs’ technology.

The company could be a crucial player as it is recognized as a leader in the 3D metal-printing, quality-assurance domain. With still modest valuation at around $14 million, combined with a robust lineup of lucrative collaboration opportunities with industry’s major players and the expected growth of the whole market, Sigma Labs represents an investment opportunity that is high on investors’ radar in 2020. The company is poised to capitalize on its intense efforts during the previous years.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SigmaLabsInc.com

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SGLB are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/SGLB

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