• PRO 140 has been shown effective in inhibiting the growth of a human colon carcinoma cell line (SW480) in a prominent mouse model
• PRO 140 extended the lives of treated mice and reduced tumor growth by more than 50 percent
• CytoDyn was recently featured favorably in a report by a leading independent small cap media portal

Biotechnology company CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY) recently announced exciting progress (http://ibn.fm/thpLl) in the development of PRO 140 (leronlimab), its novel humanized CCR5 monoclonal antibody, which has multiple therapeutic indications including treating HIV, cancer and inflammatory conditions.

In preclinical studies conducted over the past year, PRO 140 was shown effective in inhibiting the growth of a human colon carcinoma cell line (SW480) in a prominent mouse model. The statistically significant results will provide a basis for the filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a clinical trial of PRO 140 in colon carcinoma patients, which CytoDyn plans to file within the next few weeks.

In the studies, two different strains of immuno-incompetent mice were used to grow SW480 human tumor cells, with different doses of PRO 140 being used as part of the studies. The SW480 cell line was derived from a patient with colon adenocarcinoma; like many human cancers, the cell line was CCR5-positive.

In comparison with the control mice, the lives of the mice treated with PRO 140 were extended, and tumor growth decreased by more than 50 percent, which was statistically significant. The results were dose-dependent and were repeated in separate experiments. Preclinical studies that are currently ongoing are defining the mechanisms involved in PRO 140’s anti-tumor efficacy.

CytoDyn believes that CCR5 is a crucial receptor in the growth and invasiveness of human malignancies, and that premise is supported by these studies. In addition to CytoDyn’s recent announcement regarding PRO 140’s potential in metastatic breast cancers (http://ibn.fm/cCHM1), the company believes that these results in colon cancer further support that, if approved, PRO 140 may offer patients with breast and colon cancers an important potential therapeutic option.

In addition to filing an IND to commence studies of PRO 140 for treating colon carcinoma, CytoDyn will continue exploring the biological pathways involving CCR5 to identify other potential therapeutic applications for PRO 140.

In other news from CytoDyn, a favorable report about the company was recently published (http://ibn.fm/wXIwz) by leading independent small cap media portal EmergingGrowth.com. The report detailed the disruptive potential of PRO 140 in targeting HIV, along with its other potential clinical applications, and also discussed CytoDyn’s market valuation and current undervalued status.

In further company news, CytoDyn has noted that, upon the closing of its proposed acquisition of ProstaGene, Richard G. Pestell, Ph.D, M.D., is expected to be appointed as CytoDyn’s chief medical officer. Pestell is currently serving as the CEO of ProstaGene and as president of the Pennsylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center.

CytoDyn has also appointed Michael A. Klump, president and CEO of Argonne Capital Group, to its board of directors, as noted in a recent press release (http://ibn.fm/toYyP).

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

• Revenues up by 54 percent in second quarter
• Gross profit climbs by 17 percent
• Zero Cost Program sign-ups drive asset growth

The German pop group Snap! may have been singing for Zenergy Brands, Inc. (OTC: ZNGY) with its 1990 hit ‘I’ve Got the Power’, for the Texas-based company undoubtedly has. Operating in the emerging smart energy, conservation and utility markets, Zenergy provides a suite of conservation-based products and services that enable clients to achieve sustainability goals, reduce carbon emissions and improve their bottom lines. The company’s cutting-edge Zero Cost Program™, which offers energy conservation, smart controls and efficiency-based products and services to residential, commercial, industrial and municipal end-use customers, reduces utility consumption by up to 60 percent. Zenergy’s Q2 financials show that customers are increasingly considering this a winning proposition.

For the three months ended June 30, 2018, Zenergy had revenues of $464,404, an increase of 54 percent over Q1 revenues of $301,809. This revenue growth was due primarily to the company’s retail electricity services and energy conservation and efficiency contracts. Gross revenue also increased, climbing 17 percent to $109,315 over the previous quarter (http://ibn.fm/tBPPC). Zenergy’s trademarked Zero Cost Program™, wherein each customer agreement represents a long-term contracted revenue stream, has been the primary driver of the company’s growth.

Zenergy’s year-to-date revenue has now reached $766,213; it was just $10,126 for the same period last year, while assets as of June 30, 2018, have climbed to $3,959,862, up from a mere $379,763 for the same prior year period. These results indicate rapidly increasing acceptance of Zenergy’s energy solutions, particularly those under the Zero Cost Program.

The Zero Cost Program is a financing mechanism that allows customers to reduce water, natural gas and electricity consumption, with no out-of-pocket cost, through the implementation of proven conservation technologies. A variety of smart control technologies are employed, including building automation, LED lighting solutions, refrigeration optimization, efficient water systems, EC motor controls, demand-side management and load factor correction.

The Zero Cost Program was developed based on an industry standard agreement known as a Managed Energy Services Agreement (MESA). Under the MESA, Zenergy acts as an intermediary between the customer and the utility and develops, procures financing for, and installs and maintains energy efficiency measures and equipment at the client’s facilities. The MESA, a variation of an Energy Services Agreement (ESA) that’s rapidly gaining popularity, is expected to last a minimum of five years, with an average of seven years’ duration. However, unlike an ESA, under a MESA, the energy provider takes on broader energy management of a customer’s facility, including the assumption of responsibility for utility bills.

With an ESA, an energy provider sets a floor for the customer’s energy consumption and lays out projected savings after retrofitting. After the retrofits are installed, actual energy and cost savings are measured. The customer then pays the ESA provider a charge per unit of energy saved that is set below its baseline utility price, resulting in immediate reduced operating expenses. The ESA payment can be structured either as a percentage of the customer’s utility rate or as a fixed dollar amount per kilowatt-hour saved. The ESA provider retains ownership and maintains the equipment throughout the ESA to ensure reliability and performance. New efficiency measures can be added throughout the duration of the contract, at the end of which the customer can elect to purchase the equipment at fair market value, extend the contract or return the equipment.

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

• Providing first and only comprehensive card processing operation in the cannabis industry
• Diversifying commitment beyond a payment solution and increasing shareholder value from seed to sale
• Expanding and strengthening advisory board to achieve corporate objectives

The expedited growth and demand of legal marijuana operations has made it difficult for dispensaries to manage all aspects of their operations. There are many moving parts that go into remaining compliant with FinCEN and the Cole Memo, maintaining safety in the handling of funds for a traditionally cash only industry and managing customer satisfaction and quality control.

Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions (OTC: REFG) is providing clients an end-to-end management system called Green. Merchant clients can register online for a total banking solution for cannabis-related businesses. Green is one of the first and only comprehensive card processing operations of its kind to serve the state-sanctioned medical marijuana industry. This state-of-the-art system takes payment directly from customers, tracks sales and tax collection, pays bills and payroll, eliminates cash-only transactions, integrates ecommerce shopping carts for online orders and more. The Green platform also provides online bank accounts to help cannabis providers deal with the problem of limited or no bank support due to federal regulations that are still in place. Green is at the core of REFG as it seeks to assist merchant clients in economically sustainable business.

The company has diversified its commitment to the cannabis industry beyond Green and increased shareholder value through involvement in every step of quality control, from seed to sale.  REFG has expanded its footprint and value within the cannabis industry through the acquisition of new strands, land for cultivation, a proprietary organic growth accelerator, the deployment of mobile hemp CBD extraction labs and a continued commitment to the Green cashless payment solution.

After careful consideration, REFG first chose to expand its footprint in the state-sanctioned cannabis space through the acquisition of SpeedyGrow, a Wyoming corporation with licenses to grow and process hemp in Colorado. This acquisition included two marijuana strains and SpeedyVeg, an organic soil nutrient blend combining over 70 trace minerals to accelerate growth, maximize yield and produce healthy plants (http://ibn.fm/nbyhU). Since acquiring SpeedyGrow and beginning cultivation in Colorado, REFG has announced plans to grow industrial hemp in Vermont and expand into Utah (http://ibn.fm/JoXwA).

The deployment of mobile hemp CBD extraction labs, through an agreement made with a subsidiary of Paper Lantern LLC, will provide a competitive edge in the industry to hemp farms owned and operated by REFG, as well as farms that have entered into processing agreements with the company. These mobile labs offer economic benefit through the elimination of redundant layered costs, added convenience, improved processing efficiency and enhanced quality control, as well as an environmentally friendly reduction in energy consumption (http://ibn.fm/EmUSK).

REFG is expanding and strengthening its advisory board as it continues on the strategic direction of diversifying within the cannabis industry. Mike Haridopolos, former president of the Florida State Senate, and James Gray, former U.S. vice presidential candidate on the Libertarian ticket and mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, have joined REFG’s advisory board. The addition of prominent political figures working toward the legalization of marijuana will only help to expand the company’s footprint and advance its corporate objectives (http://ibn.fm/DtCKe).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Take.Green

• GPS SmartSole® selected by George Mason University for groundbreaking study to link movement patterns of dementia patients with progression of disease
• GTX Corp’s flagship GPS SmartSole® and tracking technology were developed specifically to track people with cognitive disorders at risk of wandering
• More than 60 percent of people with dementia will wander, creating a stressful and potentially dangerous situation; Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S.
• Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia afflict about 5.7 million Americans, with nearly 80 percent of those patients being cared for at home by a family member

GTX Corp (OTC: GTXO), a pioneer in the field of wearable GPS human and asset tracking systems and wandering assistive technology, has partnered with George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services (“Mason”) in an important study using the company’s flagship GPS SmartSole® and tracking technology platform (http://ibn.fm/WwJev). The patented GPS SmartSole® is a non-visible GPS tracking device designed to monitor the location of people afflicted with cognitive memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism and traumatic brain injury (TBI), who have a tendency to get lost or wander.

The study, funded through a grant from the Alzheimer’s & Related Disease Research Award Fund, aims to track the progression of Alzheimer’s dementia (“AD”) in patients as it relates to their movement patterns, the news release states. Specifically, the study explores the possibility of using machine learning methods and artificial intelligence applied to data from GPS trackers to create models that can predict patterns of movement. GTX Corp will provide its SmartSole® products and replace them as needed over a period of two to three years, in addition to sharing access to its GPS data and scientific expertise in the technology, Patrick Bertagna, GTX Corp CEO, said.

“This is so remarkable and truly innovative thinking,” Bertagna said in the news release outlining the company’s continued support of the university’s research program. “We began supporting Mason in 2016, with their first small and no budget study, and to see this work evolve to this degree is really impressive. Knowing that our technology continues to prove out its efficacy in what could potentially help millions of seniors afflicted with dementia is such a validation to our core mission statement.”

The university published encouraging results of an exploratory study using GTX Corp’s tracking technology in June, which was soon followed by the grant application to expand the research project. Approved in July and funded for one year, the study has the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of Alzheimer patients and their caregivers, researchers stated in the June report (http://ibn.fm/IH7EB).

“The majority of people with AD are in danger of wandering including getting lost. Subsequently, these individuals may get hurt, cause extreme distress for family and caregivers, and require costly search efforts. The presented research aimed at finding patterns of movement that can eventually lead to prediction of wandering,” the report states.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 5.7 million Americans of all ages currently living with Alzheimer’s, costing the nation $277 billion in 2018. Those numbers are rising quickly, along with the estimated number of Americans providing unpaid care for those with Alzheimer’s or other dementia (http://ibn.fm/zd2Fh). Alzheimer’s disease remains one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and is a top cause of disability and poor health.

“The future of patient monitoring is in advanced technologies, such as GTX’s SmartSole, aided by Artificial Intelligence and prediction,” added Janusz Wojtusiak, associate professor and Director of Health Informatics at George Mason’s College of Health and Human Services and lead researcher of the study. “By combining these two technologies, we can achieve what has not been possible before. The new study is getting us one step closer to safe care for people with Alzheimer’s and understanding how wandering patterns relate to progression of the disease.”

The research will be made available to GTX Corp, which will consider deploying the prediction algorithms into its backend monitoring platform, adding another layer of technology and overall value to the company’s proprietary GPS tracking platform and monitoring services.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people living with some form of dementia is expected to triple in the next 30 years from 50 million worldwide to 152 million by 2050. The estimated annual global cost of dementia is $818 billion, or about one percent of the world’s gross domestic product (http://ibn.fm/J1LuE).

“This pilot (research program) could produce the groundbreaking data that may have the potential to save lives and dramatically reduce the rising costs of this disease,” Andrew Carle, Adjunct Professor and Founding Director of the Program in Senior Housing Administration at George Mason, noted in a news release.

Andrew Duncan, GTX Corp director of business development, agrees, adding, “This research combined with AI, could play a major role in finding solutions to complex problems derived from Alzheimer’s, dementia and autism.”

All of this comes on the heels of the company’s major announcement in June that its tracking technology has been selected for use in the UK to monitor dementia patients, and could soon become available in the through the country’s National Health Service (http://ibn.fm/bBTf7).

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

• Sky Mids Technologies’ transactional book of business, capable of processing more than $1 billion annually, will be added selectively to GRBX’s infrastructure volume
• GRBX sees fast implementation of additional joint capabilities, as the two companies have already worked together; Sky has been using GRBX’s QuickCard blockchain-powered payments system
• The acquisition enhances the onboarding process of the GRBX platform by incorporating the technology and advantages of Sky’s system

GreenBox POS, LLC’s (OTCQB: GRBX) acquisition of Sky Mids Technologies brings together two companies that have already worked together in payments processing, ensuring a quick start to their transition (http://ibn.fm/wYkoW). It also brings to GRBX Sky’s book of transactional business, capable of processing greater than $1 billion annually, which will be added to GRBX upon review. GRBX has already commenced onboarding Sky’s book of business onto its infrastructure.

In a news release, Ben Errez, Executive VP of GRBX, said, “Following the Sky acquisition, we will be able to accelerate the pace by which the thousands of new business applications are processed, and the best selected to join our ecosystem and enjoy the benefits of our technology.”

The transaction calls for GRBX to absorb the staff, primarily engineers, and technology developed by Sky. Errez noted that he has been impressed with the quality of the engineers, terming them “top notch.” Ken Haller, CEO of Sky, will be named GRBX’s Senior VP, Payment Systems.

GRBX, based in California, offers individual disruptive applications integrated into an end-to-end suite of financial products. They include the QuickCard blockchain-driven e-Wallet and the QuickCard kiosk, which manages all cash issues, including deposits to blockchain. LOOPZ is a delivery software solution that offers service dispatcher back-end technology with manual and automatic modes. Point of sale solutions consist of in-house-developed proprietary software with features such as cloud security, data fidelity and compliance.

Fraud protection is a key focus for GRBX. Its TrustGateway blockchain technology is integrated with QuickCard, a GRBX brand, and together they are highly resistant to fraudulent transactions on the GreenBox payment platform, as the company noted in a recent update (http://ibn.fm/x3a7V). The fully integrated mobile payment app that processes cash into blockchain driven e-Wallets has a defense wall that has not been successfully penetrated, according to the company. The GRBX advantage is that it owns all parts of the blockchain payment system, including TrustKeys, ledger and gateway, and operates over its own blockchain space.

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

• The Green Organic Dutchman is building a cannabis industry presence with focus on premium, craft-grown product
• Company is building 1.38 million square feet of cultivation facilities in Canada, Jamaica
• New Acquisitions Corporation will focus on monetizing TGOD’s experience in finding worldwide opportunities
• Enters LOI with Denmark-based Knud Jepsen, increasing funded capacity to 195,000 kg annually

Amid the rush to market cannabis products in increasingly varied ways, medical cannabis research and development company The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (OTC: TGODF) is preparing to reward its shareholders and boost its bottom line by spinning off a new corporation that will focus on “the acquisition and development of worldwide opportunities,” according to a recent news release (http://ibn.fm/s2AIo).

The Ontario, Canada-based company produces high-quality, organic medical cannabis with a reliance on premium craft-grown virtues that can be consistently reproduced trumping the desire to deliver maximized volumes. The company is one of only a few certified organic growers in Canada and also recently announced its intention to enter into the beverage industry. It has a funded capacity for growing 170,000 kg of plant material and is building 1.38 million square feet of cultivation facilities in Ontario, Quebec, and Jamaica. The company also recently announced plans to enter Denmark. The arrangement consists of two facilities situated in 1.3 million square feet of state-of-the-art automated greenhouses. The enterprise, currently the subject of a letter of intent (LOI), will be a 50/50 joint venture with Knud Jepsen, based in Hinnerup, Denmark. Expected completion date is in the second half of 2019. This arrangement will increase TGOD’s funded capacity to 195,000 kg per annum.

The spinoff of the TGOD Acquisitions Corporation is part of plans to complete a series of staged financings and acquisitions that will culminate in an IPO event expected in late 2018. The spinoff activities will bestow a warrant to shareholders that authorizes them to acquire a “unit” in the new company — one per each 6.67 shares they hold in TGOD at the time of the spinoff — for $0.50. Each unit will comprise a share in the new company, as well as an additional warrant that will allow the investors to join in a future round of financing alongside TGOD management during the seed round of the company.

TGOD has announced the record date, September 28, 2018, any TGOD common shares acquired prior to that date will contribute to exposure in the TGOD Acquisitions seed round financing.

TGOD Acquisitions will operate with its own board of directors and management structure, whose members will be announced during a meeting with shareholders. The TGOD Acquisitions Company results from collaborations that The Green Organic Dutchman has built over time with emerging cannabis companies from around the world as the company has pursued its own development within the cannabis industry. While TGOD has not pursued acquisitions previously, its management determined that the time has come to monetize its experience with other companies for the benefit of its shareholders.

The Green Organic Dutchman completed a strategic partnership with Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX: ACB) earlier this year that also demonstrated its foresight in building the company and strengthened its financial base, resulting in some C$78.1 million in Aurora investments. The company also has increased its profit margins by partnering with global power management company Eaton Corp. Eaton delivers optimization that makes it possible for TGOD to have some of the lowest electricity input costs in the industry, in turn granting itself opportunities to corner business in the crop growing power management and lighting field worldwide.

“This (spinoff) is an incredible opportunity for TGOD to transfer expertise and monetize our proprietary knowledge from the Canadian marketplace,” the news release states. “We will partner with innovative and disruptive companies that we can assist with capital market knowledge and unique retail-exclusive financing methods. The intention is to raise additional capital and list TGOD Acquisitions on the Canadian Securities Exchange.”

Further details about the spinoff transaction arrangement will be published in a circular to be prepared for TGOD security holders and will be filed under TGOD’s profile on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.TGOD.ca

• Creating branded games to attract new customers for clients
• Leveraging the motivation of customers for reward and achievement to collect data and convert leads
• Provides cost effective pricing to meet the needs of various clients as they tap into the power of gamification

DeepMarkit Inc. (TSX.V: MKT) (OTCQB: MKTDF) is creating branded games that help attract new customers and thus sales, generating leads through the capture of data. Through the use of gamification technology, the company is helping businesses engage consumers and other audiences.

But what is gamification technology and how has DeepMarkit tapped into this innovative marketing approach? Gamification is simply the transformation of existing business models into new ways to enhance relationships, engagement and loyalty amongst customers and employees. By leveraging the motivations that exist in all of us for community, achievement and reward, companies are able to engage consumers and drive growth. Through its Gamify platform, DeepMarkit has harnessed the power of gamification to convert leads into paying customers at multiple touch points in the sales funnel while simultaneously collecting data for further follow up.

DeepMarkit provides cost effective pricing to fit the needs and budgets of the businesses it serves. A free website display allows companies to convert online visitors into email subscribers. The Gamify slide out is available in three games and entices visitors to subscribe with instant prizes. Businesses can choose from a selection of easily customizable gaming apps featuring the company’s unique branding. These games, and carefully crafted landing pages, allow for the collection of data and real-time analytics. The audience is provided motivation through the chance to win, receive awards and build positive associations.

Rather than using ads to engage, Gamify is grabbing the attention of consumers with a platform with which they want to interact. Built into the platform are various calls to action designed to trigger the consumer to follow through. Increased sales occur through multiple touch points as customers are provided with purchase incentive rewards.

The global gamification market was valued at approximately $1.7 million in 2015 and is projected to reach more than $22 billion by 2022 (http://ibn.fm/3Rkgx). Gamify offers clients the ability to reach this audience by providing platform integrations, email marketing platforms and promotion distribution channels. A free version of the Gamify slide out is available across multiple ecommerce platforms and provides clients with the chance to experience the power of gamification for themselves. Paid features are available for upgrades, bringing more value to each client while promoting an increase in brand awareness and conversion.

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

• Big data and business analysis revenues expected to reach $166 billion this year, $260 billion by 2022
• Consorteum Holdings’ lead product, the Universal Mobile Interface™, provides adaptable Big Data capabilities to variety of industries
• Company’s first app targets sports betting interests of world’s cricket fans

The surging interest in data analytics tools bodes well for analytical software development company Consorteum Holdings, Inc. (OTC: CSRH), which aims to distribute its central product, the Universal Mobile Interface (UMI), to businesses intent on integrating data streams to generate revenue via mobile platforms.

Consorteum Holdings is focused on the delivery of digital content to mobile devices. Its suite of mobile applications, developed through a combination of strategic partnerships, license agreements and joint venture arrangements, delivers mobile content and mobile payments solutions. The company has been building relationships and licensing agreements that will allow it to participate in the growing fintech marketplace, and, earlier this year, it announced the development of a sports betting app that will enable cricket fans to analyze various team and player statistics to make more informed wagering decisions.

Global market intelligence firm International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts a world in which revenues from big data and business analysis (BDA) will reach $166 billion this year, marking an increase of 11.7 percent over last year (http://ibn.fm/K5JQ9). BDA solutions are expected to bring in revenues of $260 billion worldwide by 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.9 percent during that time.

“At a high level, organizations are turning to big data and analytics solutions to navigate the convergence of their physical and digital worlds,” IDC Customer Insights and Analysis Program Vice President Jessica Goepfert told New Zealand’s Channel Life publication (http://ibn.fm/iXM2q). “This transformation takes a different shape depending on the industry. For instance, within banking and retail — two of the fastest growth areas for big data and analytics — investments are all about managing and reinvigorating the customer experience. Whereas in manufacturing, firms are reinventing themselves to essentially be high tech companies, using their products as a platform to enable and deliver digital services.”

Consorteum Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiary, 359 Mobile, Inc., is responsible for building the company’s UMI platform to blend any stream of data on a mobile platform, flexibly adapting to the diverse needs of a broad range of vertical markets, including e-commerce, mobile gaming, banking, data analytics, social media, entertainment and digital marketing.

Earlier this year, the company announced that its first app to market is a tool to help sports betting fans study athlete statistics and predict outcomes for their favorite teams and players as new matchups take place (http://ibn.fm/RzoQG), potentially establishing Consorteum Holdings as a frontrunner in a market with explosive opportunities. According to the Chicago Tribune, nearly 60 million people in the United States and Canada alone find entertainment in fantasy sports league competitions, many of which involve cash wagers (http://ibn.fm/yQ7IZ).

Consorteum Holdings’ initial app targets competitive cricket, a sport without a significant following in the United States but with an enormous following worldwide. It is regarded as second only to soccer in fan-base popularity, and the app’s initial rollout will take place this year in the United Kingdom, with additional geographical markets considered as time passes.

“Additionally, the Company will evaluate opportunities to market its current technologies in other industries,” the company’s most recent quarterly filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission states. “Going forward, we expect our revenues to be derived from transactions processed using our UMI software platform technology in various countries outside the U.S. starting with the United Kingdom as we explore other international distribution opportunities. We will also explore any U.S. opportunities that are feasible.”

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

• CBD market projected to grow to $2.1 billion by 2020
• Large Asian-American market receptive to traditional Chinese medicine and nutraceuticals
• Cannabis Strategic Ventures combines brand experience with niche knowledge

Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) is out to take a slice of the billion-dollar Asian Nutraceutical pie. The company recently cut a deal to acquire the Fitamins CBD brand (http://ibn.fm/JzrDg). Under the terms of the agreement, Fitamins will be distributing its vitamin and hemp-derived CBD formulations through a network of more than 600 wholesalers that serve the Asian-American market. Guided by a team that has developed two successful ventures, Cannabis Strategic Ventures will leverage its knowledge of this underserved market to provide value to both customers and shareholders.

As large as the Asian-American market is, it is often overlooked because many marketers are daunted by the communication challenges involved. Cannabis Strategic Ventures, on the other hand, is comfortable and familiar with the demographic. The company is led by Simon Yu, BBA, MBA, who holds the position of CEO. He is supported by Chris Young, who recently joined Cannabis Strategic Ventures as a board member (http://ibn.fm/J1rdK).

Young is the founder of Pure Applied Sciences, Inc. (PAS), which is now a subsidiary of Cannabis Strategic Ventures. He holds a JD from Southwestern Law and an MBA from the University of Southern California, and he has already built two successful ventures. First, he founded a women’s fashion brand, which was sold two years later. Second, he co-founded Coordinates Collection, a luxury jewelry brand that’s marketed to over 500 stores in 10 countries. After his second successful exit, Young moved on to become a strategy and branding consultant, developing consumer packaged goods (CPG) products for celebrity-led brands.

The Asian-American nutraceutical market appears to have a great deal of potential because of its immensity and historical characteristics. The Chinese segment of this large demographic numbered about five million in 2015, according to the well-respected Pew Research Center (http://ibn.fm/KNVLm), with an English proficiency rate of 70 percent, which highlights how important specialized knowledge of the culture is for a marketer. Most Chinese-Americans can be found in California, with 604,000 in Los Angeles, 519,000 in San Francisco and 194,000 in San Jose, but New York also has a substantial number (798,000 in NYC).

Chinese-Americans are also open to using nutraceuticals because of their exposure and familiarity with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which embraces herbal remedies. Moreover, TCM and nutraceuticals are receiving official support. No less a personage than China’s president, Xi Jinping, has been promoting TCM, calling it “the gem of Chinese traditional science.” He is urging practitioners to “push for TCM to step onto the world stage”, according to the Economist (http://ibn.fm/NG5IN). As a result, around 60,000 TCM treatment options have been approved by the government’s food and drug regulator, accounting for almost a third of China’s pharmaceutical market, the world’s second-largest.

The Chinese public has been welcomingly receptive. The number of patients visiting TCM hospitals and doctors has risen. In 2011, they accounted for 14 percent of health care; by 2015, they comprised 16 percent. It seems very likely that the CBD products being marketed by Cannabis Strategic Ventures will align with these cultural and historical trends.

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

• In MoneyTV interview, Warren Wang, CEO of CIIX, says that the plan is to spin off cannabis line next year, adding that the goal is for CIIX shares to grow from $0.50 to $5.00 in three to five years
• CIIX’s CBD division to include CBD Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Hemp Logic, Inc. and ChineseHempOil.com, Inc.
• After the spinoff of CBD assets, CIIX will return to its roots in consulting, brand building and education for the Chinese-speaking community in the U.S. and international markets

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) subsidiary ChineseHempOil.com, Inc. is growing the strategic retail placement of its CBD-related products and conducted a seminar on August 18 at its San Gabriel, California, Chinese Wellness Center (http://ibn.fm/1iv1M).

Amin Wang, a Chinese medicine practitioner, conducted the event. Nina Wang, general manager of ChineseHempOil.com, Inc., noted that this was the fourth in a series of special educational presentations this year focused on the company’s hemp-based products. The seminar was titled ‘The Health Benefits of Hemp Oil’.

The hemp oil line is already in more than 70 retail locations in Los Angeles. CIIX’s strategy is to sell that line’s products to retailers in Northern California, then spin off the hemp oil division (http://ibn.fm/LZy2K).

Warren Wang, CEO of CIIX, in a MoneyTV interview (http://ibn.fm/tznGm), said, “Our goal is try to become the Chinese CVSI (CV Sciences, Inc.),” a company he termed the leader in the CBD industry. “We will try to maximize our revenues. My biggest dream as CEO of a publicly traded company is to maximize shareholders’ value. So, my goal is (for the stock) to go from $0.50 to $5.00 within three to five years.”

Next year, Wang added, he hopes the subsidiary can double its revenues and meet the qualifications for listing on the Nasdaq or NYSE.

CIIX plans to return to its core business in financial consulting and branding. CIIX has a history of success as a diverse firm with multiple focuses. The San Gabriel, California-based company offers a suite of services and educational courses for its audience of Chinese-speaking cryptocurrency investors.

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