In an age of subprime 2.0, where the next Big Short is looking more and more like auto loans (http://dtn.fm/XfWR0) as delinquencies hit a six-year high of around five percent (the highest level since September 2009), the idea of an American-made, ultra-high-mileage two-seater, sporting an amazing 84 MPG highway and going for a targeted sticker price of just $6,800, is a concept whose time has come. While the Elio, a commuter-focused piece of three-wheel innovation aimed squarely at the 76 percent or more of Americans who drive to work every day solo, may not win Daytona next year, it has already won the hearts and minds of many consumers.

Driven by grassroots beginnings, a clear vision and exacting product design, Elio Motors, Inc. (OTCQX: ELIO), whose manufacturing footprint is based out of the former GM plant in Shreveport, Louisiana (http://dtn.fm/A9AoE), is one of the success stories of the 2012 JOBS Act, which was (in part) designed to assist new fundraising methodologies such as crowdfunding. Elio famously got its jumpstart via a $17 million capital raise using crowdfunding platform StartEngine in order to draw on a historically untapped lending source for such efforts: unaccredited investors (who are classed as having a net worth under $1 million and an income of under $200,000 a year).

The company’s following mini-IPO onto the OTCQX, subsequent to the SEC’s effective splitting of Regulation A into two tiers (one including non-accredited investors), marks a significant milestone for both the U.S. auto industry and capital markets themselves. Regulation A+ allows up to $50 million to be raised from even non-accredited investors and could prove to be a major ramping strategy for future startups. In Elio’s case, the first equity-crowdfunded IPO, the stock debuted around $16.50 after an initial pricing of $12.00 a share and ran up to a $1.3 billion market cap close on Feb 29 after just a few days of trading, before retreating back to around the $24.00 handle as of March 2 on pressured selling driven by prospect skepticism. But the naysayers who complain about $53.8 million in costs thus far and the company’s $30.7 million in loan debt have obviously never tried to start a grassroots car company in 2016.

Elio is not just capitalizing on the three-wheeler trend here either, which was sparked back in 2012 with the release of Morgan Motor Company’s 1983cc ‘V-twin’ fuel injected Morgan 3 Wheeler and extended by the entry of such players as Minnesota-based snowmobile maker Polaris (NYSE: PII), with its recently-debuted 2.4 liter Slingshot. Elio is looking to completely redefine the category with a quality vehicle that anyone can afford, but which also has a comprehensive SMS (http://dtn.fm/5xLjx) (Safety Management System) centered around a reinforced roll-cage frame (http://dtn.fm/EKv6p), beefier crush zones that are 50 percent bigger than comparable vehicles, ABS brakes, and three airbags.

While some have panned the concept as not ready for primetime, the grassroots funding success of Elio laughs in the face of such so-called established wisdom, and the motorcycle designation is being hurdled (http://dtn.fm/7kRjT) with successful helmet exemption legislation already passed (or on its way to being passed) in multiple states. To many, the idea of needing to wear a helmet with such a vehicle is absurd, and lawmakers will likely understand the folly of blanket vehicle type classification in this regard as the news spreads about this roll-cage framed commuter marvel. The underlying robustness of the Elio’s engineering pedigree can largely be chalked up to such part and system supplier heavy-hitters (http://dtn.fm/Kr81G) as renowned German vehicle developer IAV, which is praised for its powertrains and electronic systems, as well as the involvement of auto industry titans such as HyperWorks suite of CAE software products developer, Altair Engineering (http://dtn.fm/bB68I).

To some, Elio Motors may look like just a run-of-the-mill underdog in a world of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) fanboys, but the robust design specs and 95 percent or more North American part sourcing speak volumes about how far pragmatic founder Paul Elio’s vision could carry investors. While Tesla struggles to compete against major manufacturers’ electric and hybrid vehicles, Elio has defined a niche market for itself that is both underserved and primed for explosive growth. Investors should keep a close eye on the company’s Q4 2016 rollout target.

Learn more, visit www.eliomotors.com

Having the people we love go missing – even for brief periods – is a horrifying experience. In a recent news blog on the Modesto Bee website (http://dtn.fm/D13hJ), “a 70-year-old Sonora, California man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease was reunited with his family early Wednesday after being reported missing the night before. This man has no recollection of where he went or what he did, authorities said in a news release. He was reported missing by the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office at about 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday. This man left his home in Apple Valley Estates on Tuesday at around 7 p.m.” It’s very lucky the authorities found this man so quickly, but it could be very different the next time. Companies like GTX Corp. (OTC: GTXO) provide a GPS location solution to assist with this potentially dangerous situation.

The patented GPS SmartSole™ features a miniaturized, invisible GPS tracking device embedded in the insoles and powered by a rechargeable battery that lasts 1-2 days on a single charge. The GPS SmartSole™ sends a signal to the central monitoring website showing the wearer’s exact location using a combination of satellite and cellular technology. After you activate and setup your tracking account with GTX Corp., you will be able to monitor the person wearing the GPS SmartSole, right from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Peace of mind has no price tag when it comes to taking care of the ones we care about, and GTX offers a very affordable, effective location assistance option to assist in taking luck out of the equation. Being able to get an alert immediately once the SmartSole wearer wanders out of the preset parameters is advantageous, as compared to just winging it with a hope and prayer.

Those with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions. Maximizing quality of life is only possible if you can keep track of where people suffering from this debilitating condition are at all times.

Currently, over 100 million people require oversight due to various forms of memory impairment. That number is expected to increase to 277 million by 2050, according to The 2013 World Alzheimer’s Report. Some other startling figures to keep in mind include:

• 60 percent of individuals living with cognitive conditions that impair memory will become “lost” at least once
• 70 percent of those individuals will become “lost” 3 or more times
• 46 percent of wanderers not found within 24 hours may die

For more information, visit www.gtxcorp.com

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Avant Diagnostics, Inc. (OTCQB: AVDX) is a medical technology company that focuses its efforts on the human genome project. This genetic research continues to delve deeper into identifying variations of specific genes in the genome. A genome is all of the genes that make up a cell or organism. It’s basically a recipe book on how to build a human. Variations in these genes allow scientists to see individual characteristics of disease states and a person’s propensity for them. Scientists are then able to detect diseases earlier, thereby providing early treatment, which improves a patient’s quality of life while preventing disease progression. Avant Diagnostics is a key contributor to this program by developing its own advanced technology that identifies early stage ovarian cancer. This early detection can both decrease medical costs and increase samples while producing faster results.

Avant Diagnostic’s OvaDxⓇ is a microarray-based test that measures the immune system’s response to early stage ovarian cancer tumor cells in blood samples. Impressively, this is the market’s first large panel screening test for the disease. The test has a high sensitivity for all stages of ovarian cancer and eliminates false negatives and false positives. Plus, the proteomic panel provides real-time results, speeding up the process towards treatment if necessary.

To further stand by its aim of creating testing with fast results, Avant Diagnostics will soon merge with Amarantus Diagnostics, a biotechnology firm that develops diagnostic tests for neurological diseases. This partnership has a high potential of delivering diagnosis and monitoring tools for early detection at an even faster rate.

Not only does OvaDxⓇ deliver fast results, but it cuts costs in the overall treatment of ovarian cancer for patients and health centers. According to Current Women’s Health Reviews, late-stage ovarian cancer treatment could cost at least $210,000 or more. With early detection, a patient can get affordable treatment for the disease that has not progressed as far as it could.

Avant Diagnostics intends to make its product available as soon as possible, so women can be aware of their own ovarian cancer risks. With accurate and fast results, the company offers women the chance at early treatment to prevent expensive costs and painful therapy down the road.

For more information, visit the company website at www.avantdiagnostics.com

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Earlier today, Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: OGES) issued a news release announcing the company’s plans for the commercial introduction of its groundbreaking Liberty Series lithium ion motorcycle batteries at the 75th anniversary of the Daytona Beach Bikefest, which begins on March 4, 2016. As part of these efforts, Oakridge will be promoting and selling its innovative stored energy solutions from its booth at Rossmeyer Harley Davidson in Daytona Beach. The company’s management team expects the Liberty Series batteries to appeal to owners of iconic ‘Made in the USA’ motorcycles from manufacturers such as Harley Davidson (NYSE: HOG), Indian and Victory, as these bikes feature large engines that require a powerful battery to start.

“As avid motorbike enthusiasts, our team at Oakridge is very excited to be commercially shipping our Liberty Series batteries beginning this week,” Steve Barber, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Oakridge, stated in a news release. “We are also excited to announce that we will also be gradually extending our Liberty Series batteries to all other brands of motorcycles, jet skis, snowmobiles and boats as well.”

Oakridge’s highly reliable battery solutions are expected to be particularly popular amongst motorcycle enthusiasts as a result of the numerous issues presented by legacy battery systems. Historically, bike owners who didn’t ride at least every seven to 14 days were forced to purchase a battery trickle charger, or tender, in order to avoid encountering a flat battery when they were ready to ride. This expense, in addition to somewhat frequent purchases of replacement AGM or lead acid batteries, has remained an issue for bikers in the past. While lead acid and AGM batteries offer an average lifespan of just 18 to 36 months, Oakridge’s Liberty Series boasts an average lifespan of as long as 10 years, depending on the application.

In addition to offering improved reliability, as compared to traditional lead acid battery systems, Oakridge’s ‘Made in the USA’ Liberty Series lithium ion batteries also provide considerable weight savings. According to the news release, riders who equip a Liberty Series battery can shave the weight of their bike by as much as 17 pounds. This is because the batteries’ anodes are constructed of lithium, the lightest metal in existence with an atomic weight of three, as compared to lead, which has an atomic weight that’s more than 27 times heavier.

“With my travel schedule over the past 30+ years, I have been a frequent owner of flat batteries when I wanted to have a nice relaxing ride,” Barber continued. “We have spent the past 12 months refining and finalizing this product and are excited to announce that we are delivering the Liberty Series product line to the public at the iconic Daytona Beach Bikefest.”

For more information, visit www.oakridgeglobalenergy.com

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Content Checked Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: CNCK), the company behind the innovative ContentChecked, MigraineChecked and SugarChecked mobile applications, continues to secure coverage in popular online health and wellness media outlets. On Saturday, it built on its recent progress when Tory Tedrow, a registered dietitian with the company, was interviewed for an article featured on SELF magazine’s website. The piece, titled “16 Dietitians Share How They Get Back On Track After Overeating,” included helpful physical, mental, and nutritional decisions you can make after overeating, based on what has worked for them.

In the article, Tedrow emphasizes the importance of drinking lots of water to counter the effects and cravings associated with overeating, “I make sure to stay hydrated. That keeps me from mindlessly snacking, and I think of the extra bathroom trips as added exercise to my day. Most importantly, I remember that in the grand scheme of life, a few days or even weeks of overindulging are not going to make or break my health, weight, or overall well being.”

To view the full article, please visit http://dtn.fm/Fcp9D.

SELF is an American magazine for women that specializes in health, wellness, beauty, and style. Published by Condé Nast 12 times a year, it has a circulation of 1,515,880 and a total audience of 5,282,000 readers, according to its corporate media kit. The editor-in-chief is Joyce Chang, and the vice president and publisher is Mary Murko. SELF is based at Condé Nast’s U.S. headquarters at 1 World Trade Center in New York, NY. In addition, the SELF website has an extensive reach of 1,087,000 unique monthly visitors.

Content Checked continues to gain invaluable market exposure and brand awareness by being featured on popular health-conscience websites like SELF. The company also has plans of up-listing its stock to a larger exchange along with changing its source of revenue to a subscription-based model.

For more information, visit www.contentchecked.com

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Pets have become a major part of family life, not just in the U.S., but also around the world. We give them full names, wrap their Christmas presents, take them to the doctor/vet for regular shots and checkups, have regular exercise routines, and put them through school/training. Expenditures in the U.S. Pet Industry for 2015 were $60.59 billion (estimated), which was a four percent increase from 2014. OurPet’s Company (OTCQX: OPCO) develops, produces and markets various pet accessory and consumable products designed to awaken pets’ natural instincts, be it in feeding, playing or waste management.

Sold globally through pet specialty retailers; food, drug and mass chains; e-commerce; and international channels, the company’s products are marketed under the OurPets®, Pet Zone® and PetTastic® brands, with well-known sub-brands such as Play-N-Squeak®, Cosmic Catnip™, Durapet®, SmartScoop® and Flappy®. In total, OurPet’s has an intellectual property portfolio featuring more than 160 individual patents, giving the company sustainable access to the pet products industry for the foreseeable future.

Adapting to the constantly changing wants and needs of pet owners is essential for companies like OurPet’s to continue to grow and gain market share. Relationships the company has with major retailers, including Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Kroger (NYSE: KR), PetSmart and PetCo, really jump out as well for a company that is here for the long haul and not just a fly by night one hit wonder. Besides the cost of children, pet expenses account for a larger percentage of a family budget than just about any other item(s). OurPet’s research and development department is constantly churning out innovative new products to keep old customers coming back while attracting new ones.

The key to growth is being humble and having the foresight to take an outside look at what is working and, sometimes more importantly, what is not working. OurPet’s has positioned itself as a premier provider of trend setting, avant-garde pet products and accessories by following this simple but effective concept.

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

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Before the opening bell, GTX Corp. (OTC: GTXO) announced that it was recently granted U.S. patent no. 9,219,978, marking a significant addition to its existing family of communication protocol patents, as well as its overall intellectual property (IP) portfolio. This patent, in addition to previously awarded patents 8,154,401 and 8,760,286, provides considerable value to the company’s IP portfolio and greatly enhances its position in the rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar location-based technology market. All three of these patents are free from limitations regarding form factor or industry, making them applicable to generic tracking devices deployed across numerous industries.

“The value of these patents for GTX is they extend far beyond our core footwear applications and into areas such as GPS watches, fitness wearables that track location, hand-held GPS devices, tracking apps on smartphones and tracking devices and platforms in general,” Andrew Duncan, director of business development with GTX Corp., stated in this morning’s news release. “We are extremely pleased to have been issued another patent in our very valuable family of patents which are key inventions to how almost all 2 way GPS devices function today.”

GTX Corp.’s favorable IP position stems back to 2008, when the company was serving as a trailblazer in the burgeoning wearable technology market. From its position at the forefront of the market, GTXO developed a number of vital protocols and filed patents on these inventions. Leaning on strong legal counsel and a forward-thinking development team, the company has built a robust IP portfolio that encompasses various aspects of modern location-based technologies and related products.

Today, location-based technologies have become ubiquitous. In a 2013 report (http://dtn.fm/e6kG4), Pew Research Center estimated that approximately 74 percent of all adult smartphone owners used their mobile devices to get information based on their current locations. Leading online statistics firm Statista (http://dtn.fm/zVu10) reinforced this data, forecasting an increase of more than 60 percent in the total number of location-based service users in the United States to 242 million over the four-year period ending in 2018.

Following the reception of U.S. patent no. 9,219,978, GTX Corp. took a major step toward continuing to strengthen its IP portfolio by filing an additional patent application under the ‘286’ family tree, giving the application a priority date of February 2008. The ‘286’ patent family includes a number of potentially patentable communication/configuration features that could serve to strengthen GTXO’s already formidable IP position. Since the company currently has a pending divisional application within this family of patents, GTXO is entitled to – and plans to pursue – additional patents on several key features in the future.

“As a pioneer and forward thinker in this industry and having had excellent legal counsel along the way we made the early investments in building a robust IP portfolio which today is culminating not only as a barrier to entry to our core business but also increasing the overall GTX enterprise value,” Patrick Bertagna, chief executive officer of GTX Corp., concluded in the news release.

For more information, visit www.gtxcorp.com

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When a mining company announces that they have a significant amount of proven reserves, it is music to a shareholder’s ears. Star Mountain Resources, Inc. (OTC: SMRS) recently reported that its Balmat Mine in New York has a proven and probable reserve estimate of 585,000 tons of 9.2 percent grade zinc that could generate $80.8 million in revenue over an initial 2.5 year mine plan. The company acquired the Balmat Mine back in November 2015, and this kind of news is exactly what has been the stalwart of Star Mountain since it’s beginning – to seek out and acquire solid revenue producing mining projects.

Star Mountain Resources is a junior exploration and mining company focused on acquiring and consolidating mining claims, mineral leases, producing mines, and historic mines with production and future growth potential. The company’s operations are currently focused on base metal and precious metal mining acquisitions in North America and re-commencing mining activities at the Balmat Zinc mine in upstate New York.

There is no substitute for experience, especially in the mining industry. Knowing the history of potential acquisition areas is essential for a company like Star Mountain Resources to continue to grow and prosper from seeking out and pulling the trigger on exceptional acquisition targets such as the Balmat Mine. Joe Marchal, CEO of Star Mountain Resources, stated in a press release about a report on the Balmat Mine, “We believe the findings in the IG7 report are very positive and reaffirm our confidence that the geological and engineering conditions reflected in the long production history of the Balmat mining operation can be sustained well into the future beyond the initial 2.5-year plan. We continue to evaluate the current zinc market and the best strategy to move forward with a production plan and schedule. Moreover, it will form an integral part of our long-range plan for the safe, efficient and effective operation of the mine.”

Good research and timely decision making are themes to take out of this acquisition. Star Resources management had the experience needed to perform all the necessary due diligence before pulling the trigger on the Balmat acquisition. It appears from the initial estimates, along with verification by the IG7 report, that it was a good call.

For more information, visit www.starmountainresources.com

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Earlier today, Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: OGES) announced its success in marketing its state-of-the-art, ‘Made in the USA’ Pro Series lithium ion golf car battery systems at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. The company received more than $250,000 of immediately booked orders at the show, which is one of the largest annual golf industry conventions on the planet. Oakridge also reported more than $20.5 million of follow on commitments for its proprietary, high performance solution to the needs of the global golf industry, which has an economic impact of nearly $70 billion per year, according to a report (http://dtn.fm/An4JX) by Forbes.

“The Pro Series golf and local electric vehicle batteries continue to be an absolute game changer for the golf and local area EV markets,” Steve Barber, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Oakridge, stated in this morning’s news release. “We have spent the past 18 months refining and finalizing this product and are excited to announce that we are beginning production shipments in March.”

The Oakridge Pro Series lithium ion golf car battery system offers a number of advantages over traditional golf car and local area vehicle power solutions. In particular, the use of fully electric golf cars and local area electric vehicles decreases dependence on foreign oil, eliminates the noise and emissions associated with combustion engines and offers a quieter, more enjoyable day on the links. Oakridge’s advanced stored energy systems also allow users to monitor vital information – such as the capacity, range, speed and health of their battery systems – via their smart devices, increasing peace of mind and helping players more fully enjoy their round of golf or ride around the neighborhood.

“With our Pro Series battery systems, we have now greatly expanded the effective daily range of the golf car and small local electric vehicle, making them a practical reality for immediate application to all aspects of the golfing industry and golfing communities, while at the same time providing a much safer, low maintenance, zero emissions vehicle by virtue of the more robust chemistry and the battery management systems we have designed for this product,” Barber added.

In recent weeks, Oakridge has made tremendous progress toward increasing the size of its foothold in the energy storage industry at both the domestic and international levels. Just last week, the company announced a successful demonstration for a major defense contractor of its custom battery system, which is featured in its client’s Man-Portable Tactical Autonomous Systems (MANTAS), as well as a new agreement with Minnesota-based Freedom Trucking to develop and supply battery systems for its fully electric interstate truck propulsion system. Oakridge also announced the appointment of a leading international battery consultant firm to its advising team in an effort to remain at the forefront of the stored energy industry moving forward.

For more information, visit www.oakridgeglobalenergy.com

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Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTCQB: ALYI) knows that the business of data analytics is used to gain insights that inform business decisions and can be used to automate and optimize many of today’s complex business processes. The company also knows that data-driven companies treat their data as a corporate asset and leverage it to deliver unique, competitive advantages. It is for many of these reasons that ALYI has recently launched a data analytics division. It is one of the many ways in which the company intends to build shareholder value – by helping companies, big and small, find gold data nuggets which, in turn, are used to grow their respective businesses.

In a recent news release, Henryk Dabrowski, CEO of Alternet Systems, stated, “Alternet has a successful history of developing and commercializing young digital commerce technologies. We are now building upon that history to develop and commercialize an expanded portfolio of new key technologies in the burgeoning big data analytics sector. We quietly started the expansion last year after the successful sale of our mobile wallet solution. We anticipate our new Data Analytics Division to build upon the revenue base we established in 2015 from our digital commerce operations throughout the course of 2016.”

Big Data, or data analytics, refers to the growing business of using the variety of data present within different sources to uncover individual and group behaviors. Examples include exploring data to find new patterns and relationships, explaining why a certain result occurred (statistical analysis, quantitative analysis), experimenting to test previous decisions (A/B testing, multivariate testing) and forecasting future results (predictive modeling).

Alternet Systems, Inc. invests in innovative ways to manage digital commerce, information and payments. As the world finds itself becoming more and more dependent on technological conveniences, ALYI is investing in verticals within the digital commerce space, transforming the legacy electronic payments infrastructure and developing advanced predictive data analytics applications for the mass consumer, as well as the telecommunications and financial industries. The company’s entry into the business of data analytics aims to increase the future of money’s role in the global demand for these services. Alternet Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

For more information, visit www.alternetsystems.com

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