Before the opening bell, International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB: ISCO) announced entry into a definitive agreement with two institutional healthcare investors and its management team through which the company will raise $6.3 million to fund its upcoming phase I study of human parthenogenetic neural stem cells (ISC-hpNSC). The agreement includes the initial purchase of $6.3 million of ISCO’s convertible preferred stock, in addition to common stock purchase warrants for an additional $25.7 million of the company’s common stock in the future. Through these efforts, the company is set to secure gross proceeds of $2.5 million in cash from the initial purchase, as well as conversion of $3.8 million of outstanding debt. The closing of this offering is expected to occur on or about March 15, 2016, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, as described in the purchase agreement.

“The recurring investment of these healthcare focused institutional investors is in support of and attests to the potential of our technology,” Dr. Andrey Semechkin, co-chairman and chief executive officer of ISCO, stated in this morning’s news release. “The capital raised will help to drive our Phase 1 study of ISC-hpNSC® for the treatment of moderate to severe Parkinson’s disease.”

The announcement of this investment builds on what’s been a strong week for ISCO. On Monday, the company announced the commencement of enrollment for a phase I trial of its innovative ISC-hpNSC for the treatment of moderate to severe Parkinson’s disease after being granted approval by the Melbourne Health Human Research Ethics Committee. ISCO plans to initiate the study at Australia’s Royal Melbourne Hospital in the coming weeks, with management looking forward to preliminary clinical data as early as the fourth quarter of this year.

“With enrollment of patients already underway, we look forward to the end of this year for preliminary safety and efficacy clinical data,” Semechkin concluded.

ISCO’s powerful new stem cell technology, parthenogenesis, promises to significantly advance the field of regenerative medicine by addressing the problem of immune rejection. By utilizing unfertilized human eggs to derive parthenogenetic stem cells that can be immune-matched to millions of people, the company aims to enable treatment of a large percentage of the global population with a relatively small number of ISC-hpNSC lines. Through its phase I study of ISC-hpNSC for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, the company is targeting a dramatically underserved neurodegenerative indication that directly affects more than seven million people around the world.

For more information, visit www.internationalstemcell.com

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Cancer is the most serious disease in the history of mankind. All families in the U.S. and the world are affected by cancer either directly or indirectly. Men, women, and children of all races, creeds, and religions risk the possibility of being diagnosed with cancer – it does not discriminate. Some startling estimates for 2016 from the American Cancer Society are as follows: 841,390 new cancer cases in males in the U.S.; 843,820 new cancer cases in females in the U.S.; 314,290 deaths from cancer in males in the U.S.; and 281,400 deaths from cancer in females in the U.S.

Immune Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: IMUN) is a biotechnology company applying its patented immunotherapy to combat chronic, life-threatening diseases that affect people around the world. Building on the power of the body’s natural immune system, the company’s pipeline of products and immunotherapy technologies are designed to enhance the treatment of cancer, infections such as HIV/AIDS, chronic inflammatory diseases, and a variety of autoimmune diseases.

Each year, cancer costs the world more money than any other disease, according to the American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR). Cancer costs $895 billion annually. Comparatively, heart disease costs $753 billion. Nothing else comes close, with traffic accidents and diabetes each costing about $204 billion. The biggest financial impact is in terms of loss of life and productivity, in which cancer accounts for 1.5 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) losses.

Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy, is a type of cancer treatment designed to boost the body’s natural defenses to fight the cancer. It uses materials either made by the body or in a laboratory to improve, target, or restore immune system function.

Stimulating the body’s immune system remains one of the most promising approaches to addressing the unmet needs of cancers, HIV, inflammatory disease, autoimmune disease and other chronic infectious diseases. Immune Therapeutics’ immune therapy technology platform has shown the potential to establish a new paradigm to prevent and treat these life-altering diseases, with validating efficacy data from all phase I and phase II clinical trials for such diseases as HIV/AIDS, pancreatic cancer, Crohn’s Disease, liver disease, fibromyalgia and herpes.

Learn more by visiting www.immunetherapeutics.com

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For years, franchising has been a long-term growth goal for Giggles N’ Hugs, Inc. (OTCQB: GIGL). Now that the award-winning restaurant chain is finally looking to launch a vast franchising program, it seems like that goal will soon come to pass.

Many highly successful enterprises (e.g. California Pizza Kitchen and Wolfgang Puck Food) have benefited from franchising and expanding beyond company-owned locations. In light of Giggles N’ Hugs’ proven fast-casual concept, which offers a kid-friendly, adult-friendly and family-friendly experience at its various locations in California, the company seems well-placed for long-term success in this area, once it launches.

Franchising presents a major growth opportunity for Giggles N’ Hugs. The global market potential could very well exceed millions of dollars, and, with margins above 25% expected from franchise operations, the strategy also complements core company-owned growth initiatives, which include expanding to additional locations throughout the U.S. in the near term.

Franchising has always been a part of the company’s long-standing growth strategy. Before exploring the promises of franchising however, Giggles N’ Hugs’ chose to refine and perfect the experience at its company-owned locations in order to establish a solid foundation for the entire company. This strong base will ultimately endow the company with the confidence and ability to successfully duplicate the full Giggles N’ Hugs experience through its franchise partners.

Since its establishment in 2008, Giggles N’ Hugs has been focused on honing the experience presented at its restaurants, from start to finish. Presently, each of its locations offers a trendy, family-friendly atmosphere; dedicated play areas that children ten and younger tend to adore; and high-quality menus filled with fresh, local food. Giggles N’ Hugs also features widely popular party packages for families that want to host special celebrations for their kids, along with nightly entertainment, such as concerts, face painting and magic shows. What Giggles N’ Hugs has created are spaces in which parents can come in to relax, kids can play to their hearts’ content and both can enjoy healthy and tasty food offerings.

The various entities who have been actively seeking franchise opportunities with Giggles N’ Hugs since 2008 (when it opened the doors of its first restaurant) seem to agree that it is a thriving, emerging company with excellent growth prospects. Small individual franchisees and large multi-unit franchising operators from Europe, Asia, Latin America, Canada, Australia, the Middle East and almost every major city in the U.S. have repeatedly sought to replicate the company’s concept and success in new markets. For now, Giggles N’ Hugs is exploring and considering the numerous inquiries it has received.

Learn more by visiting www.gigglesnhugs.com

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Content Checked Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: CNCK) is arming today’s consumers with data and information to help them fight back against the often emotional allure of food intake. This in turn puts the consumer in the driver’s seat on the dietary road toward achieving vital health targets. The company is playing a leadership role through development of mobile software apps aimed at assisting consumers with dietary preferences and restrictions by helping them make informed food purchasing decisions.

Positioned as shopping tools within the food allergy and intolerances market – which was valued at $13B last year – ContentChecked, SugarChecked and MigraineChecked deliver complementary solutions to consumers dealing with food allergies and sensitivities. The apps go beyond the label, allowing consumers to better understand contents and ingredient make-ups, which are viewed by many as ambiguous. While the consumer shops, they receive recommended alternatives for the types of foods that do not align with their preset dietary settings.

In anticipation of accelerated growth, the company recently announced a strategic partnership with leading New York City-based capital markets advisory firm PCG Advisory Group (PCG). The firm will serve as an advisor for the company’s ongoing investor relations, social media and public relations strategies.

In a recent news release, Kris Finstad, CEO of Content Checked, noted, “Our search for a partner with the capital markets expertise to communicate our story to both institutional and retail investors, while increasing our new media profile and social media engagement, resulted in the most obvious conclusion.” Adding further, “Our engagement of PCG is reflective of their unique capability to provide valuable insight and exposure to our exciting products, partnerships and developing pipeline.”

The partnership appears to be timed nicely with an anticipated revenue strategy for its innovative suite of mobile apps. At the beginning of 2015, the company outlined plans to shift toward a subscription-based revenue model for its apps in an attempt to capitalize on emerging mobile trends. Content Checked’s highly anticipated relaunch and rebranding of its products is expected to take place later this spring.

CNCK develops smartphone applications designed for those dealing with food allergies and intolerances, as well as migraine and chronic headaches, in the United States. The Content Checked apps and supporting database enable users to scan the bar codes affixed to store products to determine if they coincide with their health and dietary restrictions or preferences, helping users personalize shopping lists accordingly. Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in West Hollywood, California.

For more information, visit www.contentchecked.com

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Earlier this week, IEG Holdings Corporation (OTCQX: IEGH) made headlines when it uplisted from the OTCQB® Venture Market to the OTCQX® Best Market, the top tier of the three marketplaces operated by OTC Markets Group. Before becoming eligible to be traded on this tier, companies must undergo a qualitative review by OTC Markets Group and meet a number of strict financial and corporate governance benchmarks. Following its uplisting, IEG Holdings is expected to enjoy increased visibility with investors while distinguishing itself among the most established, investor-focused U.S. and international companies currently traded on the OTC markets.

“IEGH is pleased to have met the stringent financial and corporate governance criteria to be upgraded to the OTCQX market, which is another key step in the growth of the company,” Paul Mathieson, chairman and chief executive officer of IEG Holdings, stated in a Monday news release.

News of IEGH’s uplisting continued to build on what has been a promising start to 2016 for the company. In early January, IEGH announced expansion of its online lending services – marketed under the Mr. Amazing Loans brand – into Kentucky, marking the 17th U.S. state in which it currently offers consumer loans. IEG Holdings’ management team previously set a goal of offering loans in 25 U.S. states by the third quarter of 2016. If this goal is achieved, it would give the company access to approximately 240 million people across the country, which is roughly 75 percent of the U.S. population.

Following its expansion into Kentucky, IEGH achieved record loan volumes for the first month of the year, recording an 85 percent year-over-year increase to $315,000 in January 2016. This growth came as no surprise to investors tracking the company’s recent trajectory. From 2013 to 2015, IEGH achieved a 2,815 percent increase in full-year revenue, growing from $62,949 to more than $1.8 million over the course of just two years. In a recent release, the company attributed this strong performance to the versatility of its online lending website (www.mramazingloans.com), its low acquisition cost lead sources and continued state license expansion.

By uplisting to the OTCQX market, IEG Holdings is now in a formidable strategic position to leverage its recent momentum in an effort to maximize shareholder value. Look for the company to continue its aggressive pursuit of the nationwide expansion of its Mr. Amazing Loans platform in the months to come, establishing a solid foundation upon which to expand its sizable foothold in the multibillion dollar online consumer lending market of the United States.

For more information, visit www.investmentevolution.com

Digital, mobile and card payment platforms continue their steady growth behind vastly improved technologies and advancing secure solutions, with experts believing the trend will take hold of the mainstream market in 2016. News, purchase orders, product updates and current events of note in the markets today involve NXT-ID, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXTD), Heartland Payment Systems Inc. (NYSE: HPY), Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE: MA). Another competitor in this space, Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTC: ALYI), invests in and partners with companies that are creating the future of money in the high growth, emerging technology fields of digital commerce, multichannel payments, and predictive analytics.

The global mobile payment transaction market will be worth an estimated $2.8 trillion by 2020, up from $392 billion in 2014, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.2 percent, according to Future Market Insights (http://dtn.fm/5cQJ7). The growth of this segment is astonishing to say the least and should provide excellent opportunities for companies like Alternet Systems.

Being in the right place at the right time, or, in this case, the right business at the right time, is paramount to maximizing a shareholder’s return on investment. With the global population moving rapidly toward mobile payment solutions, the possibilities of this industry are effectively endless.

Alternet Systems best describes its approach to this dynamic space via its mission statement: “To provide innovative solutions that facilitate and expedite commerce, enriching our partners and their customers’ experience, and improving efficiency.” Recognizing that the world is becoming increasingly dependent on technological conveniences, Alternet Systems aims to provide its customers with the tools to prepare themselves for a new era of digital commerce and payments, financial services and consumer information, and, most importantly, a new approach to many of the basic functions of daily life.

For more information, visit www.alternetsystems.com

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A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a fuel cell that produces electricity through an electrochemical process. SOFCs offer low emissions, long-term stability, high efficiency, and fuel flexibility. The excellent fuel flexibility of the devices permits the use of safe, cheaper, and readily available hydrocarbons such as natural gas, methane, and syngas. SOFCs, however, function at a high operating temperature, usually within the range of 800°C-1000°C for the activation of the electrolyte, making them far less susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning and thereby, longer lasting. Analysts forecast the global SOFC market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.78 percent during the period from 2016-2020 (Estimated market value of $614.92 billion in 2015).

Dominovas Energy Corp. (OTCQB: DNRG) is an energy solutions company dedicated to delivering clean, efficient and reliable electricity to areas of the world that lack this precious commodity on a multi-megawatt scale. At the heart of Dominovas Energy’s Fuel Cell Division is a revolutionary ”disruptive technology” and energy solution powered by the RUBICON™ Series SOFC Technology.

Led by the incomparable scholar, professor, and visionary Dr. Shamiul Islam, the RUBICON™ is expected to achieve more than 50 percent fuel-to-electricity efficiency, providing cost effective, clean, significantly-reduced emissions with silent operations in modular multi-megawatt power arrays. The proprietary system is also uniquely capable of reforming and converting multiple fuel stocks such as natural gas and bio-fuel, and is expected to become the “PLATINUM Standard” by which all other fuel cell technologies are measured.

Renewable energy will represent the largest single source of electricity growth over the next five years, driven by falling costs and aggressive expansion in emerging economies, according to the International Energy Agency’s annual market report. The report sees the share of renewable energy in global power generation rising to over 26 percent by 2020 from 22 percent in 2013 – a remarkable shift in a very limited period of time. By 2020, the amount of global electricity generation coming from renewable energy will be higher than today’s combined electricity demand of China, India and Brazil.

The report says the geography of deployment will increasingly shift to frontier economies and developing countries, which will make up two-thirds of the renewable electricity expansion to 2020. China alone will account for nearly 40 percent of total renewable power capacity growth and requires almost one-third of new investment to 2020.

For more information, visit www.dominovasenergy.com

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Immune Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: IMUN) made two additions to its board recently, and if experience and knowledge are said to be key indicators of effectiveness, employees and shareholders alike have reason to be elated with the news. Dr. Clifford A. Selsky and Paul Akin carry a wealth of experience in their respective areas of influence and bolster the company’s leadership assets going forward. Paul Akin brings financial experience developed across his prior operating and board roles to the IMUN board. Dr. Selsky offers a vital perspective as a scientist, physician and patient advocate. The company intends to use their respective know-how on its road toward pursuing financial growth while developing and commercializing novel, patented therapies for life-threatening diseases by activating the body’s immune system.

Noreen Griffin, CEO of Immune Therapeutics, noted in a press release, “Paul Akin and Dr. Selsky’s breadth of knowledge and experience will provide invaluable insight to Immune as we continue to grow the business and strive to deliver innovative therapies in emerging nations.”

Clifford A. Selsky, PhD, MD, has been a pediatrician for the past 20 years, earning his PhD in microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of Miami School of Medicine prior to completing DNA repair research studies at Harvard School of Public Health and Stanford University.

Paul Akin brings more than 25 years of leadership experience to IMUN’s board. Akin played an important role in the strategic planning and coordination of market penetration, capitalization and expansion. He currently serves as the CEO and executive chairman of San Francisco-based Collier Warehouse Group, where he’s fostered annual double-digit growth rates during his tenure.

Immune Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company with a leading portfolio of immunotherapy technologies aimed at capturing the promise of the immune system for improving the treatment of cancer, HIV/Aids and other chronic and autoimmune diseases. The company is currently looking into investigations of its programs for met-enkephalin (MENK) and low dose naltrexone (LDN), or Lodonal™ – as treatments for many underserved indications.

In February, leading independent equity research and corporate access firm SeeThruEquity announced that it has initiated coverage on Immune Therapeutics with a 12-month price target of $0.61.

Learn more by visiting www.immunetherapeutics.com

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The Arizona-based junior exploration company, Star Mountain Resources, Inc. (OTC: SMRS), is only interested in acquiring high-potential mining resources that it will turn into producing assets. The company focuses on base and precious metals in North America and has operations in New York and Utah. Led by a knowledgeable management team, Star Mountain Resources can see potential where others may not. This vision has led the company on an upward journey of revenue increases and shareholder confidence through its Balmat mine acquisition.

The Balmat zinc mine in upstate New York shut down operations in 2008, but when companies approached its controlling company, Hudbay Minerals, for purchase, sales always seemed to fall through. Back then, zinc was not a “hot commodity” and was seen as a poor investment. However, in November 2015, Star Mountain Resources closed a deal with Hudbay Minerals and finally had the mine in its possession. The company’s chief operating officer, Mark Osterberg, stated at the time that, “The mining cycle is down, which means that assets like Balmat are available at bargain prices. So we think we bought the property at a very good price and we believe the commodity prices are going to come back up.”

Osterberg and Star Mountain Resources couldn’t have been more correct. Since January, zinc value has increased more than 20% from a six-year low. The deficit of 440,000 metric tons this year has caused prices to increase with demand. Furthermore, Goldman-Sachs has predicted 12-month zinc prices at $1,800 a ton. Star Mountain Resources recently reported that their mine has a reserve estimate of 585,000 tons of 9.2% grade zinc that could generate over $80 million over the course of 2.5 years. What was deemed a risky investment in 2008 now rewards a company that saw its future potential.

Spearheading Star Mountain Resources is an impressive, forward-thinking team consisting of CEO Joseph Marchal, COO Mark Osterberg, CFO Wayne Rich, VP Thomas Bidgood, operations manager John Heinzig, and site manager Ryan Schermerhorn. Plus, the company recruits local experts at each operation site to maintain strong community ties while gaining intuitive workers.

Through expert knowledge, due diligence, and experience, Star Mountain Resources chooses acquisitions that will become profitable for both shareholders and the company. The ability to foresee high-potential producing assets is a trait that marks a successful company.

For more information, visit www.starmountainresources.com

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A recent article in the Harvard Business Review (HBR), entitled The Sharing Economy Isn’t About Sharing at All, shows that FlexWeek, Inc.’s (OTC: FXWK) innovative online platform for travelshare rentals is an idea whose time has come. The FlexWeek platform ‘allows timeshare owners to discover, book and offer unused vacation time (travelshares) directly to the public and other timeshare owners.’ As the title of the HBR piece suggests, the label ‘sharing economy’ is misleading. The authors, two well-respected professors of marketing, go on to point out that the essential characteristic of the peer-to-peer (P2P) business model is access. That is an important insight and it’s one that drives FlexWeek’s strategy.

The rise of the peer-to-peer approach has given rise to a new range of businesses. An illuminating story (http://dtn.fm/0nLZ4) in Currency Fair, entitled The Peer-To-Peer Marketplace Revolution: 50+ Companies That Are Changing The World, names Craigslist, Uber, Zipcar, Kickstarter, Lending Club, and, of course, AirBnB. Peer-to-peer is a term borrowed from computer architecture vocabulary that was meant, initially, to indicate a contrast to centrally-controlled systems. Consequently, the early excitement with P2P models was their devolution of power, which was thought to translate into equality and freedom for the participating peers. Since the French Revolution, however, fraternity is never far away from liberty and equality. So early P2P endeavors with a strong flavor of communality and social interaction were an expected sine qua non.

Eckhardt and Bardhi take issue with this accepted rationale of the success of P2P nexus, doubting whether participants on such platforms are seeking brotherhood and social interaction. They rather believe companies that ‘emphasize convenience and price over the ability to foster connections will have a competitive advantage’. To illustrate this, they compare the two different approaches taken by Uber and Lyft. They endorse the privately-held Uber’s strategy that ‘positions itself squarely around its pricing, reliability, and convenience (that) is encapsulated in their tagline, “Better, faster and cheaper than a taxi.”’ However, they say a contributing reason that almost identical rival Lyft has not had Uber-rate growth is that its sales propositions, such as “We’re your friend with a car” and “Greet your driver with a fist bump,” are directed at our gregarious natures. Peer-to-peer business may involve some degree of winning friends, but when we call a cab, it’s not because we want to be chums with the cabbie.

The two professors confess dismay with AirBnB’s recent re-branding, which highlights ‘people, places, love and community’, saying “The reason why most consumers use AirBnB is the value they can get for their money.” A peer-to-peer commerce model is superior when it provides ‘convenient and cost-effective access to valued resources, flexibility, and freedom from the financial, social, and emotional obligations embedded in ownership and sharing’.

A Bloomberg piece (http://dtn.fm/dOXv6) that appears to have ingested Eckhardt and Bardhi’s main argument touts Uber as the poster child for the access economy with an estimated valuation ‘north of $50 billion’. The Bloomberg story also highlights AirBnB. It points out that the privately-held AirBnB is valued at around $25 billion and carries more than 1.5 million listings for accommodation in 34,000 cities around the world. FlexWeek aims to do for timeshares what AirBnB has done for the online marketplace that enables individuals to rent their rooms, apartments or houses to short-term guests.

FlexWeek’s P2P website (www.FlexWeek.com) and mobile application is similar to AirBNB’s $25 billion approach to the travel industry. (A December 2015 filing with the SEC in regard to funding of $1.5 billion values AirBnB at $25.5 billion) FlexWeek is the first and only P2P marketplace exclusive to fractional vacation ownerships. Its platform differs from the existing costly model under which timeshare weeks must be ‘banked’ with a trading company such as Interval International or RCI. Instead, the booking fees are charged to the renter of the travelshare or vacation time. FlexWeek is a pioneer in this Peer-to-Peer Travelshare market, and the FlexWeek engine is currently undergoing v2 Beta testing. FlexWeek also offers premium members a service through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Choice Journeys, which provides access to discounted timeshare inventory in addition to cruise and luxury vacation homes in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

FlexWeek’s prospects look good. Based on data in the recent State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study 2015 Edition and other information supplied by the American Resort Development Association, the potential size of the re-sale and rental market is about $1.6 billion. AirBnb’s success shows that helping the world to travel on holiday is one road to success. That’s a road that FlexWeek, with its novel travelshare concept, is likely to pave anew.

For more information, visit www.flexweek.com

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