Before the opening bell, Agora Holdings, Inc. (OTC: AGHI) announced a major milestone in its efforts to become a fully reporting company, as BF Borgers CPA PC, an independent accounting and auditing firm, has completed the audit of its fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015. Agora’s audited financial results are expected to be posted to the company’s filings on OTC Markets, and a review of its interim report for the three months ended March 31, 2016, is already underway. When completed, Agora will have all of its current reports filed, marking a significant step toward increased corporate transparency and a potential uplisting to the OTCQB Venture Market.

“The Company is moving in a very positive direction,” Danail Terziev, chief executive officer of Agora, stated in this morning’s news release. “As we keep moving forward, we are confident that our shareholders will be rewarded given the performance of our company in the marketplace and its future potential.”

In addition to its focus on becoming a fully reporting entity, Agora has remained steadfast in its efforts to progress toward the release of its FRAME social media management software in the coming weeks. Last month, the company announced that its subsidiary, Geegle Media, was addressing minor issues discovered during FRAME’s prerelease. Upon launch, the platform will enable businesses to streamline their social media distribution, conveniently delivering brand-relevant messages across a number of social media networks from a single, centralized dashboard. Although not specifically referenced in this morning’s update, Terziev did indicate that big news could be on the horizon for Agora.

“We look forward to announcing more exciting news very soon,” he stated.

In February, Agora unveiled a newly-enhanced version of its FRAME social media management software that had been optimized for use by businesses, public relations firms and investor relations agencies. Featuring seamless integration with leading social networks such as Twitter (NYSE: TWTR), Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) and Instagram, FRAME was hailed as a ‘faster, more efficient and easier way’ for organizations to deliver brand-relevant messages to their followers. Unlike competitor systems, FRAME is expected to provide the option to schedule posts from a truly user-friendly platform, addressing a currently underserved portion of the greater social media management market.

“The concept of a built-in analytics system with the option to schedule posts is not new,” added Terziev. “What IS new is our concept of delivering this platform without the usual problems associated with competitor systems. A truly user-friendly social media management and engagement tool has yet to be built, and Geegle Media sees the opportunity and capability to deliver on this need.”

For more information, visit www.agoraholdingsinc.com

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The Aesop fable The Swallow and the Other Birds, penned some 2,500 years ago, tells the story of how hemp was used. Seeing a farmer sowing seeds of hemp, the swallow urged the other birds to eat the seeds so that none would survive to grow. Unfortunately, the birds ignored the swallow’s admonition and were later caught in nets and traps fashioned from cord that those same hemp plants had provided. Since then, fiber from the hemp plant, known for its great strength, has been used to manufacture fabric, ropes and sail canvas. However, hemp is as useful in the kitchen as it is in the boatyard. It’s edible and has a number of nutritional benefits. Now, the health conscious can enjoy those benefits with Caffe and Pro369 from Laguna Blends (OTC: LAGBF).

Although being, like marijuana, a variety of cannabis sativa, hemp contains much less of the psychoactive ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), than marijuana does. Smoking hemp will give you a headache rather than a high.

A research note (http://dtn.fm/QV2vu) published by the Finnish University of Kuopio, reveals that ‘technically a nut, hempseed typically contains over 30% oil and about 25% protein, with considerable amounts of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Hempseed oil is over 80% in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and is an exceptionally rich source of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs) linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.’

Linolenic acid and alpha-linoleic acid are referred to as essential because they cannot be synthesized by the human body. They must be obtained from our diets. They are used to build more complex fats called omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. According to a summary (http://dtn.fm/Y4oGS) on the website of the Linus Pauling Institute of Oregon State University, ‘a large body of scientific research suggests that higher dietary omega-3 fatty acid intakes are associated with reductions in cardiovascular disease risk.’ The omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in hempseed oil is normally between 2:1 and 3:1, which is considered to be optimal for human health.

Since hemp is such a close cousin of marijuana, it cannot, under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, be cultivated in the U.S. A piece (http://dtn.fm/sDk0H) in Leaf Science reports ‘both hemp and marijuana are classified as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. However, outside the U.S., hemp is grown in more than 30 countries. In 2011, the top hemp-producing country was China, followed by Chile and the European Union. Hemp production is also expanding in Canada, with the country’s annual crop reaching a record high of 66,700 acres in 2013. Interesting enough, it is legal to import hemp products into the United States. According to the Hemp Industry Association, about $500 million worth of hemp product is imported every year.’

Laguna’s flagship product is Caffe Protein Coffee which ‘is loaded in proteins: both whey and hemp.’ Another is Pro369, which combines HempOmega®, Hemp Protein and Ginseng and comes in four delicious flavors: Vanilla Caramel, Tropical Fruit, Mixed Berry and Chocolate Banana.

Laguna Blends, with headquarters in British Columbia, Canada, markets products based on the nutritional health benefits derived from hemp. Laguna is a network marketing company, also known as a multi-layer marketing company, that intends to generate retail sales through independent affiliates, similar to the methods of Avon (NYSE: AVP) and Tupperware (NYSE: TUP). In April 2016, the company announced the commencement of beta testing for its Laguna World virtual 3D community with independent affiliates. Laguna World, an interactive platform, will enable affiliates to train, recruit and sell from home and so reduce unproductive hours spent on traveling. Laguna believes this innovative virtual world technology ‘is a game changer in the Direct Selling / Network Marketing Industry.’

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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Luvu Brands (OTCQB: LUVU) is a Georgia-based manufacturer that produces a range of products in the wellness, lifestyle, and casual furniture categories. The company is made up of over 135 employees and emphasizes creativity throughout its business. LUVU products are sold in innovative eco-compressed vacuum packaging for all its retailers worldwide. In addition to offering products through retail stores, mass merchants, drug and Internet retailers, LUVU manages, markets, and distributes products through several of its own websites. The company’s mission statement is set toward lowering carbon footprint, giving back to creatives, supporting local communities, and creating products that are simple, comfortable, and beautiful.

LUVU is committed to being resource-smart. This means that every time a new product is considered, the environment is the company’s primary concern. A personal goal of every member of the staff is to reduce carbon footprint, eliminate forms of waste, use resources efficiently, and prevent pollution. The materials and components that are used are all tested to be non-toxic and in compliance with CE and RoHs standards. In addition to LUVU’s serious efforts to minimize any impact on the environment, the company makes a point of always looking for economically sustainable opportunities to help communities grow.

LUVU works with a specific design process, with the aim of producing, manufacturing, and marketing unique, well crafted, made-in-America products. The company aims to always manufacture products that exceed expectations. This is why it has come up with a five-step process when designing its products. LUVU identifies the real need for a product, and then goes through a conceptual phase to find the best solution. The product is then built, verified, and launched to the public. The company’s 140,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Atlanta, Georgia, supports a business model that enables LUVU to produce quality American-made products of all kinds.

LUVU now produces products for four different brands: Liberator Bedroom Adventure Gear, Jaxx Casual Living, Avana Comfort, and CREATL Private Brand Development. The company has a portfolio of Internet and retail distributors, including Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Target (NYSE: TGT), Adam & Eve, Wayfair (NYSE: W), Walmart (NYSE: WMT), and many more. These brands are also distributed across a diverse channel of merchants from drug stores to mass market and specialty catalogues.

Since 2010, LUVU’s net sales have risen 51%, and its inventory has grown 27%. LUVU has focused on moving its innovative packaging to the retail shelf, upgrading its e-commerce platform to add mobile capabilities, increasing its factory automation to reduce costs, developing sales and marketing tools, and expanding to European distribution. The company plans to continue to grow sales through various channels, establishing itself as a key “made-in-America” consumer products company and increasing shareholder communication.

For more information, visit www.luvubrands.com

Agent-owned cloud brokerage firm eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI) builds shareholder value by leveraging the use of cloud technology in one of the most entrenched industries of our age. The company’s business model understands that buyers and sellers of real estate have at their disposal more knowledge than they’ve ever had before. With the internet making the information gap narrower than it has ever been, the reality is, the buying and selling process makes the shortlist as one of the most emotionally charged events a person will engage in their lifetime. EXPI is on a mission to turn all of this on its head.

Offering the real estate professional a way to chart their own course and revolutionize their impact on the marketplace, eXp’s family of agents and brokers are literally afforded a way to build their own businesses. Working within a Cloud Office Environment, agents attend classes, collaborate, strategize, innovate, build teams and share experiences. In a more granular sense, the concept enables agents to leverage company systems and tools to grow within an agent/broker-owned, publicly-traded company. Further, it is worth noting that eXp World Holdings, Inc. also offers its professionals the opportunity to earn equity awards for production and contributions to overall company growth.

eXp World Holdings is poised to take advantage of a resurgence in the residential housing market. The company’s Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage is becoming increasingly popular among realtors, as seen through its increasing rank and file numbers. Toward the end of Q1 2016, the company’s agent number grew by over 10 percent – eclipsing 1,100. This is the fastest rate ever, according to CEO Glen Sanford. In 2015, the company reported 3,667 transactions valued close to $890 million. The company looks forward to that figure reaching $1.5 billion this year. Revenues in 2015 were $22.87 million with gross profit of $3.41 million.

eXp World Holdings, Inc. provides cloud-based real estate brokerage services for residential real estate markets in the U.S. and Canada. The company enables buyers to search real-time property listings and sellers to list their properties through its website. The site offers buyers and sellers access to a network of professional agents and brokers while offering access to collaborative tools and training services for real estate brokers and agents. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Bellingham, Washington.

For more information, visit the company’s website at http://investors.exprealty.com

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According to data put together recently by ZenithOptimedia, people these days spend a whopping 490 minutes per day (Latin America leads the pack at 765 minutes a day on average) consuming some kind of media, and internet media consumption alone shot up 105 percent over the last five years. Even though the unexplored country of the ever-changing digital landscape is quickly taking over our lives, TV isn’t dead by any means in all of this. In fact, according to Strategy Analytics, the roughly $187 billion domestic ad spend last year was only 30 percent digital, close to $30 billion behind TV. Nevertheless, digital remained the fastest-growing category, and was up 13 percent YOY.

With the continued proliferation of cross-platforming and content portability in the end user market, it pays more than ever today for media companies to crop out into as many channels as possible. And when it comes to diverse media development, production and distribution, it is essential to have a firm grasp of how to deliver pitch-perfect brand/content and overall product executions, which really resonate with the most attractive demographics. But it takes a special kind of company to play it by ear successfully when it comes to engaging and maintaining an audience’s attention, while also branching out logistically, and indeed, thematically. And doing so without alienating the company’s core demo, losing its focus, and/or jeopardizing the bottom line.

Growth is difficult and it takes a wise team at the helm to make sure you don’t over extend, or dump precious capital into projects that won’t yield returns. Very few publicly-traded, truly investor-accessible, diverse media companies exist which fit the bill. One company on that short list however is Momentous Entertainment Group (OTC: MMEG), which has an output footprint spanning the gamut from feature films and television, to radio, internet and other forms of home or mobile-targeted digital media. And MMEG seems to have a direct hookup to its core audiences, who can easily feel good about enthusiastically resonating with the company’s finely-honed offerings.

Take a look at the deal with Dennis Gile, for instance, announced earlier this year in April, to do a reality TV series based on Gile’s quarterback school, The Quarterback Academy, down in Scottsdale. This is the same Arizona location where Gile worked with San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, a confirmed Lutheran who has been known to speak about his faith and who gained fame in the NFL for a signature touchdown pose that drew attention to his Psalm 18:39 tattoo. Gile has worked with other greats in the game as well, household names like Tom Brady and Tim Tebow, so a reality TV show executed with Momentous Entertainment Group’s expert overwatch, should really be something that is able to speak to its intended audience passionately. The show was in initial production filming as of April this year and is tentatively titled Dennis Gile’s Quarterback Academy.

The show focuses on the personal stories of young athletes struggling to make it through the hits, the soul-sapping enervation, and the constant stress to perform up to everyone’s expectations, both on and off the field. Utilizing two-time Emmy Award winner Albert Miller, as well as local production shop Runway Lights, Dennis Gile’s Quarterback Academy should have an authentic/homegrown Scottsdale feel, as well as all the right stuff needed to appeal to the hardcore superfans, and average viewers alike.

This from a media company which also began filming a reality series with the 28-year-old grandson of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr., Bobby Earnhardt (who is also the nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and brother of Kerry Earnhardt) last year, at the at Lake County Speedway in Painesville, Ohio. While focusing primarily on Earnhardt’s racing exploits, a strong undercurrent driven by the Christian beliefs of Earnhardt and his family will likely permeate the show, playing in to the consistently dominant trend within NASCAR itself, which is the only major sport with a pregame invocation, and where many drivers actively promote their faith.

Let’s look at the cultural and logistical synergy a bit here. NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), the leading stock-car racing organization, is a family-owned and operated business where Christian faith is often front and center. NASCAR’s Daytona International Speedway won Facility of the Year at the 2016 Sports Business Awards and its Darlington’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 was nominated for Event of the Year, as was Dale Earnhardt Jr., for Social Media in Sports. The Daytona 500 alone averaged about a 6.6 rating share over the past three years on FOX, averaging 11.35 million viewers. The top ten NASCAR teams are worth $148 million on average (Hendrick Motorsports is number one at $375 million) and generated nearly $1 billion in revenues last season.

This is an extremely lucrative niche market for MMEG and the company is hard at work proving itself able to deliver high-quality media products that really resonate with audiences. A knack for satisfying the underserved Christian market, which has exceptional consumer trend metrics, is particularly noteworthy. The company’s completion of its first music video in early May, for the track “I Believe,” which was originally recorded for the company’s faith market-focused album offering, The Greatest Story Ever Sung, was actually submitted for three 2014 Grammy’s categories: best Contemporary Christian Album, best Engineered Album (non-Classical), and best Produced Album (non-classical).

The Greatest Story Ever Sung includes narrations by Stephen Baldwin and features the vocal work of Christian artists, who worked in the historic SugarHill Studio in Houston to help bring to life this rousing album, which tells the story of the birth of Jesus, using traditional Christian music. The music video for “I Believe” features noted faith based and adult contemporary singer, Suzanne Olmon, of the Faith United Methodist Church in Richmond, Texas.

Some quick stats speak volumes about the size of this market, with roughly 215 million American adults listening to Gospel Radio at least once a day and over 60 percent of the population in the Midwest and South chomping at the bit for more faith based films, as well as TV shows. According to the most recent Gallup poll, 75 percent of Americans (nearly 240 million) identify with a Christian religion. However, MMEG is not content to rest on its laurels, with a solid and growing library of faith-centric and sports-based media.

The company recently outlined an aggressive forward strategy focused on meticulous integration of acquired entertainment targets, as well as targets that are parallel to the wheelhouse of the company’s Direct Marketing and Retail division, which promotes MMEG’s film and music offerings, as well as consumer merchandise, via direct response TV. The company is also branching out through its newly-formed Music One Corp., headed-up by popular South Florida live venue circuit promoter/producer, Charlie Rodriguez, of Charlie Rodriguez Live Entertainment, into tangent content markets (as this deal can attest to) due to its increasingly able footing.

For more information, visit www.momentousent.com

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Moxian, Inc. (OTCQB: MOXC) is a multi-national company that is committed to building a comprehensive solution using promotional platforms and social marketing to help businesses grow through social media. MOXC’s products enable other merchants to target their marketing, advertising campaigns, and promotional tools to their audiences by using data put together through the Moxian database. Moxian, Inc. now has two products: Moxian+ User App and Moxian+ Business App.

Moxian+ Business App offers merchants the toolkits to convert customers into members. This toolkit is made up of intelligent data analytics, a range of business tools, loyalty programs, and advertising opportunities. On the other hand, the Moxian+ User App allows consumers to search for merchants nearby to get recent news about events or promotions, and it includes an instant messenger feature, an online mall where the user can use virtual currencies to shop, a reward system, and, last but not least, a gaming platform that enables consumers to play for prizes.

The gamification that Moxian, Inc. uses in its Moxian+ User App allows users to choose from a range of exciting games to play. With this, consumers play and have the opportunity to win exciting gifts from MOXC’s merchants. This gaming model doesn’t just drive consumers to Moxian, but also to the merchants. This, in turn, allows the merchants involved to advertise, run marketing campaigns and learn more about their consumers through the platform. However, the question is: why use gamification in the Moxian+ User App? The answer is simple! Moxian is an evolutionary company that is using techniques to motivate and keep consumers excited.

Gamification has been used over the past few years as a way to motivate employees, create healthy competition among teams, generate a social vibe and much more. Gamification with consumers is also used for many reasons. These include: encouraging consumer loyalty, keeping customers engaged and adding a social and competitive stance to an app. According to the University of Pennsylvania, some of the key features to adding a level of gamification to an app or program include deciding on a goal, developing a loop, creating a sense of progression and adding levels. Moxian, Inc.’s Moxian+ User App does just this. The app offers exciting games on the platform that consumers can play and then win points to spend in a virtual mall that is provided by Moxian merchants. This system creates a win-win situation for consumers and merchants. It also adds another level to the tools that Moxian, Inc. uses to boost its business results.

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

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International Stem Cell Corp. (OTCQB: ISCO) is a biotechnology company that works with parthenogenesis to treat diseases of the eyes, the nervous system, the liver, and more. Currently, ISCO is preparing for a phase I clinical trial of its proprietary human parthenogenetic stem cells-derived neural stem cells (ISC-hpNSC®) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a disease of the nervous system that affects mainly middle-aged and elderly people. The disease is marked by tremors, muscular rigidity, and slow movements. The company’s lead product, ISC-hpNSC, works in a different way than other conventional treatments. The stem cells enable protection of the remaining, fully-functional neurons of Parkinson’s disease patients. The testing ISCO has done on mice, rats, and non-human primates has backed its theory that a one-time transplant of ISC-hpNSC could alleviate current PD symptoms and prevent the disease from spreading.

Recently, Edison, an international equity research firm, initiated coverage on International Stem Cell Corp. The report focuses on ISCO’s parthenogenetic stem cell technology and how this technology has the potential to treat a variety of diseases. The report also includes an investment summary, a description of ISCO as a company, an outline of Parkinson’s disease, insight into ISCO’s cosmeceutical and biomedical business lines, a valuation, and a financial overview.

With the help of Cryoport, the world’s premier cryogenic logistics firm, International Stem Cell Corp. is rapidly approaching the start of its phase I clinical trial for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. So far, there have been a number of cell therapy and gene therapy treatments that have been evaluated to find the cause of Parkinson’s. The studies ISCO has undertaken on non-human subjects have shown significant results.

According to the initial coverage issued by Edison: “ISCO presented results of its PD preclinical studies in October 2015 at Neuroscience 2015 in Chicago. The preclinical studies on 18 non-human primates showed that at 12 months, the transplanted cells had integrated into the dopamine fibers and dopamine levels post-mortem were significantly higher in the transplanted group versus the control group.”

As part of its impending clinical study, each patient will receive a scan at the beginning of the trial and at the six-month and 12-month lines after the procedure. Although these procedures do come with risks, they will be performed at the well-known Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia and, if successful, could lead to larger phase II trials in 2017/2018.

For more information, visit www.internationalstemcell.com

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Earlier today, eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI) announced that Glenn Sanford, the company’s founder and chief executive officer, has been invited to present at Mendix World, a two-day conference focused on strategic technology trends, digital transformation and insight into integrating technology with business. Mendix, the titular sponsor of the event, is a cloud-based, platform as a service firm which, through agile project management processes, helps organizations transform ideas into owned applications at a much faster rate than is possible using traditional programming platforms and methods.

Sanford is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion titled ‘Disrupting Traditional Markets through Technology’. This topic is particularly relevant to the EXPI founder, as eXp World Holdings, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, has successfully leveraged technological innovations to capture a foothold in a number of markets within the services industries. Most notably, EXPI launched eXp Realty, the Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage™, which welcomed its 1,000th real estate professional into its family of agent-owners in the first quarter of this year.

“We’re looking forward to attending Mendix world and participating in the panel discussion,” Sanford stated in today’s news release. “Mendix allows businesses to innovate faster and, as a company, we have succeeded in disproving the notion that physical office space is an indispensable element of a successful real estate brokerage model or a necessary ingredient to building a community of professionals in a collaborative setting. In that sense, we have been disruptive in favor of our agents and brokers and we look forward to sharing our experience and insight with Mendix World attendees.”

This year’s conference will begin on June 7 in Rotterdam, the second-largest city in the Netherlands. To learn more, visit http://dtn.fm/96dF1

In recent weeks, EXPI has remained steadfast in its efforts to revolutionize the residential real estate brokerage industry. Last month, the company successfully launched eXp Realty in four new states and the District of Columbia, appointed a CEO and president of its real estate division and reported record financial results from the first quarter of 2016. Leveraging a network of more than 1,200 real estate professionals across 38 states and Alberta, Canada, EXPI achieved a year-over-year increase of 107 percent in quarterly revenues for the quarter ended March 31, reporting over $7.1 million.

Through a partnership with VirBELA, LLC, a leading developer of immersive online worlds, EXPI maintains exclusive rights to its avatar-based platform in the real estate industry, as well as an option to exclusive rights within a number of vertical industries. As the company continues to expand its network of agent-owners across North America, this agreement strategically positions EXPI to maintain its leadership position in the digital real estate brokerage space while continuing to attract some of the industry’s best and brightest to its Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage.

For more information, visit the company’s website at http://investors.exprealty.com

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If a picture is worth a thousand words, what’s the value of a three-minute video like the Irish Experience Tour you’ll find on Monaker Group Inc.’s (OTCQB: MKGI) NextTrip website? Quite a lot, say the analysts at Globe Small Cap Research, who, in a summary of their research findings, write ‘Monaker’s core strength is its proprietary video-centered technology’. Globe Small Cap has found that Monaker ‘is expanding its video-centric capabilities at an important time in the development of the Internet. Video is booming across the Internet and having significant impacts on marketers and advertisers that rely on the Internet to communicate brand and product messages.’

Indeed it is. The video clips and still pictures that appear on Monaker Group’s websites are the hors d’oeuvres of anticipation before the pièce de résistance of the vacation itself. In this digital age, no story can be properly told without motion pictures. The marketing message transmitted by video is more engaging and requires less effort from the recipient. We’ve known this since the era of Charlie Chaplin and the Keystone Cops. That is why many people have become acquainted with the great classics of literature, such as Tolstoy’s War and Peace or Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, only through their film portrayals.

The Globe Small Cap report discusses how clever marketers like Monaker have responded to the increasing sophistication of the internet, noting that there has been a convergence of the purely informational announcement and advertising copy into what is known today as content marketing. The report explains that ‘content marketing is the approach of combining an advertisement for goods or services with internet content that is of interest to the would-be purchaser. A content marketing approach allows advertisers to target clearly defined audiences in order to drive actions of prospective customers. Marketers that use the “hook” of the content in order to draw the user in and then interject an advertisement and a call to action in order to elicit a purchasing response. This is done so effectively, that the lines between advertising and content have been forever blurred.’

Content marketing is a shift of emphasis within an advertisement. Ads have always played the important role of providing information to the public about products and services. Now, in content marketing, more weight is given to selling the product. The next stage in the evolution of the advertising to content marketing progression is the addition of video. In its earliest days, video use was mainly for entertainment. Now, there’s a realization that, like pictures and verbal forms, it is simply another medium of communication.

Video is captivating. The Globe Small Cap report, citing eMarketing, states that ‘during mid-2015, online video overtook social media relative to the amount of time spent per day online’. Research by HighQ confirms this: ‘…approximately 55% of Americans watch online videos every day with the average American adult spending one hour and 16 minutes each day watching video on digital devices. Growth relative to this area has been staggering as consumers spent only 21 minutes per day watching online videos in 2011.’

Monaker’s portfolio of assets and alliances form a somewhat ‘vertical’ complimentary structure. Through Maupintour, holidaymakers can visit popular haunts or travel the back roads. Maupintour is the longest established high-end travel company in the United States. In October 2015, the company acquired AlwaysOnVacation, an online alternative lodging marketplace. Alternative lodging is accommodation, such as home rentals, that can act as a substitute for rooms in hotels. AlwaysOnVacation, founded in 2006, came with its 65,000 properties in 120 countries and over six million monthly visitors. In April 2016, Monaker entered into a partnership with Recruiter.com, an online global recruiting and career service, which will make Monaker’s customized travel and lifestyle offerings available to the recruiting agency’s ‘three million current members and followers’.

NextTrip is the next stage in Monaker’s safari to place convenience at vacationers’ fingertips. Launched in February 2016, this booking engine integrates all of the company’s acquired technologies with very select channel partners. This makes NextTrip the first booking solution to include conventional lodging, alternative lodging, and unused timeshare and resort inventory all in one place. The technology allows consumers to search and book from the timeshare inventory in real-time without any timeshare solicitations.

For more information, visit www.monakergroup.com

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The financial tech, or “fintech,” phenomenon is changing the landscape of financial services. Traditional ways of providing financial services such as making payments, accepting deposits, and lending and risk management are being abandoned as new channels, made possible by digital technology, are opened up.

Technological innovation hasn’t just given rise to a new type of institution, the fintech, but has affected the culture of establishment institutions. In a conversation (http://dtn.fm/egT2M) with Michael Bloomberg, founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein acknowledged that, “Goldman Sachs is a technology firm.” The same sentiment was expressed in JPMorgan Chase’s latest Annual Report, in which the bank’s COO, Matt Zames, proclaims, “We are a technology company.”

So too is Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTC: ALYI), a company whose mission is to provide innovative solutions that facilitate and expedite commerce by enhancing customer experience and improving efficiency.

To do so, Alternet has transformed itself into an accelerator of high growth, emerging companies in the multi-channel payments, point-of-sale and data analytics fields. In April 2015, the company signed an agreement with R4 Technologies, LLC to market and promote R4’s purpose-built cloud platform for micro-segment data, insight and engagement to help brands leverage data and automate yield optimization. Alternet will collaborate with R4 across Latin America and the Caribbean. In May 2015, Alternet signed a commercial distribution software reseller agreement with Brazil-based APPI Tecnologia S/A. As a leading IT company, APPI specializes in the integration and development of technical solutions and software for the electronic transaction payment industry. Alternet will promote APPI’s unique, innovative, and efficient solutions in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Alternet intends to deliver technology solutions to financial organizations that manage a wide range of payment channels, including development engines that extend the capabilities of processing across all capture devices. These include point-of-sale (POS), mobile phones, tablets, PCs and web-based applications. These solutions deliver channel specific abilities. Alternet will collaborate with leading manufacturers to deliver solutions that meet the needs of device and channel management. Growing demand from mobile point-of-sale terminals, along with increased emphasis on advanced analytics features, are significant factors for the growing demand for software in the point-of-sale terminals market.

Leading Alternet into the future is company chairman and CEO Henryk Dabrowski. Dabrowski has more than 25 years of experience creating, leading and successfully harvesting information technology and telecom ventures on a global basis. Over the last 10 years he has actively invested in both public and privately held companies. He has extensive experience in emerging financial transactions platforms, including mobile wallets, convergent payments schemes, network file systems (NFS), stored value and prepaid services. From October 2009 to March 2014, Dabrowski was chairman and CEO of Utiba Americas, a leading developer of mobile financial services software solutions, which through his efforts reached 66% market share in the Americas. Under his leadership, Utiba Americas successfully engaged projects with America Movil, Digicel Group, Tigo, Citibank and several other banks and Mobile Network Operators. Utiba Americas was successfully and profitably sold to Amdocs (NASDAQ: DOX) in March of 2014.

Before that, Dabrowski was CEO of a joint venture with the Chinese firm Tianjin Contactless Payment Systems (TCPS), which provided multiple NFS prepaid fare collections systems for the transportation industry in the Americas.

From February 2002 to December 2010, Dabrowski was chairman and CEO of TekVoice Communications, an international Voice over IP services and wholesale billing platform provider. During his tenure at TekVoice, Dabrowski built a highly successful network of international services, customers and partnerships in Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Argentina and Haiti. And prior to that, Dabrowski held executive positions at RKM IT Solutions, a Latin American IT & telephony integrations solution provider, and Vox2Vox Communications, a global IP telephony and value added services provider.

For more information, visit www.alternetsystems.com

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