Keeping and cultivating satisfied customers is clearly a critical aspect of any company’s success. Building and maintaining strong customer relationships is key, requiring businesses to not only stay in touch with customers, but also to effectively deal with any customer service issues. The most successful businesses have been known to build the most impressive records of customer service, a growing emphasis in the competitive marketplace.

Building a strong relationship with customers is not just an inspiring sign on a wall, it takes serious time and dedication. According to Fox Business (http://dtn.fm/EI3Ai), the most important aspects of building better customer relationships for a business include making every customer interaction count, establishing connections, listening to customers, rewarding loyalty, and efficiently training employees. It is also important for businesses to stay up-to-date with the growing tech needs and opportunities.

Social media continues to develop and change, allowing businesses to interact more easily with consumers and to understand what they want or could use. It is an important tool for anticipating future customer needs and solving consumer issues. Businesses, especially small businesses, are looking to creative outside marketing services to better interact with their consumers. Moxian, Inc. (OTCQB: MOXC) offers exactly such services and more. MOXC is in the business of providing social marketing and promotion platforms that help businesses advertise and communicate via social media. The company’s services are designed to help merchants enhance their interaction with potential customers and/or buyers.

MOXC has its own platform called Moxian+User. The application consists of a proprietary virtual currency, social networking, redemption center, and game center. The company also offers the Moxian+Business application, helping merchants engage with customers, transforming them into members, and allowing them to communicate with customers when it counts.

These two platforms allow businesses to increase repeat sales by building a mobile presence, constantly updating consumers with new products, stories, news, and other information. In addition, the business application allows employees to market the business and address customer service issues while on the move.

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

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Aerie Pharmaceuticals. Inc. (NASDAQ: AERI) is a publicly traded clinical stage pharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery of innovative treatments for glaucoma and other eye ailments. Its leading product candidates, Rhopressa™ and Roclatan™, are believed to be effective for most glaucoma patients, based on clinical trials results, and are currently in different stages of development in view of commercialization.

It is estimated that glaucoma patients make up the largest segment of the worldwide ophthalmic market, with glaucoma products and therapies exceeding $4.7 billion in global sales. According to National Eye Institute statistics, there are more than 2.7 million glaucoma patients in the United States at the moment. That number is expected to rise to 4.3 million by 2030.

Aerie Pharmaceuticals’ products are both designed to target glaucoma and lower intraocular pressure specifically. Developed in the form of eye drops administered once a day, both treatments have had very good results and tolerance rates during clinical trials, being designed as the first innovative ocular hypertension lowering mechanisms in more than 20 years.

The company completed its second phase 3 registration trial for lead product candidate Rhopressa™ in September 2015 and is now scheduled to file an NDA for the treatment in January 2017. The NDA filing was initially set for the third quarter of 2016, but it was pushed back to January because of an issue related to the third-party manufacturing site, according to a company press release (http://dtn.fm/6ng3R). Although not necessary for the filing, two more phase 3 clinical trials are being conducted for Rhopressa™ (netarsudil ophthalmic solution), this time focusing on the treatment’s safety. All trials so far indicated that the therapy has a consistent IOP lowering effect for the duration of treatment. Aerie also plans to further explore the positive attributes of Rhopressa™, as test results so far indicated a potential synergistic effect with prostaglandin analogues and possibly neuroprotective features.

Roclatan™ (netalsudil/latanoprost) is currently undergoing phase 3 registration trials, which commenced in September last year. The therapy is a fixed dose combination of Rhopressa™ and latanoprost, an approved glaucoma IOP treatment, and all clinical trials so far have indicated its superior efficacy over its components when taken independently. A second phase 3 trial began in March 20016, while a third one, aimed for European approval, is scheduled for the first half of 2016. If the current phase 3 trials are successful, Aerie intends on filing an NDA for this product in the second half of 2017. Based on the results reported so far, Roclatan™ has the potential of being the most efficient glaucoma and ocular hypertension treatment on the market up to this point.

In addition to these two primary product candidates, the company is also exploring Rhopressa’s possible long-term impact on diseases trabecular meshwork and conducting pre-clinical trials for AR-13154, a small molecule with demonstrated effects in reducing the size of lesions associated with age-related macular degeneration.

Financially, the company last week released its revenue report for the third quarter of 2016, which was described as ‘uneventful’ by an Aegis Capital Corp. analysis (http://dtn.fm/9j0Ow). Aerie ended Q3 with more than $255 million in cash and investments and slightly higher operating expenses, but still within the company’s expected range of $75-$85 million for 2016. The Aegis analysis reiterates a ‘Buy’ rating for the company, and a pricing target of $63, compared to the current $33.60 (on November 3 when the report was released). The report also underlines that the company’s financial performance has little impact on share prices, but rather clinical development success and regulatory approvals are more important.

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

Recently disclosed developments to the OTCQX Best Market platform are likely to reduce the pain of going and being public for both domestic and foreign companies. In a note to clients, Jason Paltrowitz, Executive VP of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group, outlined the enhancements, which include access by companies to globally recognized quantitative research coverage, a tightening of eligibility requirements, reduced compliance costs, increased transparency by making compliance status available to broker-dealers, and new promotional tools for companies to reach investors.

OTC Markets Group will work with Morningstar®, a leading provider of independent investment research, to provide OTCQX companies with quantitative equity ratings and research reports. To companies not covered by analysts, Morningstar will provide statistically derived quantitative metrics that mimic ratings by its analysts. The service will allow OTCQX companies to provide investors with an independent view of their performance, and investors will be better able to benchmark a company relative to its sector.

To supplement this effort, the “Research Marketplace”, a joint project with three global equity research firms, was launched in September. This online resource, undertaken with ACF Equity Research, Edison and Sidoti & Company, LLC, will provide OTCQX companies with independent research analyses and investment tools.

The bar to listing on the OTCQX has been raised. Penny stocks, shell companies and blank-check companies have been eliminated. The minimum bid price and market cap standards have been increased. An initial bid price of $0.25 and market cap of $10 million will be required for listing, while a minimum ongoing bid of $0.10 and $5 million valuation has to be maintained.

Corporate governance standards are following best practice. The board of an OTCQX company must include at least two independent directors, have an audit committee with a majority of independent directors and, at least 15 days prior to a mandatory AGM, circulate to shareholders an annual financial report.

It appears that the requirement for an OTCQX Advisor will be abolished, although the rubric to ‘submit an initial and annual OTCQX Advisor Letter’ still appears under Eligibility Standards on the OTC Markets Group website. In his note, Mr. Paltrowitz promised that the OTC compliance team would carry out the ‘ongoing company verification process – without the extra burden and expense of the OTCQX Advisor role and annual letter.’

The OTC Compliance Data File, now accessible to broker-dealers, provides important data points on 10,000 OTCQX and other global securities. This simplifies the process of identifying securities that are compliant under the SEC Penny Stock Rule and FINRA’s OTC Recommendation rule. Information in the Compliance Data File includes reporting status, shell status, audited financials status, number of market participants quoting, bankruptcy status and recent split data.

In October, a new transfer agent program designed to improve the transparency of share information was started. Under the program, SEC-registered stock transfer agents will be able to report their clients’ share data, including authorized and outstanding shares, to OTC Markets Group on a regular basis via a secure, electronic file transfer.

The requirement to be included in a Recognized Securities Manual in order to qualify for Blue Sky Manual Exemption has been abolished from the OTCQX Rules. In addition, OTC Markets Group is asking the federal government to allow OTCQX securities to be designated “covered securities”, which would make them exempt from separate state blue-sky law registration and exemption requirements. At present, 12 states have recognized the OTCQX as a securities manual for purposes of their “blue-sky manual exemption.”

Finally, the size and scope of the OTCQX Virtual Investor Conferences, CEO Interviews and Community Spotlight have been expanded, reaching over 30,000 investors to date. These initiatives are an alternative to the traditional company road show and allow more companies to tell their story to their investor community.

With these enhancements, OTC Markets Group may be driving the final nail in the coffin of FINRA’s OTCBB.

Before the opening bell, Singlepoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) gave prospective shareholders some additional insight into its plan to become one of the cannabis industry’s first merchant processors through its SingleSeed subsidiary. The update comes on the eve of a landmark Election Day during which five states will vote on ballot initiatives to legalize cannabis for recreational use, while four others will be voting to either expand or establish the availability of medical marijuana. If all of these measures pass, the total number of states with comprehensive medical marijuana laws would grow to 28, and, thanks in part to the massive scale of the State of California, roughly a quarter of the U.S. population would live in an area where recreational cannabis is legalized.

With the national market for medical and recreational marijuana on pace to reach $22 billion by 2020, according to Arcview Research, the issue of banking within the industry is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Despite legalization at the state level, marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, and, as a result, federal law prohibits banks and credit unions from taking money generated from this industry. Some financial institutions have started serving the cannabis industry in recent months, after the U.S. Treasury and Justice departments said that they won’t go after institutions that closely monitor their clients and report suspected wrongdoing, but these pioneers are still in the minority.

By and large, big banks won’t touch the marijuana industry, meaning that, for many operating in the space, operations are cash-only. In addition to being inconvenient for customers, a lack of banking options adds significant security risks for business owners. In this morning’s news release, Greg Lambrecht, chief executive officer of Singlepoint, suggested that this trend could be in for a change in the near future.

“The cannabis industry is on the cusp of unprecedented liberties, and we are optimistic that as more states vote to legalize the drug, policymakers will have to take a second look at how banks will be involved in payment processing,” he stated. “When the industry becomes bankable, we will already be in on the action as a ‘first mover’ with mobile technology to revolutionize the cannabis merchant processing business.”

Ahead of this forecast shift, Singlepoint recently awakened SingleSeed. The cannabis-focused subsidiary was originally established several years ago, making an impact on the industry by offering payment processing services to dispensaries in Colorado and Washington. Although the banks put a stop to these services years ago, Singlepoint intends to capitalize on its existing foothold in the cannabis industry as it continues to evolve across the country.

“Amid the rapid changes in the cannabis industry, we are geared up to offer innovations that will usher continued advancement while providing safe and secure ways to transact monies for business owners who operate their businesses within the boundaries of state laws and guidelines set forth for banks by federal authorities,” Lambrecht concluded. “SingleSeed will emerge as a trailblazer in providing consumers with convenient and secure purchases, while dispensaries benefit from accelerated growth and ‘bankable’ finances. We see it as a win-win-win situation.”

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

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For a late-stage rare diseases focused boipharma innovator like Soligenix (OTCQB: SNGX), with up to $58 million of support for its Vaccines/BioDefense segment coming directly from NIAID contract funding (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the NIH), recent news about the success of its BioTherapeutics segment is propitiously timed, amid the company’s move to uplist to NASDAQ. The company enthusiastically executed a 1:10 reverse split early last month (http://dtn.fm/mtiM2) in preparation for the uplisting, confident that the diligent advancement of its rare diseases pipeline over the preceding years has positioned Soligenix for commercial success, with multiple Phase 2b/3 clinical programs now ready to bear fruit.

A clear 50 percent reduction in the median duration of severe oral mucositis across the board (and a noteworthy 67 percent reduction in the most severely affected) in Phase 2 clinical testing (http://dtn.fm/A7huK) on head and neck cancer patients receiving chemoradiation firmly reinforces the potential of the company’s proprietary innate defense regulator (IDR) technology, upon which Soligenix’s SGX942 (http://dtn.fm/m8wGr) (containing dusquetide) is based. Oral mucositis (breakdown and atrophy of the mouth’s mucosal lining) is one of the common problems associated with chemotherapy (as well as radiation therapy or life-threatening bacterial infections), and it represents a significant unmet medical need for which there are no currently approved therapies. Such excellent efficacy results for the Phase 2 clinical trial of SGX942 gives the company a very strong BioTherapeutics candidate to go along with its novel SGX301 (http://dtn.fm/ZavH7) topical photodynamic therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and SGX203 (http://dtn.fm/NCc6y) oral formulation of BDP (beclomethasone dipropionate) corticosteroid for low-toxicity treatment of Pediatric Crohn’s Disease (gastrointestinal inflammation) – both of which have received FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations.

SGX942’s dusquetide formulation is a first-in-class IDR (short, fully-synthetic peptides) and this Phase 2 clinical trial data provides substantial evidence about the broad-spectrum applicability of IDR technology in other areas, like the one where it was first discovered: infectious disease. Senior VP and CMO for Soligenix, Richard Straube, MD, seemed quite proud of the SGX942 program’s success, explaining that not only does the Phase 2 data validate the same unique biology of IDRs in humans that was observed in previous animal model studies, it also serves as a positive proof of concept for expansion of the IDR platform into other indications, such as infectious disease.

Furthermore, the Phase 2 clinical trial (multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled) data on SGX942 reinforces a pivotal concept about IDR technology’s novel mechanism of action and how it enables an extremely promising therapeutic approach vector for a host of diseases. Because IDRs are able to directly interact with a key protein (p62, or sequestosome-1) that helps regulate natural, selective cell degradation, and thus enhance the body’s own immunological tissue-healing and anti-infective capabilities – the technology is increasingly seen by many as a sort of molecular end-run.

Able to act downstream of innate immune receptors, yet upstream from cytokine and chemokine effectors, this implementation of IDR technology is based on modulating the body’s own reaction to injury/infection, and has been shown to also delimit the inflammation associated with tissue damage. Heading off inflammation at the pass by directly interacting at the key intracellular integration point is a bold approach, and a 16 percent higher complete response (tumor completely gone) at the one-month follow up for SGX942 is nothing to sneeze at.

With a strong worldwide IP position on dusquetide and related analogs, as well as Fast Track designation from the FDA for SGX942 and solid Phase 1 safety/tolerability results under its belt, the future looks bright for Soligenix’s newest rising BioTherapeutics star. Perhaps more importantly, this further validation of the potential of the IDR technology opens the door to a broad array of targets for Soligenix, ranging from antibiotic resistant/emerging infectious diseases, to GI tract inflammation. A recent report by BCC Research puts the global market for infectious disease pharmaceuticals and vaccines at around $103.5 billion as of last year, with a roughly 7.7 percent forward CAGR through 2021, when it is anticipated that the combined value of both types will be around $212 billion.

Having secured SME status with the EMA (European Medicines Agency) (http://dtn.fm/f9uO9) as of Oct 25, earlier projections about Soligenix by analysts such as Zack’s and Aegis Capital now appear to be unmistakably materializing. EMA logistical support will go a long ways toward taking SGX942 through Phase 3, and Soligenix is now auspiciously knocking on the global pharmaceutical market’s door.

Even without really going into the company’s revolutionary thermostabilization (heat stabilization) technology ThermoVax® (http://dtn.fm/HD49d), which could eliminate cold-chain production/refrigeration and give (Alum adjuvanted) vaccines long shelf lives at even higher than normal temperatures – the attractiveness of its Vaccines/BioDefense segment should leap out at investors. By working hand-in-hand with NIAID to proactively muster force against high priority bioterrorism and emerging disease fronts, via technology platforms and specific products that are able to address the institute’s primary concerns, Soligenix has positioned itself perfectly from a developmental standpoint.

As President & CEO, Chris Schaber explained in a CEO Clips broadcast on BTV-Business Television (http://dtn.fm/eC2Pg), Soligenix has been able to brilliantly leverage its government funding in order to better manage the very cash-intensive BioTherapeutics development which has now set the company up for long-term commercial success. Soligenix’s proprietary vaccine RiVax™ (Ricin Toxin Vaccine) (http://dtn.fm/F9bYC) has been developed through a series of competitive challenge grants and the company has even demonstrated a one year stability of RiVax at prolonged elevated temperatures (104 Fahrenheit) utilizing ThermoVax technology. Properties which made Soligenix’s ThermoVax technology an ideal choice for Hawaii Biotech, Inc. when it came to dry stabilizing the key antigen for their Ebola vaccine (http://dtn.fm/5sFkv). A distinct advantage over competing Ebola vaccines, which allows the vaccine to be deployed to and easily shipped/stored within precisely those high temperature regions where Filoviruses are endemic.

Soligenix’s OrbeShield® formulation of BDP for GI-ARS (Gastrointestinal Acute Radiation Syndrome) shares considerable technical overlap with the company’s SGX203 formulation for Pediatric Crohn’s Disease, and the same deep understanding of inflammation and tissue damage is apparent in the company’s SGX201 BioTherpaeutic, designed to prevent acute radiation enteritis (inflammatory bowel syndrome resulting from radiation therapy). This kind of inflammation mastery should really inform investors about the core IP valuation of Soligenix, and even if the company’s Vaccines/BioDefense division weren’t heavily government funded, it would still be an exciting commercial biopharma play on the basis of its highly novel BioTherapeutics offerings.

It would be wise to take a closer look at the company’s first-in-class photodynamic therapy for CTCL, as well as its dusquetide IDR SGX943 (http://dtn.fm/0hAiX), designed to combat even gram-negative bacteria such as the one which causes antibiotic-resistant and potentially fatal Melioidosis infection, in order to get a better sense of just how big the end market potential is for Soligenix’s tech envelope. Soligenix’s IP position is likely the real story behind the story, and it will be very interesting to see what enhanced exposure via the NASDAQ uplifting will do.

For more information, visit www.Solgenix.com

Before the opening bell, Singlepoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) was announced as a featured company on this week’s episode of MoneyTV with Donald Baillargeon. MoneyTV is an internationally syndicated television program about “money and what makes it happen.” The show includes informative interviews with company CEOs, offering prospective investors insight into their operations and outlooks for the future.

To view this week’s program, visit www.MoneyTV.net

In the interview, Greg Lambrecht, chief executive officer of Singlepoint, gave shareholders an update on the awakening of the company’s SingleSeed subsidiary, which is focused on providing credit card processing solutions for the rapidly expanding cannabis industry. Originally announced in a news release earlier this week, the relaunch of SingleSeed is expected to strategically position Singlepoint to capitalize on rising demand and recent legislative shifts in the domestic cannabis market. Moving forward, the company intends to leverage key relationships with existing clients in this space to accelerate growth.

“Two years ago, we were placing point-of-sale terminals and allowing debit and credit cards to go through dispensaries, and the banks shut it down,” Lambrecht stated in the interview. “Now, with these new states coming on and the new administration, we feel very optimistic that they’re going to open those banks back up and we’re going to be back in the processing business for marijuana consumption.”

Undoubtedly, November will be a landmark month for the burgeoning cannabis industry in the United States. In addition to the presidential election on November 8, five new states will vote on ballot initiatives that would legalize cannabis for adult use, and three others will vote to legalize the drug for medicinal purposes. With most polls indicating that the majority, if not all, of these measures will likely pass, the current scale of the recreational marijuana market is expected to rapidly expand in the coming years. According to Arcview Research, the market for both medical and recreational marijuana is projected to grow from $7 billion this year to roughly $22 billion by 2020. Lambrecht believes that this market performance will lead to a shift in policy that makes banking more accessible for legal cannabis businesses.

“It’s not only more convenient for customers to use their debit or credit card to purchase cannabis, which is where we come in as a merchant processor, but those dispensaries that don’t have bank accounts can’t place their cash anywhere,” continued Lambrecht. “I think, with more and more states passing [cannabis legalization measures], the legislators in those states and also the new administration are going to have to look at allowing the banks to take debit and credit cards. That’s why we’re back in this game.”

Lambrecht wrapped up the interview by reminding shareholders of the company’s history in the marijuana space. With existing relationships and experience offering payment processing services to dispensaries in Colorado and Washington, Singlepoint is primed to benefit from the ‘green’ revolution that’s currently rolling across the nation.

“We get about five calls a week from dispensaries wondering if we can handle their processing, and, hopefully, in short order, we’re going to be able to say yes,” Lambrecht added.

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

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At this year’s SuperZoo, The National Show for Pet Retailers that ran from July 31 – August 4 in Las Vegas, innovative pet care outfit OurPet’s Company (OTCQX: OPCO) launched its new OurPets® Switchgrass Natural Cat Litter™ with Biochar (http://dtn.fm/eI5Py). The timing was opportune. It seems there is growing awareness of biochar’s benefits. In a recent interview (http://dtn.fm/ENg8i), well-known veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker, DVM discussed the virtues of this unique form of charcoal as litter material for cats.

Biochar has a huge surface area because of its porosity. It is also hugely recalcitrant, and so holds on to nutrients, water and smells, the latter of which is an ideal quality for waste management. Biochar also comes in the right particle size, as Dr. Becker explains:

“Studies on the types of litter cats prefer show they are quite particular about particle size. The cat’s evolutionary substrate, for potty purposes, is sand. When kitties started living indoors, clay litter came along and most cats were okay with it. But clay has its own issues.

These days, there’s a wide selection of organic and natural types of litters on the market, but many of them feature big particle sizes, which don’t appeal to most cats. The danger in forcing an objectionable litter on cats is they often develop litter box aversion, which can lead to other problems.”

Just as beneficial, biochar clumps well. Clumping extends the life of the litter and provides a healthier environment for cats. Biochar is also very absorbent. And, of course, biochar litter is 100 percent biodegradable and compostable.

The term biochar typically refers to charcoal that is used to enrich soil. It is most often made by subjecting biomass to pyrolysis (heating without burning). Its property to increase soil fertility has been known to humans for at least two millennia, as the terra preta plots in the Amazonian basis have proven.

Biochar has been found to possess many virtues. Apart from being used as a soil amendment, biochar improves water quality by acting as a filter and acts as a carbon sink. It can trap large amounts of carbon dioxide in the ground for centuries, a process referred to as sequestering. So effective is its role in this respect that policy makers are actively considering its employment as a ‘carbon negative’ agent to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

OurPet’s Company aims to make the waste and odor category a more significant part of its business in the future. Currently, its flagship product in this area is the SmartScoop®. The company has, over the years, developed over 1,000 product lines and has another 30 or so products in the pipeline, plus an intellectual property stockpile of over 170 patents.

OurPet’s Company has been growing at twice the industry rate. It has had, since 2010, a CAGR of about six percent. The two-pronged branding strategy it initiated in 2011 with the OurPets® brand targeting the pet aficionado and the Pet Zone® brand targeting the mass market has, undoubtedly, paid off.

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

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Proposed amendments to the listing rules for the OTCQX Best Market are likely to benefit international companies. The rules, which will become effective from January 1, 2017, should make it easier for Canadian and other foreign companies to establish a secondary market in their shares for U.S. investors.

For historical reasons, an OTC listing had come to be synonymous with penny stocks. The earliest OTC precursor, Roger Babson’s National Quotation Bureau (NQB), published a directory of broker-dealer quotations on slips of pink paper: the notorious “Pink Sheets”. Today, the OTC Markets Group is a different animal. It still lists penny stocks. However, it has surpassed the NYSE and NASDAQ in the number of non-penny stocks listed, according to OTC Markets (http://dtn.fm/gI9ar).

Listed companies on OTC Markets Group’s platform are organized into three markets: OTCQX, OTCQB, and Pink. To qualify for the OTCQX Best Market, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, demonstrate compliance with U.S. securities laws, be current in their disclosure, and be sponsored by a professional third-party advisor known as a Principal American Liaison (PAL). Penny stocks, shells, and companies in bankruptcy cannot qualify for OTCQX.

The OTCQB Venture Market is meant for early-stage and developing U.S. and international companies that are not yet able to qualify for OTCQX. And the Pink Open Market lists foreign companies that may need to limit their disclosure, penny stocks, and shells, and distressed, delinquent, and dark companies not willing or able to provide adequate information to investors.

Companies listed under the OTCQX Best Market fall into three categories: U.S. community banks, U.S. companies, and international companies. OTCQX International is reserved for companies that are already listed on a qualified foreign stock exchange that wish to have a U.S. listing. Two amendments to the qualifying rules are likely to lead to more international listings.

• The requirement to retain a Principal American Liaison (PAL) on an ongoing basis will be scrapped. Now it will be possible simply to have a qualified attorney, investment bank, or the ADR bank act as the OTCQX Sponsor during the initial qualification process. Consequently, the annual PAL letter will no longer be needed, nor will companies be required to provide an annual Issuer Compliance Statement to their PAL.

• The requirement to be included in a Recognized Securities Manual in order to qualify for Blue Sky Manual Exemption is likely to be removed. The OTC Markets Group is in discussions with the North American Securities Administration Association (NASAA) and state regulators to gain recognition for OTCQX for the purposes of “Blue Sky Manual Exemption” for secondary trading.

The proposed changes will, undoubtedly, offer international companies easier access to the U.S. capital markets.

The marijuana industry is growing at a fast and steady pace, being set to reach $6.7 billion by the end of the year and approximately $20.6 billion by 2020 – making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States economy. The figures could go even higher as demand continues to grow and nine more states are voting next week on legalizing either medical or recreational marijuana use. To help the industry face new challenges and its expanding reach, SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) subsidiary SingleSeed (http://dtn.fm/lnMz9) is awakening from a quiet period to provide state-of-the-art payment solutions and mobile marketing aimed at helping industry players grow their businesses safely and securely.

The company already has an established client base created a couple of years ago, when it positioned itself as one of the first merchant service providers for the industry, according to SinglePoint CEO Greg Lambrecht in a company press release (http://dtn.fm/6WmVG). He explained that this was an ideal time for his group to become actively engaged in the industry and work to expand its reach by acquiring a number of other smaller companies in the market. Lambrecht further explained that SinglePoint’s board of directors is confident that the November 8 vote will be favorable to the industry and will make way for the companies working in this market to become bankable.

At the moment, cannabis business owners, most of them providers of medical marijuana products, have a growing need for financial solutions, as a large number of banking and financial institutions are not allowed to maintain relationships with the industry. According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, there are 266 depositary institutions across the U.S. that maintain accounts with marijuana businesses. A recent survey also indicated that 40% of cannabis industry businesses had bank accounts.

Lambrecht explained that even if credit unions and banks do not openly admit opening cannabis business accounts, a growing number of them are deciding to be open about their acceptance. SingleSeed and its processing partner have extensive relationships and technology partners they can leverage to develop the necessary apps and tools that will help protect the cannabis industry and provide safe ways for business owners to operate money transactions legally and in line with state and federal laws, the CEO said.

SingleSeed can provide three main services to the industry: Cashless ATM, Pay by Text™, and Text Message Marketing. The Cashless ATM system is ready to use out of the box, requiring only a functional Internet connection. The system is advertised to provide added safety, convenience and inventory tracking for dispensaries that also offer delivery services. Pay by Text™ is an anytime-anywhere payment solution that allows customers to pay by mobile phone via a text message they receive with a direct link to the product they want to purchase and a checkout page. The Text Message Marketing service is designed to help cannabis business owners develop a close relationship and communicate with their customers. The service allows businesses to increase customer loyalty, communicate effectively, and ultimately drive sales.

SinglePoint, Inc. is a leading provider of mobile technology and marketing services serving a diverse customer base and primarily targeting small to mid-sized companies. With subsidiaries in different markets, such as cannabis products or Daily Fantasy Sports, SinglePoint operates with the main goal of providing innovative mobile technology, payment solutions in particular, at reasonable rates.

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

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The future of OurPet’s Company (http://dtn.fm/1Ypil) (OTCQX: OPCO), a producer of innovative pet related products, is looking bright thanks to the growth of the pets industry since 2014. Since its foundation in 1995, OurPet’s Company has been dedicated to providing nutritional, medical, physical, and emotional stimulation and value to pets across the U.S.

But, the pet industry has never looked as strong as today. As warmer weather than usual crosses the U.S., sales have boomed in both veterinary and non-medical services. Spending for 2015 came in at a record $60.28 billion, and this figure is expected to grow by the end of 2016, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) (http://dtn.fm/7hsjN).

The APPA report includes information regarding market categories such as food, supplies, over-the-counter medications, veterinary care, animal purchases, and more. Although food, veterinary services, supplies and over-the-counter medications still remain at the top of pet industry spending, pet services have shown a record growth of 11.8% between 2014 and 2015 and over 5% growth from 2015 so far this year.

Additionally, according to Pet Business (http://dtn.fm/tf10Q), the industry is predicted to continue to grow as millennials now enter their prime spending years. Generation Y and the millennials are going to be the primary audience for the pet industry, both of which are highly influenced by advances in technology. Fortunately, OPCO’s product line is diverse. The company prides itself on offering the highest quality products to its animal friends, and current industry growth has allowed the company to focus on more innovative technological products such as its OurPets® Intelligent Pet Care™ (http://dtn.fm/X356d) line.

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

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