MeetMe, Inc. (NASDAQ: MEET) has closed on its public offering of 9.2 million shares of common stock at $5 per share. This is inclusive of the full option by underwriters for 1.2 million additional shares of common stock. Net proceeds will be used by the company for general corporate purposes and to potentially fund MeetMe’s pending acquisition of “if(we)”, a San Francisco-based social and mobile technology company, as well as other future takeovers.

MeetMe is a social network for meeting new people in the U.S. Some 80% of its one million daily user traffic comes from mobile devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. It is becoming a gathering place for mobile users, the company said. It generates revenue from advertising, subscriptions, and virtual currency.

Targeted to close in 2Q2017, the “if(we)” acquisition would be made for $60 million in cash, and that company is anticipated to generate at least $9 million of adjusted EBITDA and be accretive to earnings in the first 12 months after closing, MeetMe noted in a news release.

“if(we)” had revenues of $44 million in 2016 and is the operator of TAGGED and Hi5, branded apps which enable people to meet and chat with others. The site features 10.4 million mobile chats daily, and 18,000 mobile app users are added each day. “if(we)” is available in 100 countries and 15 languages.

MeetMe said in its corporate presentation on the acquisition (http://dtn.fm/J4gAA) that the transaction is expected to generate cross-promotional opportunities. It added that there is a less than 5% overlap in user bases, and the two companies together can lower technology costs by standardizing products. Also, by utilizing MeetMe’s best practices, the company expects a convergence of certain key metrics, such as daily chats.

Funding for the acquisition will come from MeetMe’s cash on hand, cash from operations, and a new $30 million loan from J.P. Morgan. The combined company could generate revenues of $150 million annually and an EBITDA of $50 million, per MeetMe’s presentation materials.

For more information, visit www.MeetMeCorp.com

A population of over 1.2 billion people is one heck of a target market, especially when insulated by language. ChineseInvestors.com (OTCQB: CIIX) has leveraged this demographic to market a broad range of products, services and information specifically for the Chinese speaking population. The company provides real-time market commentary, analysis, and education-related services in the Chinese language and offers several types of subscription-based services. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York City and Shanghai, the company also offers consultation services to private companies seeking to go public, as well as advertising and public relations services.

Seizing opportunity, this diverse multi-faceted company recently executed a first-to-market milestone by creating the world’s only Chinese language, cannabinoid-based therapeutic health products online store, www.ChineseCBDoil.com. To supply consistently high quality products, the company entered into a wholesale agreement with a well-known CBD oil health brand manufacturer in January.

Marijuana use in China is illegal, but there are no legal strictures on the sale or use of therapeutic cannabis-based oils. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is considered to have a broad range of medical benefits and, unlike medical marijuana products, CBD oil is non-psychoactive with low THC and high CBD content. CBD has shown varying efficacy in treating epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and cirrhosis, as well as providing relief from anxiety and stress. CBD interacts with the body through the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system regulates the body’s homeostasis, or general state of balance, impacting such functions as mood, sleep, appetite, hormone regulation, pain and immune response. Even more benefits are expected to be uncovered upon completion of ongoing research.

Given the wide-ranging practice of holistic-based Eastern medicine, acceptance and use of CBD oils is not only a natural adjunct but also an enormous potential revenue generator for ChineseInvestors.com.

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

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Bollente Companies, Inc. (OTCQB: BOLC) is in the early stages of developing a diverse portfolio of companies, targeting disruptive technologies that positively impact the environment and emerging economies. Their current focus is on high-efficiency electric tankless water heaters, manufactured and sold under “trutankless”, a division of Bollente, including a line of economy tankless water heaters sold under the Vero name. Units are available for both residential and commercial application.

The primary Bollente advantage is their use of advanced technology, superior to previous tankless systems, together with a growing U.S. and global market. Traditional water heaters are one of the costliest appliances to operate. The two primary energy sources used in U.S. homes are electric and natural gas, with less than half of U.S. homes having natural gas available. In addition, there are no significant electric whole home tankless manufacturers.

The U.S. Department of Energy now requires tanks of 55 gallons or more to have efficiency levels requiring expensive heat pumps to achieve. Bollente’s trutankless electric tankless water heater employs specialized sensors for constant water temperature, solid state electronics, and proprietary software, resulting in one of the most efficient heat exchangers ever produced. The technology includes smart grid and home automation capabilities, remote control and monitoring, and even smartphone alerts. It also allows adjustable custom power management settings, so that users can further enhance energy usage and performance. It is now estimated that tankless heaters used in every home would save over $8 billion annually in the U.S. alone.

By maintaining 99 percent efficiency, Bollente’s trutankless heaters use less energy than tank heaters, while providing the convenience of always-hot water. The system only uses power when there is demand, producing water to exact temperature, within one degree, even with sudden changes to input. Wireless apps allow for remote settings, notifications, and monitoring, and models are compatible with existing home automation and energy management systems. The technology also reduces size, for easy location, and the system’s self-flushing design provides up to 20+ years of maintenance free operation, significantly reducing upkeep and replacement costs. This becomes an additional environmental benefit since roughly 8 million used water heaters are dumped in landfills every year.

Bollente has also announced the formation of Bollente International, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, for the international production and sale of trutankless systems. Taking advantage of growing interest in their technology, Bollente International is working with an international manufacturing firm for the production and distribution of trutankless systems throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, with the first step being the testing and certification necessary to meet the various international standards.

Bollente has made electric tankless water heating compelling to a major consumer market, both in and outside the U.S., offering economic as well as operational efficiency and convenience, attractive to builders as well as to end consumers.

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

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Most vehicles across the United States are powered by either gasoline or diesel, but this is changing. Sales of cars, especially fleet vehicles, that operate on alternative fuels are growing, and, according to the U.S. Department Of Energy, natural gas now powers more than 150,000 vehicles across the country and over 15 million vehicles worldwide (http://dtn.fm/LF8Zg).

Because natural gas as a transportation fuel is widely distributed, domestically available, more cost efficient, and better for the environment, these new vehicles are expected to become increasingly popular for the foreseeable future, and, thanks to Greenkraft, Inc. (OTCQB: GKIT), they will soon be making their way across the U.S.

Greenkraft, a company that manufactures and markets alternative fuel systems to convert petrol-based vehicles and engines to function on natural gas and propane fuels, offers a variety of trucks and engines to suit various modern-day business needs. In fact, all of its products are built to suit companies in the food, electric, construction, and landscaping markets, among others.

Greenkraft prides itself on offering fuel efficient trucks that not only save businesses money, but are also better for the environment. These vehicles meet EPA and CARB emission standards and use only alternative fuels for power. To top it off, the company works closely with the government to encourage businesses to switch to more eco-friendly automobiles through tax incentives and rebates.

Most recently, Greenkraft announced that it will be launching a widespread national marketing campaign to include printed advertisements, trade shows, and targeted campaigns that will showcase its trucks and engines to the majority of the U.S. market. In addition to bringing in new customers, GKIT wants to educate companies about the positive environmental impact they could have by changing their transportation methods.

A month prior to this press release, the company announced that, due to increased demand for its products, it will be expanding to a bigger factory in 2017 and introduce new, larger-sized trucks in weights of 26,000 and 33,000 pounds, respectively. The combination of this new nationwide marketing campaign and its plans to expand to a bigger factory will enable GKIT to meet customer needs while having a serious positive impact on the environment.

For more information, visit www.GreenkraftInc.com

The sales profession is known for sales cycle stress, pressures to meet quotas and the debilitating psychological impact of constant rejection. Combined, these factors are known contributors to the sales industry’s exceptionally high turnover rates and lost productivity. The satisfaction level of salespeople may not seem to correlate directly with business objectives, but it substantially impacts an organization’s bottom line. Happy sales people are consistently more resourceful and productive. Sales can obviously be a tough job, with the daily grind of prospecting and repeated rejection. Even top producers can be pulled down by deals that linger but never seem to go through.

Research has proven that happiness is contagious, especially in sales. When salespeople truly enjoys their environment and what they’re doing, it leads to a more natural selling proposition and, ultimately, more success. They convert more leads and are generally more successful, because prospects are engaged and gravitate toward them. Happy salespeople are less stressed, undeterred by rejection, and consistently more productive.

More money can help enhance a sales person’s happiness, but more money alone does not directly equate to more happiness. More money helps, but well-researched psychological principles show that top salespeople want more. These principles show that sales producers are motivated by new challenges and responsibilities. They also want to continue to learn and hone their skills, an essential element of what makes them successful. More than most people, top sales performers need appreciation and recognition for their achievements, and they produce more in an environment that promotes relationships and provides meaning.

Few industries are more sales driven than residential real estate. Success is contingent upon attracting and keeping productive sales agents. Adding agents, reducing turn over, and increasing sales productivity makes or breaks agencies. eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI) is changing the paradigm of real estate sales by using an advanced-technology online system to provide the tools, motivation, and support needed to attract and keep agents. eXp World Holdings is the publicly-traded holding company of eXp Realty, an agent-owned cloud-based residential brokerage. The company nearly tripled its agent count last year, with over 1,500 new real estate professionals joining eXp Realty in 2016. The dramatic increase in agents and revenues reflects the environment built by the company’s unique business model. eXp Realty believes the greatest asset of any real estate brokerage is the team of agents and brokers who create the revenues of the company.

By eliminating the high cost of brick and mortar locations, the company offers among the highest payouts in the industry. Agents and brokers receive exceptional support and continued education through eXp Realty’s innovative 24/7 cloud-based system of collaborative tools and training. Its 3-D, fully-immersive, cloud office environment also promotes agent socialization, relationship enhancement, and agent recognition. Proof of eXp’s pioneering approach is borne out not only by the striking increase in agents last year, but also by the myriad of positive online reviews posted by agents.

By surreptitiously abetting sales agent happiness with tangible and intangible support systems, eXp is poised to not only continue adding legions of agents, but also to dramatically exceed revenue expectations.

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

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India Globalization Capital, Inc. (NYSE MKT: IGC) has set a long-term goal for itself in the U.S. of becoming a leading provider of cannabis-based pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. This is a transition away from its earlier short-term strategy, including the sale of electronics and development of a hotel site in Malaysia. To this end, the company has jettisoned its electronics business. IGC is now fully focused on building a portfolio of patents and starting clinical and pre-clinical trials for a series of pain-reducing and other cannabis-based therapies. These therapies are designed to treat neuropathic pain, seizures, Parkinson’s, anorexia/cachexia, Alzheimer’s, and PTSD.

Ram Mukunda, CEO of the company, indicated that IGC’s 2017 goals are focused on its progression toward commencement of clinical trials for these combination therapies. The Journal of Pain, in September 2012, reported that between $560 billion and $635 billion is spent annually in the U.S. for pain management, making it a significant part of the American health care system. In response, IGC has developed a series of drugs for pain and other disorders, including IGC-501 for neuropathic pain, IGC-502 for the treatment of seizures, and IGC-504 and IGC-506 for eating disorders and cachexia.

The company recently filed for issuance of a provisional patent for IGC-506, a combination of cannabis-based extracts and other compounds. It should be noted that a provisional patent does not assure the issuance of a patent in the future.

Mukunda explained that IGC is starting a review of international medical sites as the company seeks preclinical and clinical trials of its patent portfolio. He described the marketplace that IGC is entering as large, indicating that trials, patents and seeking approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration is seen as cost-effective.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.IGCinc.us

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Using mobile devices to make purchases is becoming commonplace. An estimated $37 billion in mobile transactions occurred in 2015, and that total is expected to explode to over $800 billion by 2019. User payments with mobile devices are expected to exceed 70 percent this year. Like the mobile phones and devices themselves, mobile transactions and payments will soon be ubiquitous.

First conceptualized in the 1990s, paying for transactions with mobile devices has now taken off as a convenient and beneficial option for both consumers and merchants. Consumers find it easier to ditch credit cards all together and rely solely on their phones for payments. Mobile point-of-sale transactions give merchants the ability to integrate loyalty and incentive programs into mobile payment applications, track customer trends and inventory, increase check-out speed and save money on credit card fees.

Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE) has been at the vanguard of facilitating this mobile point-of-sale boom, providing speed, security, accuracy, value-add, and the convenience of mobile transactions. Net Element owns and operates a global mobile payments and transactional processing provider, TOT Group. TOT Group companies include Aptito, Digital Provider, Restoactive, PayOnline and Unified Payments, which was named the fastest-growing private company in America in 2012 by Inc. Magazine.

Through its wholly-owned group of companies, Net Element prides itself on delivering tailored turnkey solutions that fit each merchant’s specific needs. The company’s online and offline payment capabilities allow merchants to transact business anywhere, any way, and at any time. Simultaneously, Net Element’s mobile payments and value-added transactional platforms deliver speed and convenience to mobile customers, giving them the ability to make purchases with just a few clicks on their mobile devices, and provide an alternative to cash payments.

Net Element delivers solutions for the complex web interactions triggered by each mobile point-of-sale transaction.

For more information, visit www.NetElement.com

Alternative Lodging Rentals (ALRs) have taken over as a hot topic in the world of tourism. ALR offers customers a more flexible approach to vacations. Depending upon the location, travel consumers can often find larger accommodations for less money, with more facilities such as kitchens, outdoor spaces, and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms throughout the rented space.

Despite different types of travelers looking for different features in their vacation rentals, a recent survey in Tripping.com found that nearly all travelers like to have the same basic things (http://dtn.fm/7Ce50). Although many of those surveyed highlighted the need for a kitchen, good value for their money, a decent level of privacy, and a lot of space, the need for on-site technology was not far behind. Many people like to stay plugged in while away, and this is not limited to just the internet. While Wi-Fi is a major factor, cable and HDTV also came in high on the list of ALR requirements. Also, more than a quarter of those surveyed said they look for smart features when booking an ALR, including smart security systems, smart entry, and smart electronics such as TV.

However, the modern traveler’s tech needs go beyond the accommodation itself. It starts on the booking platform. We live in a world where customers have been given the technology to place orders and book experiences with the click of a button. According to Jen O’Neil from Tripping.com, “Recent trends show that travelers of all ages are gravitating toward the instant booking model, so we expect that the vast majority of properties will be booked instantly within the next few years.”

Unfortunately, booking ALR properties has not traditionally been that easy. Often, customers have to submit a request to the landlord or property manager, discuss their needs, apply to book the property, and wait for approval. Luckily, Monaker Group, Inc. (OTCQB: MKGI) recently announced that it will soon be launching a real-time booking system whereby customers can book their ALR accommodations and get instant confirmation, just as with air travel or hotels.

In addition, Monaker, through its flagship NextTrip.com, will be giving business and vacation travelers the chance to not only book ALR, but all other travel bookings, such as flights, tours, car rentals, and more. This new system will be the first of its kind, becoming the one-stop travel shop for all consumer needs.

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

Moxian, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOXC) is poised to generate sales of greater than $62 million and a gross profit of more than $39 million in FY 2020, according to the SeeThruEquity research report on the company (http://nnw.fm/T6Aj4). Moxian is a China-based high-technology marketing company which has offered a beta no-charge platform in China’s large online-to-offline (O2O) market, a marketplace anticipated to grow to $48 billion in 1H2017, according to Moxian investor materials.

In the O2O market, online consumers are attracted to brick and mortar stores through various incentives. Moxian is expected to launch its paid Moxian+ platform this year. To the 75 million small- and medium-sized businesses in China, Moxian will offer its premium services for a fee. Services on its Moxian+ Business App would include access to analytics, hosting of online shops, targeted marketing, and the ability to host social sites with consumers. In its analysis of Moxian, SeeThruEquity reported that the company could achieve, in FY 2020, an estimated margin of almost 64% and a gross profit of $39.9 million on revenues of $62.5 million.

According to a 2015 study by China’s Ministry of Industry and Technology, China is the world’s largest mobile telephone marketplace, with 1.3 billion mobile users. Moxian will also offer its Moxian+ User App to individual consumers.

Paid premium subscriptions are key to Moxian’s future. The annual fees the company receives from each premium subscription ranges from $1,200-$2,000 annually. Additionally, Moxian would receive fees from every transaction and mobile advertisements, plus OEM and retail distribution license fees. SeeThruEquity has set a price of $4.50 per share for Moxian, based on the size of the O2O marketplace in China and Moxian’s aggressive plans for expansion. The company is currently based in Shenzhen, China, but is expanding into other metropolitan markets, such as Shanghai and Guangzhou.

SeeThruEquity noted that Moxian was uplisted to the Nasdaq Capital Market last year, after raising, in November 2016, some $8.5 million net in a public equity offering. However, the report noted that the company would require access to additional capital funding to finance its plans to expand and add more sales staff to sell the paid app. The company has plans to expand its sales staff to some 100 persons by the end of 2017.

For more information, refer to www.Moxian.com

The human body is elegantly designed to heal itself, utilizing the immune system as its defense against various pathogens. Triggered by immune response signals, the immune system attacks and kills organisms and substances that invade body systems and cause disease. However, the immune system sometimes needs help in identifying and killing some invaders.

Cancer presents a complex and perplexing problem for effective immune system response, because it finds ways to hide from the immune system or block the immune system’s ability to battle against the disease. An important part of the immune system is its ability to differentiate between normal cells in the body and invaders. This differentiation allows the immune system to attack the invading cells while leaving normal cells alone. To achieve this, the immune system uses molecules on certain immune cells that need to be activated or inactivated to trigger an immune response. However, cancer cells can sometimes use these checkpoints to deceive the immune system and avoid being attacked. Newly developed drugs, known as checkpoint inhibitors, have shown some success in cancer treatments. However, a combination of checkpoint inhibitors and specific T cell-stimulating therapeutic vaccines indicates a much higher degree of efficacy.

Heat Biologics (NASDAQ: HTBX) is at the vanguard of this shift in cancer treatments, developing novel therapeutic vaccines to activate the immune system against a wide range of cancers. When antigens enter the body, they stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies in response to these foreign substances. Heat Biologics exploits this natural process to elicit a powerful immune response against the disease target. The company’s therapeutic vaccines are based on heat shock protein gp-96, a protein that activates the immune system when cells die. This protein is attached to the cell by what’s called a KDEL leash. Heat Biologic’s vaccines remove this leash and cause cells to continuously secrete gp96 and its chaperoned antigens to activate the immune system.

Heat Biologics recently announced the latest results of its ongoing phase 2 clinical trial in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s checkpoint inhibitor. Researchers reported a strong correlation between T cell activation, tumor reductions, and increased overall survival in the patients evaluated. Patients with a sustained immune response also exhibited substantial tumor reductions. It appears the combination of Heat Biologics’ vaccine and checkpoint inhibitors may become an attractive therapeutic approach treating cancers.

For more information, please visit www.HeatBio.com