Sign Up NowThis Month's Tiny Gems - February 2016

International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO)
Moxian, Inc. (MOXC)
Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OGES)
OurPet's Company (OPCO)
RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (RICK)
Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRCH)

 

 

 

International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO)

 

International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO) specializes in the therapeutic applications of human stem cells and the development and commercialization of cell-based biomedical products. The company was the first to develop and perfect a new class of human stem cells called parthenogenetic stem cells, created from unfertilized human eggs. ISCO has a strong patent portfolio offering clean intellectual property and freedom to operate. The company's stem cells present superior immune matching capabilities and can be used in millions of people regardless of sex or racial background, with minimal expectation of immune rejection after transplantation.

 

The company's human stem cells have been shown to be as pluripotent as embryonic stem cells, however their creation does not involve the destruction of a viable human embryo, which effectively sidesteps the controversy and ethical dilemmas associated with the use of human embryonic stem cells. In contrast to induced pluripotent stem cells, ISCO's stem cells do not involve manipulation of cells' genome thereby avoiding potential safety and regulatory obstacles in clinical applications.

 

The company's scientists are currently focused on using its stem cells to treat severe unmet medical needs of the central nervous system (Parkinson's disease), the liver and the eye, where cell therapy has been clinically proven but is limited due to the unavailability of safe human cells. Once the technology has been clinically validated there are an essentially unlimited number of potential applications. Because of their immune-matching ability a relatively small number of these stem cell lines could offer the potential of producing the first true stem cell bank as a means of serving populations of different immune types across the globe.

 

In addition to its therapeutic focus, ISCO also provides a growing revenue stream through two wholly owned subsidiaries. Lifeline Cell Technology specializes in producing primary human cells and growth media for biological research, and Lifeline Skin Care, the company manufactures and markets advanced anti-aging skincare products utilizing the company's expertise in stem cell biology.

 

 

 

Moxian, Inc. (MOXC)

 

Moxian, Inc. (MOXC) engages in the business of providing social marketing and promotion platforms designed to help merchants accelerate and advertise their business growth through social media. These products and services enable merchants to run targeted advertising campaigns and promotions, and aim to enhance the interaction between users and merchant clients by using consumer behavior data compiled from the Moxian database of user activities. The company has two primary core products: Moxian+ User App and Moxian+ Business App.

 

Developed in Shenzhen, China, Moxian integrates social media, entertainment and business intelligence. The Multi-Channel Social Commerce Platform, which includes a variety of tools such as Moxian's proprietary Social Customer Relationship Management (SCRM) system, generates knowledgeable data for merchants. This way, consumers and businesses are able to connect and interact with one another to achieve the concept of "online lifestyle, offline fun."

 

Moxian+ User App serves as an App driven for consumer users to use the platform, consisting of our proprietary virtual currency (MO-Coin and MO-Points), social networking, redemption centre and game centre. Users can earn MO-Coins by playing games, and then use those coins to redeem prizes sponsored by Moxian and client merchants. This model not only drives registered consumers to Moxian and merchant, but also provides merchants the opportunity to advertise, run marketing campaigns, and learn about their customers through the Platform.

 

Moxian+ Business App is an independent App with built in Social Customer Relationship Management tool built for merchants. Merchants are able to set up a store on the Moxian platform through this business App, push promotions via a variety of methods offered on the platform and look at generated report customized to their own shop.

 

Moxian's management team has more than 100 years of combined experience in a variety of pertinent endeavors, including management of private and public enterprise, multi-national organizations, quality, engineering and procurement, finance, marketing, communication and more. Together, Moxian's management team is effecting the company's aim to create and lead a personalized social network platform that best fits users and businesses.

 

 

 

Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OGES)

 

Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OGES) is an integrated energy storage solutions company focused on the design, development and manufacture of high-quality cells, batteries and power systems. The company's innovative 'Made in the U.S.A.' product line includes multiple lithium-ion technologies and form factors that are optimized to address three high-demand target markets – including stationary and grid storage; motive applications, such as electric and hybrid electric fleet vehicles; and specialty applications, such as military, aerospace, marine, medical and telecom backup.

 

Through a recent restructuring of its operations, Oakridge strategically positioned itself to expand its market reach moving forward. The company currently owns and operates two manufacturing facilities in Melbourne, Florida, which play an instrumental role in its efforts to meet the growing demand for its cutting-edge large format Pro Series golf car batteries and its small format Patriot Series RC batteries. These operations also allow Oakridge to bring stable employment opportunities back to the U.S., effectively highlighting its tireless commitment to the revitalization of the country's manufacturing industry.

 

The company also maintains a presence on the international stage through its recently formed subsidiary, Oakridge Global Energy Solutions Limited, Hong Kong. This subsidiary, which is expected to serve as the foundation for Oakridge's sales efforts throughout the Asia-Pacific region, was created primarily to address the tremendous international demand for its revolutionary stored energy solutions. The company also maintains a substantial interest in Leclanche S.A., a Swiss developer and manufacturer of large-sized lithium-ion batteries that was originally founded in 1909.

 

Oakridge has indicated plans to expand its presence in a collection of markets throughout Europe and Asia as it continues to build upon its established product development and manufacturing infrastructure. The company will lean on the expertise of its proven management team – which includes well over a century of combined industry experience – as it looks to increase its share of the $12 billion domestic battery manufacturing industry.

 

 

 

OurPet's Company (OPCO)

 

OurPet's Company (OPCO) develops, produces and markets various pet accessory and consumable products designed to awaken pets' natural instincts, be it in feeding, playing or waste management. Sold globally through pet specialty retailers, food, drug and mass chains, e-commerce and international channels, the company's products are marketed under a the OurPets®, Pet Zone® and PetTastic® brands with well-known sub-brands such as Play-N-Squeak™, Cosmic Catnip™, Durapet, SmartScoop and Flappy. In total, OurPet's has an intellectual property portfolio featuring more than 160 individual patents, giving the company sustainable access to the pet products industry for the foreseeable future.

 

In recent years, the U.S. pet products and services market has experienced strong growth, with total sales accounting for approximately $73 billion in 2014, according to a report by Packaged Facts. In 2015, this strong performance is expected to continue, building on the recent rise in related ecommerce purchases, as well as an uptick in dog and cat ownership throughout the country. In order to capitalize on this market performance, OurPet's maintains an ongoing new product development program to continually keep an evolutionary and revolutionary new product pipeline feeding its offerings. In July 2015, OurPet's introduced many new products at the national Super Zoo trade show in Las Vegas such as the Catty Whack®, Designer Diner™/Barking Bistro™ and the Zoom Plume™.

 

The company's capitalization strategy is guided by a management team of experienced industry professionals dedicated to further strengthening its product portfolio through aggressive development of innovative products. Management has a proven track-record of leveraging deep knowledge in the innovation, technology, distribution and pet markets to successfully push through adverse market conditions to achieve increases in revenue, margins and net income.

 

OurPet's, through its innovative and extensive line of popular pet products, is in a favorable strategic position to continue building upon its recent market growth. For prospective shareholders, this positioning makes the company an intriguing investment opportunity in the months to come. Look for OurPet's to capitalize on steady market performance moving forward, providing an opportunity for the company to realize strong investor returns in the future.

 

 

 

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (RICK)

 

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:RICK) is the country's leading operator of adult gentlemen clubs and sports bars/restaurants. The company currently owns and operates adult clubs in some of the nation's largest markets – including New York City, Miami, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Minneapolis and Indianapolis – under seven major brands featuring well-known destinations such as New York-based Vivid Cabaret, a high-energy club geared toward young professionals; Tootsie's Cabaret, a 74,000 square foot mega club in Miami; and Jaguars Club, which is geared primarily toward energy sector workers in Texas. Additionally, RICK is acclaimed for its high-end clubs that cater specifically to African-American professionals, known as Club Onyx, as well as the casual BYOB clubs familiar to many young blue collar workers throughout Texas, known as XTC Cabaret.

 

In recent years, RICK has caught the attention of industry analysts with its targeted growth strategy focused on choice regional markets that are highly receptive to the industry. The company was recently named as one of Forbes' '200 Best Small Companies in America', and it is also routinely profiled by major national media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MarketWatch and USA Today. Without a doubt, RICK has made tremendous progress in the U.S. gentlemen's club industry since its founding in 1983. What was once a small, Dallas-based business focused on pioneering distinct brands of decidedly more elegant gentlemen's clubs and restaurants is now an industry powerhouse, boasting an experienced management team and a nationwide portfolio of more than 44 locations. Moving forward, this industry presence is expected to strategically position RICK to achieve strong financial growth as additional consolidation occurs within the gentlemen's club sector.

 

According to a recent report by Marketdata, the U.S. gentlemen's club industry is currently worth over $2.5 billion, with roughly 3,500 clubs operating nationwide, ranging from small local strip clubs typically owned by sole proprietors to upscale venues that record several million dollars in revenue each year. This size differential creates what is essentially a two-tiered industry that makes it difficult (if not impossible) for smaller operators to compete with major industry players with the logistical capacity and economies of scale necessary to address barriers to expansion, which can include administrative requirements, local ordinances and zoning restrictions, among others. A common result of this wealth disparity is that the vast majority of clubs around the nation are relegated to the status of 'easy pickings' for major industry players, such as RICK, which has established a buzz worthy family of subsidiary brands and a proven track record of successfully courting smaller operators.

 

RICK's portfolio also expands outside the bounds of the gentlemen's club industry to include ventures into other emerging and established markets. In addition to a strong web presence division handling the many websites associated with its locations, the company has dipped its toes into the $10.8 billion energy drink industry through its efforts to expand distribution of Robust brand energy drinks to the on-premises market. Late last year, Research and Markets forecast a 5.8 percent CAGR for the global energy drinks market through 2021, leading to a total value of $61.7 billion. RICK also developed a signature military themed bar/restaurant called Bombshells via its BMB Franchising Services subsidiary, giving it a strong position in the thriving sports bar/themed restaurant space. These diversification efforts, coupled with the company's level of professionalism, systems know-how, financing capabilities and logistical muscle in the hospitality sector, make RICK an intriguing option for prospective investors.

 

 

 

Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRCH)

 

Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRCH) is a high growth oil and gas Exploration and Production (E&P) company primarily focused on the acquisition and development of highly profitable domestic oil fields. Leveraging a diverse portfolio, carefully selected interests, and a strong management team are pillars of Torchlight's broader success strategy.

 

The company maintains a diversified energy portfolio by holding interests in numerous projects in multiple established plays, and currently holds interests in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, where its targets are established plays such as the Wolf Penn, Eagle Ford Shale, Mississippi Limestone and Hunton Limestone trends.

 

Torchlight is currently moving forward on the next phase of drilling on three new wells in its Orogrande Project in West Texas, where the company owns a 47.5% working interest on 168,000 acres alongside Founders Oil and Gas, LLC. Torchlight drilled the Rich A-11 well (6,091 feet) on the Orogrande Project in March last year and subsequently executed a $50 million JV farm-out agreement with Midland, Texas-based Founders Oil and Gas, who initiated frac work on the well in November.

 

The Marcelina Creek Project in South Texas, with its prime access to the Austin Chalk, Buda, and Eagle Ford formations, is surrounded on all four sides by leading Eagle Ford producers. Torchlight's Johnson #4 well was recently re-entered and drilled laterally to approximately 2500 feet in the Austin Chalk Formation. With more than 20 additional drilling locations on its Marcelina Creek Asset, the project has the potential to positively impact cash flows and production sustainability.

 

Torchlight's executive team and board of directors are led by CEO John Brda and COO Willard McAndrew III. Combined they have over 50 years of experience in the oil and gas industry as executives, investors and consultants to the industry. Their knowledge base includes all aspects of the business including: operations, mid stream, capital formation, purchase and sale of assets, re-entries, investor relations and oil and gas consulting for public and private companies.