Sign Up NowThis Month's Tiny Gems - May 2021

AmpliTech Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AMPG)
Aterian, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATER)
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR)
Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FSE: E4X2)
FingerMotion Inc. (OTCQX: FNGR)
Gage Cannabis Co. (CSE: GAGE)
Hollywall Entertainment Inc. (OTC: HWAL)
Ideanomics Inc. (NASDAQ: IDEX)
Infobird Co., Ltd (NASDAQ: IFBD)
Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE)
Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (CSE: NTAR) (OTCQB: NEXCF)
SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX)
TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQX: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP2)
Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE American: UEC)
VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN)

 

Featured Company

Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FSE: E4X2)

 

Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FSE: E4X2) ("Excellon" or the "Company") is a silver and base metals producer with precious metal exploration and development projects in Mexico, Idaho and Germany. Since being founded in 1987, the Company has been advancing a precious metals growth pipeline focused on creating wealth for its stakeholders by realizing strategic opportunities in the silver and gold markets.

 

Excellon is an active and influential member of the Mining Association of Canada ("MAC"). The Company implements a practical, best-in-class management system that addresses the safety, health, security, environmental and community aspects of its operations, per the UN Sustainable Development Goals. On each project, the Company incorporates MAC's Towards Sustainable Mining Initiatives and other world-class best practices with the objective of constantly improving its safety systems, training and hazard recognition.

 

AmpliTech Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AMPG)

AmpliTech Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AMPG) (NASDAQ: AMPGW) designs, develops and manufactures custom radio frequency (RF) components for the commercial, SATCOM, space and military markets. In addition to developing new products for the 5G/6G wireless ecosystem and infrastructure, the company has placed focus on the development of leading-edge solutions in quantum computing in support of U.S. efforts to reach the coveted position of quantum supremacy. The company maintains a commitment to R&D that allows it to remain at the forefront of emerging technologies. AmpliTech aims to use its advanced techniques and IP to provide tomorrow's technology today, improving everyone's quality of life.

AmpliTech was founded by Fawad Maqbool in 2002 to fill the need for affordable, high-quality, customized and state-of-the-art amplifiers and components. Headquartered in Bohemia, New York, the company currently has distributors and representatives available worldwide.

Product Portfolio

AmpliTech's mission is to develop quality, state-of-the-art microwave amplifiers by leveraging its experience, proven technical expertise and superior design heritage. The company's products cover a frequency range from 50 kHz to 44 GHz, with plans to eventually offer designs up to 100 GHz. Its current catalog includes:

Amplifiers

Passive Components

All the company's products come with a satisfaction guarantee, as the company is fully committed to providing only high-quality products free from manufacturing and material defects and guaranteed to perform according to applicable specifications.

Consulting Services

Leveraging more than 100 years of combined experience in microwave systems and component design ranging from active components to passive devices, AmpliTech also provides valuable consulting services and technical assistance to its customers.

With capabilities ranging from initial design to final manufacturing and delivery, the company's team also offers project management services and advice on both technical aspects and how to handle business issues such as resource allocation, customer contact, budget restraints, time limits and more.

Other key benefits of AmpliTech consulting services that can give its customers a definitive edge include:

  • Timely technical assistance
  • Little or no learning curve
  • Less long-term costs associated with full-time employees with benefits and salaries
  • Availability when necessary
  • Customer support with schedules, project management and on the job training
  • Access to technology
  • Partnering for manufacturing and/or complete turn-key product solution
  • Personal guidance from concept to development
  • Custom designs for each application

Market Outlook

The global microwave devices market was valued at $7.44 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.23% and reach $9 billion by 2025 (https://nnw.fm/zqMEk). Governmental expenditures in the defense and space communications sectors are expected to expand the opportunities for growth within the industry.

AmpliTech continues to follow its strategy of identifying key elements in today's technological revolution. It is leveraging its technical expertise and experience to align product portfolios and IP with innovation (https://nnw.fm/rVzxX). The company has plans to be a catalyst in the enhancement, development and distribution of breakthroughs in the following sizeable markets:

  • High Speed Terrestrial and Satellite Terminals (SATCOM, "Internet in the Sky")
  • 5G/Wi-Fi6E and 6G wireless infrastructure (Cellular Base Stations, Small Cells, Private Wi-Fi Networks)
  • IoT (Internet of Things)
  • Cloud Farms, Big Data and MEC architecture
  • Quantum Supercomputers/Quantum Research
  • Deep Space Astronomy
  • Autonomous Self-Driving Vehicles
  • Telemedicine, AR/VR (Augmented and Virtual Reality)
  • Drones, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)
  • Cyber-security
  • Military/Defense ECM/EW

Management Team

Fawad Maqbool is the Founder, President, CEO and CTO of AmpliTech Group Inc. He has been in the microwave industry for over 30 years. Mr. Maqbool spent 14 years developing state-of-the-art amplifiers and components for MITEQ Inc., a leading microwave and communications equipment supplier. He founded AmpliComm in 2000, which was subsequently acquired by Aeroflex Inc. Mr. Maqbool has management and design experience, which has led to the development of microwave technology on a commercial and military level. He holds a B.S.E.E in Microwave Engineering and a B.S.E.E in Bio-Medical Engineering from CUNY and an M.S.E.E from the Polytechnic University of New York.

Louisa Sanfratello is the company's CFO. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has worked in various industries since 1998. During this time, she held roles as an accountant for charities and schools, consisting of the preparation of official financial documents and day-to-day financial management requirements. Ms. Sanfratello began her professional career in 1987 at Holtz, Rubinstein & Co., a public accounting firm. She gathered two years of experience there before gaining her CPA and taking on more challenging roles.

Brandon Worster is the company's Director of Engineering. He joined AmpliTech at the end of 2019, bringing over 14 years of design and management experience. His specialty is Low Noise and Medium Power Amplifiers, but Mr. Worster also has vast experience with various systems, including RF/Microwave devices and systems. He holds a master's degree in electrical engineering and is an adjunct professor at Farmingdale University in New York.

John P. Pastore is AmpliTech's Director of Sales. He has worked in the microwave industry for more than 35 years, including time with some of the industry's leading names. Mr. Pastore is a hands-on professional who has experience that spans over 20 years with progressive roles that blend technical, manufacturing, customer service and management expertise. He is an extremely valuable asset to the company as it moves forward due to his business savvy approach and deep industry knowledge. He has a B.S. in Business Management.

M. Syed handles Technical Sales and is the company's Director of IT. He is an electrical engineer with more than 10 years of business experience. Since 2011, he has led Technical Sales for AmpliTech, and he recently became the President and CEO of his own company while also serving as Chief Technical Sales consultant for numerous other companies and groups in New York City. Mr. Syed has been in the IT industry for 25 years. He is a Computer Engineer by trade and a Certified Netware Engineer and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.

Aterian, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATER)

Aterian, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATER) is a leading tech-enabled consumer products platform that uses machine learning, natural language processing and data analytics to design, develop, market, and sell products. The company's proprietary AIMEE(R) platform leverages data and AI to automate the design, development and launch of best-selling consumer products.

Aterian owns and operates 12 brands and sells consumer products in multiple categories ranging from kitchenware and home appliances to environmental appliances, beauty products and even consumer electronics.

Founded in 2014, Aterian has offices in the United States, Canada, China and the Philippines. The company is always working to capitalize on the strength of the different cities and time zones in which it operates to ensure continued excellence around the world and achieve its goal of becoming the most consumer-centric product company.

AIMEE(R) Platform

AIMEE(R) (AI Mohawk E-commerce Engine) is Aterian's proprietary platform that leverages data and AI to:

  • Identify new market opportunities;
  • Launch new products;
  • Automate marketing variables; and
  • Analyze and optimize company-owned and operated consumer product brands.

The platform's core functionalities include:

  • Research: Automated research using live market data that tracks exposure and product trends, allowing for the swift discovery of new market and product opportunities;
  • Financials: Places data insights in one place, enabling execution across multiple channels to track new product planning, financial projections, inventory levels, media buying and more;
  • Trading: The result of an algorithmic solution that has been optimized for live decisions to scale sales and built to implement automated marketing strategies with learning through experimentation; and
  • Logistics: Manages logistics to enable faster delivery of products to consumers.

Aterian's Business Model

Aterian's unique business model is designed to drastically shorten go-to-market time, decreasing the typical 18- to 24-month process to just 6- to 8-months. Using AIMEE(R), Aterian leverages real-time data-driven opportunities and trend tracking to replace the idea focus group research and development of the standard model.

Marketing time is also reduced between the two models using the AIMEE(R) Trading Engine for data-driven automated marketing and product lifetime management. Through the AIMEE(R) trading engine, the traditional 3-month marketing for a standard go-to-market model is cut to a fraction of the time.

The AIMEE(R) Fulfillment Engine allows for dynamic inventory allocation, fulfillment selection, cost optimization, a third-party logistics network and a 2-day shipping period across almost all of the United States. The standard business model doesn't support direct distribution or an FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) structure.

Opportunities for Growth and Profitability

Aterian's plan to drive growth and profitability in the market includes:

  1. The continued optimization of product economics by lowering manufacturing and logistical costs through an increase in purchasing power
  2. The pursuit of higher-value products with larger target markets
  3. Opportunistically adding new products and categories through acquisitions
  4. Expansion into the international and new domestic e-commerce marketplaces
  5. Monetization of its proprietary AIMEE(R) platform by providing access to third-party brands

Aterian's long-term goal is to increase its profit margin from 14% in 2020 to 18-20%, using higher average selling prices and lower fulfillment costs as primary drivers. Due to its technology and platform effect, Aterian's corporate overhead is expected to increase at a slower pace than sales. Its fixed operating costs long-term target goal is 5%, which follows the current trend (2019 – 19%, 2020 – 13%). It aims for an adjusted EBITDA of 13-15%.

Management Team

Yaniv Sarig has been Aterian's President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2018. He is also a co-founder of Aterian, Inc. Mr. Sarig has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aterian, Inc. since June 2014. Before his role at Aterian, he led the Financial Services Engineering department at Coverity, a software startup providing code and security solutions to top financial institutions and hedge funds in New York to include the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, JPMorgan Chase and Barclays. Before his Coverity role, Mr. Sarig held lead technical roles at Bloomberg and EPIQ Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: EPIQ). He holds a Bachelor of Science from Touro College. He is fluent in English, French, Hebrew and C++.

Fabrice Hamaide has been the Chief Financial Officer of Aterian since September 2018. He has also retained the position of Chief Financial Officer for Aterian, Inc. since July 2017. Before Aterian, Mr. Hamaide held numerous financial, CFO and presidential roles in various technological and consumer product companies across Europe and the United States, including Piksel Inc., Atari, Parrot and Logitech. Mr. Hamaide holds an impressive set of credentials, including an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MS in Information Systems Design from Sorbonne University, and a BS in Applied Mathematics from Jussieu University.

Mihal Chaouat-Fix has been the Chief Product Officer for Aterian since September 2018. Prior to taking this role within the company, she was the Chief Operating Officer, handling the day-to-day leadership and operational management of Aterian. Before joining Aterian, Ms. Chaouat-Fix worked in various roles at Gottex Models Ltd. At this international fashion swimwear firm, her focus on marketing, operations and manufacturing saw supply chain and distribution of 12 million units per year to over 40 countries worldwide.

Tomer Pascal has been the Chief Revenue Officer for Aterian since 2018. He has also served as the Chief Revenue Officer for Aterian Group Inc. since 2017. Before he joined the Aterian team, he was the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of OMG Studios. Throughout his career, Mr. Pascal has held many different co-founder and general management roles, focusing on companies' marketing and revenue growth in the media and technology industries.

Roi Zahut has held the role of Chief Technology Officer for Aterian since 2019. Before Aterian, he served in numerous roles, including CTO of the Advanced Analytics global consulting team at IBM and architect of IBM Metropulse. While in Israel, Mr. Zahut held several senior technical, business and data science roles in startups and consulting to include IBM Israel, Brainbow Ltd. and Matrix IT Ltd. He holds an MSc in Neuroscience with distinction from Bar Ilan University.

Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR)

Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR), based in Lakewood, Colorado, is the country's largest producer of uranium and the leading conventional producer of vanadium, both designated by the U.S. government as critical minerals. Energy Fuels is also making progress entering the rare earth element production business.

As the leading U.S. diversified uranium miner, Energy Fuels' uranium production portfolio stands apart in the world. Energy Fuels has more uranium production facilities, more production capacity, and more in-ground resources than any other company in the United States. In fact, the company's assets have produced over one-third of all U.S. uranium over the past 15 years and is uniquely positioned to increase production to meet new demand.

Energy Fuels utilizes both conventional and in-situ recovery ("ISR") technology to produce uranium from three strategic facilities:

  • White Mesa Mill in Utah (conventional) has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U3O8 per year. The highly strategic White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill in the country and is proximate to some of the largest and highest-grade uranium mines and projects in the U.S., including the Company's Canyon mine, La Sal Complex, Henry Mountains Complex and Roca Honda Project. White Mesa Mill provides Energy Fuels with significant production scalability as uranium demand increases. The White Mesa Mill also has other diverse businesses, including vanadium, rare earth elements (REE's), alternate feed materials recycling and land cleanup, all described below.
  • Nichols Ranch Plant (ISR) is located in the productive Powder River Basin district of Wyoming and has a total licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U3O8 per year. Nichols Ranch has produced 1.2 million pounds of U3O8 since commissioning in 2014, and it has significant future expansion potential from 34 fully licensed wellfields containing significant in-ground uranium resources.
  • Alta Mesa Plant (ISR) is located on over 200,000 acres of private land in Texas. The fully licensed and constructed ISR project has a total operating capacity of 1.5 million pounds of uranium per year and produced nearly 5 million pounds of U3O8 between 2005 and 2013. This low-cost production facility is currently on standby, maintained in a state of readiness to respond to expected increases in demand.

In addition to being the largest uranium miner in the U.S., Energy Fuels' overall portfolio also includes a pipeline of high-quality, large-scale exploration and development projects that are permitted or are in advanced stages of permitting, as well as an industry-leading U.S. NI 43-101 Mineral Resource portfolio.

FACTOID: Energy Fuels has led industry efforts over the past two-plus years to get the U.S. government to recognize the importance of domestically produced uranium, including the 2018 – 2019 Uranium Section 232, the ongoing Nuclear Fuel Working Group and the recently announced creation of the U.S. strategic uranium reserve. The U.S. is by far the largest consumer of uranium in the world, yet we import almost all of our requirements; Energy Fuels aims to change that.

Nuclear Market Potential

Multiple studies in top scientific journals have shown that nuclear power is cleanest and most economical way to produce reliable electricity as worldwide demand continues to soar. Nuclear power is presently the only available and affordable low-carbon power source that can meet both current and future baseload electricity demands while simultaneously reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change. U.S. nuclear power plants currently generate nearly 20% of the nation's electricity overall and 55% of its carbon‐free electricity and even a modest increase in electricity demand would require significant new nuclear capacity by 2025. According to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), there are currently 441 operable reactors, with another 54 units under construction and 439 in various stages of planning; in addition, the WNA has identified a potentially massive supply/demand gap through 2040 of 1 billion pounds. These factors among others are expected to significantly drive increased demand for uranium.

Reasons Nuclear is Gaining Traction

  • Nuclear reactors emit no greenhouse gases during operation. Over their full lifetimes, they result in comparable emissions to renewable forms of energy such as wind and solar.
  • Unlike any other form of energy, the waste from nuclear energy is contained and managed securely. Used fuel is currently being safely stored for ultimate disposal or future reprocessing, and 96% of this waste can potentially be recycled.
  • Greater demand for clean electricity to power everything from homes to automobiles, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

No. 1 U.S. Producer of Vanadium in 2019

Energy Fuels also produces vanadium as a byproduct of uranium production. Vanadium is designated a critical mineral, essential to the economic and national security of the United States. Energy Fuels was the largest producer of vanadium in the U.S. in 2019, and has significant high-grade, in-ground vanadium resources, as well as a separate high-purity vanadium production circuit at their White Mesa Mill, which is also the only conventional vanadium mill in the country. Crucial for use in the steel, aerospace, and chemical industries, vanadium plays a critical role in the production of high-strength and light-weight metallic alloys and demand is expected to increase across the globe.

Energy Fuels has several fully permitted and developed standby mines containing large quantities of high-grade vanadium, along with uranium, including:

  • La Sal Complex (Utah)
  • Whirlwind Mine (Colorado/Utah)
  • Rim Mine (Colorado)

Vanadium has also gained increased attention as a catalyst in next-generation high-capacity, "community-scale" batteries used for energy storage generated from renewable sources. Demand is only expected to grow as this market expands. With recent upgrades in its vanadium production operations, in 2019 Energy Fuels produced commercial levels of the highest purity (99.7%) vanadium in the mill's history and can rapidly adjust production to meet volatile market conditions. Energy Fuels is one of the very few known avenues that provides investors access the vanadium market.

Rare Earth Element (REE) Production, Alternate Feed Material Recycling, and Land Cleanup

The White Mesa Mill also provides the company with diverse cashflow generating opportunities. Security of supply for Rare Earth Elements (REEs) supporting U.S. military and defense requirements is a major issue today. Energy Fuels has been approached by a number of entities, including the U.S. government, inquiring about the potential to process certain REEs at the mill. The White Mesa Mill is currently licensed to process certain REEs, including tantalum and niobium. And, early indications are that the mill can be utilized to produce several other REEs. The White Mesa Mill is also the only facility in North America licensed and capable of recycling alternate feed materials (AFMs). AFMs are essentially low-level waste materials that contain recoverable quantities of natural (or unenriched) uranium. The Company typically generates between $5 and $15 million per year from AFM recycling. Finally, Energy Fuels is seeking to become involved in the cleanup of legacy Cold War era uranium mines in the Four Corners region of the U.S., including on the Navajo Nation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has access to over $1.5 billion for the cleanup of just a fraction of the sites on the Navajo Nation. The White Mesa Mill is fully licensed to receive much of this material, we are one of the government's lowest cost options, and we have the ability to recycle the material and produce usable uranium from it.

Management Team

Mark S. Chalmers, President and CEO
Mark S. Chalmers is the president and chief executive officer of Energy Fuels, a position he has held since Feb. 1, 2018, following his role as chief operating officer of Energy Fuels from July 1, 2016 – Jan. 31, 2018. From 2011 to 2015, Chalmers served as executive general manager of Production for Paladin Energy Ltd., a uranium producer with assets in Australia and Africa, including the Langer Heinrich and Kayelekera mines where, as head of operations, he oversaw sustained, significant increases in production while reducing operating costs. He also possesses extensive experience in in situ recovery ("ISR") uranium production, including management of the Beverley Uranium Mine owned by General Atomics (Australia), and the Highland mine owned by Cameco Corporation (USA). Chalmers has also consulted to several of the largest players in the uranium supply sector, including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Marubeni, and until recently served as the chair of the Australian Uranium Council, a position he held for 10 years. Chalmers is a registered professional engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona.

W. Paul Goranson, COO
W. Paul Goranson is the chief operating officer for Energy Fuels. Goranson has 30 years of mining, processing and regulatory experience in the uranium extraction industry that includes both conventional and in-situ recovery ("ISR") mining, and he is a registered professional engineer. Prior to the acquisition by Energy Fuels of Uranerz Energy Corporation, Goranson served as president, chief operating officer and director for Uranerz, where he was responsible for operations of the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project. In addition to those duties, he also managed uranium marketing, regulatory and government affairs, exploration and land. Prior to joining Uranerz, Goranson served as president of Cameco Resources, where he led the operations at the Smith Ranch-Highland, Crow Butte and North Butte ISR uranium recovery facilities. Goranson also served as vice president of Mesteña Uranium LLC, and he has served in senior positions with Rio Algom Mining, (a subsidiary of BHP Billiton), and Uranium Resource Inc. Goranson has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Gas Engineering from Texas A&I University, and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

David C. Frydenlund, CFO, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary
David C. Frydenlund is chief financial officer, general counsel, and corporate secretary of Energy Fuels. His responsibilities include oversight of all legal matters relating to the company's activities. His expertise extends to NRC, EPA, state and federal regulatory and environmental laws and regulations. From 1997 to 2012, Frydenlund was vice president of regulatory affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary of Denison Mines Corp., and its predecessor International Uranium Corporation ("IUC"). He also served as a director of IUC from 1997 to 2006 and CFO of IUC from 2000 to 2005. From 1996 to 1997, Frydenlund was vice president of the Lundin Group of international public mining and oil and gas companies, and prior thereto was a partner with the Vancouver law firm of Ladner Downs (now Borden Ladner Gervais) where his practice focused on corporate, securities and international mining transactions law. Frydenlund holds a bachelor's degree in business and economics from Simon Fraser University, a master's degree in economics and finance from the University of Chicago and a law degree from the University of Toronto.

Curtis H. Moore, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development
Curtis H. Moore is the vice president of Marketing and Corporate Development for Energy Fuels. He oversees product marketing for Energy Fuels, and is closely involved in mergers & acquisitions, investor relations, public relations, and corporate legal. He has been with Energy Fuels for over 12 years, holding various roles of increasing responsibility. Prior to joining Energy Fuels, Moore worked in multi-family real estate development, government relations and public affairs, production homebuilding, and private law practice. Moore is a licensed attorney in the State of Colorado. He holds Juris Doctor and MBA degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Bachelor of Arts dual degree in Economics-Government from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California.

Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FSE: E4X2)

Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FSE: E4X2) ("Excellon" or the "Company") is a silver and base metals producer with precious metal exploration and development projects in Mexico, Idaho and Germany. Since being founded in 1987, the Company has been advancing a precious metals growth pipeline focused on creating wealth for its stakeholders by realizing strategic opportunities in the silver and gold markets.

Excellon is an active and influential member of the Mining Association of Canada ("MAC"). The Company implements a practical, best-in-class management system that addresses the safety, health, security, environmental and community aspects of its operations, per the UN Sustainable Development Goals. On each project, the Company incorporates MAC's Towards Sustainable Mining Initiatives and other world-class best practices with the objective of constantly improving its safety systems, training and hazard recognition.

Precious Metals Growth Pipeline

The Company is advancing a precious metals growth pipeline that includes: Platosa, Mexico's highest-grade silver mine since production commenced in 2005; Kilgore, a high-quality gold development project in Idaho with strong economics and significant growth and discovery potential; and an option on Silver City, a high-grade epithermal silver district in Saxony, Germany, with 750 years of mining history and no modern exploration.

Maintaining and developing this pipeline presents the Company with enhanced opportunities in the expanding precious metals market, which was valued at $193.3 billion worldwide in 2020 (https://nnw.fm/6nv5f). This market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") of 9% from 2020 to 2027, resulting in an estimated $362.1 billion market size in 2027 (https://nnw.fm/6nv5f). Global market demand was calculated at 22,581.8 tons in 2020 and is expected to grow to 36,501.1 tons in 2027, achieving a CAGR of 3.5% (https://nnw.fm/6nv5f).

Excellon reported strong results in terms of both production and average pricing at the end of Q4 2020, including:

  • Silver – 355,581 oz – $24.46
  • Lead – 2,223,465 lbs. – $0.87
  • Zinc – 2,452,728 lbs. – $1.21

Compared to Q4 2019, Excellon's silver production increased by 37%, lead increased by 32% and zinc increased by 19% in Q4 2020 (https://nnw.fm/4C0P7).

Platosa Mine – Silver, Lead, Zinc – Production, Development & Exploration

The Platosa Mine is located 5 km north of Bermejillo, Durango, Mexico, on a 14,000-hectare property. The mine commenced production in 2005 as an underground operation and is 100% owned and operated by Excellon. The Company is mining massive sulfide ores rich in silver, lead and zinc from a series flat-lying massive sulfide bodies (mantos) in a carbonate replacement deposit system. Historically, the mining method was a modified room and pillar method, which transitioned to cut-and-fill in recent years and overhand-cut-and-bench in 2020. The ore produced from the mine is transported 200 km south for processing at the Company's 100% owned Miguel Auza mill.

Kilgore Project – Gold – Exploration & Resource Growth

The Kilgore Project is located in Clark County, situated in eastern Idaho in the United States. The project area is 100% owned and operated by Excellon. While still in the exploration and development phase, the primary target on the 13,627-acre site is an epithermal gold system. The property itself has historical mining that dates back to the 1930s, with modern mineral exploration beginning in the 1980s. The Kilgore Project displays characteristics similar to Kinross Gold's Round Mountain Mine, which has produced more than 15 million ounces of gold since operations began in 1977.

Evolución Project – Mineral Processing, Resource Growth & Exploration

The Evolución Project is located in Miguel Auza, Zacatecas, Mexico, and hosts a large gold, silver, lead and zinc epithermal within a 45,000-hectare property that is 100% owned by Excellon. The site includes a processing facility with a mill and flotation circuit which processes ore from Excellon's Platosa mine. The facility has a capacity of 800 tons per day, with a 650 ton-per-day ball mill in operation and a second 150 ton-per-day ball mill on standby. Excellon is looking at opportunities for toll milling, expansion and economic study of the mineral resource and grassroots exploration. Importantly, the project covers an unexplored 35-kilometer strike of the Fresnillo silver trend, the richest silver belt in the world.

Silver City Project – Exploration

Excellon holds an option to acquire the 16,400-hectare Silver City Project in Saxony, Germany. Initial drilling results in 2020 confirmed the presence of a high-grade, district-scale epithermal silver system over more than 12 kilometers of strike. The Company is now focused on defining wider zones of mineralization (https://nnw.fm/jMah9). Silver City was mined from the 11th to late-19th century, until Germany moved off the silver standard in 1873. The deposits in the area were exceptionally high grade, with historical records indicating grades well in excess of 1,000 g/t silver.

Oakley Project – Exploration

The Oakley Project, located in Oakley, Idaho, is an exploration project with land holdings of approximately 7,000 acres. The project hosts gold-silver, epithermal hot spring-type mineralization at two targets: Blue Hill Creek and Cold Creek, and detachment-related gold-silver mineralization at Matrix Creek. The Company has granted Centerra (U.S.) Inc. an option to earn in to a 70% interest by, among other things, spending up to US$7 million in exploration expenditures on the project prior to May 2026.

Management Team

Brendan Cahill is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Excellon Resources Inc. He was previously Vice President Corporate Development of Pelangio Exploration Inc., a junior gold exploration company active in Ghana, West Africa. Mr. Cahill is a board member of the Mining Association of Canada, Group Eleven Resources Ltd., and Kore Mining Inc. He holds a law degree from the University of Western Ontario and an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto.

Alfred Colas is the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, he held the title of CFO of Arch Corp., a Toronto-based private-equity investment firm. Mr. Colas has over 18 years of experience in the mining industry. He is a sitting board member for a housing corporation affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. Mr. Colas completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Toronto.

Paul Keller is Excellon's Chief Operating Officer. He has over 30 years of industry experience in mining and mine development operations. He previously served as the Senior VP of Major Projects and COO of Trevali Mining. He has experience in building mines from greenfield through permitting, design and operation. Mr. Keller holds a Bachelor of Engineering – Mining from Laurentian University.

Ben Pullinger is the Senior Vice President Geology & Corporate Development for Excellon. Ben brings over 15 years of experience in advancing projects from early stage exploration through to production. Most recently, he was Vice President Exploration at Roxgold Inc., where he made a significant contribution toward growing the 55 Zone at Yaramoko Project into a producing mine. Mr. Pullinger serves on the board of Orford Mining. He is a Professional Geologist (Ontario) and holds an Honors Degree in Geology from the University of Johannesburg.

FingerMotion Inc. (OTCQX: FNGR)

FingerMotion Inc. (OTCQX: FNGR) is an evolving technological company with core competencies in mobile payment and recharge platform solutions in China. FingerMotion is in the process of developing additional value-added technologies to market to users.

Founded in 2016, FingerMotion's goal is to serve over a billion users in the Chinese market and expand its model to other regional markets. The company has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and New York City.

Current Offerings

FingerMotion is analyzing and transforming mobile data to improve the lifestyle of the public through technology and innovation. The company's current offerings include:

  • Telecommunications Products and Services – FingerMotion's proprietary universal exchange platform, 'PigeonHole Integration System (PIS)', offers seamless integration between telecom operators and online stores. The service platform's offerings include top up and recharge, data plan, mobile phone, loyalty points redemption and subscription plans. The platform offers reliable and secure transactions, real-time reconciliation, simple integration for partners and efficient settlements.
  • SMS and MMS Services – The integrated platform is registered as FingerMotion's IP in China and provides a robust back-end control panel for corporate partners to manage their own messaging settings. FingerMotion's clients range from insurance to financial industries, ecommerce firms, airlines and more. The platform offers competitive pricing for partners and provides quick and efficient review to meet timely marketing initiatives.
  • Big Data Insights – FingerMotion brings Big Data-enabled insurance solutions through its Big Data Insights arm, Sapientus. The company's strategic partnerships with the largest Chinese telecommunications giants allow access to uncover behavior insights through geolocation and mobile data usage. Its Big Data offerings include risk scoring, precise marketing, simplified underwriting and customized products.
  • Rich Communication Services (RCS) – FingerMotion's RCS platform will be a proprietary business messaging solution that enables businesses and brands to communicate their services to customers via 5G infrastructure. The company expects its RCS platform to offer a better user experience, more efficiency and cost-effectiveness when compared to other solutions.

Telecommunications and Insurtech Markets

The global telecommunications market was valued at $1.74 trillion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5% from 2020 to 2027. The steady increase is expected to be driven by the adoption of 5G and the increased popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

The Chinese telecom market was valued at $254.1 billion in 2017 and is also constantly expanding. The current Chinese telecom market is dominated by three mobile operators – China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, which together are responsible for around 1.6 billion active subscribers (https://ibn.fm/zfwy9).

In addition, the insurtech (insurance technology) market was valued at $2.72 billion globally in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 48.8% from 2021 to 2028. The large increase is attributed to the rising use of technology solutions for everyday activities like acquiring insurance coverage (https://ibn.fm/TGo7D).

Through its proprietary platforms and technologies, FingerMotion is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the telecom and insurtech markets' growth and opportunities.

Management Team

Martin J. Shen is the Chief Executive Officer of FingerMotion Inc. He has over 15 years of experience in senior management roles within entrepreneurial startups and large multinational corporations. He has acquired a wide range of corporate management, financial oversight and operation administration expertise through these roles. In his most recent role, he founded Imperial Distributors (formerly known as AP Martin Pharmaceutical Supplies Ltd.), establishing the company as the preferred choice for distributional support to regional pharmacies throughout Western Canada. Before founding Imperial, Mr. Shen served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Wales and Son Industrial (formerly Weir Minerals), a firm specializing in global delivery and support for mining slurry equipment. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Vancouver, with work tours in the tax department in Singapore and the tax audit and advisory group in Hong Kong. Mr. Shen is a U.S. Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia.

Lee Yew Hon is the company's Chief Financial Officer. From 2006 until November 2020, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Cubinet Interactive Group of Companies, and he also took on the Chief Operating Officer role in 2011. During his tenure, he was instrumental in leading Cubinet and building teams across the Southeast Asia region, setting up financial processes within a short time. Mr. Lee spearheaded the growth of Cubinet to other regions, including Europe, the Middle East and Russia. He received his diploma from Tunku Abdul Rahman College in 1996. He is a Chartered Accountant, a member of the Malaysia Institute of Accountants (MIA) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK (ACMA).

Li Li is the Senior Vice President of FingerMotion. She recently served as Advisor to Shenzhen WuYiKa Technology Co. Ltd., a comprehensive service platform dedicated to online service distribution and payment. The company has become a fast and efficient provider of new media marketing solutions for the mobile internet. She has held high-level management positions with multiple industry names, including Hangzhou JiuYue Information Technology Co. Ltd. and Hangzhou LingXuan Information Technology. Ms. Li started her career in 2004, founding Shanghai ChuangYeZZ Network Technology Co. Ltd. and serving as its Vice President. With the close cooperation of local operators, the company launched SMS, MMS, WAP, mobile JAVA games, Hunan Satellite TV e-magazine and other wireless internet services to meet the rapid development of wireless internet and application requirements. She received her degree from Nanjing Academy of Engineering.

Gage Cannabis Co. (CSE: GAGE)

Gage Cannabis Co. (CSE: GAGE) is a leading vertically integrated operator in the cannabis industry led by the former CEO and Chairman of Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC), Bruce Linton. The company is currently focused exclusively on the Michigan market, working with the declared goal of building the fastest growing cannabis brand in the state.

One of the reasons Gage targeted Michigan as its location of choice is due to the state's fast-growing legal cannabis market and consumption habits amongst consumers. In 2018, Michigan became the 10th state to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. In light of such favorable market dynamics, Gage opened its first medical provisioning center (dispensary) shortly after, in 2019. The company now has 13 medical or adult-use locations open or in the works, with an additional 10+ planned to open during 2021. Gage's current portfolio features 19 Class C cultivation licenses across four cultivation assets and three processing licenses.

Current Asset and Brand Portfolio

Gage's current brand portfolio consists of five unique product classes: flower products, edibles, hardware, concentrates and vape pens/disposables.

The company has already created relationships with a wealth of exclusive brand partners, including some of the most illustrious brands in the country. Notably, Gage's exclusive partnership with Cookies, one of the most well-respected cannabis lifestyle brands in the United States, illustrates Gage's operational prowess in cultivating quality flower and operating its branded retail stores. Today, Gage operates the 8 Mile Cookies location in Detroit, Michigan, which is one of the top performing dispensaries in the state despite being a medical-only dispensary.

Committed to providing only products of the highest quality, Gage uses small-batch, indoor-grown, high-quality cannabis that is hand-trimmed and hung to dry. Gage ensures that every gram of cannabis sold is consistently of the highest quality and offers a superb customer experience.

The company currently has four cultivation assets, located at Monitor Township (expansion planned), Harrison Township, Warren and Lenox Township, and it operates one processing facility located in Harrison Township, with plans to operate another two processing facilities in Monitor Township and Lenox.

Its operating dispensaries include Ferndale (adult-use), Adrian (adult-use), Lansing (adult-use), Traverse City (medical) and Detroit (Cookies establishment – medical). Additional dispensaries coming soon include Battle Creek (adult-use), Kalamazoo #1 (adult-use), Bay City (adult-use), Grand Rapids (medical), Buena Vista (medical), Center Line (medical), Kalamazoo #2 (Cookies establishment – adult-use) and Lenox Township.

The company offers delivery within a one-hour radius of its dispensaries – a footprint that encompasses an estimated 90% of Michigan's population.

Financial Highlights

In Q1 2020, the company recorded sales of $5.8 million. This number grew substantially in Q2, reaching $11.9 million. Management estimates Q3 sales at roughly $13.1 million, marking a 157% growth in sales from January to September 2020, within a year of operations.

This increase reflects the company's significant expansion efforts since the beginning of 2020. Starting with only 200 pounds per month, Gage now estimates its monthly cultivation capacity at more than 1,000 pounds of product.

This increase in cultivation capacity has helped Gage promote rapid growth through its retail locations. Average basket size, which refers to the retail value of each consumer transaction, is estimated at $85 for the Michigan cannabis industry. As of August 2020, Gage has an average basket size of $180 at its locations, more than double the state average.

Michigan Medical and Adult-Use Marijuana Market Size

The recreational marijuana market in Michigan is expected to rival the numbers currently seen in Nevada and Colorado by 2023. Approximately 3% of Michigan's residents are medical marijuana cardholders – a much higher rate than many other medical markets – leading Brightfield to predict that the state's recreational market could triple in size between 2020 and 2023 (https://ibn.fm/9cO0h).

Michigan saw a steady increase in sales for the first three quarters of 2020, with a recorded growth rate of 502% from January to August. In August alone, $109 million in cannabis sales occurred within the state. The Marijuana Regulatory Agency estimates that the potential market size for cannabis within the state is around $3 billion.

Neither Gage nor the state has seen any significant drop in sales in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the contrary, demand has continued to grow steadily, as dispensaries were among the few businesses deemed essential and permitted to operate throughout the shutdown. All Gage and Cookies locations have remained operational, offering curbside pickup.

Management Team

Bruce Linton is the Executive Chairman of Gage Cannabis. He joined the company in 2019 and is the founder and former CEO and Chairman of Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC). Mr. Linton has extensive executive and board experience in a variety of industries and is considered to be a pioneer in the global cannabis industry. He provides incomparable support to the company's strategic and capital markets efforts.

Michael Hermiz is the Co-Founder and Director of Gage Cannabis, and he is also the founder of a federally licensed producer in Canada. Mr. Hermiz has had great success in various industries, including real estate, mortgage, telecommunications, import, export and many others.

Fabian Monaco is Gage's President and Director. He previously worked at XIB Financial Inc., GMP Securities L.P. and Scotiabank. In addition to his vast investment banking and legal background, Mr. Monaco has 10+ years of capital markets experience. His advisory experience in the cannabis industry is also extensive.

Dr. Rana Harb is a Director of Gage Cannabis. She has 25+ years of experience handling research, compliance, quality assurance and regulatory affairs. A significant portion of her regulatory and compliance history is in the cannabis industry. Dr. Harb has worked for many pharmaceutical companies worldwide, dealing with regulatory agencies such as the FDA, the EMA and Health Canada.

Mike Finos is the President (USA) and a Director of Gage Cannabis. He is the former COO of Horizon Global, the world's number one towing accessories company. He has experience with start-ups, M&A and business integration with both private and publicly traded companies. With 20+ years of operational leadership expertise, Mr. Finos has extensive knowledge relating to supply chain logistics, manufacturing and information technology.

David Watza is the Chief Financial Officer of Gage Cannabis. He is an experienced C-Suite executive and former CFO and board member of Perceptron Inc. (NASDAQ: PRCP). Mr. Watza has 30+ years of experience in finance, accounting, and operations, including time as a public company CFO.

Hollywall Entertainment Inc. (OTC: HWAL)

Hollywall Entertainment Inc. (OTC: HWAL) is a telecommunication, media, technology, broadcasting and entertainment company. Through various subsidiaries, Hollywall maximizes rights to its music, film, television, software and game libraries. Hollywall owns exclusive and nonexclusive rights to market, manufacture and distribute music master recordings performed by multiple platinum-selling acts.

Hollywall was founded in 2009. The company currently has two corporate offices – one in Washington D.C. and the other in New York City.

Hollywall Entertainment Inc. (Hollywall) Subsidiaries

Hollywall has a portfolio of operating subsidiaries spanning various industries, including infrastructure development, 5G and telecommunications, broadcasting, education, media and entertainment.

Hollywall is a minority majority-controlled consortium enterprise company led by founder and President/CEO Darnell Sutton, a highly recognized visionary and award-winning business and social leader.

HWAL continues to expand its business enterprise to numerous city and state municipalities and government agencies throughout the country, including: Washington DC, New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas and California, as well as within the Blackbelt regions of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia and North Carolina, leading the way in developing and implementing solutions to work toward closing the broadband digital divide that has been forced upon the most vulnerable in underserved urban and rural communities nationwide.

Hollywall Development Company ("HWDC")

HWDC builds, restores and creates "smart" cities/communities and fiber networks throughout the U.S. HWDC services, initiatives and investments include broadband and 5G networks, IOT, smart city technologies, energy, tele-medicine, tele-education, transportation, clean water, waste management and the development of green environments.

HWDC employment growth opportunities continue to attract the industry's best, brightest and most seasoned corporate executives to join its staff, as well as its ongoing efforts to develop highly effective and profitable strategic partnerships with investment banks, global capital funds, public financial and wealth management firms, construction and engineering companies, telecommunications companies, federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and housing authorities.

HWDC's Smart Cities division aims to provide various services and solutions, such as fiber-optic networking, data centers, smart kiosks, charging stations, security and camera systems, smart traffic monitoring, emergency alert systems, gunshot detection, backup power solutions, smart connected buildings, connected and autonomous vehicles, intelligent transportation systems, advertising and more.

HW Vision and Omnipoint Technology Inc.

Hollywall Entertainment advanced its technological footprint in December 2020 by announcing its entry into an agreement to acquire top United States telecommunications firm Omnipoint Technology Inc. Through the formation of a new wholly owned subsidiary, HW Vision, Hollywall intends to offer state-of-the-art services in the continuously growing digital marketplace, such as:

  • 5G and Fiber Network installation services
  • Affordable high-speed internet access
  • Telehealth services
  • Domain hosting
  • Web conferencing
  • Managed internet services
  • Nationwide unlimited talk, text and data cellphone plans
  • Video broadcasting

In conjunction with its Omnipoint Technology partner, HW Vision has created and developed unique branding for streaming media programming, live television and on-demand content. Offerings from the HW Vision brand are expected to be available for purchase early in 2021.

Hollywall Entertainment Digital Music Network and Hollywall TV

The Hollywall Entertainment Digital Music Network ("HW Network") has been constructed to sell single song downloads, artist album downloads and ringtones, as well as licensing music for commercial use. Hollywall Music is an owner of legacy music and video collector sets that are distributed to retail, wholesale and download or streaming services. This music library has been protected for over 20 years, and it contains some of the rarest and most coveted unpublished records by legends in the music industry.

Market Outlook

Covering various industries that are continuously expanding, such as telecommunications, media, technology, construction, infrastructure, entertainment and broadcasting, Hollywall is uniquely positioned to secure a prominent role and leverage continued growth opportunities for its subsidiaries.

The 5G sector alone could generate significant interest and market opportunities for Hollywall via HWDC and its community-focused initiatives, including the development of smart cities. The global 5G market was estimated at $41.48 billion for 2020 and is expected to reach an impressive $414.5 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 43.9% (https://ibn.fm/mgXIu).

Management Team

Darnell Sutton is the Founder, CEO and Chairman of Hollywall Entertainment Inc. Mr. Sutton has over 40 years' experience with many talents and vast experience as a veteran in the music recording industry, publishing, distribution, live entertainment, television, broadcasting, film and sports athlete, TV/film celebrity and artist management.

Darnell Sutton has represented and worked with some of the greatest athletes and entertainers of our time, including the "King of Pop" Michael Jackson, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, current Welterweight Boxing Champion Floyd Mayweather, tennis superstar Serena Williams, Julius "Dr. J" Erving and incomparable multiple Grammy award-winning performers such as The Jacksons, Patti Labelle, Roberta Flack, MC Hammer, Dionne Warwick and Mariah Carey… just to name a few.

"Darnell Sutton, is one of the most exciting master communicators, creative developers and innovators of our time"…says, Tom Stein, Success Magazine.

"After many years of developing, producing and acquiring some of the world's finest entertainment properties, we are honored to present Hollywall Entertainment companies to the marketplace. We are thrilled to join forces and work with some of the most brilliant and talented Hollywood and Wall Street executives, who have a combined shared experience of industry-recognized excellence," Sutton said in a news release.

Roxanna Green is the Chief of Staff for Hollywall Entertainment Inc. She has over 30 years of diverse background experience ranging from corporate management to finance. Her experience includes providing corporate legal and financial guidance to both public and private companies, as well as spearheading audits, merger and acquisition negotiations, branding, marketing and public relations initiatives. She has spent the majority of her 30 years in the entertainment and media industry. She has worked with diverse institutions such as banks and securities firms, among others.

Ideanomics Inc. (NASDAQ: IDEX)

Ideanomics Inc. (NASDAQ: IDEX) is a global company facilitating the adoption of commercial electric vehicles and supporting next-generation financial services and fintech products. Ideanomics is currently divided into two divisions – mobility and capital. These divisions provide shareholders with access to disruptive and high-growth opportunities.

The company expects 2021 to be another growth year after it raised approximately $400 million over the past six months. This funding has already been put to good use with acquisitions of Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification (WAVE) and Timios. With roughly $200 million still on the balance sheet, Ideanomics continues to look for new investments and acquisitions in revenue-based opportunities focused on EV and fintech businesses.

Founded in 2004, Ideanomics is headquartered in New York, New York, with additional offices in Hangzhou, Beijing and Qingdao, China. Its current operations span the United States, China, Ukraine and Malaysia.

Ideanomics Mobility

Ideanomics Mobility is focused on the EV market. The global commercial EV market was valued at $34.7 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 39.9% through 2022 to reach a total of $132.73 billion (https://ibn.fm/pPrf4). According to a survey by Grand View Research, the global EV charging infrastructure market is also expected to grow and reach $144.97 billion in 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 33.4% from 2021 to 2028.

This growth is expected to be driven by increased support of electric vehicles from the public, as well as the current U.S. administration, which has a goal of achieving a 100% clean-energy economy.

The Ideanomics Mobility unit consists of five companies:

  • Mobile Energy Global (MEG) – Wholly owned China-based service provider of the Sales-to-Finance-to-Charging (S2F2C) business model to assist commercial fleet operators on EV enablement. Recent sales include 2,000 units of D1, BYD's custom electric ride-hailing vehicle.
  • Medici Motor Works – Wholly owned North America division. MMW will develop zero-emissions specialty vehicles, trucks, buses and vans for the North American market.
  • Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification (WAVE) – Wholly owned Utah-based commercial EV charging technology company with a specialized offering of in-ground wireless charging for commercial vehicles. WAVE's chargers power the Antelope Valley Transportation Authority, the largest municipal EV bus system in the country. Its revenue for 2020 exceeded $7 million, and it boasts a robust pipeline for 2021 and beyond.
  • Treeletrik – Majority investment in Malaysian-based OEM will service a high-demand market – electric delivery mopeds. Treeletrik has obtained certifications in Thailand and Indonesia, with orders secured for 2021. Its North American marketing program is expected to commence in 2021. As a part of the ESG initiative, one tree will be planted for every unit sold.
  • Solectrac – Minority investment in California-based electric tractor company. Solectrac manufactures 100% electric tractors to benefit farmers, crops and the planet at a time when the agriculture market remains virtually unaddressed by EV solutions.
  • Silk EV – Minority investment in hyper car and performance car design company, which provides access to the high-end battery and charging technology development ecosystem.

Ideanomics is generating EV revenue from its Sales to Financing to Charging (S2F2C) business model, which features three operating areas:

  1. Vehicle and Battery Sales: Medici, Treeletrik and Solectrac cover three key market segments
  2. Financing, Leasing and Insurance: Offering financial services to fleet customers, commission delivery and origination fee-based revenue
  3. Charging and Energy Services: Offering charging as a service, battery swap programs and WAVE wireless charging products

Ideanomics Capital

Ideanomics Capital is focused on providing disruptive fintech solutions across the entire board of financial services, ranging from financial markets to digital securities and assets to mortgages and more. More mainstream institutions and a growing number of companies have increased their digital securities services, along with institutional investments boosting bitcoin and the emergence of favorable regulatory developments, creating ample opportunities for widespread adoption of financial technologies.

Additionally, the U.S. real estate industry is ripe for technologization, as it currently is fragmented, antiquated, opaque and largely untouched by tech innovation. However, the expanding market, with U.S. home sales expected to grow 21.9% in 2021, and the increased digitization of all business spaces are expected to promote a digital-first experience as the new industry standard this year and beyond (https://ibn.fm/DwsUv).

The Ideanomics Capital unit consists of five companies:

  • Timios – Wholly owned subsidiary bringing real estate into the 21st century by providing value-add, fee-based services addressing the title and closing process of home buying and mortgage transactions. Timios works to create transparency and efficiency within the market. Timios ended 2020 as a cash flow and EBITDA positive business.
  • The Delaware Board of Trade (DBOT) – Wholly owned FINRA-regulated ATS and broker dealer based in Delaware.
  • Liquefy – Minority investment bringing innovation to investment in real assets with blockchain technology by increasing efficiency in fractional ownership, lowering entry to investment barriers and unlocking liquidity in assets that were previously illiquid.
  • Technology Metals Market (TM2) – Minority investment in UK company delivering a direct investment and trading market for technology metals with a newly accessible technology metals asset class for inventory diversification. The traded metals are 100% backed by physical metals.
  • Intelligenta – Investment providing AI and machine learning solutions for financial institutions and regulators.

Management Team

Alf Poor is Ideanomics' Chief Executive Officer. He is a client-focused and profit-driven executive who has a track record of success in rapidly growing technology companies and large, multi-national organizations. Mr. Poor's expertise includes business planning, financing and creating and implementing corporate governance policies, as well as handling management across organizations. His specialization is working with cross-border and multi-national startups. Before taking the CEO role at Ideanomics, he was the CEO for Global Data Sentinel.

Conor McCarthy is the company's Chief Financial Officer. He is a strategic and operationally oriented management-level professional. His extensive international experience is within the fintech, data science and advertising technology sectors. Mr. McCarthy has experience with public companies, PE, and VC-backed firms. His specializations are financial and management reporting, planning and analysis, financial modelling, performance metrics, KPIs, venture borrowing, Series A equity funding, ERP system implementation, international business operations, and acquisition due diligence and integration. Before joining Ideanomics, Mr. McCarthy most recently held a CFO position at OS33. Prior to that, he was CFO for Intent Media Inc.

Kate Lam is the company's Managing Director of Financial Products. She is highly regarded for her fixed income capital marketing skills across Asia and the United States. Ms. Lam has over 25 years of experience in the financial markets industry, dealing with many asset classes and clients. Having spent a few years in the fintech startup industry, her skills bridge the gap between traditional financial assets and new technological innovations. She has held senior management positions at Bear Sterns, Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.

Keith Byers is Ideanomics' Senior Vice President of Operations. He has extensive experience managing strategic relationships with key clients and deepening the relationships through innovation and successful engagement strategies. Before Ideanomics, Mr. Byers was the Managing Partner and Head of Operations for Gain Theory. He has a Master of Arts – MA, Economics from Heriot-Watt University and a Master of Science – Economics from The University of Edinburgh.

Tony Sklar is the company's Senior Vice President of Investor Relations. He is a communication strategist and has worked for multi-faceted companies with global operations. Mr. Sklar handles omni-channel distribution using intelligence platforms and data insights for strategic planning, international expansion and marketing channels. His specialties include project management with digital strategy and transformation, ICO, marketing, blockchain and strategic partnerships. In addition to his role with Ideanomics, he is also a board member for the Delaware Board of Trade and the host and senior technology reporter for Far From TV.

Infobird Co., Ltd (NASDAQ: IFBD)

Infobird Co., Ltd (NASDAQ: IFBD) is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider of AI-powered customer engagement solutions in China. Infobird leverages a self-developed cloud computing structure, AI and machine learning capabilities, patented Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application technologies, a no-code development platform and in-depth industry expertise to best serve its growing client base.

Founded in October 2001, Infobird empowers clients with value-driven business solutions designed to increase revenue, reduce costs and enhance service quality and customer satisfaction. The company currently specializes in corporate clients in finance and a broad array of ancillary industries.

Infobird is headquartered in Beijing, China, and began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April 20, 2021, following an initial public offering of 6.25 million ordinary shares at a public offering price of $4.00 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions.

Product Offering

Infobird's flagship customer engagement software can handle both AI Customer Engagement and AI Salesforce Management.

  • AI Customer Engagement
    • Intelligent Omni-Channel Customer Service – This offering allows clients to connect with their customers anytime and anywhere through a comprehensive suite of cloud-based tools.
    • Cloud Call Center – This service puts Infobird's years of technical and operational experience to work for clients, with options including intelligent IVR technology, call monitoring, routing strategy and ticketing systems, all supported by multi-dimensional data reports.
    • Intelligent Telemarketing – Infobird's AI bots can help clients navigate "never-ending lists" of potential customers, filter out the most promising leads and increase the working efficiency of agents, keeping agents focused on high-value tasks.
    • AI Voice Chatbot and AI Text Chatbot – This technology allows clients to create human-like interactions offering 24/7 availability and multi-round dialogue capabilities, decreasing labor costs by up to 80% while greatly improving efficiency.
  • AI Salesforce Management
    • Intelligent Quality Inspection – Infobird's platform aims to improve quality inspection rates and service levels through the use of real-time smart monitoring with comprehensive coverage.
    • Intelligent Training – Interactive training programs allow clients to ensure and continuously improve the performance level of their agents, lessening the impact of high turnover rates common throughout the customer service industry.

Infobird's client base includes roughly 10,000 paid user accounts representing 358 customers in the industries of finance, education, public services, consumer products and health care – as reported on June 30, 2020.

Market Outlook

Cloud infrastructure services spending in China increased by 32% ($39.9 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2020. For all of 2020, total services grew to $142 billion, up from the reported $107 billion in 2019. This growth can be attributed to rising demand for cloud infrastructure over physical software solutions (https://ibn.fm/rHZUh). China is the second-largest market for cloud infrastructure solutions after the U.S., accounting for roughly 14% of the global industry.

Likewise, SaaS has demonstrated considerable growth potential in recent years. In 2020, the SaaS industry in China was valued at $3.3 billion, representing an increase of 43.5% over 2019, as companies continue to leverage artificial intelligence and Big Data technologies to increase efficiencies and promote expansion.

As one of the leading and longest standing providers of domestic SaaS solutions and with a comprehensive portfolio of intelligent, customizable and scalable solutions, Infobird is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the market's expansion and resulting opportunities for corporate growth.

Management Team

Yimin Wu is the CEO and Founder of Infobird. He has served as the Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of the company since it was founded. From August 1990 to March 1993, Mr. Wu was a software engineer for the Software Center of Tsinghua University and was sent to the U.S. to co-develop the HP_UX operating system at HP Inc. From April 1993 to May 2000, he served as the general manager for Beijing Jing Zhou Computers Co. Ltd., a company responsible for marketing and developing interactive voice response systems. From July 2000 to October 2001, Mr. Wu was the general manager for Beijing Jing Zhou Rong Hua Internet Technology Co. Ltd, a company responsible for developing middleware for call center establishments. He received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in computer sciences from Tsinghua University.

Hsiaochien Tseng is the EVP of Infobird and has held the title since January 2020. From March 2010 to September 2018, he served as a sales director for the Credit Card Center of China Guangfa Bank, where he was responsible for integrating and managing online and offline sales channels, establishing overall and regional sales strategies and creating training systems to increase the client base. From October 2018 to January 2020, Mr. Tseng served as SVP of Hua Tuo Digital Technology Group Co. Ltd., a financial information technology company. He received a bachelor's degree in information management from Fu Jen Catholic University and a master's degree in business administration from San Diego State University.

Chunhsiang Chen is the VP of Infobird, a position he has held since April 2012. From June 1990 to February 1993, he served as an advisory programmer of International Business Machine Corp. (IBM). During that time, he participated in the design and development of the Multiple Protocol Transport Network. From February 1993 to September 1996, Mr. Chen served as an associate professor in the Information Education Department of National Taiwan Normal University. He founded GenNet Technology Co. Ltd., an information technology company, in 1993 and served as the president until joining Infobird in 2012. Mr. Chen has a bachelor's degree in computer sciences from the National Chiao Tung University and a master's degree and doctoral degree in computer sciences from Northwestern University.

Lianfang Zhou is the CFO of Infobird and has been with the company for over 10 years. From September 2004 to July 2008, she served as the head of accounting at Beijing Saishuo Technology Co. Ltd., a software development company specializing in port services. From August 2008 to December 2009, Mrs. Zhou served as the head of accounting for Beijing Lianhe Lida Investment Co. Ltd., a property management services company. She holds an intermediate accounting qualification certificate issued by the Ministry of Finance of the PRC. Mrs. Zhou also has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the Renmin University of China.

Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE)

On August 5, 2020, Net Element announced the execution of a definitive agreement to merge with privately-held Mullen Technologies Inc., a Southern California-based electric vehicle company, in a stock-for-stock reverse merger in which Mullen's stockholders will receive a majority of the outstanding stock in the post-merger company. The completion of the merger is subject to shareholder and NASDAQ approval, as well as other conditions referenced in the merger agreement.

Net Element (NASDAQ: (NETE) is a global financial technology and value-added solutions group that supports electronic payments acceptance in an omni-channel environment spanning across point-of-sale, e-commerce and mobile devices. The company operates a payments-as-a-service transactional model and value-added services platform for small to medium enterprises in the U.S. and selected emerging markets.

Net Element believes the future of global commerce is being revolutionized as consumers quickly migrate toward omni-channel shopping utilizing mobile devices, desktop, and online services. The company's all-in-one payment solutions support and unify a whole range of applications through a single, robust platform, allowing global onboarding and support for multiple payment methods.

Net Element has also launched a blockchain-focused business unit that will develop and deploy blockchain technology-based solutions. Net Element expects the new division to create a decentralized crypto-based ecosystem that will act as a framework for an unlimited number of value-added services, connecting merchants and consumers in a seamless, economically efficient transaction. This new business unit intends to also identify and invest in unique projects that decentralize and disrupt the payment processing industry by combining blockchain technology and real-world applications with talented development teams, strong fundamentals and addressable markets large in size.

"We believe that we're at the dawn of a new evolution where additional digital payment methods are being introduced," Net Element chairman and CEO Oleg Firer, says. "Introduction of our division focused on blockchain as part of the NASDAQ-listed entity will add transparency and compliance assurance to our investors as well as provide access to deploy value-added services to over 20 million electronic commerce clients that are currently part of Net Element's growing network."

Net Element clients are treated to customized solutions that provide the flexibility needed to keep up with customers. Among the services offered are mobile payment apps that accept payments anywhere, anytime; cloud-based solutions built to increase productivity and enhance revenue for clients and partners; marketing solutions that turn lookers into buyers; and business analytics that make it easy for clients to monitor business metrics, engage with customers and compare the competition. Its multi-channel platform combines e-commerce, offline, point-of-sale, comprehensive back office tools, mobile point-of-sale, credit scoring and customer interaction in one powerful platform-as-a-service technology.

Net Element owns and operates a global mobile payments and transactional processing provider, TOT Group, Inc., with the following subsidiaries:

  • Unified Payments – An award-winning, customized mobile billing and payments solution, recognized by Inc. Magazine as the No. 1 Fastest Growing Company in America in 2012.
  • Aptito – A next-generation, all-in-one, cloud-based restaurant management and point-of-sale payments platform using wireless technology.
  • Payonline – A fully integrated, processor agnostic electronic commerce platform.

Net Element is ranked on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500™ list of North America's 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in both 2017 and 2018, during which the company grew 190 percent and 183 percent, respectively. The company credits its progression to organic growth in its North America Transactions Segment, specifically the success of its Unified Payments brand, which focuses on value-added payment acceptance solutions for small to medium enterprises in the United States.

Net Element was also listed among South Florida Business Journal's 2016 fastest growing technology companies.

Leveraging its suite of application performing interfaces (APIs) and connectors, Net Element powers commerce for businesses of all sizes through multi-channel platforms, all-in-one digital solutions, and end-to-end encryption of cardholder data utilizing tamper resistant hardware that ensures integrity and simplifies security.

Leading this innovation is chairman and CEO Oleg Firer, who is responsible for the overall vision, strategy and execution of the company's mission of powering global commerce. He is joined by CFO Jeffrey Ginsburg, CPA, and Steven Wolberg, the company's chief legal officer and secretary. Each corporate officer brings a unique blend of leadership, vision, experience and creative energy to the company.

From mobile payments and value-added transactional innovations like Aptito to e-commerce and retail payment transaction processing brands like Payonline and Unified Payments, Net Element is transforming the online and mobile experience.

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (CSE: NTAR) (OTCQB: NEXCF)

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (CSE: NTAR) (OTCQB: NEXCF), based in Vancouver, Canada, is a leading provider of web-based augmented reality for e-commerce, advertising and virtual events, with technology ranging from simple 3D images to using 360-degree videos. Nextech AR provides businesses with a powerful end-to-end augmented reality platform designed specifically to increase online sales.

The company is currently pursuing four unique verticals with its innovative technology, including:

  • Virtual Conference Platform: Nextech's advanced Augmented Reality and Video Learning Experience Platform for Events leverages an SaaS model to give organizations the ability to create engaging virtual event management and learning experiences. Automated closed captions and translations for over 64 languages are available. The global virtual events market was valued at $90 billion in 2020 by Grandview Research, and it's expected to reach more than $400 billion by 2027.
  • ARitize™ for eCommerce: Launched in early 2019, the company's SaaS platform for webAR in eCommerce serves as a 'full funnel' end-to-end e-commerce solution for the AR industry. The solution includes the Aritize360 app for 3D product capture, 'Try it On' technology for online apparel, 3D and 360-degree product views, 'one click buy' and much more.
  • ARitize™ 3D/AR Advertising Platform: Launched in Q1 2020, this ad platform is being marketed as the industry's first end-to-end solution leveraging 3D asset creation for 3D/AR ads. In 2019, according to IDC, global advertising spend totaled roughly $725 billion.
  • ARitize™ Hollywood Studios: The studio is in development as a means of producing immersive content using 360-degree videos and augmented reality as primary display platforms.

Unique Marketing Strategy

Nextech AR's efforts to disrupt the market for web-based augmented reality for e-commerce are supported by a unique go to market strategy. First, the company seeks to build or acquire platforms targeting a number of rapid growth industries, most notably AR, edTech, e-commerce, 3D/AR advertising and virtual & hybrid events.

After identifying these market opportunities, the company seeks to integrate new AR technologies into existing or novel platforms in an effort to secure market share and promote growth. These technologies include WebAR, Human Holograms, 360 Portals, ScreenAR, Genie in the bottle and AiRShow.

Nextech AR then aims to leverage these platforms to land and expand partnerships with a number of blue chip customers. The company's current customer base includes the likes of Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, ViacomCBS, Toyota and Carnegie Mellon University.

Growth Capital

Nextech AR generates revenue through a software-as-a-service model from technology services, delivery of service revenue and sales of products through e-commerce.

As noted in its latest investor presentation, the company achieved record bookings in Q4 2020 of $7.3 million (estimated), marking a greater than 275% year-over-year increase. The company also realized greater than 235% revenue growth for calendar 2020, reporting $20 million for the 12-month period. Nextech AR attributes its 2020 increase in revenues to the contracts secured with new customers, expanded agreements with existing customers and additional conversions from e-commerce channels.

With its newly launched 3D ad network now bolstering its operations, Nextech AR is projecting revenues in excess of $50 million for 2021.

Recent Company Highlights

  • February 16, 2021: The company announced it has hired Zak Mcleod, formerly of Fastly, as its new Senior Director of Sales – EMEA. The company also announced that Rory Ganness, formerly of Salesforce.com, has joined the Nextech team as Director of Enterprise Sales – North America.
  • February 11, 2021: The company announced the launch of version 2.0 of its AiR Show app, an application that turns top music artists into interactive 'live' holograms, providing an immersive and engaging AR experience.
  • February 8, 2021: The company announced the launch of new standardized chat features within its Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) and recently-launched ARoom collaborative streaming solution. Nextech will also offer the chat platform as a stand-alone SaaS service externally, increasing the company's revenue potential for 2021.
  • January 26, 2021: The company announced, in partnership with ARB Meetings and Events, it has signed a six-figure annual contract to supply its InfernoAR video conferencing and virtual events platform to NAMD.
  • January 25, 2021: The company announced that Strategic Site Selection (SSS), a 15 year old site selection leader in the meeting and events industry, has selected Nextech AR as a preferred channel partner, making Nextech's industry leading virtual experience platform and services available to SSS clients.
  • January 20, 2021: The company announced that Microsoft's Azure Cloud Services platform will be a standard offering across its virtual experience platforms and consumer apps, enabling hyper-scalable, secure and immersive events and applications for users.
  • January 15, 2021: The company signed a renewal agreement with Poly with an initial value of $470,000 for a six-month term and the potential for additional revenue after the six months.

Management Team

Evan Gappelberg is CEO and Founder of Nextech AR. He is an experienced operating executive specializing in creating, funding and running hyper-growth startups in both the public and private sectors. Notably, he took Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) public with a market cap of $30 million and played a key role in guiding its growth to a current market cap of roughly $14 billion. Mr. Gappelberg has extensive experience as both a hands-on operating executive and a public markets professional.

Paul Duffy is the company's President. He is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in successfully starting, expanding, diversifying and selling global technology companies. Mr. Duffy is the creator of the HumaGram and inventor of the patent for Holographic Telepresence over the Internet (TOIP).

Augen Winschel is the COO of Nextech AR. He is an 18-year SAP executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in the areas of business management, business operations, marketing, product management, digital business and enterprise artificial intelligence.

Kashif Malik, CPA, CA, is the company's CFO. He has over 15 years of financial experience spanning IPOs, M&A activity, corporate restructuring and capital raising. Mr. Malik has worked globally with public and private companies, including Merck & Company Inc. (NYSE: MRK), Real Matters Inc. (TSX: REAL) and Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU). He obtained his Chartered Accountant designation while working at Deloitte.

Hareesh Acchi is the company's President of 3D/AR Advertising. He is a 20-year Microsoft technology veteran with experience leading digital transformation and scaling businesses and enterprise organizations across the advertising industry.

SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX)

SRAX Inc. (NASDAQ: SRAX) is a digital marketing and consumer data management technology company. SRAX's technology unlocks data to reveal brands' core consumers and their characteristics across marketing channels.

Through its BIGtoken platform, SRAX has developed a consumer-managed data marketplace where people can own and earn from their data, thereby providing everyone in the internet ecosystem choice, transparency and compensation.

SRAX's tools deliver a digital competitive advantage for brands in the CPG, automotive, investor relations, luxury and lifestyle verticals by integrating all aspects of the advertising experience, including verified consumer participation, into one platform.

SRAX Verticals

  • SRAX Core: SRAX Core is a custom digital media management platform that enables brands and agencies to surpass the challenges of omnichannel marketing campaigns. It offers one comprehensive dashboard to manage digital media campaigns, inventory and reporting.
  • SRAX Social: SRAX Social is a free social media management tool that makes it easy for brands, agencies and individuals to grow their digital presence. It offers free and unlimited users, Facebook auto boosting, and a custom analytics dashboard. Its managed services team can also build and execute marketing plans for your unique specific needs.
  • SRAX IR: SRAX IR unlocks stock buyers' behaviors and trends for issuers of publicly traded companies. The platform provides insights on shareholders and market makers, investor relations management, shareholder outreach tools and data-driven marketing.
  • SRAX Auto: SRAX Auto unlocks auto intenders' data to create measurable connected experiences on the road to purchase. It offers proprietary auto intender profiles, multi touchpoint communication and custom location-based ads.
  • SRAX Shopper: SRAX Shopper delivers a cross channel, premium digital experience at scale to high value shopper audiences. It offers proprietary shopper profiles, cost per click pricing, and custom text and add to cart ad units.
  • SRAX Lux: Launched in June 2019, the SRAX Lux platform targets and reaches luxury consumers at luxury retail stores, high-end art, music, film, fashion and sports events, across all consumer devices.

International Expansion

BIGtoken is formally launching into several international markets and partnering to foster local support. SRAX recently signed a joint venture with the Yash Birla Group to launch BIGtoken in India. Based in Mumbai, the Yash Birla Group, one of India's largest conglomerates, has diversified interests in consumer and industrial products.

The partnership will bring BIGtoken's platform to India, which has a digital population of 627 million. The India digital advertising market is $3.6 billion and is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 32%, making it one of the largest growing digital ad markets in the world.

SRAX Mexico is led by Moe Avitia, who has more than 18 years of experience in business development and building high-tech teams. SRAX Mexico includes a team of 90 employees, including 70 engineers.

BIGtoken Europe is currently evaluating data centers in individual countries for privacy laws.

Leadership

Christopher Miglino is CEO and founder of SRAX. He has spent the past 20 years working in the digital advertising space and has successfully launched and sold two internet companies. Both of these companies were sold to publicly traded companies on the NASDAQ. He has a detailed understanding of how technology interacts with brands.

Kristoffer Nelson is COO of SRAX and a founding member of BIGtoken. With over 15 years of technology and creative business experience, Nelson has been a guest speaker for Loyola Marymount University among other academic institutions, the National Association of Broadcasters, the IAB and numerous other professional and media organizations.

TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQX: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP2)

TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQX: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP2) is a life sciences company dedicated to giving legal-aged smokers the choice to keep the smoking experience that they enjoy with no nicotine and no tobacco.

The key players of TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. are from leading tobacco brands. They are guiding the mission with the company's proprietary product, TAAT(TM), which uses the company's proprietary Beyond Tobacco(TM) base material. The base material undergoes a 14-step process to taste and smell just like tobacco and uses a patent-pending refinement technique.

This provides the company with unique opportunities on the global tobacco market, which was estimated at $849 billion in 2019, with approximately 1.3 billion people using tobacco in some form worldwide (https://nnw.fm/bvKFL).

TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Las Vegas, Nevada.

TAAT(TM)

TAAT is a smokable alternative to tobacco cigarettes using the Beyond Tobacco base material, which contains zero tobacco and zero nicotine. The current TAAT offering comes in three varieties: Original, Smooth and Menthol, which were launched during Q4 2020 in Ohio. The company's Ohio tobacco wholesaler also distributes for major tobacco industry names such as Altria, RJ Reynolds (a subsidiary of British American Tobacco) and ITG.

The TAAT Beyond Tobacco experience was created to replicate the sensory elements of smoking a tobacco cigarette. Market testing in California and Nevada reached a consensus that TAAT products offered no significant differences in experience when compared to tobacco cigarettes, in terms of the following aspects:

  • Visual – the nearly identical product packaging and enhanced smoke volume
  • Auditory – the "crackling" sound of the base material when it is ignited
  • Smell – when burning, TAAT emits a tobacco-like scent
  • Taste – the patent-pending Beyond Tobacco base material undergoes a refinement process that creates a tobacco-like taste
  • Touch – TAAT satisfies the "hand-to-mouth" fixation and motor habits, such as flicking ashes

TAAT Beyond Tobacco Targeting Current Smokers

TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. is currently targeting the market of legal-aged smokers with its proprietary product. The company aims "not to create a new problem, but to solve an existing one." TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. offers a non-addictive alternative to tobacco, with several competitive advantages making it a promising option on the United States market, such as:

  • Price – TAAT can be offered at a lower price than competing products in the tobacco category, which adds to the propositioned value for current legal-aged smokers.
  • Experience – TAAT appeals to current smokers who wish to give up the tobacco and nicotine but keep the smoking experience they enjoy.
  • Branding/Packaging – TAAT is American-grown and American-made, with its Beyond Tobacco base material serving as a legacy to the combustible tobacco products.

The current alternatives to cigarette smoking do not offer a comparable experience. Previously marketed products, like vaping, proved difficult for some legal-aged smokers to adopt, as the experience was too different from traditional cigarettes.

Market Outlook

In 2016, the United States tobacco market was valued at over $100 billion, a number that's expected to grow over the next decade (https://nnw.fm/yd8oP). In terms of volume, over 215 billion cigarettes were sold to roughly 34 million adults in the United States in 2018. These numbers represent almost 14% of the adult population. Of those, almost two-thirds smoked more than 15 cigarettes in one day. A standard pack is comprised of 20 cigarettes.

The company's Beyond Tobacco, as a non-tobacco product, has a price-driven consumer advantage in many states. While state taxes on traditional cigarettes vary, most tend to average around $1.82 per pack. Washington D.C. is on the higher end of the tax spectrum at $4.50 per pack, whereas Missouri is only $0.17 per pack (https://nnw.fm/D3WnT).

TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. estimates that, if one pack of TAAT Beyond Tobacco was sold at 20% of all United States tobacco points of sale, the product would capture 0.25% of the market, the equivalent of approximately 2.7 million cartons of cigarettes per year.

Management Team

Setti Coscarella is the Chief Executive Officer of TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. He is experienced in investment banking, private equity and entrepreneurship. In 2017, Mr. Coscarella was the lead strategist for Reduced-Risk Products at Philip Morris International. While there, he worked with thousands of smokers to better understand how to position smoking alternatives, developing programs that could help smokers convert to reduced-risk products. Mr. Coscarella holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, specializing in finance, marketing and corporate strategy. He also has a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and physics from the University of Toronto.

Tim Corkum is the company's Chief Revenue Officer. He has a lengthy history in the tobacco industry, having served 21 years at Philip Morris International. Mr. Corkum has experience leading the international commercialization of combustible cigarettes and working on reduced-risk product offerings. During his 21-year tenure, he held senior positions in business development, sales strategy, key account management and corporate affairs. He holds a BA from Carleton University with a concentration in law.

Joe Deighan is Founder of TAAT™ Global Alternatives Inc. and oversees research and development. He is the founder of vape liquid 'JJuice', created in 2012. JJuice was distributed across all of the United States and in 26 other countries, alongside the private label production that was done for other brands. Mr. Deighan sold JJuice in a cash deal that was valued at over $800,000 in 2017. He currently handles all R&D and production for Beyond Tobacco, knowing the product better than anyone else in the company.

Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE American: UEC)

Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE American: UEC) is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company that controls one of the country's largest historical uranium exploration and development databases. Founded in 2003, UEC is headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas. Properties acquired by the company are primarily located within the United States, including Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Wyoming.

Through the use of historical exploration data, UEC has been able to target and acquire properties that have already been subject to exploration and development by senior energy firms in the past.

UEC is well-financed to aggressively pursue key developmental targets. The company is also well-positioned to capitalize on rising global demand for more uranium and more carbon-free energy, and it uses technology that contributes to a cleaner environment.

In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Technology

In-situ recovery (ISR) technology is a low-cost and environmentally friendly mining technology utilized by UEC at its fully licensed projects, including Palangana, Burke Hollow, Goliad and Reno Creek.

ISR technology involves the circulation of naturally occurring and benign groundwater through a uranium ore body. This natural water (that is unfit for any other use) plus oxygen is pumped into injection wells through the uranium ore body, where the uranium in the host sandstone is oxidized and solubilized. The uranium bearing groundwater continues to flow through the sandstone to the extraction wells, where it is pumped to the surface. This water proceeds to an ion exchange unit (like a big water-softener) for uranium removal, then is pumped back to the wellfield and again re-circulated through the ore body. This recirculation of the same groundwater continues over and over, until the uranium in the sandstone is depleted.

In the ion exchange process, the extracted uranium in solution is concentrated on resin beads for transport to the Hobson Processing Facility. There, the uranium then undergoes several simple processing steps before being dried and packaged as "yellowcake" that will be transported to a conversion facility, where its sold to UEC customers.

Hobson Processing Plant

Hobson is the centerpiece in UEC's hub and spoke production strategy, with low-cost satellite ISR operations all within relatively short trucking distance. The plant is fully licensed and currently on standby with an annual production capacity of 2 million pounds of U3O8. The spokes of the UEC strategy include the Palangana, Burke Hollow, Goliad, Salvo and Longhorn ISR projects. With an improvement in uranium prices that justify production, UEC plans to restart the plant with uranium loaded resins originating first from Palangana and then followed by Burke Hollow. UEC has applied for a license amendment with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to increase the Hobson facility's production capacity to 4 million pounds per year.

Current Projects

Uranium Energy's current project portfolio includes:

  • Texas – Hobson Processing Plant, Palangana Mine, Goliad, Burke Hollow, Salvo and Longhorn
  • Wyoming – Reno Creek
  • Paraguay – Oviedo, Yuty and Alto Paraná
  • New Mexico – Dalton Pass and C de Baca
  • Colorado – Long Park and Slick Rock
  • Arizona – Anderson, Los Cuatros and Workman Creek
  • Canada – Diabase

Uranium Market Outlook

The long-term fundamentals underlying the market continue to strengthen. Currently, UEC sees an annual gap of about 40 million pounds between uranium production and utility requirements. Current forecasts show this structural deficit persisting at least through 2026 and then expanding further to almost 70 million pounds per year by 2030. While secondary supplies have been filling the void, those supplies are not a sustainable long term supply source. There are different estimates on timing, but it is clear secondary supply (that includes inventory drawdowns) will be insufficient to fill the projected gap between supply and demand, and new production will be required. As this transition evolves, the market will become more production cost driven as opposed to inventory driven.

Higher priced contracts that have supported high production costs are continuing to roll out of producer and utility supply portfolios. These higher priced contracts are not replaceable, with current market prices below production costs for the vast majority of western producers. This will likely continue the trend of production cuts and deferrals until prices rise sufficiently to sustain long-term mining operations.

In the U.S., some of the foreign State-Owned Enterprise ("SOE") supply that has been flooding the market will be reduced. Last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce negotiated an amendment to the Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Uranium from the Russian Federation that reduces America's dependence on Russian natural uranium concentrates by up to 75% from prior levels. Due to a prolonged weak pricing environment from an influx of price insensitive supply from SOEs, U.S. production is effectively zero, less than 1% of U.S. requirements.

On the demand side of the equation, further upside market pressure also appears likely to evolve as utilities return to a longer-term contracting cycle to replace expiring contracts. Over the longer term, there continues to be underlying and increasing demand building, as the globe continues a push toward carbon-free energy goals. Those goals will require the 24/7, base load, clean energy that nuclear power provides as part of the overall supply mix. A good example of that policy messaging came from Japan's energy minister, who recently said he considers nuclear energy "indispensable" if the country is to meet its net-zero carbon emission goals.

Exacerbating the overall supply picture, lead times for new production typically range from seven to 10 years or longer. The market appears to be within the time frames required for investment to bring new supply online to meet those lead times. However, prices are not yet at levels that incentivize future production, increasing the probability of the potential for less supply than the market is currently pricing in. All things considered, UEC believes the supply and demand fundamentals should continue to exert upward pressure on uranium prices.

Management Team

Spencer Abraham is Chairman of the Board for UEC. He served as the 10th U.S. Secretary of Energy from 2001 to 2005. He is an honors graduate of Michigan State University and Harvard Law School, and he was a law professor at the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. He was elected chairman of the Michigan Republican Party in 1983 and later served as deputy chief of staff in the office of the vice president and as co-chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. In 1994, Mr. Abraham was elected to the United States Senate from Michigan and has also served as a director of Occidental Petroleum and as the non-executive chairman of AREVA's U.S. board.

Amir Adnani is the Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of Uranium Energy. He advanced the company from concept to United States production within its first five years. Mr. Adnani has developed an extensive pipeline of low-cost and near-term production projects. He is the founder and Chairman of GoldMining Inc. (TSX: GOLD) (OTCQX: GLDLF), a gold-resources acquisition and development firm. He is also the Chairman of Uranium Royalty Corp. (TSX.V: URC). Mr. Adnani holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia. He is a director of the University's Alumni Association.

Scott Melbye is the company's Executive Vice President. He is a 36-year veteran of the nuclear energy industry and has held numerous leadership positions in major uranium mining firms. He is also the current President, CEO and Director of Uranium Royalty Corp. He is an advisor to the Nuclear Energy Program at the Colorado School of Mines. Prior to his work at Uranium Participation Corp., Mr. Melbye worked for Cameco Inc. for 22 years. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in International Business from Arizona State University in 1984.

Bruce Nicholson is the company's Vice President of Corporate Development. He has spent 16 years as a specialist in the industry, serving major United States and European banks, broker-dealers and investment funds. Mr. Nicholson is a member of the Minerals Economics and Management Society, Minerals Industry Analyst Group, and the New York Society of Securities Analysts. He graduated with an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University in 1995 and is a CFA charter holder.

VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN)

VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VTGN) is a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing a new generation of medications that go beyond the standard of care for anxiety, depression and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the "Birthplace of Biotechnology," among the largest cluster of biotechnology companies in the world.

New Generation Medications

VistaGen currently has three innovative CNS drug candidates in its pipeline: PH94B, PH10 and AV-101. With a differentiated mechanism of action and an exceptional safety profile in all clinical studies to date, each of VistaGen's three drug candidates offers significant commercialization potential in multiple large CNS markets.

PH94B

Fast-acting (10-15 minutes), non-systemic and non-sedating in Phase 2 clinical studies, PH94B is a first-in-class neuroactive nasal spray that, administered in microgram doses, binds to chemosensory receptors in the nasal passage that trigger neural circuits responsible for suppressing fear and anxiety caused by stressful social or performance situations.

PH94B is currently being developed as an acute treatment of anxiety in adults with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). In December 2019, PH94B became the first drug candidate to be granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for development of a treatment for SAD, positioning it to potentially become the first FDA-approved fast-acting acute treatment for adults with the anxiety disorder, if planned Phase 3 studies are successful.

A successful Phase 2 program has been completed, and, after achieving consensus with the FDA in mid-2020 that the design of its Phase 3 studies of PH94B in SAD may mirror the design of the highly statistically significant (p=0.002) Phase 2 public speaking study of PH94B in SAD, the company's preparations for pivotal Phase 3 clinical development of PH94B are underway.

To support Phase 3 development and commercialization of PH94B for anxiety disorders in large anxiety disorder markets in Asia, VistaGen recently entered into a strategic licensing and collaboration agreement with EverInsight Therapeutics, a company formed and currently funded by a large global venture capital firm, CBC Group. The company received a $5 million non-dilutive upfront license payment from EverInsight in August 2020. If Phase 3 development is successful, VistaGen is eligible to receive additional development and commercial milestone payments of up to $172 million, plus tiered royalties on sales of PH94B in Greater China, South Korea and Southeast Asia. VistaGen retains exclusive rights to develop and commercialize PH94B in all other markets.

VistaGen is also assessing potential Phase 2A clinical development opportunities to evaluate PH94B in a range of other anxiety disorders, including:

  • Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Postpartum Anxiety
  • Perioperative Anxiety
  • Panic Disorder
  • PTSD

PH10

PH10 is an investigational fast-acting synthetic neuroactive nasal spray with therapeutic potential in a wide range of neuropsychiatric indications involving depression and suicidal ideation. VistaGen is initially developing PH10 as a potential fast-acting, non-sedating, non-addictive new generation treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Upon self-administration, a microgram-level dose of PH10 sprayed into the nose binds to nasal chemosensory receptors that, in turn, activate neural circuits in the brain that lead to rapid-onset antidepressant effects, without side effects, systemic exposure or safety concerns that may be caused by FDA-approved drug treatments for MDD, including oral antidepressants and intranasal esketamine.

In a published exploratory Phase 2A MDD study, PH10 demonstrated rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant effects without the serious psychological side effects and safety concerns of ketamine-based therapy.

Following successfully completed Phase 2A development of PH10 for MDD, the company is currently preparing for a Phase 2B program in MDD.

VistaGen is also assessing the potential for Phase 2A clinical development of PH10 in a range of other depression-related indications, including:

  • Postpartum Depression
  • Treatment-resistant Depression
  • Suicidal Ideation

AV-101

Part of a class of new generation investigational medicine in neurology and neuropsychiatry known as N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) modulators, AV-101 is an oral prodrug of 7-chloro-kynurenic acid (7-Cl-KYNA), a potent and selective NMDAR glycine site antagonist. This drug candidate has the potential to serve as an innovative treatment for MDD and multiple neurological indications where current therapies are unsatisfactory.

VistaGen is currently evaluating AV-101, in combination with FDA-approved probenecid, in a range of neuropsychiatric and neurological indications, with both MDD and Neuropathic Pain already granted Fast Track designation by the FDA. The company is assessing the combination for a potential Phase 1B study to support a potential Phase 2A program in one or more of the following indications:

  • Major Depressive Disorder
  • Neuropathic Pain
  • Levodopa-induced dyskinesia associated with Parkinson's disease therapy
  • Epilepsy
  • Suicidal Ideation

CNS Therapeutics Market Outlook

The global CNS therapeutics market is estimated to reach $130 billion by 2025. The market was valued at approximately $82.3 billion in 2017 and is anticipated to grow at a healthy CAGR of more than 5.93% from 2018 to 2025. Even before the onset of the anxiety- and depression-provoking stressors from the COVID-19 pandemic, this growth was expected to be driven by a rise in mental illnesses and increased awareness of psychiatric disorders (https://nnw.fm/K2m0s) – all likely to be amplified by the diverse impacts of the pandemic.

The two most common mental health conditions – anxiety and depression – cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion each year. The impact of these conditions is particularly devastating among the young. Industry data suggest that approximately 20% of the world's children and teens are affected by mental health conditions, and suicide is the leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds (https://nnw.fm/oftNb).

VistaGen's mission is to help address the unmet needs of patients suffering from CNS disorders whose current treatments are either inadequate or generate debilitating side effects and serious safety concerns, including risk of abuse and death.

"Now more than ever, the new generation anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications we are developing at VistaGen – PH94B, PH10 and AV-101 – are relevant, necessary and demand the highly-focused and passionate efforts of our team and partners, with the support of our stockholders, to advance them to patients whose lives are disrupted by anxiety and depression disorders," VistaGen CEO and Director Shawn K. Singh said in his closing remarks at the company's 2020 Annual Meeting of stockholders.

Management Team

Shawn K. Singh, J.D. is the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of VistaGen. He has served on the company's board of directors since 2000. He has nearly 30 years of experience serving in numerous senior management roles across multiple industries, including private and public biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, venture capital, contract research and development, and law. Singh has a B.A. with honors from the University of California – Berkley. He has a J.D. degree from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. He is also a member of the State Bar of California.

H. Ralph Snodgrass, Ph.D., is the Founder, Chief Scientific Officer and Director of the company. Snodgrass has more than 20 years of experience in the biotechnology field as a senior manager. He is recognized as an expert in stem cell biology, with over 28 years of experience using stem cells as biological research tools to promote development and drug discovery. He received a Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Pennsylvania. Snodgrass has published over 50 scientific papers with more than 17 patents and a number of patent applications.

Mark A. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., is VistaGen's Chief Medical Officer He has over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, primarily with CNS drug development. Smith has been a successful leader in the discovery and development of approximately 20 investigational new drugs. He has been a part of numerous CNS-related clinical trials. Smith received a bachelor's and Master of Science from Yale University and a Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of California – San Diego. He completed his residency in the psychiatry department at Duke University Medical Center.

Jerrold D. Dotson, CPA, is the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of VistaGen. He has over 25 years of experience in senior management positions in finance and administration at both public and private companies. Dotson is a licensed CPA in California and received his B.S. degree (Cum Laude) in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Abilene Christian College.

Mark A. McPartland is the company's Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations. He has over 20 years of experience in senior management roles in corporate development and investor relations at both public and private companies. McPartland received his Bachelor's in business administration and marketing from Coastal Carolina University.