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This Month's Tiny Gems - June 2019
Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF)
City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR)
Endonovo Therapeutics Inc. (ENDV)
Genprex Inc. (NASDAQ: GNPX)
INmune Bio Inc. (NASDAQ: INMB)
IONIC Brands Corp. (CSE: IONC) (OTC: ZRRRF)
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTC: LXRP)
Nabis Holdings (CSE: NAB) (OTC: INNPF) (FRA: 71P)
Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE)
Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX.V: OGI) (NASDAQ: OGI)
Pressure BioSciences Inc. (PBIO)
Siyata Mobile Inc. (TSX.V: SIM) (OTCQX: SYATF)
Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF)
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTC: LXRP)
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTC: LXRP) has developed and out-licenses its proprietary technology for improved taste, rapidity, and delivery of bioactive compounds, including nicotine and cannabinoids. To achieve higher absorption rates and fast onset, consumers traditionally defaulted to smoking. Lexaria provides a superior administration method by delivering these substances through a patented process within edible food products, thus eliminating all the harmful health consequences of smoking.
Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF)
Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) is the venture capital investment platform of Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED, NYSE: CGC).
Canopy Rivers is a unique investment and operating platform structured to pursue investment opportunities in the emerging global cannabis sector. Canopy Rivers collaborates with Canopy Growth to identify strategic counterparties seeking financial and/or operating support. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Canopy Rivers has developed an ecosystem of complementary cannabis operating companies operating throughout the cannabis value chain.
Canopy Rivers, in collaboration with Canopy Growth, has established a diverse portfolio of cannabis industry investments that includes domestic and international companies, licensed producers, late-stage licensed producer applicants, pharmaceutical formulators, brand developers and distributors, retail networks, and technology and media platforms. Investments are customized for each counterparty and include a balanced mix of equity, debt, royalty and profit-sharing agreements.
Canopy Rivers' expanding portfolio includes:
As the company's portfolio continues to develop, each constituent benefits from opportunities to collaborate with Canopy Growth and among themselves. Canopy Rivers believes this formula results in an ideal environment for innovation, synergy and value creation for Canopy Rivers, Canopy Growth and across the entire Rivers ecosystem.
Canopy Rivers is led by an experienced team of qualified financial and technical professionals with deep industry experience and relationship networks. The company's acting CEO and chairman is Bruce Linton, CEO of Canopy Growth and founder of Tweed Marijuana.
City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR)
City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR) (formerly Icon Exploration Inc.) is a vertically integrated cannabis company focused on seed to retail. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, City View's application to Health Canada for an Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations ("ACMPR") license is now at the in-depth review stage of the licensing process. Following receipt of its Cannabis Act license, City View's production plans include producing high quality edible products, distillates, and water-soluble products for the rapidly expanding domestic and international CBD-infused (cannabidiol) beverage market.
City View leases a 40,000-square-foot facility located in Brantford, Ontario, which has earned the enviable reputation as a business-friendly city. Retrofit plans for the building include adding state-of-the-art LED lighting, HVAC and dehumidification systems in addition to automation technologies to optimize the quality, safety and consistency of cannabis production. About 4,000 square feet will be devoted to an extraction laboratory featuring an ultra-efficient CO2 supercritical extraction process with plans to include ethanol extraction technology in the future. Another 4.3 acres remains available for future construction of up to 125,000 square feet of grow and extraction space.
City View recently entered into an agreement to purchase supercritical fluid extraction equipment which is undeniably the best method of selectively and cost-effectively extracting pure cannabis extracts containing THC, CBD and terpenes from the cannabis plant.
"The system we have chosen replaces the current mismatched collection of manual and semi-automatic solutions we've explored and offers an integrated system which maximizes product quality while minimizing labor expenses and yield losses," City Green CEO Rob Fia said. "Our chosen supplier's patented and proprietary extraction system offers the most consistent results and highest yields, with no degradation of materials."
Mike Hagopian, the company's chief operations officer and "extraction guru," who most recently served the same role at Dose Oil, a licensed processor of cannabis extracts in Seattle, Washington, agrees.
"The equipment we have selected has been successfully used for a quarter century in fluid extraction and their methods have been applied to over 600 natural oils and compounds from over 300 different bio-botanical raw materials," Hagopian said. "We are very confident this equipment will establish us as a leader in the processing of high-quality THC and CBD extracts."
City Green's master grower/managing partner is Mario Meek, whose deep knowledge of the cannabis space includes 10 years of networking, growing and cultivation experience in the medical cannabis industry. Meek was an original founding partner of WeedMD and is experienced in every aspect of growing marijuana from seed to the finished product.
Adding depth to the team is quality assurance specialist Yan Hai, an accomplished professional with 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device, medical cannabis and natural health product industries. She holds a master's degree in chemical engineering and applied chemistry/biomaterials and biomedical engineering from the University of Toronto.
City View also owns a 19.9 percent stake in Budd Hutt Inc., a retail-focused cannabis company with access to multiple licenses in Alberta and other retail opportunities across Canada. City View expects to secure shelf space and distribution opportunities for its premium cannabis products through an agreement with Budd Hutt.
Market Opportunity
The Canadian medical cannabis market has steadily been growing with an average 10 percent increase in patients each month. Now that the Canadian federal government has legalized recreational cannabis for adult users nationwide, analysts project a compound annual growth rate of nearly 78 percent from 2018 to 2021, reaching an estimated $3 billion by 2021, ArcView Market Research reports. One study from Deloitte pegged the potential economic impact of legalized medical and recreational marijuana in Canada – including transportation, licensing fees and security – at more than $22 billion over the coming years. Health Canada's most recent data show that sales of cannabis extracts grew 961 percent in the second quarter of 2017, compared to an 89 percent increase in growth of dried cannabis during the same period.
Advisors to the Board
City Green CEO Rob Fia, CFA, is the former CEO of Icon Exploration Inc. and has more than 17 years of experience in the investment business, including equity research and corporate finance. Fia served as co-head of corporate finance at Kingsdale Capital Markets, involved in several multimillion-dollar financings and advisory transactions in the mining, oil and gas, alternative energy, technology, medical device, blockchain and medical marijuana industries.
Joe Heng, formerly CFO and secretary of Icon Exploration Inc., has over 36 years of industry experience in public accounting. He has been a self-employed Chartered Accountant since 1990 and received his designation form the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario in 1973. Heng holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Malaya.
Steve Naraine, MSc., is an associate professor, founder and chief science officer of Cannavida; director of Aether Research; and a consultant to Health Canada. Naraine is a highly published, well-respected author of several scientific papers and has successfully advised several companies on becoming licensed producers with Health Canada.
Stephen McNeill is managing partner in Q4 Communications, a marketing and digital advertising company, and was a founding director of Georgian Bay Biomed which is building a large-scale facility in Collingwood, Ontario. McNeill entered the medical marijuana industry in 2013 and has provided communication, community liaison and other consulting services to several companies seeking to become a licensed producer under Health Canada.
Ian MacDonald, project lead, is a C-level CPG industry veteran with 30 years of international experience. He has a proven track record of leading and transitioning companies to long-term sustainable growth and brings his knowledge and expertise from working in the highly regulated and competitive alcohol sector into the emerging cannabis industry.
Tim Peterson was recently appointed to the board of directors of the company. He has been a director of Augen Gold, Trelawney Mining, Northern Crown Capital, Inc. (a merchant banking firm), Process Capital, Nordex Explosives and Oxygen and Prescott Paper Products, as well as the Mississauga Hospital Foundation. Peterson received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Western Ontario and is a former Ontario MPP (Mississauga South).
Endonovo Therapeutics Inc. (ENDV)
Endonovo Therapeutics Inc. (ENDV) develops, manufactures and distributes evolutionary medical devices focused on the rapid healing of wounds and reduction of pain, edema and inflammation on and in the human body. These wearable, non-invasive medical devices are designed to deliver the company's proprietary, patent protected Electroceutical™ Therapy targeting inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease and central nervous system ("CNS") disorders.
In accord with its mission to transform the field of medicine through innovation, Endonovo's bioelectric Electroceutical™ devices harness bioelectricity to restore key electrochemical processes that initiate anti-inflammatory processes and growth factors in the body necessary for healing to rapidly occur. Endonovo's current portfolio of commercial-stage devices address chronic kidney disease, liver disease non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cardiovascular and peripheral artery disease (PAD), and ischemic stroke.
Flagship Therapy
SofPulse® Electroceutical ™ Therapy is an easy-to-place, non-invasive device that delivers pulsed electromagnetic frequencies to enhance post-surgical recovery. Used as a stand-alone therapy or integrated into any treatment protocol, SofPulse®'s targeted pulsed electromagnetic field (tPEMF) transmits gentle pulses to the tissue causing a positive biological effect to help reduce swelling and accelerate the body's natural recovery process. The low levels of electromagnetic fields are completely safe and are 1000 times lower than those emitted by a mobile phone.
Because SofPulse® lessens the pain of post-surgical recovery, the patient requires far less prescription medications, thereby minimizing or eliminating the adverse side effects of narcotics and anti-inflammatory medication. Studies have shown a greater than 2.2-fold reduction in narcotic use over the first 48 hours post-procedure. Patients with less pain and medication may move around sooner, which further stimulates the body's natural response to healing.
Certifications
Endonovo's Electroceutical™ Therapy is cleared by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration ("FDA") for the palliative treatment of pain and post-surgical edema (swelling) and is CE-marked in the European Economic Area ("EEA") for the promotion of wound healing and the palliative treatment of pain and post-surgical edema. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") has also certified Electroceutical™ Therapy for the treatment of chronic wounds.
Management
Alan Collier, Chairman and CEO
Alan Collier has more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance, IP development, telecommunications and technology, with a concentration in healthcare and technology over the past five years. Collier has served as CEO and director of IP Resources International Inc., where he was instrumental in developing a platform the for the licensing and acquisition of life science and technology companies. He has held numerous board and executive positions throughout his career in the telecommunications, technology, specialty finance, corporate finance and healthcare industries. Collier has previously held FINRA Series 7, 79, 63 and 24 licenses.
Michael Scott Mann, President
Michael Scott Mann has over 30 years of experience in merger and acquisitions and operational management. In 2008, Mann acquired the assets of Hanover Asset Management, now Endonovo Therapeutics Inc., and led the company to become listed on the OTCBB in 2012. He was the founder, president and CEO of Frankfurt-listed U.S. Debt Settlement Inc. (USDS), where he implemented a growth by acquisition strategy.
Don Calabria, Chief Operating Officer
Don Calabria has over 20 years of leadership and experience in national business operations to emerging growth companies, mergers and acquisitions, finance and business development. Calabria holds an MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University and a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University.
Nevena Zubcevik, Chief Medical Officer
Nevena Zubcevik, D.O., MSPT, ATC, on July 1, 2019, will lead Endonovo's medical and clinical strategy, including the development and regulatory matters and new business development. Zubcevik, a licensed physician and educator, has more than 24 years of experience in the medical field and was an attending physician at Harvard Medical School/Partners Healthcare in the physical medicine and rehabilitation department.
Steven Ford, Vice President of Marketing
Steven Ford has 25 years of experience in the field of medical devices, including experience in sales management, product management, product development, business development and research & development at companies such as Baxter, CR Bard, Ethicon, Allergan, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and Alphatec Spine. Throughout Ford's career, he has led and participated on over 75 product development teams and has launched over 50 medical devices globally. Ford is an innovative problem solver and has many patents in the areas of hemostasis, sealing and tissue reconstruction. Most recently, Steve was the U.S. vice president of marketing for Biom'up where he was a co-lead on the high-profile successful launch of their surgical hemostat HEMOBLAST Bellows. Steve holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from California State University.
David Clark, Vice President of Sales
David Clark has extensive surgical device commercial experience which includes 25 years in the surgical device industry with leading companies including Medtronic and Baxter Healthcare. Most recently, Clark was the U.S. executive vice president of sales for Biom'up where he was a co-lead in the high-profile successful launch of their surgical hemostat HEMOBLAST. As part of the launch, he built and led the U.S. sales team which included over 200 in-direct sales representatives and direct commercial leadership. During his 15 years with Baxter, the BioSurgery Division grew from a small revenue business into a major market player in the advanced hemostasis space with products such as FloSeal and Tisseel. Clark has a bachelor's degree in economics from Rutgers University.
Roc Alan McCarthy, Scientific Advisory Board Member
Roc Alan McCarthy, D.O, will help Endonovo continue to advance its clinical pipeline and contribute to the strategic and clinical development oversight of the company. McCarthy is a urologist in North Carolina, currently serving as the robotic surgeon and chairman of the robotics committee at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
Genprex Inc. (NASDAQ: GNPX)
Genprex Inc. (NASDAQ: GNPX) is a clinical-stage gene therapy company developing potentially life-changing technologies for cancer patients based upon a unique proprietary technology platform, including Genprex's initial product candidate, Oncoprex™ immunogene therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Genprex's platform technologies are designed to administer cancer-fighting genes by encapsulating them into nanoscale hollow spheres called nanovesicles, which are then administered intravenously and taken up by tumor cells where they express proteins that are missing or found in low quantities.
Research and Development
Genprex holds a portfolio of 30 issued and two pending patents covering its technologies and targeted molecular therapies. The company's research and development program is focused on identifying and developing leading-edge gene therapies that can be used alone or in combination with other therapies for treatment of cancer.
Genprex's initial product candidate is Oncoprex™, an immunogene therapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Oncoprex works by interrupting cell signaling pathways that cause replication and proliferation of cancer cells, re-establishes pathways for apoptosis (or programmed cell death) in cancer cells, and modulates the immune response against cancer cells. Oncoprex has also been shown to block mechanisms that create drug resistance.
Preclinical research is being conducted with the goal of developing Oncoprex to be administered with targeted therapies in other solid tumors, and with immunotherapies in NSCLC and other solid tumors. In addition, Genprex has conducted and plans to continue research into other tumor suppressor genes associated with chromosome 3p21.3, as well as other potential applications of the company's immunogene therapy platform.
Clinical Trials
Genprex is currently conducting the second phase of a phase I/II clinical trial at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The company plans to expand its clinical program by adding a new clinical study evaluating Oncoprex™ in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor for treatment of Stage IV or recurrent NSCLC. In research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research in Washington, D.C., Genprex's collaborators showed that TUSC2 in combination with PD-1 checkpoint inhibition has a significantly greater anti-tumor effect in lung cancer than either agent alone. The research also shows that TUSC2 in combination with PD-1 blockade has synergistic activity in upregulating natural killer (NK) cells, correlating with prolonged survival in mice.
TUSC2 (Tumor Suppressor Candidate 2) is a tumor suppressor gene that is absent or deficient in cancer cells of many different cancer types.
The Market
Genprex technologies seek to bridge a critical gap by combining with targeted therapies and immunotherapies to provide treatments to large patient populations who would otherwise not be candidates for those therapies or who have become resistant to them. Genprex technologies are being developed to overcome genomic limitations which are inherent in targeted therapies and immunotherapies in order to provide new treatment solutions to large cancer populations, such as those with lung cancer.
Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85 percent of all lung cancers, according to the American Cancer Society ("ACS"). Despite radical advances in drug development and novel therapeutic standards, survival for late stage lung cancer has not improved significantly in the past 25 years.
Senior Management
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J. Rodney Varner, JD, is a co-founder of Genprex and has served in these roles since August 2012. He has more than 35 years of legal experience with large and small law firms and as outside general counsel of a Nasdaq-listed company. Varner has served as counsel in company formation, mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, other business transactions, protection of trade secrets and other intellectual property, real estate, and business litigation. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Court and the U.S. Tax Court.
Julien L. Pham, M.D., MPH, is president and chief operating officer of Genprex. In March 2013, Dr. Pham co-founded RubiconMD, a healthcare IT company that connects primary care providers to specialists for additional guidance and opinions on medical cases and served as its chief medical officer. He has served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital and is a board-certified internal medicine doctor and nephrologist.
Ryan M. Confer, MS, has served as Genprex chief financial officer since September 2016. Confer has more than 10 years of executive experience in planning, launching, developing, and growing emerging technology companies and has served in the chief operating and chief financial roles for non-profit and for-profit entities since 2008. Confer has also served as an international business development consultant for the University of Texas at Austin's IC2 Institute, where he focused on evaluating the commercialization potential of nascent technologies in domestic and international markets applicable to technology incubator programs associated with the University. Confer holds a BS in finance and legal studies from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and an MS in technology commercialization from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Jan Stevens, RN, is vice president of Clinical Operations. Stevens has nearly 20 years of comprehensive clinical operations experience in the biopharma industry and a specialization in early-to-late stage oncology companies. Stevens joined the company to help support the various clinical development programs for Oncoprex™.
INmune Bio Inc. (NASDAQ: INMB)
INmune Bio Inc. (NASDAQ: INMB) is a diversified clinical-stage immunology company developing novel therapies that target distinct parts of a patient's innate immune system to fight disease. Drug candidates INKmune™ and INB03 may be used to treat cancer while XPro1595 targets neuroinflammation as a cause of Alzheimer's disease. INmune Bio's product platforms utilize a precision therapy approach to promote the body's innate immune response to treat unsolved problems in medicine.
INmune Bio is the first biotechnology company to close an initial public offering (IPO) in 2019 and commence trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market. The company also received a "Part the Cloud" award from the Alzheimer's Association in 2018 which included a $1 million grant to advance INmune Bio's XPro1595 drug candidate.
INmune Bio's product pipeline targets three segments of concern:
INmune Bio Drug Candidates and Clinical Programs
INKmune is a biologic delivery system that primes a patient's resting NK cells to kill cancer. INKmune targets residual disease for patients that have completed initial cancer therapy (surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy) and have a low burden of disease with a high risk of relapse.
In late 2019, INKmune will start enrolling patients in a phase I/II trial for women with relapsed refractory ovarian cancer. In many patients, cancer relapse after seemingly effective cancer therapy is due to a failure of the patients own NK cells to eliminate minimal residual disease ("MRD").
Using a novel mechanism of action and a precision medicine approach, INKmune therapy should enhance NK cells' ability to eliminate residual disease.
INB03 is a checkpoint inhibitor that targets myeloid derived suppressor cells ("MDSC") which can produce an immunosuppressive shield that prevents a patient's own immune system from attacking the cancer. INmune Bio is currently completing a monotherapy INB03 phase I trial in patients with advanced solid tumors. The INB03 program will transition into a combination therapy clinical program in the summer of 2019 to prepare for a phase II trial in patients resistant to checkpoint inhibitors due to increased MDSC.
Treatment with INB03 should eliminate MDSC in the tumor microenvironment to allow checkpoint inhibitors to be therapeutically effective.
XPro1595 targets the microglial immune cells of the brain that are activated in many Alzheimer's disease patients. These microglial cells are a cause of neuroinflammation that can kill nerve cells and promote synaptic dysfunction – the cause of dementia in Alzheimer's.
The three-month, phase I trial is expected to enroll 18 patients in summer of 2019. It is designed to measure traditional and novel biomarkers of inflammation in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease who have neuroinflammation. The trial is supported by a $1 million "Part the Cloud" grant from the Alzheimer's Association. Inflammation, especially chronic inflammation, is being recognized as an important part of the pathology of many diseases including cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Management
Dr. RJ Tesi, M.D., INmune Bio co-founder, CEO and acting chief medical officer, has been a licensed physician since 1982 and a Fellow of the American College of Surgery since 1991. He received his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in 1982 and has served many roles in several development-stage biotech companies focused on treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hematologic malignancies, and other inflammatory diseases.
CFO David J. Moss co-founder, has been with the company since its formation in September 2015. He holds an MBA from Rice University and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California, San Diego. Moss has founded, funded and taken public various companies in a variety of industries since 1995.
Mark Lowdell, Ph.D. co-founder, has served as the chief scientific officer and chief manufacturing officer at INmune Bio since the company's formation. He is a professor of cell and tissue therapy at University College London where he has led a translational immunotherapy group since 1994. He has also been a director of cellular therapy at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. He received his Ph.D. in clinical immunology from London Hospital Medical College, University of London in 1992 and is a qualified immunopathologist.
Christopher J. Barnum is director of neuroscience at INmune Bio. Barnum is a neuroimmunologist with broad expertise across neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases holding multiple positions in academic and industry. His focus has been on translating inflammatory therapies into clinical treatments for neurologic diseases using a biomarker-directed approach. Barnum's research has been supported by the NIH, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the Alzheimer's Association. He received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Binghamton University.
IONIC Brands Corp. (CSE: IONC) (OTC: ZRRRF)
IONIC Brands Corp. (CSE: IONC) (OTC: ZRRRF) is a national cannabis holding company building a multistate portfolio of award-winning premium and luxury brands in the cannabis space. Established in 2015, IONIC Brands has demonstrated its ability to expand and operate multiple cannabis concentrate consumer brands in markets across the western United States. The company continues to strategically expand nationwide to remain a leader of the highest-value segments in the cannabis market.
With a focus on quality, responsibility and respectability, IONIC's product lines are pioneering the changing landscape of cannabis consumption. The company's refinement practices are a result of a passionate commitment to craft the finest, small-batch cannabis oils and cannabis concentrates in the world – without glycols, glycerins or additives.
IONIC's Certified Clean program verifies that every product leaving the company's facilities meets or exceeds state mandates on pesticide testing. The testing is conducted by individually testing every batch which ensures and enhances trust and transparency. IONIC recently paired its Certified Clean program with Lucid Green Inc. and its revolutionary technology platform designed to provide vital safety information. Lucid Green's technology provides a direct-to-consumer data platform, providing instant access to a library of product specific insights by simply scanning the package's QR code with a smartphone camera.
Elite Brand Portfolio/Acquisitions
IONIC has also acquired two U.S. patents issued to Canna Café that are related to cannabinoid (CBD) infused coffee and CBD-infused coffee in a Keurig ® K-Cup ® Pod. An international patent is in process for cannabis-infused teas.
Experienced Management Team
IONIC Brands is led by an innovative product team, powerful sales organization and a world-class marketing group.
Chairman & CEO John Gorst has built and sold four different technology companies with market valuations in excess of $600 million. Gorst has been at the forefront of IONIC's expansion and development into Washington state's leading vaporizer brand.
Andrew Schell, President, Vice-Chairman & Co-Founder, has built several successful companies. Schell has an engineering background rounded in operations, strategy and corporate law, and most recently was CEO of a U.S. Department of Defense company specializing in military operations.
Christian Struzan, Chief Marketing Officer & Co-Founder, has over 30 years of experience in marketing and branding in the entertainment and consumer goods industries. Struzan founded an advertising agency which developed and executed marketing campaigns for feature films such as the Star Wars franchise, Fight Club, and the television series American Idol. He has also worked on global brands such as Guinness, Stella Artois and Beck's.
Johnny Stange, Chief Revenue Officer, was formerly a director of sales for the southern California region for Treasury Wine Estates, a major wine wholesaler, where he grew and oversaw annual sales of $250 million. Stange is leading the charge in IONIC's aggressive sales growth plans across multiple states.
In 2018, IONIC was voted one of the "Top 50 Companies to Work for in Cannabis" by MG Magazine, a publication serving cannabis industry professionals.
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTC: LXRP)
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTC: LXRP) has developed and out-licenses its proprietary technology for improved taste, rapidity, and delivery of bioactive compounds, including nicotine and cannabinoids. To achieve higher absorption rates and fast onset, consumers traditionally defaulted to smoking. Lexaria provides a superior administration method by delivering these substances through a patented process within edible food products, thus eliminating all the harmful health consequences of smoking.
Lexaria's technology is unique in that it takes advantage of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) food ingredients processed with its patented DehydraTECHTM technology to improve taste, remove odor, and decrease the time to onset of bitter-tasting drugs. Lexaria is primarily a B2B enterprise and has existing cannabinoid licensing agreements with companies in Canada, the largest-market states in the United States, and internationally. Lexaria has entered into a R&D partnership with one of the largest cigarette companies in the world for oral forms of nicotine delivery. Lexaria has also developed its own brands partly for demonstration purposes, utilizing its patented technology to infuse hemp oil ingredients within popular foods such as coffee, tea, and supplements. These brands include ViPova™ and TurboCBD™.
In 2015, Lexaria commissioned an independent third-party lab to test its technology under carefully monitored in vitro conditions. Results showed that the company's technological process and lipid formulation improve intestinal absorption as much as 500%. Lexaria has conducted multiple rounds of studies including in vivo and human clinical. In absorption studies conducted on rats, for example, Lexaria detected nicotine in the animal's bloodstream just two minutes after it entered the stomach. In a randomized, double blinded human clinical study, cannabidiol (CBD) was measure in the human bloodstream at a 317% higher rate 30 minutes after swallowing a capsule processed with DehydraTECH than a non-enhanced capsule of equal strength.
Lexaria also has an R&D partnership with the Canadian government's National Research Council. That R&D is expected to characterize molecular bond formation theorized to occur with Lexaria's unique technology between the lipid delivery agents and the bioactive substances it processes and combines. Results from this R&D have helped support B2B relationships with Fortune 500 companies. Lexaria has four distinct subsidiaries that focus on different market sectors: Hemp/CBD; Pharmaceutical; Cannabis; and Nicotine.
Aside from testing, a critical component of Lexaria Bioscience's business model is a strong and growing intellectual property portfolio. As of the end of 2018, the company's patent portfolio includes 53 patent applications filed and pending in more than 40 countries around the world; and 10 patents granted to date. Lexaria is expecting additional new patent awards both in the U.S. and internationally in 2019 and beyond. Some of its more recent areas of investigation have included human hormones and erectile dysfunction substances, among others.
Royalties play a vital role in Lexaria's revenue-generating business model. The company out-licenses its technology (royalty) to third-partners and has signed royalty deals with start-up companies as well as with a Fortune 100. The company's growth initiatives are guided by a management team headed by CEO Chris Bunka, a serial entrepreneur who has contributed to several multi-hundred million-dollar valuations over the course of his career. He is supported by a growing team of professionals with extensive experience in pharmaceutical and bioscience sectors, invention, toxicology, consumer goods, and other relevant skillsets.
Nabis Holdings (CSE: NAB) (OTC: INNPF) (FRA: 71P)
Nabis Holdings (CSE: NAB) (OTC: INNPF) (FRA: 71P), dba Innovative Properties Inc., is a Canadian investment company pursuing interests in high-quality cash-flow assets in real property, securities, cryptocurrency and all branches of the cannabis sector. The company's focus on strategic revenue generation, EBITDA and growth is enshrined in its moto, "One team. One goal," and is reflected in its name: "Na bis," which is defined as, "repeat performance" or "encore."
Strategy
While the Nabis' targets span numerous industries, the company aims to establish an Anchor Investment Portfolio primarily through the acquisition of majority interests in high quality U.S. cannabis assets and brands that have achieved cash flow. The company will then employ a hands-on approach to assist the investee in implementing standards and consistency to enhance their operations.
Criteria for investment targets are as follows:
Current Endeavors
Nabis has completed investments in five Michigan properties with Cannabis provisioning, processing and cultivation licenses. The Company has also entered into binding Letters of Intent ("LOI") to invest in vertically integrated assets in Michigan, Arizona and Washington State. The company's goal is to be invested in four to five additional states in the coming months.
Arizona – LOI to acquire full control of Organica Patient Group Inc. ("OPG") and RDF Management Group. OPG is a fully integrated medical marijuana business licensed under the provisions of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. Its assets include the Chino Valley MMJ Dispensary and fully established Patient Group, which since 2012 has operated as "Organica Patient Group" in Chino Valley. OPG also operates a 26,000-square-foot indoor cultivation and processing center along with a 56,600-square-foot greenhouse in Prescott Valley; has its own branded products and wholesale operations which includes distribution to more than 25% of the dispensaries in Arizona; and has exclusive manufacturing and licensing agreements with Fire Brand, Gas Extracts and Donuts Concentrate products distributed within Arizona.
Michigan – LOIs to invest in multiple strategically located properties that have or are eligible for municipal approvals for provisioning centers in Michigan. The company is currently evaluating 10 to 15 additional municipally approved locations in Michigan that would substantially increase the company's overall presence in the U.S. cannabis space.
Washington State – LOI to purchase assets from PDT Technologies LLC, including extraction and production equipment and rights to lease the current production facility in Port Townsend, Wash. The LOI includes licensing rights to produce Chong's Choice Brand CO2 Vape Cartridges, one of the leading and most recognizable brands in the cannabis space. Expansion plans include construction of a new ISO designed extraction clean room and GMP lab facility with new, highly specialized equipment with two extraction lines. The facility could produce up to 20,500 kg of cannabis concentrate on an annual basis.
Hivemind Refinery – LOI to invest in a 70% interest of Hivemind Refinery, an established line of CBD-based wellness products in the United States. The investment into Hivemind expands Nabis' investment portfolio to CBD edibles, water, drops, lotions, and other CBD wellness products across the spectrum. Nabis anticipates Hivemind will be a premium consumer CBD line to be distributed across the U.S. and Canada and will focus on products utilizing locally grown, premium CBD along with unique formulations and delivery systems.
Bloombox – binding term sheet with Momentum Ideas Co. to acquire certain assets used and marketed under the brand "Bloombox," a leading intelligent retail cannabis software platform that includes the Bloombox Software and data platform. The acquisition of Bloombox will create a dominating presence in the U.S. cannabis market, featuring an integrated ecosystem of modern, next-generation cannabis technology. Bloombox is one of the world's first standards-based cannabis software systems, enabling frictionless integration with nearly any business system or regulatory body.
Proven Management Team
CEO and Director Shay Shnet has over 20 years of experience in business and was most recently a founding partner and vice president of operations of MPX Bioceutical (CSE: MPX). While at MPX, Shnet focused on the North American cannabis space and helped build the company's portfolio of international cannabis assets. He is highly skilled in finding unique opportunities and has been directly involved with the development, branding, importing, consumer packaging and distribution of a wide variety of product lines.
President Mark Krytiuk is a very successful cannabis operator and was a founding partner of MPX. As the vice president of grow operations of MPX, he oversaw the production of medical marijuana and pharma-grade products across North America. He has been directly involved in overseeing the rapid expansion and buildout of nine facilities in three countries with budgets ranging up to $30 million. Krytiuk's experience includes consulting and working with customers to develop individual requirements for indoor and outdoor cannabis cultivation while working with federal regulators and licensing bodies to ensure compliance.
Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE)
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. Internationally, Net Element's strategy is to leverage its omni-channel platform to deliver flexible offerings to emerging markets with diverse banking, regulatory and demographic conditions.
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:
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 Unifed Payments, Net Element is transforming the online and mobile experience.
Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX.V: OGI) (NASDAQ: OGI)
Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX.V: OGI) (NASDAQ: OGI) (FSE: YG3) is the parent company of Organigram Inc., a leading Canadian licensed producer ("LP") of high-quality cannabis and extract-based products. Founded in 2013, Organigram is focused on producing high quality, indoor-grown cannabis for patients and adult recreational consumers in Canada, as well as developing international business partnerships to expand the Company's global footprint.
The Company has distribution arrangements in all 10 provinces1. Organigram delivers industry-leading yields and maximizes quality cannabis production at the lowest cultivation cost per gram among publicly reporting Canadian LPs.
Financial Results
In Q2 2019, the Company reported record net revenue of C$26.9 million, cash cost of cultivation of C$0.65 per gram, industry leading gross margin of C$16 million or 60% and adjusted EBITDA of C$13.3 million or margin of 49%, positive for the third consecutive quarter.
Significant Expansion Plans with Streamlined Licensing Process
Located in Moncton, New Brunswick, Organigram's production facility and research & development program includes a state of the art, indoor 3-tier cultivation system which maximizes facility square footage. Its Phase 4 expansion project is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 for increased target production capacity of 113,000 kg/year (249,000 lbs)2. As the Company expands its cultivation and processing capacities, Organigram is able to file amendments to the existing facility and each new production area is largely a replica of previously licensed areas, which results in a relatively streamlined and predictable licensing process with Health Canada.
In addition to increased production capacity from Phase 4, Organigram's Phase 5 expansion includes plans for additional extraction capacity and its own edibles facility. Construction is expected to be substantially completed in October 2019.
Proprietary Technology
The Company's indoor facility allows for control of all critical facets of the lighting and environmental elements to drive maximum quality and yield in the plants. The Company's in-house proprietary information technology system, called OrganiGrow, tracks grow cycles, environmental conditions and other factors to optimize cultivation.
Numerous design and automation improvements include automated potting, pre-roll and packaging machines, and larger propagation rooms with advanced environmental systems.
Well Positioned for Canada's Legalization of Edibles and Other Derivatives Products
Through its facility expansions, partnerships and research and development, the Company is well-positioned to capture further growth from the legalization of edibles and derivative products expected in October 2019. Its initial product focus is on vaporizable products and edibles.
Organigram's development of a shelf-stable, thermally stable, water-soluble and tasteless cannabinoid nano-emulsion formulation may provide for an initial onset of effect within 10 to 15 minutes in a beverage. Non-cannabis formulations with a similar molecule size are water-soluble in humans (i.e., absorbed through the bloodstream rather than requiring first-pass liver metabolism, which results in longer onset and duration uncertainty). The Company expects to receive research and development licensing in the near term, at which point testing will be conducted to confirm the onset and duration.
Organigram has entered into an exclusive consulting agreement with The Green Solution (TGS), a proven market leader based in Denver, Colorado for the development of commercial scale extraction and derivative product development in Canada. Organigram's partnership with Canada's Smartest Kitchen, a leader in food product development, will expand the Company's edibles R&D program.
The Company recently announced a C$15 million investment commitment in a high-speed, high-capacity, fully automated production line with a capacity of 4 million kilograms of exceptional chocolate cannabis edibles per year.
Organigram also has a multiyear extraction contract with Valens GroWorks Corp. to produce extract concentrate for oils and other derivative products.
Disruptive Technology
Through its partnership with Hyasynth Biologicals Inc., a biotech company and leader in the field of cannabinoid science and biosynthesis, Organigram has invested in a potentially disruptive technology that uses patented yeast strains and enzymes to naturally produce cannabinoids without growing the cannabis plant. This process has the potential to create a global supply of pure cannabinoids at a fraction of the cost of traditional cultivation. Organigram views this investment as providing early access to what it expects to be the future of cannabinoid production – cost-effectiveness, purity and scalability.
International
Organigram believes there will be increasing demand for CBD in Canada and beyond. As such, the Company has invested in Alpha-Cannabis Germany (ACG) and expects to provide ACG with flower for conversion into extracts. ACG is a medical cannabis provider serving the largest legalized medical market in Europe. The Company anticipates entering into an agreement with ACB to purchase pure synthetic CBD isolate in the future.
Organigram is also invested in Eviana Health Corp. (CSE: EHC), a Serbian-based company with hemp farming and processing assets.
Experienced Executive Team
This profile contains certain non-IFRS performance measures including cash and all-in cost of cultivation per gram, net revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted gross margin which are not calculated in accordance with IFRS and may not be comparable to similar data presented by other companies. Please see the company's Q2 2019 MD&A.
1 Subject to final regulatory approval from Quebec
2 Several factors can cause actual capacity and costs to differ from estimates. See "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's Q2 2019 MD&A and "Risk Factors" in the latest Annual Information Form.
Pressure BioSciences Inc. (PBIO)
Pressure BioSciences Inc. (PBIO) develops, markets and sells proprietary laboratory instrumentation and associated consumables to the life sciences sample preparation market. Sample preparation refers to the wide range of activities that precede most forms of scientific analysis. It is often complex and time-consuming, yet a critical part of scientific research. The market for sample preparation products is currently estimated at $6 billion worldwide.
The Company's product line can be used to exquisitely control the sample preparation process. It is based on a patented, enabling technology platform called pressure cycling technology ("PCT"). PCT uses alternating cycles of hydrostatic pressure between ambient (14.5 psi) and ultra-high levels (up to 100,000 psi) to safely and reproducibly control critical biological processes, such as the lysis (breakage) of cells, the digestion of proteins, and the inactivation of pathogens.
Pressure BioSciences' product line is led by its newly released, next-generation Barocycler 2320EXTREME instrument. Named a finalist in the prestigious 2017 R&D Awards (also known as the "Oscars of Innovation"), the Barocycler 2320EXT is already being touted by some key opinion leaders as an essential element of the $1.8 billion U.S. "Cancer Moonshot" program. For example, Professor Phil Robinson, Co-head of the cancer research center of the Children's Medical Research Institute (Sydney, Australia), said in a recent interview: "We are collecting the whole proteome on 70,000 tumor samples from all classes where complete clinical outcome is known. Due to its unique capabilities, the Barocycler 2320EXT has become a critical part of our program. It is the primary enabler of the high-throughput component of the project. Without this step, our project simply could not be done. In fact, the Barocycler 2320EXT works so well we have just purchased two more."
Momentum is building when it comes to the potential for using the Company's unique PCT technology platform. Leading scientists are intrigued by Pressure BioSciences' approach, which among other attributes, revolutionizes the process of rupturing cells (lysis) for further study, yielding superior biomolecules for investigation. The Company's technology transcends current methods of breaking open cells, which use chemicals, blades, metal beads, or other damaging and altering methods that can ultimately adversely affect the result for researchers. Pressure BioSciences' PCT technology utilizes customized, controlled hydrostatic (water) pressure to rupture cells in a chamber, enabling exquisitely customized levels of pressure to optimally break open different types of cells at prescribed pressure levels—something never before accomplished in a commercial setting. Using this pioneering method, the result is a truer, more legitimate sample, which boosts the efficacy of research and the quality of results. The potential impact of this technology on scientific advancement is enormous, enabling research scientists to begin their studies with biological samples of unprecedented integrity, with the potential to improve research outcomes at the earliest, most critical step. PCT can additionally inactivate pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria) using hydrostatic pressure, making the samples safer to study—another innovation with astronomical potential for application in a variety of markets.
The Company's high-pressure instruments for research purposes are marketed throughout the United States, Europe, China and Japan. To date, Pressure BioSciences has installed nearly 300 PCT Systems in over 165 leading academic, government, biotech and pharma laboratories around the world. Its primary applications are in biomarker discovery, forensics, agriculture and pathology. Over 100 scientific papers have been published on the advantages of the PCT platform, which is also being used in the specialized fields of drug discovery and design, bio-therapeutics characterization, soil and plant biology, vaccine development and histology.
Impressive as their biotech business is, there is more to the PBI story. Pressure BioSciences recently received two patents in China for its novel Ultra Shear Technology (UST), a process that has potential in a wide range of industrial applications, including extending the shelf life of some food products and making two insoluble liquids (like oil in water) soluble. Patents have also been filed in many other countries worldwide. UST is a novel technique based on the use of intense shear forces generated from ultra-high-pressure valve discharge.
This important technology has the potential to play a significant role in a number of commercially important areas through its ability to create high-quality, stable nanoemulsions. Scientific studies indicate that improved absorption, higher bioavailability, greater stability, lower surfactant levels and other advantages can be achieved with nanoemulsions – all hugely important factors in the fields of nutraceuticals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and in various medical products. There is an enormous opportunity in the cannabis market, since the technology can potentially reduce oil droplets containing cannabidiol (CBD) to nanoparticles, after which they can be safely suspended in a stable water solution—something many companies have endeavored to achieve without success. Researchers looking for a way to increase the bioavailability of cannabinoids in the body will find this technology a game changer.
The Company's UST technology also has possibilities in the production of clean label foods, which are currently processed using several innovative methods, including high-pressure treatments (such as Starbucks' Evolution line of juices). In 2015, the worldwide market for high-pressure processed (HPP) food was estimated at U.S. $10 billion. UST uses ultra-high pressures and certain valves to generate intense shear forces under controlled temperature conditions to produce nanoemulsions, and which also significantly reduces food-borne pathogens. Pressure BioSciences' initial focus with this technology will be to evaluate UST for the production of high-quality dairy products and beverages.
Siyata Mobile Inc. (TSX.V: SIM) (OTCQX: SYATF)
Siyata Mobile Inc. (TSX.V: SIM) (OTCQX: SYATF) is a leading global developer and provider of Push-to-Talk Over Cellular ("PTT/PoC") systems for enterprise customers. The company specializes in connected vehicle products for professional fleets and markets its products under the Uniden® Cellular brand.
Since its inception in 2012, Siyata has amassed a customer base that includes cellular operators, commercial vehicle technology distributors, and fleets of all sizes in Canada, the U.S., Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
Recognized by the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange in 2018 as a Venture Top 50 Company, Siyata aims to deliver the highest quality and most technologically advanced mobile communication devices for global corporate workforces, fleets, homes and buildings.
The company has long been an industry pioneer, delivering the world's first 3G connected vehicle device as well as the world's first 4G/LTE vehicle-mounted smartphone for First Responders and commercial fleets and vehicles, thereby creating a new category in the cellular device market with a dedicated smartphone tailor-made for the commercial vehicle market.
Siyata is headquartered in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Product Portfolio
Siyata's suite of technology includes numerous PTT and legacy devices, as well as cellular boosters designed to improve cellular signals in corporate warehouses, government embassies, retirement home campuses, banks and manufacturing plants.
The company's flagship product, the Uniden UV350, is the world's first vehicle-mounted 4G/LTE smartphone with crystal clear quality, carrier grade PTT, voice, text, video and data applications built into a single device. Specifically designed for First Responder and commercial fleet vehicles, the UV350 runs on cellular LTE networks that provide nationwide and global coverage, replacing traditional single purpose two-way radios that require a monthly fee and limited network coverage.
The Uniden UV350 is currently available through Bell Mobility, Canada's largest LTE network and PTT community, as well as AT&T in the U.S. Further expanding its availability, Siyata is completing network approval with another U.S. Tier 1 operator to launch the UV350 in Q3 2019.
Management Team
CEO and Chairman Marc Seelenfreund is the founder of Siyata. He is also the founder of Siyata's parent company, Accel Telecom, an Israel-based company that specializes in importing and distributing innovative cellular and IP devices to fixed line operators and mobile providers within Israel. Prior to establishing Accel, Seelenfreund was a vice president at Sunrise Corporation in New York where he focused on financing publicly traded technology companies. Seelenfreund has a law degree from Bar Ilan University, is a board member at Israel's leading private university, and has served as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces.
Glenn Kennedy, vice president of sales, has over 25 years of sales experience in the telecommunications industry. Prior to joining Siyata in 2016, Kennedy managed sales nationally for Motorola Canada, HTC Communications Canada, and Sonim Technologies. He holds a bachelor's degree in honors business administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
CFO Gerald Bernstein, a professional chartered accountant, has spent 20 years focusing on private equity financing and tax efficient corporate structuring in multi-jurisdictional arenas. He holds a bachelor's degree of commerce as well as a graduate diploma in public accountancy from McGill University. Bernstein has been a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants since 1987.
Gidi Bracha, vice president of technology, has served in this position since 2011 and spearheaded the development of both the Truckfone, Voyager and UV350. Bracha served in various key positions at Cellcom, Israel's leading cellular provider, including head of car mobility products and director of type approvals. Bracha served as an engineer technician in the Anti-Aircraft division of the Air Force in the Israel Defense Forces and holds a bachelor's degree in engineering and business management from the University of Derby.
Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF)
Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF WLDFF) is a public cannabis company developing and designing brands that focus on plant-based wellness and health products. Wildflower markets its full-spectrum CBD products to retailers in the health and wellness space throughout the United States and in legal cannabis markets in accordance with regulations marketing its THC and CBD products.
Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Wildflower employs a unique and holistic business model that encompasses research and development, manufacturing, distribution, marketing and retail. First launched in 2012 as a private company with a cannabis-focused brand, Wildflower went public in 2014 and has since reached numerous significant milestones in its drive to create brands that work in synergy toward becoming a global wellness brand leader.
Gathered within the growing family of Wildflower brands are the following entities:
Using the slogan "Plants Heal," Wildflower's distribution network in the U.S. includes 200+ retailers in Washington state and 20+ retailers in New York City. Wildflower has also partnered with Retail Worx to establish shop-in-shop retail locations in the heart of New York City which pairs nicely with the introduction of Wildflower into existing Bridges General's stores in New York City and San Francisco. Through this partnership with Retail Worx, Wildflower by Bridges General stores will have exclusive product offerings in addition to the full lineup of existing Wildflower Wellness CBD products. Distribution in other U.S. markets includes 80+ wellness and healthcare practitioners with a total distribution of over 300 stores nationwide.
Wildflower holds 14 California cannabis licenses that cover recreational and medical cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and retail/delivery in the jurisdictions of California state and the city of Los Angeles. Opportunities to activate these licenses creates the phenomenal potential of driving significant revenues while minimizing risk. Expansion plans into Canada are underway with discussions centered on retail acquisitions and Wildflower launching into over-the-counter market with its CBD product line. Global expansion is a key part of Wildflower's strategy with initial plans aimed at specific international markets where regulatory hurdles are less restrictive.
In December 2018, Wildflower began on-demand, legal and licensed cannabis delivery services to adult consumers in the Los Angeles area and has hired dozens of full-time delivery drivers to accommodate this unmet need. Wildflower has partnered with leading technology and logistics company Eaze.com to help route deliveries efficiently, manage inventory and comply with California law. Providing legal, licensed delivery services helps to ensure that all adults including those with mobility challenges and limited access to transportation services can purchase high quality, legal cannabis products.
Wildflower's direct-to-consumer online store sales have shown an organic growth. The Company recently achieved over 300 percent growth in online sales since January 2018 with annualized revenues exceeding $1 million for online sales only, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of increased revenue.
Core Team
William MacLean is the founder and CEO of Wildflower Brands Inc. His involvement in all aspects of the business from product R&D to manufacturing setup has led the Company to its current success. MacLean is a seasoned sales professional with over 20 years of experience in various industries from advertising and marketing to medical sales. While in the advertising and marketing space, his clients included major brands including: Bell, Remax, BC Hydro, and Royal Bank.
CFO Stephen Pearce is a director and officer of a number of public companies in the resource sector. His professional experience as a practicing attorney is primarily in corporate and securities work. Pearce's academic background includes an honors bachelor's degree in economics from York University, in which he focused specifically on corporate finance. Pearce obtained a law degree from the University of British Columbia.
Alfred Kee, COO, is a business technology leader with over 15 years of experience in building high performing teams at small startups to large enterprises. With foundations in running large scale business critical technology and user experience product management mindset, Kee excels at guiding teams to deliver business value with agility. His knowledge and experience were honed while working with Electronic Arts, KPMG, CenturyLink, Cisco and Apple, as well as a string of successful startups. Lee brings a global perspective having lived and worked through parts of the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia.
Creative Director Amy Yamamura is a founding member of Wildflower and has been a driving force behind the Company from the start, creating the Wildflower brand. After receiving a bachelor's degree in communications from Boston University, Yamamura returned to Tokyo to develop her career in TV as an international business correspondent coordinating collaborative projects between top creators around the world and corporations. Yamamura's unique experience in working closely with successful Japanese brands like UNIQLO has given her exceptional eyes for branding a company.