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This Month's Tiny Gems - November 2015
ContentChecked Holdings Inc. (CNCK)
International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO)
Moxian, Inc. (MOXC)
Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OGES)
OurPet's Company (OPCO)
ContentChecked Holdings Inc. (CNCK)
ContentChecked Holdings Inc. (CNCK) is the parent company of a family of mobile applications designed for individuals with specific dietary requirements. Since the official U.S. launch of its first app in early 2015, ContentChecked has continued to build its database of product information obtained from food manufacturers – the database now incorporates 70% of all conventional U.S. products, fully supporting the needs of ContentChecked customers.
Consumers register their food allergies or intolerances with ContentChecked, and simply scan the bar codes of whichever items they are considering purchasing. The app then provides users with information on what products fit their pre-set requirements. This connection between food producers and users is the basis of the ContentChecked business model – a highly engaged consumer, ready to buy, and in need of recommendations.
By initially focusing upon food allergies and intolerances, ContentChecked had access to a marketplace of more than 15 million people in the United States that suffer from food allergies, in addition to a demographic who develop stomach problems as a result of different foods. Though the overall market for food allergies and intolerances is valued at $13 billion in 2015, ContentChecked further expanded its market reach through the launch of MigraineChecked, SugarChecked and VeganChecked applications.
With these offerings, ContentChecked's market reach now extends to the roughly 38 million people in the United States currently diagnosed with migraines; as well as to the largest health-related cost in the country: the 97 million people at risk of developing, or have already developed, Type 2 diabetes. ContentChecked's growth is spearheaded by a talented team of professionals using their experience in entrepreneurial endeavors, sales, marketing and advisory services, nutrition, web design, social media and graphics and data management to help users better manage their food allergies, migraines, and overall health.
International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO)
International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO) is a biotechnology company utilizing a proprietary new stem cell technology known as parthenogenesis to significantly advance the field of regenerative medicine. The company's innovative technology uses unfertilized human eggs to create human pluripotent stem cells (hpSC) that can be immune-matched to millions of people around the globe. These stem cells are unique in that they provide the best characteristics of each of the remaining classes of cells without the need for the creation or destruction of a viable embryo.
The company's business strategy features three unique channels for revenue generation within the biotechnology industry – including its core stem cell technology and related intellectual property, which encompasses 220 patents, applications and licenses associated with the development and manufacture of pluripotent cells, as well as its therapeutic research projects and promising development pipeline.
Lifeline Skin Care, the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, is an industry leader in effective anti-aging stem cell skin care. Since being established in 2010, Lifeline has served as a growing source of vital financial support to fund ISCO's ongoing medical research. In 2014, Lifeline accounted for more than $7 million in total revenue, which was primarily allocated to the advancement of the company's promising development pipeline.
UniStemCell is the life science industry's first collection of non-embryonic histocompatible human stem cells available for research and commercial use. This cell bank gives the company a nearly inexhaustible source of stem cells that can be used to generate revenue in the medium term. As the company's hpSC lines gain additional validation, they are expected to provide the company with royalty from sales of each successful hpSC-derived cellular therapeutic in the future.
In addition to the sale of its stem cells, ISCO is making noteworthy progress toward the continued advancement of its development pipeline. The company is currently engaged in pre-clinical development addressing a host of unmet medical needs. Parkinson's disease, which affects an estimated one million people in the United States, represents ISCO's leading development indication, with phase I/II clinical trials expected to begin in the coming months. Following the completion of initial studies, the company will seek out a suitable partner to assist with late-stage clinical development.
With its groundbreaking stem cell technology, ISCO is developing a significant presence within the expansive field of regenerative medicine. By successfully mitigating many of the limiting factors commonly associated with stem cell research – including auto-immune rejection and ethical debate surrounding the use of embryonic cells – the company is leveraging the marketability of its technology as a catalyst for continued growth.
Research indicates that the global regenerative medicine market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.2 percent through 2017, climbing to an estimated $24.7 billion by the end of the period. ISCO will look to capitalize on this market performance under the guidance of an executive management team with decades of experience in a collection of related scientific sectors.
Moxian, Inc. (MOXC)
Moxian, Inc. (MOXC) engages in the business of providing social marketing and promotion platforms designed to help merchants accelerate and advertise their business growth through social media. These products and services enable merchants to run targeted advertising campaigns and promotions, and aim to enhance the interaction between users and merchant clients by using consumer behavior data compiled from the Moxian database of user activities. The company has two primary core products: Moxian+ User App and Moxian+ Business App.
Developed in Shenzhen, China, Moxian integrates social media, entertainment and business intelligence. The Multi-Channel Social Commerce Platform, which includes a variety of tools such as Moxian's proprietary Social Customer Relationship Management (SCRM) system, generates knowledgeable data for merchants. This way, consumers and businesses are able to connect and interact with one another to achieve the concept of "online lifestyle, offline fun."
Moxian+ User App serves as an App driven for consumer users to use the platform, consisting of our proprietary virtual currency (MO-Coin and MO-Points), social networking, redemption centre and game centre. Users can earn MO-Coins by playing games, and then use those coins to redeem prizes sponsored by Moxian and client merchants. This model not only drives registered consumers to Moxian and merchant, but also provides merchants the opportunity to advertise, run marketing campaigns, and learn about their customers through the Platform.
Moxian+ Business App is an independent App with built in Social Customer Relationship Management tool built for merchants. Merchants are able to set up a store on the Moxian platform through this business App, push promotions via a variety of methods offered on the platform and look at generated report customized to their own shop.
Moxian's management team has more than 100 years of combined experience in a variety of pertinent endeavors, including management of private and public enterprise, multi-national organizations, quality, engineering and procurement, finance, marketing, communication and more. Together, Moxian's management team is effecting the company's aim to create and lead a personalized social network platform that best fits users and businesses.
Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OGES)
Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OGES) is an integrated energy storage solutions company focused on the design, development and manufacture of high-quality cells, batteries and power systems. The company's innovative 'Made in the U.S.A.' product line includes multiple lithium-ion technologies and form factors that are optimized to address three high-demand target markets – including stationary and grid storage; motive applications, such as electric and hybrid electric fleet vehicles; and specialty applications, such as military, aerospace, marine, medical and telecom backup.
Through a recent restructuring of its operations, Oakridge strategically positioned itself to expand its market reach moving forward. The company currently owns and operates two manufacturing facilities in Melbourne, Florida, which play an instrumental role in its efforts to meet the growing demand for its cutting-edge large format Pro Series golf car batteries and its small format Patriot Series RC batteries. These operations also allow Oakridge to bring stable employment opportunities back to the U.S., effectively highlighting its tireless commitment to the revitalization of the country's manufacturing industry.
The company also maintains a presence on the international stage through its recently formed subsidiary, Oakridge Global Energy Solutions Limited, Hong Kong. This subsidiary, which is expected to serve as the foundation for Oakridge's sales efforts throughout the Asia-Pacific region, was created primarily to address the tremendous international demand for its revolutionary stored energy solutions. The company also maintains a substantial interest in Leclanche S.A., a Swiss developer and manufacturer of large-sized lithium-ion batteries that was originally founded in 1909.
Oakridge has indicated plans to expand its presence in a collection of markets throughout Europe and Asia as it continues to build upon its established product development and manufacturing infrastructure. The company will lean on the expertise of its proven management team – which includes well over a century of combined industry experience – as it looks to increase its share of the $12 billion domestic battery manufacturing industry.
OurPet's Company (OPCO)
OurPet's Company (OPCO) develops, produces and markets various pet accessory and consumable products designed to awaken pets' natural instincts, be it in feeding, playing or waste management. Sold globally through pet specialty retailers, food, drug and mass chains, e-commerce and international channels, the company's products are marketed under a the OurPets®, Pet Zone® and PetTastic® brands with well-known sub-brands such as Play-N-Squeak™, Cosmic Catnip™, Durapet, SmartScoop and Flappy. In total, OurPet's has an intellectual property portfolio featuring more than 160 individual patents, giving the company sustainable access to the pet products industry for the foreseeable future.
In recent years, the U.S. pet products and services market has experienced strong growth, with total sales accounting for approximately $73 billion in 2014, according to a report by Packaged Facts. In 2015, this strong performance is expected to continue, building on the recent rise in related ecommerce purchases, as well as an uptick in dog and cat ownership throughout the country. In order to capitalize on this market performance, OurPet's maintains an ongoing new product development program to continually keep an evolutionary and revolutionary new product pipeline feeding its offerings. In July 2015, OurPet's introduced many new products at the national Super Zoo trade show in Las Vegas such as the Catty Whack®, Designer Diner™/Barking Bistro™ and the Zoom Plume™.
The company's capitalization strategy is guided by a management team of experienced industry professionals dedicated to further strengthening its product portfolio through aggressive development of innovative products. Management has a proven track-record of leveraging deep knowledge in the innovation, technology, distribution and pet markets to successfully push through adverse market conditions to achieve increases in revenue, margins and net income.
OurPet's, through its innovative and extensive line of popular pet products, is in a favorable strategic position to continue building upon its recent market growth. For prospective shareholders, this positioning makes the company an intriguing investment opportunity in the months to come. Look for OurPet's to capitalize on steady market performance moving forward, providing an opportunity for the company to realize strong investor returns in the future.