MissionIR Small-Cap Investor Blog: September 2016

Friday, September 30, 2016

Issuer Direct Corp. (ISDR) Increasingly Prominent One-Stop-Shop for Targeted PR/IR Engagement, Cloud-Based Compliance, Disclosure Solutions

As one of the leading pioneers in the world of secure, cloud-driven regulatory compliance, as well as investor communication solutions, Issuer Direct (NYSE MKT: ISDR) is currently the go-to Disclosure Management System (DMS) source for thousands of compliance issuers around the world, as well as for hundreds of corporate issuers, which derive substantial advantages from the company’s affordable, but extremely robust suite of branded solutions.

Issuer Direct’s already widely successful toolset stands to remain at the head of the pack alongside players like Certent, which was recently selected by PR Newswire to augment its own flexible XBRL tagging and filing solution with Certent’s own DM tech. Compliance looks to be one of the hottest, fastest-growing segments of the $3 billion and growing legal technology solutions market (http://dtn.fm/x7sO5). There is plenty of room here for an agile, cost-competitive player with advanced technology and a mountain of in-house experience like ISDR, even with bigger sharks like IBM (NYSE: IBM) and SAP (NYSE: SAP) circling the market.

The same kind of rock-solid value brought to the table with ISDR’s proprietary cloud-based DMS framework, so noteworthy for its security, performance and ease of use, is also present in the company’s other offerings, whether we are talking about Issuer Direct’s premier regional, national and global news/communications network, Accesswire®; the company’s extremely robust media, advisor and investor targeting dataset platform, Classify®; or ISDR’s SEC filing marvel, known as Blueprint®.

Accesswire is particularly interesting given that the platform was designed from the ground up specifically for public companies, as well as due to the sheer scale of Accesswire’s end-user footprint and the ease with which public companies can join the Accesswire News Network before almost immediately using it to disseminate messages to that huge audience in real-time. Underlying this supremely attractive megaphone functionality is a powerful analytics engine that exposes information like actual social engagement metrics of a given release, as well as the subsequent/relevant audience targeting solutions, via a highly intuitive dashboard. Putting the power into users’ hands, allowing them to really understand what works (or just how well whatever they are doing is working), ensures confidence in PR budgets and makes the platform an easy sell to public companies who are hungry to engage the investment community.

Because ISDR so intimately understands the regulatory environment, the announcements that need to go to SEDAR or EDGAR are always routed. Accesswire is partnered with the top names in business media today, such as Reuters (NYSE:TRI), The Wall Street Journal (NASDAQ: NWSA) and The New York Times (NYSE: NYT), as well as Stock Exchanges, local newspapers of record, The Associated Press and United Press International, and digital data feeders like Yahoo! Finance (NASDAQ: YHOO) – to name but a few.

Little wonder then that ISDR was recently able to report Q2 revenue growth from its Accesswire press release business of 18 percent (compared to Q1), which was up a handsome 73 percent year-over-year (http://dtn.fm/WCSu6). Accompanied by a 74 percent gross margin for the quarter and an additional $1 million in operational cash flow, the quarterly dividend increase issued back in July on the strength of continued positive earnings and cash flow has substantially encouraged ISDR shareholders to remain bullish about the company’s prospects. Accesswire’s distribution channels line up superbly with the company’s investor network and investor calendar, as well as ISDR’s public company outreach platform, providing unparalleled venue reach that includes the Dow Jones Network and the Factiva system, as well as top broker-dealers. Needless to say, this is a winning proposition to public companies, and business has been very good for Issuer Direct.

In fact, revenues from platform and technology solutions were up 20 percent last quarter when compared to Q1, with both Blueprint and Classify showing marked traction. Even as the traditional Annual Report Service (ARS) business flags amid an ongoing shift to digital over hardcopy, and market commoditization hammers XBRL demand, Issuer Direct has actually prospered. Intelligent restructuring of channel partner agreements in its ARS game, as well as receptivity to the company’s innovative cloud-based offerings, have allowed ISDR to soar where lesser operators may have folded altogether.

Blueprint deserves a closer look here, for instance, due not only to a recent partnership expansion with the London Stock Exchange Group that includes the SEC reporting platform’s license to LSEG’s RNS (regulatory news service), but because the LSEG deal is just the latest example of end-market resonance for Issuer Direct. LSEG’s RNS wanted a way to automate the reformatting of their own systemically generated HTML into SEC EDGAR-compliant documentation, and the readily adaptable Blueprint platform was perfect for the job – a deal which has crystallized an already tight-knit relationship between LSEG and ISDR. Issuer Direct’s CEO, Balbirnie, was keen to point out the number of high profile clients that have already signed on with Blueprint as a hallmark of the platform’s inherent value. The top dog at LSEG/RNS roundly affirmed this conclusion, while also pointing to Blueprint’s scalability as leaving the door open to a host of future applications.

That scalability is a big sell for Blueprint, alongside the platform’s baseline cost-effectiveness and ease of use, as it allows great confidence that ISDR can fulfill the role of trusted regulatory platform provider for years to come (no matter how big or small the client). The ability to handle essentially any document type via a proprietary compliance editing platform like Blueprint, which alleviates the historically time-consuming and cumbersome process of regulatory filing, when combined with the company’s DMS platform, makes for a super-fast, real-time project creation/editing workflow that has to be experienced to be believed. The ironclad value of the company’s DMS platform, engineered to meet and keep up with the ever more stringent demands of regulatory authorities like the SEC, DTCC and FINRA, is further enhanced by dynamic shareholder communication features.

Issuer Direct even offers naturally parallel services such as stock transfer agent and proxy services, as well as full-spectrum document design, formatting and typesetting – the company even does printing/fulfillment with real-time tracking. Transfer agent duties come second nature to an outfit like Issuer Direct, and with the in-house talent to easily handle everything from electronic stock issuance and management, to document preparation and review, ISDR is increasingly seen as a one-stop-shop for a variety of such services.

For more information, visit www.IssuerDirect.com

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Laguna Blends, Inc. (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) (LB6A.F) is Changing the Network Marketing Game

In the world of Laguna Blends (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) (Frankfurt: LB6A.F), things are done differently. Laguna Blends, a network marketing company operating out of Kelowna, British Columbia, is using 3D technology to change the direct sales and network marketing game. Through a simple, interactive platform, the company delivers training and marketing strategies to independent affiliates who in turn use these tools to attract customers and drive sales.

Laguna Blends’ network marketing program has a particular area of focus. It seeks to highlight the nutritional health benefits of hemp-based products while providing high quality product experiences. Laguna develops and produces a line of high-protein-content functional beverages derived from hemp, distributed and sold throughout the United States and Canada.

The company’s leading products include Caffe and Pro369. Caffe, an instant-coffee beverage, is loaded with hemp and whey protein and, with two grams of protein per serving, packs a powerful protein punch. Pro369, on the other hand, is a single-serving hemp protein powder drink mix that comes in a number of flavors.

Laguna Blends sells its protein-packed beverages and other hemp-based products through a network of independent affiliates who help promote its message of finding balance in life. As these affiliates generate retail sales for the company, they can also recruit other affiliates, using the latest tools and technology to build a global business from the comfort of their homes or while traveling on the road.

Laguna Blends embraces a spirit of innovation, adaptability, and leadership when it comes to its technology, applied to product development and online web-based training for affiliates. The company wants to lead the network marketing industry, and it is reaching for that goal by providing a viable, long-lasting business opportunity for its internal and external stakeholders.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Net Element’s (NETE) Secret Sauce for Restaurateurs, Aptito, Goes Fully Retail

The Aptito iPad point-of-sale system from Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) has been tickling the fancy of diners all over with its digitally presented menus. In dining establishments that are adapting to a world increasingly reliant on digital technology, instead of a menu printed on laminated paper stock, a customer can view the menu electronically displayed on a tablet. That digital menu is part of the Aptito platform, which made its debut in 2011. However, there’s more to Aptito than electronic menus. The platform is a comprehensive All-in-One Digital Network Solution for retail businesses of all kinds.

The Aptito system aims to use mobility to put managers and staff in control. For example, with Aptito, waiting staff in restaurants won’t be running back and forth between customers and a stand-alone payments terminal. With Aptito’s Point-of-Sale Mobile Communicator, staff are able to receive and send orders directly from their iPhone, iPod Touch or Android smartphone from table side or anywhere in the restaurant. The Aptito Full Station package includes an iPad, an iPad enclosure, credit card swiper, cash drawer, local server, and both kitchen and receipt printers. The system comes with a visual interface that is fast and simple to use. Staff can be trained in 15 minutes or less.

Wait staff carrying the Aptito Mobile Communicator enhance the customer experience by allowing them to instantly request their server or the bill with a simple touch. This creates an unprecedented level of customer service and an opportunity to grow sales. Aptito’s secured antitheft tablet enclosures can be wall-mounted close to tables, enabling the customers to send orders to their waiter or to the kitchen at any time during their dining experience.

And, of course, Aptito displays menus digitally on the screen of the visual interface instead of on print material. Customers can view the dishes and fully customize their orders, add comments, and see nutritional information. The Aptito platform offers up-selling opportunities, as well, by presenting customers with wine-pairing choices and dish recommendations.

The image of an entrée or dish on the screen can be enlarged simply by touching. In addition, menus can be viewed in the language of choice. This increases the ability to market to tourists, since menus can be read in their native languages.

Aptito also has a Rating System that asks guests to provide feedback at the end of their meal and add their comments. This information is stored in the Aptito Management System for internal use, which, in some cases, is much better that having it broadcast online or on social media. This private feedback gives managers the ability to nuance their offerings in response to customers’ comments.

Net Element is a global technology company that specializes in mobile payments and value-added transactional services. The company owns and operates a global mobile payments and transactional processing provider, TOT Group, Inc., which in turn owns and markets the following brands: Unified Payments, Aptito, Restoactive, Digital Provider and PayOnline.

In 2012, Unified Payments was lauded by Inc. Magazine as the Fastest Growing Company in America. Restoactive is a seamless digital add-ons for legacy point-of-sale systems. Digital Provider is a leading provider of SMS messaging and mobile billing solutions. PayOnline is a fully-integrated, processor agnostic electronic commerce platform.

For more information, visit www.NetElement.com

Galectin Therapeutics, Inc. (GALT) is “One to Watch”

Fibrosis is when connective tissue from an injury or other circumstances thickens and scars, or when there is excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ after it has been exposed to a chronic disease. Unfortunately, the effects of fibrosis cannot be reversed, and there is currently no treatment that stops the disease from getting worse, although some treatments can deal with the symptoms temporarily.

Galectin Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: GALT) is currently undertaking its phase 2a pilot trial (NASHFX) with GR-MD-02 in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients with advanced fibrosis. Although the study did not meet original expectations, Galectin’s larger scale, one year trial in patients with NASH cirrhosis has already enrolled 162 subjects, and top line results will be reported by the end of December 2017. The company considers it encouraging to see that GR-MD-02 has an important clinical effect in both moderate and severe cases of psoriasis. This further suggests that the substance can play a role for human diseases that could be related to NASH.

Galectin Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on the science of galectins, a family of proteins, and drug development. With this expertise, the company creates new therapies for patients suffering from fibrotic diseases and cancer. Galectin works with a variety of partners in order to achieve cost effective and efficient development results within short time frames.

GALT is currently looking to enhance and market its lead compounds in liver fibrosis and cancer immunotherapies. The company has three key areas of focus: studying galectins, developing proprietary compounds for diseases, and advancing its discovery programs. All three work together in order to achieve the overall goal of creating new therapies for fibrotic diseases and cancer.

For more information, visit www.GalectinTherapeutics.com

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Monaker Group, Inc. (MKGI) Embracing the New Sharing Economy

The travel and hospitality industry is changing, with companies worldwide attempting to strengthen their positions within the industry by increasing consolidations, examples being hotels such as Marriott (NASDAQ: MAR), AccorHotels, and others. At the same time, other companies are focusing less on consolidation and more on incorporating new business models that meet consumer needs.

One growing area in the industry is the concept of sharing, facilitated by the efficient processing of business and consumer communication. Companies such as Airbnb, OpenTable, and Uber are focused on helping customers find what they need rather than offering their own brick and mortar facilities or other physical assets.

Next year is expected to be a growth year for this new sharing economy. The concept is simple: instead of having excess supply and/or demand, the sharing economy aims to keep supply and demand in balance. Companies worldwide will provide as much as the consumer needs when he/she needs it, with an emphasis on convenience. New business models ensure that the experience is as convenient as possible for the consumer. They are referred to as ‘market-makers’, because they control both supply and demand, which in turn has created a major move toward convenience that has been lacking in the industry.

To generate this cost and market effectiveness that is convenient for the consumer, companies are required to partner with the customer. The customer wants to be connected to his/her experience. Partnering with the customer means connecting with the customer. This not only allows the customer to participate in the design of his/her experience but also enables the companies to gather more feedback, which in turn can be shared with other customers.

Monaker Group, Inc. (OTCQB: MKGI), a technology-driven travel company, offers travel solutions to every demographic through its booking engine, NextTrip.com. Through NextTrip, customers are able to choose from a range of transport options, accommodations, tours, and much more. Monaker has incorporated itself within the new sharing economy, where guests are able to make decisions based on their demographic, holiday requirements, time preferences, and, thanks to social media, other people’s experiences.

For more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com

eXp World Holdings, Inc. (EXPI) Maintaining a Positive Outlook Thanks to Advances in Internet Technology

At the beginning of 2016, 43% of real estate agencies expected competition from non-traditional firms. Although this number was down 2% from 2015, a survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) (http://dtn.fm/Fx2Sb) found that 46% of agencies believe the competition from virtual firms is increasing, compared to a small 17% of agencies expecting competition from brick and mortar firms.

With this in mind, it is worth noting that the real estate industry is one of the slowest to adapt to this new digital age. The last few years can be seen as the first real phase of digital development within the real estate industry, as technology has played but a minimal role until now. Thanks to today’s growing technology, people in the real estate industry are able to make faster and more informed decisions.

Until now, the industry has believed in location. However, today people can access and accomplish more through the use of smartphones, computers, and other mobile devices. With technology companies such as Airbnb, people are becoming more accustomed to a sharing economy. According to an article by Wharton University of Pennsylvania (http://dtn.fm/M0Vl6), 86% of Americans believe the sharing economy they are now part of makes life more affordable, 83% say things are more convenient and efficient, and 63% believe it is more fun than engaging with traditional companies.

But why does the technology industry want to play a role in the real estate sector? The answer is simple. Real estate is one of the largest single assets in the United States. The sector is now worth approximately $50 trillion, with residential housing making up approximately $26 trillion of this. As a result, real estate companies are having to embrace the digital world quickly at the risk of letting technology-savvy companies take over.

To do this, real estate firms are having to implement cloud-based Big Data technologies to better serve their customers. eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI) is a prime example. eXp Realty, the company’s real estate division, is a fully agent-owned cloud brokerage. The agents and brokers at EXPI work, train, strategize, collaborate, innovate, and build teams across North America from the comforts of home using the company’s cloud office environment.

EXPI believes that, with the advancements in technology today, real estate consumers are equipped with deeper knowledge and understanding than ever before. Many consumers today leverage the company’s cloud-based technology to buy and sell without the aid of brick and mortar offices. EXPI’s primary goal is to become “the first truly agent-owned, cloud-based, full service, global real estate brokerage company delivering around-the-clock access to collaborative tools and professional development for managing real estate brokers and agents.”

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

Moxian, Inc. (MOXC) – An Information Partner for Smart Growth

Moxian, Inc. (OTCQB: MOXC) is a precision marketing machine. For six years, the corporation has been steeped in integrated marketing techniques, offering ways for companies to get to know their customers and competitors as well as they know themselves.

Moxian is a pioneer of novel social marketing and promotion platforms with a particular focus on Asian markets. From its head office in Shenzhen, China, the company has developed and delivered products and services that enable its merchant clients to manage advertising campaigns and promotions targeting potential customers.

Since 2010, Moxian has leveraged big data to create winning marketing solutions and encourage stable, sustainable growth. With constant, harmonious promotion and business development, Moxian steadily drives local merchants and users to its marketing platform while simultaneously pushing that platform to the mainstream areas of the Internet. Moxian’s platform is specially designed to attract new users to subscribe to it and to entice current users to return frequently. How does the company do this? It employs social media to encourage regular interactions between merchants and consumers.

Once Moxian drives merchants and consumers to its platform, it monitors and tracks their activity. The data collected from its database of users’ activities is in turn offered to and used by merchants who wish to study consumer behavior on the platform. In offering this option, Moxian has built a social customer relation management tool that allows business owners to engage in precision marketing.

With the guidance of its experienced management team and a set of wide-ranging business strategies, Moxian seems ready to take advantage of the significant market opportunities presented by the online-to-offline sector in China. As a growing number of merchants adopt its platform, merchant fees will likely offer a major source of repeat revenue for the company, which is also poised to earn additional revenue from the sale of advertising on its platform. All in all, the company’s multiple revenue sources, operating performance and growth initiatives are positioning it to advance even further.

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

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Net Element, Inc. (NETE) Subsidiary Announced as Payments Partner of Dunkin’ Donuts in Russia

Before the opening bell, Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) announced that PayOnline, its wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered into an agreement with Dunkin’ Donuts (NASDAQ: DNKN) that will enable the coffee and baked goods chain to accept payments for online ordering and delivery services in Russia. Since its entry into the Russian market in 2010, Dunkin’ Donuts has experienced rapid growth. Today, DNKN operates 33 coffee houses in Moscow alone.

Earlier this year, Dunkin’ Donuts introduced online ordering and delivery services on its official site on the Russian internet in an effort to better meet the needs of individuals residing and working in this market. Through its new agreement with PayOnline, DNKN will seek to enhance this service by enabling easy and secure payment acceptance spanning a range of common payment methods, including Russian national payment cards, Visa (NYSE: V), Visa Electron, MasterCard (NYSE: MA) and Maestro.

“When choosing a payment partner, the determining factors for us were: a favorable cost factor, good image of the partner in the market, and a positive feedback from existing clients,” Stanislav Petrushin, marketing department specialist with Dunkin’ Donuts, stated in this morning’s news release. “In addition, it is critical for us to provide ease-of-use and loyalty to our clients. As a result, friendly and adaptive payment interface and around-the-clock support for payers finally persuaded us to choose Net Element’s PayOnline as our payments partner.”

Through its new partnership with Dunkin’ Donuts, Net Element is primed to build upon the recent growth recorded by its PayOnline subsidiary. Earlier this month, the company announced plans to expand PayOnline’s foothold in Central Asia, opening an office in Kazakhstan alongside its existing sales office in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Early results from these efforts have been promising. Just last week, Net Element highlighted strong growth in its transaction processing volume during the first seven months of 2016. Discounting the effects of foreign currency exchange, the company realized a 77 percent year-over-year increase in total dollars processed from January to June 2016, with online solutions leading the way with a 90 percent year-over-year spike.

This solid performance has also positioned Net Element to increase its visibility within the investor community. The company was recently named one of the fastest-growing technology companies of 2016 by the South Florida Business Journal. Earning a spot on this prestigious list, which is based on percentage growth over a two-year time frame, served as “a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Net Element team,” according to Oleg Firer, chief executive officer of Net Element. The company will be featured alongside other 2016 Technology Award winners in an upcoming special edition of the South Florida Business Journal.

For more information, visit www.NetElement.com

Airbnb’s Fundraising Reveals Welcome Mat for Monaker Group, Inc. (MKGI)

In the relatively short eight years since Airbnb was founded, the San Francisco-based company has connected more than 60 million guests with over two million accommodation listings around the world. Today, Airbnb holds an enviable position as the bellwether of the community marketplace, underwritten by a $30 billion valuation that demonstrates the incredible investor and consumer appetite for the home-sharing market.

Airbnb recently filed a Form D with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, announcing an equity deal in which the company raised approximately $555 million. This is likely part of the ongoing $850 million Series F round, as reported by Equidate (http://dtn.fm/s3imF), and brings Airbnb’s total fundraising to more than $3 billion.

What this means for small-cap travel booking company Monaker Group, Inc. (OTCQB: MKGI) is that the investment community knows there is plenty demand to go around. Not only has Monaker developed a one-of-a-kind booking engine for lodging options, its model includes travel and entertainment booking features that should be turning heads in the investment community.

According to a draft prospectus filed with the SEC (http://dtn.fm/ZDj1b), Monaker is accelerating its corporate action and has initiated the process seeking to uplist shares of its common stock to the NYSE Market.

Headquartered in Weston, Florida, Monaker Group is digging its heels into the alternative lodging market (vacation home rentals, resort residences and unused timeshare inventory). As evidenced by the diversity of Airbnb’s listings – which include castles and villas – this puts Monaker in exactly the right spot to cater to consumers looking beyond hotel rooms for economical and unique accommodations.

The company’s flagship brand is NextTrip.com, the first and only real-time booking engine that features alternative lodging, as well as a full selection of airlines, hotels, cruises, rental cars, tours and concierge services. While its model greatly differs from its competitors in this respect, NextTrip also offers the ability to book in real-time – which means no more waiting for home owners to respond – and employs a B2B solution for the larger Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and lodging bookers that until now have been unable to access inventory.

These features are offered in a single, easy-to-use platform that gives users access to vacation rental inventory in desirable locations in the U.S., the EU and the Caribbean.

In addition to its existing inventory, Monaker has roughly one million additional alternative lodging units under contract that are set to be added to its platform. In terms of available listings, the additional inventory should easily place NextTrip among the top three largest vacation rental inventories and rival industry peers – along with Airbnb and HomeAway.

Monaker is also tapping into business travel, and recently expanded its initial agreement with Recruiter.com to offer travel products and services to Recruiter’s list of more than three million customers, many of which are senior corporate executives. Monaker expects the deal to provide “meaningful exposure” to decision makers at roughly one million companies worldwide.

Demonstrated by Airbnb’s ability to raise billions of dollars and build confidence in a relatively young industry, the market is ripe and welcoming for Monaker and its ability to deliver innovations that add a new dynamic to the existing home-sharing model.

For more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com

Monday, September 26, 2016

Monaker Group, Inc. (MKGI) Aims High with Blended Travel Solutions

Monaker Group, Inc. (OTCQB: MKGI) is committed to building innovative, travel-focused companies that bring unique products and services to the marketplace. As parent company to a group of diverse and exciting brands and divisions, Monaker’s travel solutions are used by varied demographics. Plus, with key partnerships and established travel brands as its cornerstones, the company continues to pursue its mission of expanding its offerings to become the “one stop” vacation center.

Monaker is a leader within the world of travel. With more than six decades of experience and operation in leisure travel, the Florida-based company continues to offer technologically-driven travel solutions across borders. Within the industry, Monaker is well known for developing the first comprehensive platform to feature real-time alternative lodging booking functionality.

Monaker’s flagship platform, NextTrip.com, delivers this functionality and more. With NextTrip.com, consumers have access to a real-time booking engine that features alternative lodging (vacation home rentals, resort residences and unused timeshares) and a wide array of flights, hotels, cruises, rental cars, tours and concierge services, all of which are unified under one platform that gives customers the power to choose as they see fit when booking their vacations.

In the summer of 2016, Monaker stepped up its list of offerings by introducing a premium service that will allow it to tap into the fast-growing alternative lodging market even further. Earlier this year, a Research and Markets report estimated that the international vacation rental market will reach $170 billion by 2019, and Monaker is taking steps to pursue a portion of this market with its new service. Monaker’s premium service is designed to give property owners a chance to increase their booking revenue by close to 50% while reducing how much time they need to manage their properties by about 10 hours per week. Lots of property owners around the world are constantly seeking a more practical, more convenient way to post their vacation rental properties as alternative lodgings, and Monaker is now offering them that option. At the same time, the new premium service should bring more property listings to Monaker’s alternative lodging portfolio.

For more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com

Friday, September 23, 2016

EnteroMedics, Inc. (ETRM) is Pulling its Weight in the Fight Against Obesity

EnteroMedics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ETRM) aims to make America leaner and fitter. The company, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, provides safe, reliable and effective products and therapies to treat obesity and metabolic disorders. Its signature technology, the vBloc® vagal blocking therapy delivered via the Maestro® Rechargeable System, is gaining increasing acceptance both domestically and abroad. vBloc® offers the overweight and the obese relief from those extra pounds that, all too often, trigger a variety of problematic medical conditions.

Overweight and obesity are global problems, but America appears to have taken the cake. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has published statistics that are quite alarming. ‘More than 2 in 3 adults are considered to be overweight or obese’ and ‘more than 1 in 3 adults are considered to be obese’.

Overweight is excess body weight due to too much muscle, bone, fat or water. Obesity is an excess amount of body fat. One measure of overweight and obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in meters). Your weight is considered normal if the BMI is under 25. Anyone with a BMI over 25 and under 30 is considered overweight. If your BMI is 30 or over, you are obese.

Extra weight means extra stress for the vital organs. The liver, heart, kidneys and pancreas are all adversely affected by visceral fat, the internal fatty tissue that develops to enfold them. Unlike the benign deposits of fat that lie just beneath the skin, which shape our figures, visceral fat is highly toxic. ‘Visceral fat has been linked to metabolic disturbances and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In women, it is also associated with breast cancer and the need for gallbladder surgery’, according to this (http://dtn.fm/tR3tv) Harvard Medical School publication. The NIDDK lists the health risks of overweight and obesity as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, nonalcoholic fatty liver disorders, osteoarthritis, stroke and cancers of the breast, colon, uterine lining and kidney.

Chronic cases of overweight and obesity are treated by surgery. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) figures, as reported by News Medical (http://dtn.fm/mM8vM), relate that ‘about 193,000 people had bariatric surgery in 2014… sleeve gastrectomy was… found to be the most common procedure, accounting for 51.7 percent of weight-loss operations, followed by gastric bypass (26.8%), gastric band (9.5%), and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (0.4%).’ These are all intensely intrusive procedures with many risks that may be hard to stomach. Sleeve gastrectomy, for example, is a procedure in which up to 80 percent of the stomach can be removed.

The vBloc® vagal blocking therapy from EnteroMedics, Inc. is, on the other hand, minimally invasive. It is implanted under the skin just outside the ribcage and involves limited scarring. Recovery time from surgery is short. Some patients reported having the surgery on Friday and going out to work the following Monday.

The vBloc® Therapy works to control sensations of hunger using a pacemaker-like device. A Briefing Document (http://dtn.fm/gY7a9) on the FDA website indicates that when the therapy is used for 12 hours per day as prescribed, patients experienced an average excess weight loss of 28 percent over one year. This was 50 percent more weight loss than patients who did not receive vBloc®.

In June 2016, EnteroMedics announced a series of successful vBloc procedures at the Beltline Bariatric and Surgical Group in Atlanta, Georgia. And this week, it was disclosed that the European Patent Office had issued a Notice of Intention to Grant a European Patent covering safety features of the Company’s vBloc® Neurometabolic Therapy System. EnteroMedics, with its vBloc® Therapy, is beginning to look like a heavy hitter.

For more information, please visit www.vbloc.com

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Horizon Pharma plc (HZNP) is “One to Watch”

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Horizon Pharma (NASDAQ: HZNP) is a biopharmaceutical company whose aim is to improve lives with the recognition, development, acquisition, and commercialization of accessible medicines to meet a variety of patient medical needs. Horizon Pharma now markets nine key products through its orphan, rheumatology, and primary care business units.

Products include ACTIMMUNE®, Buphenyl®, Duexis®, KRYSTEXXA®, Migergot®, PENNSAID® 2%, Ravicti®, Rayos®, and Vimovo®. These products are used to reduce the frequency and severity of serious infections, treat patients with urea cycle disorders, relieve signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, decrease the risk of developing upper gastrointestinal ulcers, and treat patients with chronic gout, among other symptoms and diseases.

In October 2014, HZNP acquired PENNSAID® 2%, followed by Hyperion Therapeutics in May 2015. At the beginning of this year, the company completed the acquisition of Crealta Holdings LLC, which allowed it to expand its orphan business with KRYSTEXXA® (pegloticase), a biologic medicine for chronic, refractory gout.

In addition, Horizon Pharma recently entered into a definitive agreement with Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. (NASDAQ: RPTP), through which HZNP will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of RPTP common stock for a cash payment of $9.00 per share. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2016 and is estimated to be worth $800 million.

Horizon Pharma has approximately 890 global employees and operates across Ireland, Europe, and the United States. As of August 9, 2016, Horizon Pharma had a market capitalization of $3.60 billion. The company has seen steady growth in net sales and adjusted EBITDA. With net sales up from $74 million in 2013 to over $1 billion in 2015, HZNP expects to strengthen its focus on rare diseases while expanding further into Europe and other international markets.

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

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

eXp World Holdings, Inc. (EXPI) Taking the Complexity Out of Real Estate Transactions

eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI) serves as the holding company for multiple companies, including eXp Realty. Through eXp Realty, the corporation is using innovation to better develop real estate prospects and is effectively changing how real estate dealings are conducted.

Recent strides in the tech and e-commerce fields have had a substantial effect on how numerous industries (real estate included) operate. Buyers and sellers have more on-the-spot data at their fingertips via the Internet, yet the home buying and selling process remains a complex and often emotional activity.

This is where eXp Realty comes in, as a tried-and-tested organization with a team of professionals who can explain the complexities and implications of real estate buying and selling decisions. In today’s changing world, the company leverages a unique set of advanced communication technologies to differentiate its services, leaving a lasting impression on clients. It strives to meet the needs of the modern and often mobile consumer, who, although equipped with residential dreams and an abundance of information, still requires a high level of close personal service.

eXp Realty provides cloud-based real estate brokerage services for the American and Canadian residential markets. Known as the Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage, eXp Realty is a full-service real estate brokerage firm offering round-the-clock access to collaborative tools, training, and socialization for brokers and agents via a fully-immersive, 3-D cloud-office environment. Along the way, eXp Realty has become recognized as a national leader that provides brokerage services at value, successfully lowering its agents’ operating costs while raising their profits.

eXp Realty also delivers high-level service to buyers and sellers. Through access to a network of professional, consumer-centric agents and brokers, it aids buyers in finding their perfect homes by allowing them to search millions of real-time property listings. It also aids sellers in selling their homes by listing their properties through its website. The firm’s agents have access to cutting-edge technology, and are equipped to personally help guide the search process, share their insights about properties, and offer an experienced perspective. They present local market expertise and, perhaps most importantly, help advocate and negotiate on the buyer’s or seller’s behalf.

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

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Net Element, Inc. (NETE) Records Strong Transaction Volume Growth through First Seven Months of 2016

Earlier today, Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) announced its transaction processing volume for the first seven months of 2016, as compared to the same period from a year ago. Notably, the company recorded a 77 percent year-over-year increase in total dollars processed (discounting the effects of foreign currency exchange) to $1,025.8 million for the period. A significant portion of this rise was attributed to Net Element’s online solutions, which saw an increase of 90 percent from 2015 to $305 million. Likewise, volume from mobile solutions rose 84 percent to $23.4 million. Oleg Firer, chief executive officer of Net Element, commented on the strong performance in this morning’s news release.

“We are pleased with our continued growth and further penetration into emerging markets,” he stated. “Our growth is facilitated by our innovative, customer-focused products and services and delivered by teams of outstanding people. We are hopeful that this trend will continue for the remainder of 2016 and beyond.”

The company achieved similar growth in total transactions processed, reporting an increase of 32 percent to 99 million for the seven month period. A large percentage of Net Element’s increase in transactions occurred in North America, where the company recorded a 67 percent spike from 26.7 million in the first seven months of 2015 to 44.5 million this year. Among this growth, online solution experienced a 27 percent increase, while mobile solutions processed a seven percent increase. Net Element notes that the majority of this growth across all segments was organic.

Net Element’s success in expanding its transaction processing volume during the first seven months of 2016 is bolstered by the company’s recent updates regarding future growth. Earlier this month, the company announced that its subsidiary, PayOnline, recently opened an office in Kazakhstan in order to continue expanding its presence in Central Asia. This decision followed the opening of a PayOnline sales office in Yekaterinburg, Russia, earlier this year. In 2015, the company’s electronic commerce volume in Kazakhstan eclipsed $11 billion. When considering that electronic commerce currently accounts for just one percent of total commerce in Kazakhstan, Net Element’s presence in the country represents an incredible opportunity for future growth.

With this strong transaction volume growth and a lengthy runway for continued expansion, it came as little surprise when, earlier this month, Net Element was named one of the South Florida Business Journal’s ‘Top 25 Fastest-Growing Technology Companies’. Inclusion on this list, which recognizes companies based on percentage growth over a two-year time frame, includes special coverage in an upcoming edition of the South Florida Business Journal.

For more information, visit www.NetElement.com

Monday, September 19, 2016

Moxian, Inc. (MOXC) Helping Millennials Communicate with Businesses through Social Media Marketing

An impressive 90% of young adults aged 18 to 29 use social media, with a third of them saying that it is their preferred means of communication with businesses. 70% have an account on at least one social media platform, 52% use two or more social media sites, and the average social media user maintains five accounts, all according to Business2Community.com (http://dtn.fm/TkMZ2). Statistics continue to show the development and projected growth of social media as a marketing tool.

Although return on investment (ROI) is still hard to measure today, 80% of marketers use “vanity metrics” such as “likes” and “shares” as primary success metrics for their social media platforms, and 56% of these base social media success on website traffic. Over 50% of the companies surveyed did not believe or were not sure that social media was linked to their organization’s marketing strategy. However, many if not all consumers said that social media plays a significant role in their buying decisions.

By 2018, the number of social media users worldwide is expected to reach 2.5 billion, which is why social media marketing budgets are expected to double within the next five years. As a result, the overall share of social media marketing budgets is expected to increase from 9.9% to 22.5%. But why is social media marketing so popular and why is it expected to grow so rapidly?

The answer, in a word, is millennials. With a third of millennials saying they prefer social media to communicate with organizations, it is unlikely that these consumer habits are going to change any time soon. Social media habits are following millennials as they age, meaning businesses are having to adapt to a trend that is going to continue to flourish.

Moxian, Inc. (OTCQB: MOXC), providing companies with social media marketing and promotional platforms, is embracing these growing consumer trends and acting on them. The company has designed its platforms with the aim of helping merchants grow and advertise their businesses through social media. Moxian, Inc. has two primary products: Moxian+ User app and Moxian+ Business app.

These enable merchants to run targeted advertising campaigns and promotions with the aim of improving the interaction between merchants and consumers. Behavior data is compiled, making the experience for the user more personalized and giving merchants the ability to get to know their audience better. The Moxian+ Business app has built in Social Customer Relationship Management (SCRM), allowing merchants to push promotions in a variety of ways and generating reports customized to their own shops.

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

Friday, September 16, 2016

Pacific Health Care Organization, Inc. (PFHO) Limiting Workers’ Compensation Expenses with Cost Containment Programs

Pacific Health Care Organization, Inc. (OTCQB: PFHO), through its subsidiaries, engages in the management and administration of health care organizations (HCOs) and managed provider networks in California. Leveraging a network of medical providers, the company serves the workers’ compensation industry with two unique HCOs designed to offer choice to injured workers. In total, Pacific Health’s two HCO-certified programs, operating under its Medex subsidiary, have contracted more than 3,900 individual providers and clinics, as well as hospitals, pharmacies, rehabilitation centers and other ancillary services, in order to provide comprehensive medical services to clients across the Golden State.

According to data from the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB), the state’s workers’ compensation insurance system delivers medical and wage replacement benefits to roughly 800,000 injured workers each year (http://dtn.fm/42MQj). With a high frequency of permanent disability claims and a higher-than-average cost of handling claims in the state, California’s workers’ compensation premiums are the highest in the country. The WCIRB goes on to report that these premiums have continued to grow by double-digit percentages in recent years, spiking 11 percent from 2013 to 2014 alone. These increases have been attributed to a number of factors, including rising medical costs, inflation, fraud and other factors.

Medex aims to insulate employers from these rising costs without negatively impacting the quality of coverage and treatment received by employees. The company’s cost containment programs have been proven to drastically reduce workers’ compensation-related costs for employers. These programs include a certified HCO that features access to an exclusive, specialized network of medical providers; a medical provider network (MPN) that offers less complicated guidelines but provides less control for clients over employee’s claims; and an integrated HCO + MPN program that combines the benefits of the two programs in order to maximize medical control and minimize claim cost.

PFHO was incorporated in 1970 and is based in Newport Beach, California. The company is led by an experienced management team headed by chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Kubota, who has served in these positions since 2001. Kubota is joined by Fred Odaka, PFHO’s chief financial officer, who has been with the company since August 2008.

For more information, visit www.PacificHealthCareOrganization.com

Medical Transcription Billing Corp. (MTBC) Driving Innovation with Suite of Health Care Information Technology Solutions

Medical Transcription Billing Corp. (NASDAQ: MTBC) is a health care information technology company marketing a fully-integrated suite of web-based solutions to an expanding network of health care providers. The company’s product portfolio, which includes a web-based electronic health record solution (WebEHR), revenue cycle and practice management solutions and other related business services, is currently in use by health care organizations in more than 40 states across the country, ranging from single physician practices to independent physician associations. Leveraging these flexible solutions, MTBC’s clients are able to increase revenues, streamline workflows and make better business and clinical decisions while simultaneously limiting administrative burdens and operating expenses.

Since listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market in 2014, MTBC has relied on an aggressive acquisition strategy to expand its foothold in the health care information technology market, completing three concurrent acquisitions at the time of its IPO. The company has already completed three additional acquisitions this year, and its management team has indicated that more targets are on the radar moving forward. Perhaps the most noteworthy of the 2016 acquisitions to date, MTBC purchased Texas-based Gulf Coast Billing, Inc. in February. In addition to adding roughly $3 million in annualized revenues to its books, the acquisition strategically positioned MTBC to expand its client base moving forward, particularly in terms of niche specialty markets.

Last month, the company gave prospective shareholders some insight into the early impact of its 2016 acquisitions when it released its financial results for the second quarter. MTBC’s quarterly revenue of $5.2 million was up slightly from the results of Q1, while its GAAP net loss was down 35 percent from the first three months of 2016. Moreover, the company recorded its third consecutive quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA, reporting $14,000 for the period.

“Our quarter over quarter revenue growth is a milestone, marking the first time this has happened since the fourth quarter of 2014,” Mahmud Haq, chairman and chief executive officer of MTBC, stated in a recent news release. “This reflects the stabilization of our business after the three simultaneous acquisitions at the time of our IPO in 2014, and the fact that we had obtained capital to invest in growing our business at the end of 2015. We finished the quarter with $6.6 million of growth capital.”

This stabilization could be coming at a great time, as the health care information technology market is rapidly evolving and taking shape. According to Statista (http://dtn.fm/0mmKN), medical IT spending in the United States and Europe topped $341.8 billion in 2014, up more than 12 percent from 2009, and the proliferation of mobile and wearable technologies is expected to play a key role in continuing this upward trend in the years to come. In a 2015 report from Accenture (http://dtn.fm/uI10I), 41 percent of health executives reported that their organization’s data volume related to patients had grown by more than 50 percent in just one year. Meanwhile, a massive 52 percent of surveyed patients were interested in receiving enhanced access to this data, particularly as it relates to physician notes.

The effects of these changes can be seen throughout the health care industry. Kaiser Permanente, the largest managed care organization in the country, recently invested $4 billion in building its advanced HealthConnect platform, which provides real-time access to medical records for both clinicians and its roughly nine million members. For health care providers without $4 billion to invest, MTBC’s portfolio of products represents an attractive alternative.

The company’s KLAS-ranked EHR software ChartsPro™, for example, allows physicians to automate a variety of clinical activities in order to improve efficiency and productivity. The web-based platform empowers patients by offering convenient access to personal health records and streamlines the workflow of clinicians with a comprehensive WebEHR dashboard, convenient e-prescribing capabilities and direct lab integration.

All told, MTBC’s entire product portfolio functions as a cohesive platform designed to help health care providers improve their financial performance and transform their practices into successful business enterprises. By aiding physician practices in their efforts to successfully navigate a rapidly shifting health care industry environment, MTBC is strategically positioned to capitalize on the ongoing technological revolution in health care.

For more information, visit www.MTBC.com

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Net Element, Inc. (NETE) Shares Surge following Prestigious Industry Recognition

Shares of Net Element climbed as much as 47% in Wednesday’s mid-day trade, a day after the payment processing innovator announced its inclusion to South Florida Business Journal’s Top 25 Fastest-Growing Technology Companies.

Net Element CEO Oleg Firer attributes the recognition to the company’s pattern of sustainable growth, as well as the diligence of corporate staff as the company moves toward deeper traction in its chosen markets.

“We are honored to be recognized for our consistent and strong growth,” Oleg Firer, CEO of Net Element stated in the news release. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Net Element team as we continue to focus on powering global commerce and bringing disruptive technologies to our customers.”

The South Florida Business Journal selects companies for its annual list based on percentage growth over a two-year period. Each company honored with the 2016 Technology Award will be recognized at a formal event taking place October 13, 2016. The companies will also be listed in a special section of the Business Journal that will include coverage of the 2016 Technology Awards. For more information, visit http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida.

Net Element is a global technology company delivering electronic payment solutions that enable merchants to process transactions through various integrated platforms. The company provides its services through a portfolio of operating companies with disruptive technologies in their respective fields. By tapping into large, relatively underserved markets, Net Element has a track record of impressive year-over-year growth, and continues to secure leading positions in select markets.

For more information, visit www.netelement.com

Monaker Group (MKGI) Encouraging 2016 Family Travel Trends

For many Americans, this has been a year for saving, with over 50% of U.S. citizens choosing saving money as their primary goal, rather than exercising more, eating healthier, or losing weight. According to an American Express press release (http://dtn.fm/Lb9DD), people in the U.S. are aiming to set aside an average of over $15,000 this year, a large increase over 2015.

In addition, more Americans today plan to save in order to spend on experiences such as travel. Approximately 70% of Americans plan to travel for leisure, versus 66% in 2015. U.S. citizens want to maximize their vacation time this year, and, according to an article at Parenting.com (http://dtn.fm/C4kMG), “family trips are one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry, and despite the fact that the average vacation in the United States costs $4,580 for a family of four, parents are willing to spend that money on something they feel is important to their family.”

The article highlights key traveling family trends for 2016. First, families are traveling with friends and/or family. This has been put down to the fact that the millennial generation, starting families, is beginning to value experiences more than just material possessions. People are booking holidays with extended family in order to share new experiences. Instead of young parents taking their kids to their grandparents’ homes, there has been a significant shift toward family destination visits.

Secondly, family holidays are not limited to summer vacations. Thanks to the flexibility of people’s jobs today, parents are able to take time off from work knowing they can keep on track of their careers remotely, via the Internet. Without the limitations of a brick and mortar facility, families are able to travel for longer periods of time.

Thirdly, spontaneous travel is no longer just for the rich and famous. The Internet provides quick and easy travel planning for people of all demographics. Last minute hotel deals, car rentals, flights, and so on are all available at the click of a button. Not only is it affordable; it’s easy. In addition to this, travel companies worldwide now promote last minute holiday deals for thousands of destinations.

Finally, options for accommodation are growing. Motels are not the only affordable option out there anymore. The combination of new booking platforms, timeshares, resorts, and other innovative options has made family accommodation increasingly comfortable and something people now look forward to. Many families now opt for full homes for their holidays so that they can take advantage of the greater space, comfort, and ability to cook affordable meals.

The technology-driven travel company Monaker Group (OTCQB: MKGI) offers all of the above to traveling families. The company’s real-time booking engine features a creative range of alternative lodging such as resorts, villas, hotels, homes, and more. In addition to this, families are able to book car rentals, flights, tours, and concierge services, allowing them to fully enjoy their vacation rather than losing time planning when they arrive at their destination. The company offers its services around the world, with listings growing every year thanks to its growing list of partnerships and acquisitions.

For more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com