MissionIR Small-Cap Investor Blog

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

eXp Realty International Corporation (EXPI) Attains Exclusive Rights to VirBELA Platform within Real Estate Industry

Earlier today, eXp Realty International Corporation (OTCQB: EXPI) announced that it has entered into an agreement with VirBELA, LLC, one of the leading developers of 3-D, avatar-based, immersive online worlds. As part of this agreement, EXPI gains exclusive rights to the VirBELA platform within the real estate industry, as well as an option to exclusive rights within a number of related industry verticals, such as mortgage origination, mortgage lending, title and escrow and title insurance.

“Since our inception, we have built a family of more than 1,100 professionals across 35 states and parts of Canada whose office, workplace, and world is and has been 3-D, avatar-based online environments,” Glenn Sanford, founder and chief executive officer of EXPI, stated in this morning’s news release. “VirBELA represents the next generation of these environments and recognizes their potential impact on business, collaboration, and community.”

VirBELA was originally developed at the University of California San Diego’s Rady School of Management using a $1.7 million grant from the Graduate Management Admission Council. With this capital, VirBELA, LLC successfully developed and demonstrated an immersive, 3D virtual-reality campus environment that hosted a global business-simulation competition for management students at top universities across three continents. Using the same tools, VirBELA is able to create custom 3D simulations in order to support the training and development needs of its partner organizations, which will allow EXPI to offer a more collaborative platform to its growing base of agents and brokers.

“No company has come close to leveraging immersive online environments to the degree or in the ways that eXp has for the benefit of its agents, brokers and shareholders,” Dr. Alex Howland, chief executive officer of VirBELA, stated in the news release. “We believe firmly in the company’s mission, management and growth and look forward to being an integral part of its continued success going forward.”

Leveraging VirBELA’s innovative technology, EXPI, through eXp Realty LLC, is able to provide 24/7 access to collaborative tools, training and socialization features for real estate brokers and agents in a fully-immersive, cloud office environment. To date, this platform has shown effective in reducing agents’ overhead costs, increasing their profits and improving the service value they are able to provide to clients. With these benefits in mind, it’s little wonder that EXPI’s network of agents has experienced such strong growth since its launch in October 2009. In early March, the company welcomed the 1,000th real estate professional into its family of agent-owners, positioning itself among the top 50 real estate brokerages in the United States based on agent count.

EXPI offers an aggressive revenue sharing program that pays agents a percentage of gross commission earned by fellow real estate professionals whom they attract to the company. In 2014, EXPI launched its initiative of sharing equity with its agents and brokers, effectively catapulting the company into a period of accelerated growth and improved retention that’s still underway.

For more information, visit the company’s website at http://investors.exprealty.com

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Content Checked Holdings, Inc. (CNCK) Shows Impressive Revenue Growth via Its Family of Health-Conscience Mobile Apps

Content Checked Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: CNCK) is the company behind the innovative ContentChecked, MigraineChecked, and SugarChecked mobile applications. Its SugarChecked app identifies the four main types of sugars in products with a quick and easy barcode scanner. The app offers comprehensive sugar content information that is fact-checked by a team of nutritionists. It’s like having a nutritionist in your pocket.

Content Checked’s vision is to be the go-to source for people seeking to maintain a clean and healthy diet. The company’s goals are to educate consumers about what is in their food and improve the way they shop for packaged food and beverage products.

Content Checked’s mission is to offer fast, reliable, and efficient mobile apps that help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions and live healthier lives in accordance with their dietary preferences. Across SugarChecked’s social media channels, the company recently began releasing video advertisements illustrating the harmful effects of sugar, alerting consumers to its potentially detrimental effects.

To view the video advertisements, visit the following link: http://dtn.fm/S5aNj

While the mission and story of Content Checked are inspirational and uplifting, Wall Street tends to focus on the numbers and figures. For the six months ended September 30, 2015, the company’s revenues were $657,850, net of reserves, as compared to no revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2014. The company had cash and equivalents of $5,509,532, as of September 30, 2015. Generating considerable revenues is a significant accomplishment for a company founded in July 2013.

To view the company’s full financials, visit the following link: http://dtn.fm/sIJ7M

For more information, visit www.contentchecked.com

Monday, April 4, 2016

OurPet’s Company (OPCO): ‘Green’ Effects & Positive Outlook from APPA President on Pet Industry in 2016

It’s said that green is the new black. According to Packaged Facts, the movement toward sustainable practices in the pet industry has been underway for quite some time, “beginning with recycling efforts, expanding to bio-based/biodegradable materials and now encompassing a variety of initiatives driven by consumer demand.” Ohio-based OurPet’s Company (OTCQX: OPCO) is aware of this. The company develops, produces, and markets various pet accessory and consumable products designed to awaken pets’ natural instincts, be it in feeding, playing, or waste management.

Examples of the company’s ‘green’ commitment include the following cat products, which are made from sustainable or recycled/recyclable materials: Spider Wand™, Loofah Wand™, Catnip Carrots, Catnip Fruits, Veggie Assortment and the remainder of the Pet Zone EcoPure Naturals® line.

Consumers view companies with eco-friendly initiatives positively and are demanding products created with eco-friendly, ‘natural’ ingredients and materials. Experts predict continued growth in the natural category, which includes pet food and pet care products. As reported by Packaged Facts, U.S. retail sales of natural pet products saw a “compound annual growth rate of 15.2 percent” from 2010 to 2014.

Bob Vetere, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), announced at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida, that overall spending in the pet industry for 2015 came in at a record $60.28 billion. These spending figures are part of APPA’s annual comprehensive report that covers pet spending in the market categories of food, supplies/over-the-counter (OTC) medications, veterinary care, live animal purchases and other services.

Pet services, which include grooming, boarding, walking, training, pet sitting, exercise and yard services for pets, saw the largest growth and more than tripled the growth percentage of any other category. Coming in at an 11.8 percent rise from 2014 to 2015, owners are now spending $5.41 billion on pet-related services.

“The 2016 industry spending forecast is very promising and although spending trends in various market segments ebb and flow, the industry as a whole is continuing to prosper, which is always great news,” said Vetere. “And with increased research on the health benefits of pet ownership, we anticipate even higher industry sales in the years to come.”

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

Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OGES) Exceeds Revenue Guidance for First Quarter of 2016

Earlier today, Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: OGES) announced its commercial revenues for the first quarter of 2016. During the period, the company successfully leveraged the momentum created by the commercial launch of its game-changing lithium-ion battery products to record the highest quarterly revenues in its near 20-year history. Oakridge exceeded its previously announced $250,000 revenue guidance, recording a total of $263,427 for the quarter.

“This is a very exciting time to be part of Oakridge,” Steve Barber, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Oakridge, stated in this morning’s news release. “We have, for the first time in company history (which dates back to the 1980’s), generated significant commercial revenues in Q1, 2016, and in doing so have exceeded our guidance of $250,000 in expected Q1 revenues.”

The first quarter of 2016 was filled with major milestones for Oakridge, beginning with the successful launch of production operations from its manufacturing facility located in Palm Bay, Florida. The company also announced the signing of a strategic business alliance agreement with Japan-based Sojitz Machinery Corporation, completed the production release of its Liberty Series motorsports starter battery, distributed the first regular commercial production shipments of its Pro Series golf car battery, entered into a strategic business alliance with Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc., and started a second shift of production operations in order to better meet rising commercial demand.

“We have passed the turning point after our lengthy restructure and transition of the company from an R&D company to a fully-fledged commercial production and manufacturing business and are looking forward to a very successful year in 2016,” continued Barber. “We have some truly amazing products, powerful strategic alliances, and some highly synergistic acquisition opportunities in the queue to be announced in the very near future.”

In the second quarter of 2016, Oakridge will look to build on its strong start to the year by continuing to expand its presence in the global stored energy space. The company plans to begin production shipments of its powerful Freedom IV series of living space power products in the coming months as it continues to develop and refine its existing product line. As part of these efforts, Oakridge has ordered additional high speed automation equipment to aid in manufacturing efforts, and it expects this equipment to be delivered before the end of this year.

With the most transformative quarter since its founding in 1986 now in the books, Oakridge is uniquely positioned to achieve sustainable growth moving forward. Look for the company to continue leveraging its immense intellectual property portfolio and extensive history of design and system innovation in order to deliver the latest in energy storage technology and continue to usher in a new era in battery manufacturing.

For more information, visit www.oakridgeglobalenergy.com

Friday, April 1, 2016

Moxian, Inc. (MOXC) Linking Businesses and Consumers in China via Precision Marketing

Moxian, Inc. (OTCQB: MOXC) is connecting businesses and consumers in China with precision marketing delivered via social marketing and promotion platforms. With innovation and strategy, the company is strengthening its foothold in the online-to-offline marketing space. After entering at an opportune time, Moxian moved to test and refine its online-to-offline marketing platform in Asia before focusing its attention on the major metropolitan areas in China. The company stands to benefit from its timely entrance into China, which is reporting an estimated 25 percent annual growth in sales, as well as the upcoming opening of new offices in the region and the expansion of its operations there.

As Moxian wraps up its development and testing phase, the company seems prepared to experience a marked increase in revenue from merchant subscriptions and other income sources, especially once it opens additional sales offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou in 2016. Merchant fees – driven by the number of merchants participating in the Moxian platform – can provide a substantial source of cyclical revenue for the company. By driving up the number of merchants participating, Moxian will also drive up this income stream. In the future, Moxian can earn additional revenue through the sale of reward points. Eventually, the company also expects to generate revenue from selling advertising on its platform.

With offerings like the Moxian+ App and the Moxian Reward program, the company strategically connects merchants and consumers. Moxian has designed its products and services so merchant clients can customize their advertising and promotional efforts for specific customers. On the user side, Moxian’s platform invites users to return frequently and encourages new users to subscribe to the company’s website. By allowing merchant clients to study consumer behavior through data collected from a database of users’ activities, the company is also building a social customer relation management tool that allows business owners to engage in precision marketing.

With all initiatives steered by an experienced management team, Moxian’s business strategies, growth initiatives, operating performance and multiple revenue sources are positioning the company for considerable market opportunity in the online-to-offline sector in China.

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

The Essence of Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OGES): Talent & Technology

At Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: OGES), talent and technology thrive. A manufacturing company with big dreams, Oakridge means to reach every corner of the global battery market, and with its talent and technology, it appears to be overcoming the competition in the design and manufacture of high-performance battery systems. Oakridge has a 30-year history and presence in the world of integrated energy storage solutions, and, these days, it looks to be bringing the lessons learned from every one of those years to its ventures. In the same way battery technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, Oakridge is advancing by leaps and bounds.

State-of-the-art. Next-generation. These are the terms that describe the type of opportunities Oakridge is pursuing. In the world of battery manufacturing, a new era has arrived, and Oakridge is seeking to access and develop technology that will allow it to continue to create state-of-the-art, next-generation, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The company currently operates a strong lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in Palm Bay, Florida, in addition to providing energy storage solutions throughout the U.S. Using top-of-the-line technology, Oakridge manufactures high-quality electrodes, cells, batteries and energy storage systems that have been enhanced and designed to address multiple high-demand target markets.

Oakridge’s energy systems have applications in the aerospace, marine, medical, military and telecom fields. They power remote control and portable devices, including medical devices. They are the starter motor batteries for cars, trucks, motorcycles, jet skis, snow mobiles and boats. They can take the form of motionless living space power for homes, businesses, RVs, boats and uninterruptable power supplies. They also have motive applications in electric and hybrid electric fleet vehicles, e.g. golf cars.

Oakridge’s product development team hires high-caliber talent and works with external lithium battery professionals to produce cutting-edge products, such as the Liberty Series lithium-ion motorcycle batteries that were first introduced to commercial markets last month at the Daytona Beach Bikefest. The development and delivery of the Liberty Series backs up the fact that Oakridge values innovation for commercial success. The batteries are manufactured at the Palm Bay, Florida, facility, and, in keeping with the company’s “Made in the USA” promise, the design for all component systems (from the battery pack to the management system and mechanics) were completed by leaders in various relevant industry segments in the U.S.

The resulting product is incredibly powerful. Oakridge’s Liberty Series batteries deliver a long-lasting, highly-reliable energy solution for all models of Harley Davidson, Indian and Victory motorcycles. These large bikes need a strong battery to start their large engines, and the Liberty Series batteries, which utilize Oakridge’s proprietary electro-chemistry process and a specialized battery management system, have the juice to get the job done.

For more information, visit www.oakridgeglobalenergy.com

International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO) Bypasses the Moral Dilemma Associated with Stem Cells

Human embryonic stem cells typically come from fertilized eggs. International Stem Cell Corp. (OTCQB: ISCO) uses a process called parthenogenesis, in which researchers use chemicals to induce the egg to begin developing as if it had been fertilized. The egg — called a parthenote — behaves just like an embryo in the early stages of division. Because it contains no genetic material from a father, however, it cannot develop into a viable fetus. Just like embryonic stem cells, parthenogenetic stem cells can be coaxed to grow into different kinds of human cells or tissue, ready to be transplanted into diseased areas of the body. International Stem Cell Corp. scientists have converted them into liver cells and plan to convert them into neurons for treating Parkinson’s disease, pancreatic cells for diabetes, and other tissues.

International Stem Cell Corp. is conducting a current study in which 12 people with moderate to severe Parkinson’s disease will be treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne. They will be given one of three doses of cells, from 30 million to 70 million. They will be monitored for 12 months to evaluate the safety and activity of these cells. The patients will be assessed before receiving the treatment under standards such as the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and will be reassessed at intervals.

Here are some startling statistics from the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation’s website (http://dtn.fm/t4Jyi). As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, which is more than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease. Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, and this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected. An estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease. Incidence of Parkinson’s increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50. Men are one and a half times more likely to have Parkinson’s than women.

The combined direct and indirect cost of Parkinson’s, including treatment, social security payments and lost income from inability to work, is estimated to be nearly $25 billion per year in the U.S. alone. Medication costs for an individual person with PD average $2,500 a year, and therapeutic surgery can cost up to $100,000 dollars per patient.

For more information, visit www.internationalstemcell.com