Named one of the most innovative public technology companies by the Canadian Innovation Exchange in 2015, Ontario-based Pudo, Inc. (OTCQB: PDPTF) represents one of the latest “why didn’t I think of that” ideas. The company’s idea, now available across Canada and the U.S., is a customizable pick-up and drop-off service, allowing anyone to specify one of thousands of third-party locations where packages can be picked up or dropped off for delivery.

What that means for the consumer is that they don’t have to worry about not being at home for a delivery or trying to get to the post office or a distant shipping center before it closes. Instead, they can have the package delivered to what the company calls PUDO Points, which can be a nearby convenience or grocery store or even a gas station, any one of thousands of places that are part of the company’s growing partner network. The consumer is notified by email when the item arrives, and then simply picks the package up there, at locations that are convenient to reach and open long hours, 7-days-a-week. Additionally, anyone can also ship packages from the same locations, at times when other options are closed. For the consumer the only requirement is that they become a free PUDO member.

It’s a service that is obviously great for the consumer, but it’s also valuable to the partner-store because of the increased traffic it draws. As the PUDO user community grows, greater traffic will be generated. PUDO supplies partners with technology to coordinate shipments, and provides courier arrangements to attract foot traffic and PUDO members for domestic and international shipping. PUDO members receive discounts on their shipping and stores earn revenue. In addition, PUDO gives training to ensure consistent service standards are met.

PUDO already has affiliate agreements with some of North America’s best-known retailers, including Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY), Hudson’s Bay (OTC: HBAYF), and Walmart (NYSE: WMT), and it has recently entered into a marketing agreement with Innovative Marketing to provide PUDO with advertising and investor relations services. The company is now planning to raise up to $1.375 million through a non-brokered private placement, to “pursue the expansion of their location network in Canada and the United States, pursue strategic partners and retailers, and for general working capital”.

For more information visit: www.pudoinc.com or www.pudopoint.com.

Building good habits is the key for living a longer and healthier life. Developing these behaviors during adolescence can be an added benefit, as habits will develop and grow into a healthier adulthood. As individuals, our behavior is simply a stream of habits, which can be good or bad for our physical, mental, and emotional health. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and constantly learning and growing mentally are the foundation for a healthy lifestyle, and should be practiced regularly and early on in life.

If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to building better dietary habits, begin with grocery shopping. Shopping for ingredients for an entire week’s meals can be a daunting task, even for the seasoned soccer mom with years of PTA experience. One company’s mission is to make this process easier while educating consumers throughout the process – Content Checked Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: CNCK). CNCK’s suite of mobile apps (ContentChecked, SugarChecked, and MigraineChecked) allows shoppers to set their dietary restrictions, and scan the barcodes of food items to quickly and easily find out if that product is suitable for their dietary needs. If the product is not suitable for the user, then the apps will offer similar alternatives that do meet their dietary needs. Recipes that are catered to each user’s specific dietary restrictions are also available in the apps.

In a recent article on the Jakarta Post website (http://dtn.fm/c4vK8), journalist Stuti Agrawal emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle for teenagers: “Firstly, in the early stages of adolescence, the body requires a lot of calories. In general, teenage boys need to consume 2,800 calories each day and teenage girls need to consume 2,200 calories per day. An excessive intake of calories can result in serious health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Obesity is most common among teens today because of the wrong choices they make in their diet. Today, junk food such as pizza, burgers, fries and soda, which have little nutritional value and contain excessive fat, sugar, salt and calories, are the major portion of teenagers’ diets.”

A healthy exercise routine is essential for maintaining proper body weight. If you stay active by doing simple everyday tasks, such as walking your dog, taking your kids to the park, making smart decisions at the grocery store, and cooking balanced meals, you will be much more likely to attain and maintain a healthy body without having to spend two or three hours at the gym every single day.

Lastly, exercising and advancing your mind is an imperative component in maintaining and improving your overall quality of life. Effectuate a healthy lifestyle – it’s never too early or too late to start!

For more information, visit www.contentchecked.com

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Earlier today, Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTCQB: ALYI) announced the release of a research report from Caprock Research, a leading provider of fee-based independent investment research covering a growing assortment of publicly-traded companies. In the report, Alternet received an ‘accumulate’ recommendation alongside a near-term price per share (PPS) target of $0.05 and a long-term PPS target of $0.17.

To view the report in its entirety, visit http://www.wallstreetcornerreport.com/alyi-report

The report gives prospective investors insight into Alternet’s entrance into the mobile financial services and mobile security industries in 2009, as well as its sale of Utiba America’s assets in 2014. Last year, the company began offering its products and services commercially – including retail and consumer payment mechanisms, fintech solutions, point of sale infrastructure and, most recently, data analytics tools and solutions. As a result, Alternet currently “sits at the intersection of two large and quickly growing markets,” according to the Caprock Research report. The global point of sale market was valued at $36.86 billion in 2013, according to Transparency Market Research, while the market for data analytics was estimated at $125 billion in 2015.

“Alternet has a successful history of developing and commercializing young digital commerce technologies,” Henryk Dabrowski, chief executive officer of Alternet, stated in a news release. “We are now building upon that history to develop and commercialize an expanded portfolio of new key technologies into the burgeoning big data analytics sector.”

Wall Street Corner, which identified Alternet as a “promising, undervalued emerging technology leader” in a special report last month (http://dtn.fm/gjZ3Z), engaged Caprock Research to initiate ongoing research coverage of the company moving forward. An updated report is expected to be released following the filing of Alternet’s 2015 audited financial report in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit www.alternetsystems.com

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Earlier today, Star Mountain Resources, Inc. (OTC: SMRS) announced the reception of an Industry Guide 7 (IG7) Mineral Reserve Report for its recently acquired Balmat mine property in St. Lawrence County, New York. The report supports Star Mountain’s initial reserve estimates regarding the property, reflecting roughly 585,000 tons of proven and probable reserves with a 9.2 percent grade zinc that’s expected to generate an estimated $80.8 million in revenue over an initial 2.5-year mine plan. The IG7 Report also highlighted additional mineralized material adjacent to the current reserves, which are expected to be reclassified to reserve status in the future and play a key role in the execution of a larger, 8.5-year mine plan.

“We believe the findings in the IG7 report are very positive and reaffirm our confidence that the geological and engineering conditions reflected in the long production history of the Balmat mining operation can be sustained well into the future beyond the initial 2.5-year plan,” Joe Marchal, chief executive officer of Star Mountain, stated in the news release. “We continue to evaluate the current zinc market and the best strategy to move forward with a production plan and schedule.”

The IG7 Report also offered information on the condition of the Balmat property’s existing infrastructure. A key takeaway from the report was that the Balmat Mine and mill remain in good condition, ready to be placed into production with minimal expense and time. Upgrades to the mine’s ventilation system and modifications to the diesel equipment fleet will be necessary in order to adhere to more stringent diesel particulate matter regulations, which have been adopted since the mine was placed on care and maintenance, but the mine was still described as “a low cost fully mechanized operation,” clearing the way for recommencement of mining operations in the months to come.

“The report recommends initiatives we plan to pursue aimed at lowering operating expenses, increasing zinc recovery and concentrate grades and minimizing internal mine dilution,” stated Mark Osterberg, president and chief operating officer of Star Mountain. “We are very encouraged by the report and look forward to developing a strategy to move forward in a timely, cost effective and profitable manner.”

Star Mountain previously announced the acquisition of the Balmat mining complex in November as part of its agreement to acquire Northern Zinc and Balmat Holding Corporation, including St. Lawrence Zinc Company, LLC. The mining complex includes a permitted and equipped zinc mine, a 5,000 ton per day floatation mill, an office complex and the infrastructure necessary to enable to operation of the mine. In total, the acquisition included 2,699 acres of fee simple real estate and over 50,000 acres of mineral rights within St Lawrence County, New York, and its neighboring counties.

For more information, visit www.starmountainresources.com

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There’s hardly an industry or company that wouldn’t benefit from a profitable, strategic acquisition. Identifying a qualifying candidate, conducting due diligence, obtaining the financing, and executing the overall acquisition is where it gets tricky, but for the management team at Halitron, Inc. (OTC: HAON), well-calculated and successful acquisitions are first nature.

Focusing on sales, marketing and manufacturing businesses, Halitron strategizes to acquire bankrupt, distressed or insolvent companies and roll them into one operating infrastructure. The company recently entered into three separate letters of intent regarding profit-generating acquisitions expected to generate over $1 million in annualized sales. With completion expected in the first quarter, the company says these acquisitions will serve as the base of operations from which Halitron will explore future add-on acquisitions.

One specific challenge of the typical acquisition model is managing the costs associated with manufacturing, distribution and overhead. Halitron overcomes this obstacle by targeting several strategic acquisitions to maintain a low overhead for manufacturing, distribution, sales, and marketing techniques, primarily focusing on highly scalable digital marketing.

The company aims to take advantage of NAFTA and low DUTY costs, as well as low freight expenses, by owning the brands that sell to the end user, using its company-owned manufacturing center, and then distributing the products from a single distribution center in Tijuana, Mexico.

This business model enables Halitron to operate at high gross margins and implement online digital marketing techniques designed to drive sales growth of the brands it owns.

“Throughout the fourth quarter we focused on building a pipeline of acquisitions to lever a business model that includes a strong manufacturing base located just over the border from San Diego, California,” Halitron CEO Bernard Findley stated in a news release earlier this week. “Halitron, Inc. will acquire recognized brands that primarily sell product throughout the U.S. market. By manufacturing product and selling to the end user, this vertically integrated business model will be able to operate profitably and will be developed as a platform to absorb newly acquired businesses and then ‘roll’ them into the existing infrastructure.”

Findley has 20 years of experience working with small- to mid-size businesses. The first part of his career focused on growth opportunities in which he would build up sales and sell the businesses, and the latter part orchestrating a roll-up of 16 bankrupt, insolvent, and distressed brands. He has worked in many industries like medical devices, promotional products, and direct marketing, and over the past five years has rolled up and then exited 16 brands that, without his guidance, were bankrupt or out of business. Today, these brands exist and are operating under new owners.

As CEO of Halitron, he now applies his knowledge of how to take advantage of strengths within a business, reshape the business plan, and then execute on the deliverables.

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

A California-based biotechnology company, International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB: ISCO) focuses its energies on developing restorative medicine using stem cell technology. Its innovative parthenogenesis technology uses human stem cells derived from unfertilized oocytes (eggs), which helps the company avoid any ethical issues involving the destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO also produces and markets cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology. For even more revenue, the company’s other subsidiary, Lifeline Skin Care, markets and sells a skin care line that promises rejuvenation and beauty.

In December, Lifeline Skin Care launched its Molecular Renewal Serum™, just in time for the holidays. This product contains an impressive nano-compound that works with skin to replenish elasticity and smoothness. During testing, the serum showed improvement in skin’s resilience and a decrease in roughness without any negative side effects. The serum also stimulates collagen production, which lends strength to skin by regrowing dead skin cells.

That same month, ISCO announced that it had entered a master clinical research agreement with Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, one of the world’s leading brain research centers. The agreement cleared the way for scientists to conduct a Phase I/IIa clinical trial studying the effects of human parthenogenetic stem cells in people with Parkinson’s disease. Patients are to be enrolled during the first quarter of 2016.

ISCO’s groundbreaking stem cells are created by stimulating oocytes into dividing themselves into histocompatible cells. The company strives to create immune matching cells, so that people do not reject the treatment. So far, ISCO scientists have developed the first line of stem cells that can be used as therapeutic cells for millions of people with minimal rejection. The company also aligns itself with the UniStemCell Bank, the first collection of non-embryonic stem cells, in the hopes of increasing widespread use and scientific breakthroughs.

With the steady financial growth of ISCO and its subsidiaries, the company hopes to continue making great strides in regenerative techniques for eye, liver, and nervous system diseases.

For more information, visit www.internationalstemcell.com

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Late last month, Avant Diagnostics, Inc. (OTCQB: AVDX) made headlines when it announced plans to merge with Amarantus Diagnostics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: AMBS). Under the terms of the previously announced Letter of Intent, Avant will issue 80 million shares of common stock to Amarantus upon execution of definitive merger agreements, which will represent roughly 45 percent of Avant’s post-merger common stock. An additional 10 million shares of common stock will be transferred upon achievement of predetermined sales milestones. According the company’s news release, the transaction is expected to be finalized in the second quarter of 2016, setting the stage for tremendous opportunities to progress Avant’s highly valuable diagnostic assets in the areas of oncology and neurology.

“After exploring numerous avenues for implementing Avant’s OvaDx® development and commercialization strategy, it is clear that combining Avant’s and Amarantus’ diagnostic assets and core competencies forms a platform that provides maximum value to our collective shareholders,” Gregg Linn, president and chief executive officer of Avant, stated in a news release.

The operational synergies between the two companies are expected to create significant opportunities for financial growth following completion of the proposed merger. Both Amarantus Diagnostics and Avant possess assets with the potential to provide early and actionable information to physicians and researchers by harnessing the power of biomarkers based in the immune system in disease areas that previously yielded results of limited value. Avant’s OvaDx® immuno-oncology diagnostic assay, for example, represents a significant improvement in the screening and diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Upon commercialization, it’s estimated that the market opportunity for OvaDX could be $50 million annually as a diagnostic test for ovarian cancer, and it could expand to over $2 billion if the test were to be approved as a generalized screening and/or monitoring tool.

“The collective diagnostic assets will create a truly unique opportunity to implement our respective missions of saving and enhancing lives through early detection of disease in oncology and neurology,” continued Linn. “The combined companies will enjoy additional benefits by creating a compelling platform to showcase the power diagnostics have to reduce costs and improve outcomes in the healthcare system.”

Amarantus Diagnostics’ development pipeline is expected to have similarly expansive market potential upon commercial approval. Its MSPrecise® neuroimmunology-based next-generation sequencing diagnostic assay for multiple sclerosis (MS), which is expected to greatly improve the diagnostic accuracy rate in MS while reducing costs for payers, will target a $200 million market, with the potential to address additional markets as a monitoring tool to measure the efficacy of drug treatment over time. Amarantus is also developing its innovative LymPro Test®, a neuroimmunology-based flow cytometry assay, for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

Gerald E. Commissiong, president and chief executive officer of Amarantus, summarized the two companies’ optimism regarding the tremendous commercial potential of the merged company in a recent news release.

“We believe that combining these state-of-the-art technologies with a deep understanding of chronic disease rooted in immunology will produce a world-class diversified immuno-oncology and neuroimmunology focused diagnostics company able to deliver actionable information to physicians seeking to provide the most tailored treatment options for patients, while also assisting the research community in developing new medicines for these devastating disorders,” he said.

For more information, visit the company website at www.avantdiagnostics.com

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Giggles N’ Hugs (OTCQB: GIGL) is focused on offering families with children a safe and fun place to play and eat good food. The company’s themed settings are loaded with the things kids love, and they’re also designed in a way that parents can enjoy. When was the last time you or your child were invited to a Rock ‘n Roll birthday party? Sounds fun, doesn’t it? GIGL offers three full membership packages designed to help parents save money and make fun memories simultaneously.

The company’s birthday party packages offer some of the best kid parties in Los Angeles, including nutritious menus that kids love and parents approve, over 6,000 square feet of play space, a professional and friendly staff, themes and options for beers/wine or mimosas for adults. There is also an option to have the party brought to you.

Giggles N’ Hugs membership plans are offered with one-, three- and six-month options. They offer unlimited play and fun for all who attend. The one-month unlimited play membership gives parents and kids 30 days of nonstop fun. Packages include a one child $35 package, a two child $59 package and a three child $85 option.

Family memberships include access to the Giggles N’ Hugs restaurant and play space. The play spaces are cool and neat for younger and older kids. For convenience, the one-month unlimited play membership is available at all three Giggle N’ Hugs locations – including Century City, Topanga and Glendale.

The three-month membership is also available at all three locations. With this package, the children’s play space is available for 90 consecutive days, making the offering a great choice for those who want to make Giggles N’ Hugs a routine or seasonal stop. Package details include one child for $89, two children for $155 and three children for $215.

The six-month package is a half-year of fun and a lifetime of memories. The six-month restaurant and play space package gives parents and kids the chance to loosen up and have a great time for 182 days straight. Package prices are one child for $165, two children for $299 and three children for $379.

Giggles N Hugs, Inc. owns and operates kid-friendly restaurants with play areas for children who are 10 years and younger. The company owns and operates a restaurant in the Westfield Mall in Century City, a restaurant in the Westfield Topanga shopping center in Woodland Hills, and a restaurant in the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California. Giggles N Hugs, Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Learn more by visiting www.gigglesnhugs.com

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Companies in the mining business are frequently exploring new avenues to make the jump from an exploration stage company up to a sought after company with revenue production. Much like a caterpillar has a relatively dull, uneventful life until it reaches the cocoon stage and emerges as a beautiful butterfly with wings to explore and display its magnificence for the entire world to enjoy, Star Mountain Resources, Inc. (OTC: SMRS) has been in the dull exploration stage searching for a reliable property to call home before it can reap the benefits of mining operations and revenue production. Well, with the recent announcement of its acquisition of the Balmat Zinc Mine in New York, Star Mountain has emerged from its cocoon, so to speak, and should have a much more eventful life moving forward.

The Balmat mining complex – including a 4,000-foot-deep mine, a 5,000-ton-per day flotation mill, an office building and necessary infrastructure for mine operation – was originally shuttered as a result of declining zinc prices, but forecasts for the coming months are promising. According to Mark Osterberg, president and chief operating officer of Star Mountain, zinc prices are set to increase beginning next year following the closure of several zinc mines with depleted reserves.

Demand is the driving force behind most operational business decisions. Basically, if the demand for zinc increases, the price will go up, and companies with proven reserves and production will be very happy – along with their shareholders. This acquisition and the company’s announcement to begin the hiring process for the Balmat Mine may have given Star Mountain the jolt it needed to attract the attention of new investors and analysts. One thing is for sure: once a company starts producing revenue, more people are going to realize that it has started to walk the walk instead of just talking the talk. Making good on your plans and promises is essential for establishing and maintaining your reputation, which, in the small and micro cap space, is worth its weight in gold, or zinc in this case.

For more information, visit www.starmountainresources.com

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Banner days are back for the timeshare industry. According to the recently published State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study 2015 Edition, in 2014, the last full year for which data is available, the U.S. timeshare industry grew faster than the economy. U.S. GDP growth in 2014 was 2.4 percent, while the study estimates U.S. timeshare industry growth at a strong 4 percent. Total sales volume increased from $7.6 billion in 2013 to $7.9 billion in 2014. Since 2010, sales volume has been rising steadily. It was $6.4 billion in 2010; $6.5 billion in 2011; $6.9 billion in 2012; $7.6 billion in 2013; and $7.9 billion in 2014, recording a compound annual growth rate of 4.3 percent over the five year period. Timeshare sales volume peaked at $10.6 billion in 2007 and fell significantly in the next two years due to the recession – hitting a floor at $6.3 billion in 2009. Since then, the industry has undergone a steady resurgence. 2014 marked the fifth straight year of increases in sales volume. With sales on the upswing, re-sale growth has been rising as well.

Timeshares offer the opportunity to own or have use of a vacation home for a set time every year on a recurring basis. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) calls them ‘vacation ownership’ and explains in a promotional brochure: ‘Owning a timeshare is your ticket to better vacationing. This means an ever-expanding choice of accommodations, amenities, locations, pricing, use plans, and timeshare exchange. You can tailor vacations to meet your lifestyle needs and travel dreams at more than 5,000 resorts in almost 100 countries around the world.’ Many timeshare contracts give the purchaser a deeded interest in real estate and grant ownership rights in the property at a fraction of its total cost. The timeshare owner will pay an annual maintenance fee. The typical timeshare arrangement is for a week or two. Longer periods are referred to as fractionals. Large resort owners who develop the properties will usually offer programs that allow timeshares to be traded. Someone who owns a timeshare to a property in Florida may do a swap with someone who owns a timeshare to a property in Hawaii. This is a large market, since, undoubtedly, preferences change over time. As the old saying goes, variety is the spice of life.

The anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that selling a timeshare is not so easy, however. Data on the resale market is difficult to obtain, but, judging from the prices, it’s a buyer’s market. According to Redweek.com (http://dtn.fm/2c3MG), which bills itself as the largest online marketplace for timeshares for sale, ‘Timeshare re-sales… are typically priced 30-50% below the original developer or resort price.’ A story (http://dtn.fm/Pg0Jk) in Kiplinger backs that up: ‘With brand-name developments, such as Disney, Marriott and Wyndham, you typically pay 30% to 50% less than the developer’s price. You’ll save more money buying from a lesser-known developer – probably 50% to 70% off the property’s price when it was first put on the market.’

There are two large exchange companies, Interval International and RCI (formerly Resort Condominiums International), that offer both timeshares by developers and those for re-sale. Typically, timeshare owners are allowed to save or ‘bank’ vacation time for use in a subsequent year. This is usually a prerequisite to trading the timeshare. But FlexWeek (OTC: FXWK) allows owners to share and exchange their timeshares directly with other owners and non-owners alike. The FlexWeek platform eliminates the need for timeshare owners to bank unused weeks with existing high fee trading networks such as RCI and Interval International. FlexWeek is a true peer-to-peer network that empowers individuals to arrange travel with one another based on true supply and demand metrics.

FlexWeek is a pioneer in the global peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace with the introduction of a unique platform that allows timeshare owners to discover, book and offer unused vacation time directly to the public and other timeshare owners. This approach eliminates the need for timeshare owners to use costly trading platforms while potentially reducing unused timeshare inventory.

For more information, visit www.flexweek.com

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