The world is becoming increasingly dependent on technological conveniences and advances, particularly when it comes to commerce. In recent months, technology giants such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Samsung (OTC: SSNLF) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG; GOOGL) have demonstrated this evolving landscape with innovative forays into the mobile payments space. According to a study by Accenture, roughly 41 percent of consumers reported using their phones to pay at a merchant location in 2014, up from just 17 percent in 2012. This growth is likely just the beginning. Mobile-based payments in the United States are expected to reach $142 billion in annual volume by 2019, according to the New York Times. For merchants, this shifting consumer preference makes updating legacy point of sale systems a major focus in the coming years.

Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTCQB: ALYI) delivers technology products to financial organizations requiring solutions that can manage a wide range of payment channels. By partnering with leading manufacturers, the company seeks to offer innovative solutions that extend the capabilities of payment processing systems across a full range of capture devices – including point of sale, mobile phones, tablets, PCs and web-based applications.

One way in which Alternet is attempting to disrupt the payment technology industry is by offering an innovative, brand agnostic point of sale terminal to the U.S. market, which includes the largest collection of outdated legacy point of sale infrastructure in the world. Through a strategic partnership with the Brazilian leader in multichannel technology solutions for the electronic point of sale industry, the company is addressing an expansive target market that includes over 20 million merchants across the country.

In 2013, the global point of sale market was valued at $36.86 billion, and it is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 11.6 percent from 2014 to 2020. As adoption of wireless and mobile point of sale solutions continues to increase, Alternet is in a favorable strategic position to capitalize on this market performance while promoting sustainable growth.

For more information, visit www.alternetsystems.com

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When Doc Brown invented the time machine in the movie ‘Back to the Future’, the most important piece to accomplish time travel was the flux capacitor. The biggest problem with time travel was, of course, the resources available at the point in time where you found yourself. The flux capacitor could convert any raw material into a reliable, sustainable, efficient source of energy needed to power the time machine.

This fun analogy to the popular 80’s science fiction movie relates to Georgia-based energy solutions company Dominovas Energy Corp. (DNRG), dedicated to delivering electricity on a multi-megawatt scale to areas of the world that lack this critical commodity. The biggest hurdle associated with deployment of a sustainable energy source to a frontier market is that fuel sources and availability vary, depending upon a wide range of factors.

The company’s RUBICON™ SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) technology is fuel-flexible, specific to the variability and number of fuels that can be incorporated into its operation. The integration of the proprietary reformer with the RUBICON™ SOFC stack is engineered in such a way that the RUBICON™ will reform almost any hydrocarbon fuel to a suitable syngas composition (a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, etc.) for optimal SOFC stack electricity generation. In laymen’s terms, this means that whatever you put into the company’s ‘flux capacitor’ will transport your country from the days of the Wild Wild West into the 21st century.

Importantly, the company’s energy solution is also ‘green’. Success in the global energy business is increasingly based upon the ability to produce energy efficiently while being kind to the environment. As a ‘non-combustion’ electricity producer, the RUBICON™ emits markedly less green-house-gas pollutants per unit of power produced. Generating mostly heat and water as byproducts, the RUBICON™ is a sustainable solution to the energy-mix. In summation, the future of energy is the focus for Dominovas Energy.

For more information, visit www.dominovasenergy.com

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International Stem Cell Corporation (OTC: ISCO) focuses on utilizing patented human parthenogenetic stem cells (hPSC), developed from unfertilized embryos, to treat Parkinson’s, retinal, and liver diseases where replacing dead and dying cells with new ones seems most effective. However, the road to commercialization and FDA approval is a long one. Therefore, the company has two wholly-owned subsidiaries that generate money in the meantime: Lifeline Skin Care, Inc. and Lifeline Cell Technology, LLC.

The first, Lifeline Skin Care, Inc., develops, produces, and markets a line of anti-aging cosmetic skin care products. These products use the company’s scientific rejuvenation breakthrough of non-embryonic stem cells to improve the look and feel of skin. These products include neck and eye firming creams, moisturizers, cleansers, and more. Sold all over the world, this cosmetic line promises youthful and healthy looking skin.

The second, Lifeline Cell Technology, LLC, develops, manufactures, and sells human cell culture products along with optimized reagents for laboratory research purposes. For example, the company offers VascuLife®SMC, a human smooth muscle cell medium optimized for the culture of human smooth muscle cells. This provides 15 population doublings at high growth rates. The company also sells Normal Human Mammary Epithelial Cells (HMEC) that provide a serum-free culture model for research on breast cancer, carcinogen screening, and other areas of breast research. All of Lifeline Cell Technology products are rigorously tested to the highest degree for maximum laboratory research operations.

In a news release, Andrey Semechkin, Ph.D., CEO, and co-chairman of ISCO recently stated, “We are maintaining our position as a leader in the regenerative medicine field and the overall operating income of our biomedical businesses continues to grow.” The company continues to manufacture and market its proprietary innovations while advancing developments in treatments of various diseases using stem cells.

To find out what the buzz is all about, visit www.internationalstemcell.com

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Bruce Perlowin, chief executive officer of Hemp, Inc. (OTC: HEMP), was recently featured in an interview on Up Close with Chris Tinney, a weekly podcast that introduces listeners to people making a difference in their communities and around the world. Perlowin, once dubbed the ‘King of Pot’ by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is now referred to as the ‘Godfather of Pot Stocks’ after founding the first publicly-traded company in the medical marijuana space, Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA). Today, he serves as the CEO of the first publicly-traded company seeking to capitalize on the nation’s ongoing industrial hemp revolution, Hemp, Inc.

In recent months, measures to reinvigorate the production of industrial hemp across the nation have been gaining steam. In 2014, President Obama signed a bill that removed hemp grown for research purposes from the Controlled Substances Act, and more than a dozen states now allow industrial hemp farming for research and/or commercial purposes. During the show, Perlowin detailed his vision for the future of the hemp industry.

“Medical marijuana, recreational marijuana and, certainly, industrial hemp have won,” Perlowin stated in the interview. “We will be legal in all 50 states. Trying to stop this movement is trying to sweep back the incoming tide with a broom – it’s not going to happen.”

Perlowin went on to give prospective shareholders insight into Hemp, Inc.’s progress toward the impending launch of its decortication facility in Spring Hope, North Carolina. He also highlighted the performance of the company’s cosmeceutical and nutraceutical product lines, as well as Hemp, Inc.’s enthusiastic efforts to educate the market through the production of The Hemp Nation magazine.

“Part of what we do as a public company in our position is not just make a profit; we believe in giving back and helping social causes,” Perlowin continued. “We have this massive educational campaign as part of a core element of our company, and The Hemp Nation magazine takes care of that.”

The Up Close with Chris Tinney Interview comes at an exciting time for followers of Hemp, Inc. Last week, the company reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2015, which included a 53.8 percent year-over-year increase in sales stemming from its hemp-based product line. As it continues to shift focus toward more advanced processing at its expansive decortication facility, Perlowin and the company’s management team are optimistic about Hemp, Inc.’s ability to capitalize on the rapid growth of the industrial hemp market in the years to come.

To listen to the full interview, visit www.christinney.com/hemp-inc

For more information visit www.hempinc.com

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“Boxed Water is Better.”

It’s a simple sentence that represents a powerful message about the environmental impact of the bottled water industry. Landfills across the United States are overflowing with more than two million tons of discarded water bottles, and this plastic packaging will take more than 1,000 years to biodegrade, according to the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Despite the environmental concerns, the national bottled water industry is thriving. According to a study by Statistic Brain Research Institute, annual spending on bottled water in the U.S. was estimated at $11.8 billion in 2014. That’s roughly 167 plastic bottles per person each year!

While major beverage companies such as PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and Nestle (OTC: NSRGY) continue to capitalize on the performance of the bottled water market, a company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is on a mission to minimize the impact of portable water solutions with a tried and tested packaging formula that’s just simple enough to work. Boxed Water Is Better LLC publicly launched Boxed Water in March 2009. Boxed Water is packaged in a 100 percent recyclable carton that has less than half of the carbon footprint of a PET bottle. To date, the company has secured placement in a variety of popular shopping destinations – including Costco (NASDAQ: COST), Whole Foods Markets (NASDAQ: WFM) and Kroger (NYSE: KR).

While Boxed Water Is Better LLC continues to make progress toward cracking the bottled water industry in the U.S., a similarly sized opportunity is available in Canada. The Canadian distribution rights for Boxed Water are held by RM Fresh Brands, which was acquired by Legacy Ventures International, Inc. (OTC: LGYV) in October.

According to a report by the Canadian Department of Agriculture, annual per capita consumption of bottled water increased by more than 107 percent from 1999 to 2009, accounting for roughly 10.6 percent of all non-alcoholic beverage sales in 2009. In the months to come, Legacy will look to capitalize on this market performance by offering an ecofriendly alternative. Currently, Legacy is focused on increasing brand awareness across Canada through the use of viral, event-driven marketing campaigns. Recent partnerships with major events such as the Toronto Film Festival and Holt Renfrew’s Holiday Kick Off have illustrated the massive potential of this strategy.

As the Boxed Water brand continues to gain steam in both domestic and international markets, Legacy is in a favorable position to realize sustainable financial growth. For prospective shareholders, ongoing efforts to disrupt the Canadian bottled water industry with a more environmentally conscious alternative make Legacy an intriguing investment opportunity moving forward.

For more information, visit www.legacyventuresinc.com

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Star Mountain Resources, Inc. (OTC: SMRS) is a junior exploration and mining company that focuses on obtaining mining claims, mineral leases, mine production, and historic mines for future growth potential. Specifically, the company acquires these base and precious metal mines in North America. At the moment, Star Mountain Resources is recommencing mining activities at the Balmat zinc mine in upstate New York, which is expected to turn the company into an active mine producer (instead of an explorer) with an impressive revenue stream beginning at the end of next year. To achieve its maximum growth through acquisitions, the company balances its core values on a pyramid of responsibility that instills confidence from the community, employees, and shareholders.

Environmental stewardship lays the foundation upon which the company is built. Star Mountain Resources believes in implementing planning and processes that won’t negatively affect the environment. Planning begins with exploration, then construction, up through reclamation. During these processes, the company diligently looks at safe water treatments, sewage systems, energy consumption, and clean air solutions. These continuous programs ensure federal, state, and local regulations are met.

Second, Star Mountain Resources provides a safe environment for employees at each facility. The company and its employees have developed personal work habits and practices that do not put anyone at risk. Then, the third tier involves the maintenance of community ties. Since 2011, the company has volunteered in flood mitigation efforts in Weber County, Utah, which have saved farms, homes, crops, and more. Star Mountain Resources also stands by its promise to hire, outsource, and buy locally in their operation communities.

Star Mountain Resources states that “responsibility to us means much more than operating in a corporate ethical manner.” The company’s responsibility is made up of strong values that provide daily guidance. By sticking to these values, along with its plan of continuous acquisitions, Star Mountain Resources intends to be a leading mining producer.

For more information, visit www.starmountainresources.com

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With its acquisition of the zinc (atomic number: 30) mining operations in Balmat, St. Lawrence, New York, formerly owned by Hudbay Minerals (NYSE: HBM), Star Mountain Resources, Inc. (OTC: SMRS) is gearing up to take advantage of tightening supplies in the global zinc market. Since the Great Recession, zinc prices have been in the doldrums. In the U.S., they fell to a low of $0.78 per pound, according to Statista, and, of course, so did both supply and demand. With the global economy under stress, there was very little demand, and depressed prices gave no incentive to invest in new mines.

However, in a sign of things to come, the U.S. price rose, albeit unsteadily, by 38% to about $1.08 during 2015. It has since fallen again. It is now around $0.70 per pound. Yet the winds of change are blowing away output capacity, and so it’s very likely that prices will rise again.

Last year, the Australian-Chinese concern, MMG Limited, in a report on its website, announced it had shuttered its mining operations at Century in Australia. The Century mine was said to be the world’s third largest. In 2014, it produced 465,696 tonnes and accounted for around 3.5% of global zinc output in that year. In 2015, it was expected to yield about 350,000 tonnes. Also, The Economic Times of India reported that Vedanta Resources would close its Lisheen mine in October 2015. To date, it appears the mine is still in operation. Lisheen is Europe’s second-largest zinc mine with a capacity of around 175,000 tons, according to a HardAssetsInvestor story. Quoting Bloomberg Intelligence, the story said Lisheen’s closure will reduce global supplies by another 1.3%, and a Bloomberg Business report in October 2015 stated that Glencore plc would cut output from mines in Australia, Peru and Kazakhstan totalling around 500,000 metric tonnes. That’s an additional roughly 4% of production.

These are substantial falls in production if supply is considered over recent years. Statistics compiled by The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) show that mine production of zinc in 2010 was 12,360,000 tonnes. Mine production refers to volume of ores as opposed to actual refined zinc, referred to in the trade as metal production. In 2014, it was 13,512,000 tonnes. An estimate of 2015 output based on the average monthly output for the first ten months of 2015 comes up at 13,486,000 tonnes. So taken together, the Century and Lisheen mine closures and the Glencore actions would amount to a global supply cut of close to 8.5%.

The wild card on both the demand side and the supply side is China. China leads the world in mine production of zinc, in the production of refined zinc, and in usage of zinc. In 2014, ILZSG data showed that China accounted for 37.6% of global mine production. Mine production in China rose over the 5-year period from 2010 – 2014 by an astonishing 36%. In Australia, the comparable figure was 1.9%; in Europe, it was 2.2%; in the U.S., it was 9.3%; in Canada, output fell by 46%. What happens in China will not stay in China.

Star Mountain’s President, Mark Osterberg, is not fazed. In an interview with North Country Public Radio in December 2015, he said, “The mining cycle is down, which means that assets like Balmat are available at bargain prices. So we think we bought the property at a very good price and we believe the commodity prices are going to come back up.”

Star Mountain also has community backing. Patrick Kelly, CEO of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency has said the agency is “ready to offer assistance in whatever form and for however long it takes to get this business off the ground.”

Star Mountain Resources, Inc. is a junior exploration and mining company focused on acquiring and consolidating mining claims, mineral leases, producing mines, and historic mines with production and future growth potential. Its operations are currently focused on base metal and precious metal mining acquisitions in North America, and on re-commencing mining activities at the Balmat Zinc mine in upstate New York.

For more information, visit www.starmountainresources.com

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