Tag Archives: Funding and Investment

Cold Chain Capital, LLC launches: Private Equity Firm Focused on Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

SYRACUSE, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Cold Chain Capital(TM) LLC ("Cold Chain Capital"), a Fayetteville, N.Y.-based private equity firm, announced its launch today. The company focuses on the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry ("HVACR").

Founded by Greg Deldicque, an HVACR industry veteran, and supported by long-time senior advisors, Ken Fox, Mark Cywilko, Jean-Pierre Xiberras, Bertrand Bigay and Brad Hardesty, Cold Chain Capital makes control investments in middle-market HVACR companies with revenues between $50 million and $500 million.

Investments span OEM/manufacturing, service/installation and wholesale/distribution. Geographically, it focuses on companies with headquarters in North America, South America and Europe.

Cold Chain Capital's managing partner and senior advisors have a combined HVACR and investment experience of more than 200 years. Several company leaders have held president positions with leading air conditioning and refrigeration companies, as well as have had tenure at premier investment banks and strategy consulting companies.

"We see exciting private equity opportunities in the air conditioning and refrigeration industries," Deldicque says.

There are several reasons why. They include:
* Macro fundamentals: large industry with GDP+ growth and high fragmentation
* Margin runway for many participants
* Industry disruption due to new retail formats, energy efficiency and new refrigerants requirements, as well as new digital/traceability technologies
* High sustainability impact: global warming and food waste reduction
* Downside protection: tied to food and pharma, idiosyncratic industry and replacement/aftermarket driven.

"Cold Chain Capital's clear focus on HVACR middle-market companies and operational capabilities provide clear benefits to its portfolio companies, their management teams and potential sellers," Deldicque adds.

It welcomes investments in companies at all stages of their business cycles, including business growth, transformations, turn-arounds (including negative EBITDA or free cash-flow), carve-outs and roll-ups. Cold Chain Capital has strong values and takes a collaborative and ethical approach to all its investments.

Prior to founding Cold Chain Capital, Greg Deldicque held a variety of executive positions. He was a senior executive with Carrier, a division of United Technologies; a principal with The Boston Consulting Group; a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs International in their Principal Investment Area; and an officer in the French Marines. During his career, he's completed more than 20 business acquisitions and divestitures. He holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a bachelor in business from ESSEC Business School in France.

Cold Chain Capital is already in advanced conversations with several potential acquisitions and welcomes new opportunities.

For more information: https://coldchaincapital.com.

Cold Chain Capital LLC, a Fayetteville, N.Y.-based private equity firm, announced its launch today. The company focuses on the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry ("HVACR").

Related link: https://coldchaincapital.com

Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor shares how to engage your grown kids about preparations for their own retirement

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- In his compact new book, "Parent's Guide to Your Child's Retirement: 21 Thought-Provoking Conversations to Have with Your Adult Children" (ISBN: 978-0999641415) Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor(SM) Rodger Alan Friedman, delivers an easy to follow structure that may serve to enable you and your children to have positive, engaging and thoughtful conversations regarding their future retirement.

"The book is designed for parents who have grown children who are in the workforce, children who should be salting away funds for their own future retirement. I did not write this for parents of toddlers, grade school kids or hormone raging teenagers," says Friedman. He writes that "My focus here is on kids that should be contributing to 401(k), 403(b) plans, IRA's and investing in real estate to build future wealth."

Friedman's new book is very deliberately interactive. After sharing with parents the three monsters potentially hiding under the beds of their one-day-to-be-retired kids that can hinder their retirement, he provides 21 conversation paths to engage parent and child in thoughtful, non-confrontational dialogue regarding the progress the adult child is making in preparing for their own future retirement.

Friedman clearly defends and weaves within the suggested conversations that parents are not inclined to fund their child's retirement. "Parents Guide to Your Child's Retirement" is a short 76-page guide designed as a parental tool to gauge if you should still be worried about your child.

Friedman can talk about:

* The 3 biggest risks - or monsters that can wreck your kid's retirement;
* The importance of understanding if your child has an entitlement mindset;
* Engaging in thoughtful conversations with grown kids to determine if they are a train-wreck waiting to happen or if they are on track for an independent future retirement;
* How the parents can help without funding their kids retirement.

To request a free copy of the book, please contact Rodger Alan Friedman using the information found below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rodger Alan Friedman is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor((SM) Wealth Manager and financial advisor with 35 years' experience in the industry. Friedman is a former senior vice president-wealth management and senior investment management consultant with Morgan Stanley and has authored 3 additional books on retirement planning and working with a financial advisor.

AVAILABILITY: Washington, D.C. metro area, nationwide by arrangement and via telephone.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Rodger Alan Friedman, Steward Partners Global Advisory, 7550 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 420 Bethesda, MD 20814; by phone (240) 800-3450 or Rodger.Friedman@StewardPartners.com

Steward Partners Global Advisory LLC and The Friedman, Wong, Kafetz Group maintains a separate professional business relationship with, and our registered professionals offer securities through, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC.

In his compact new book, "Parent's Guide to Your Child's Retirement: 21 Thought-Provoking Conversations to Have with Your Adult Children" (ISBN: 978-0999641415) Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor(SM) Rodger Alan Friedman, delivers an easy to follow structure that may serve to enable you and your grown children to have positive, engaging and thoughtful conversations regarding their future retirement.

Related link: http://www.rodgeronretirement.com/

Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors Ranked in Financial Times 2018 Top 300 Registered Investment Advisers

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- KFWA is pleased to announce it has been named to the 2018 edition of the FT 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers. The list recognizes top independent RIA firms from across the U.S.

This is the fifth annual FT 300 list, produced independently by the FT in collaboration with Ignites Research, a subsidiary of the FT that provides business intelligence on the asset management industry.

In order to be considered for inclusion, RIAs must apply and meet a minimum set of criteria. Applicants are then graded on six factors: assets under management (AUM); AUM growth rate; years in existence; advanced industry credentials of the firm's advisers; online accessibility; and compliance records. Rankings are objective, and the FT receives no remunerations or fees from RIAs.

"KFWA is honored to be included in this impressive group of elite RIA firms, where the "average" practice in this year's list has been in existence for over 22 years and manages $4 billion in assets," said Kenneth D. Pollinger, CEO and Co-Chairman of KFWA. The FT 300 Top RIAs hail from 38 states and Washington, D.C.

Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors, a leading wealth management firm with more than $3 billion in assets under management, provides comprehensive wealth planning and investment management for high net worth individuals and families throughout the country.

Disclosures:

The FT 300 is one in a series of rankings of top advisers by the Financial Times, including the FT 401 (DC retirement plan advisers) and the FT 400 (broker-dealer advisers).

The Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers is an independent listing produced annually by the Financial Times (June 2018). The FT 300 is based on data gathered from RIA firms, regulatory disclosures, and the FT's research. The listing reflected each practice's performance in six primary areas: assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, years in existence, credentials and online accessibility. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the practice's future performance. Neither the RIA firms nor their employees pay a fee to The Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 300.

Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Therefore, it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended and/or undertaken by Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors ("KFWA")), or any non-investment related services, will be profitable, equal any historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. KFWA is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. If you are a KFWA client, please remember that it remains your responsibility to advise KFWA, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. A copy of our current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or by clicking here ( http://www.klingenstein.com/contact-us/ ). Please read the expanded disclosures in the linked report or by visiting our website at www.klingenstein.com.

More information: http://www.klingenstein.com/.

KFWA (Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors) is pleased to announce it has been named to the 2018 edition of the FT 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers. The list recognizes top independent RIA firms from across the U.S. This is the fifth annual FT 300 list, produced independently by the FT in collaboration with Ignites Research.

Related link: http://www.klingenstein.com

Cloudvirga Raises $50M to Deliver a Truly Digital Mortgage Experience

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage point-of-sale (POS) software whose enterprise technology is powered by the intelligent Mortgage Platform(R), today announced the closing of a $50-million Series C funding round led by private-equity firm Riverwood Capital (Riverwood) with ongoing participation from Upfront Ventures.

The new funding will support Cloudvirga's mission to help lenders reduce record-high loan production costs via automation and empower borrowers with greater transparency and engagement in the mortgage transaction.

"We believe the material opportunity in the $1.6 trillion U.S. mortgage market lies in digitizing and automating not just the loan application, but the mortgage factory," said Cloudvirga CEO Michael Schreck. "Our industry's current 'shiny object syndrome' has resulted in a preoccupation with the digital application. Instead, Cloudvirga's technology uniquely tackles the mortgage cost problem, which has helped us garner tremendous interest from many of the country's top private-equity funds."

Schreck added, "Ultimately, we found our ideal capital partner in Riverwood Capital, whose unique experience supporting rapidly growing fintech firms from both Silicon Valley and New York is a perfect fit for Cloudvirga. We are also grateful for Upfront Ventures' ongoing confidence in our company."

"The mortgage market is one of the largest in the country, yet innovators are still nibbling on the edges of mortgage automation," said Riverwood executives Scott Ransenberg and Jay Schneider. "Cloudvirga has the right fusion of mortgage and technology DNA to transform the way lenders do business. Cloudvirga's blue chip customer base, which includes many of the largest and most sophisticated mortgage lenders in the country, is a testament to their unique end-to-end solution." With this funding, both Schneider and Ransenberg will join Cloudvirga's board of directors.

Cloudvirga had previously raised over $27 million, including a nearly $20 million Series B led by Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) portfolio company Incenter and a $7.5 million Series A led by Upfront Ventures, Tribeca Angels and Dallas Capital. Cloudvirga's total investment support now exceeds $77 million. DCS Advisory LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Cloudvirga in connection with the current transaction.

About Cloudvirga(TM):

Cloudvirga's digital mortgage point-of-sale (POS) software, powered by the intelligent Mortgage Platform(R), uniquely combines a world-class borrower experience with a truly automated lender workflow that radically cuts overall loan costs, increases transparency and reduces the time to close a loan. Founded by top fintech veterans with a track record of building successful mortgage technologies, Cloudvirga's customer base includes eight of the top 40 non-bank mortgage originators. To date, Cloudvirga has raised over $77 million from some of the country's top lenders and private-equity firms.
For more information, visit http://www.cloudvirga.com or follow Cloudvirga on LinkedIn.

About Riverwood:

Riverwood Capital is a private equity firm that invests in high growth middle-market technology companies. Riverwood offers a unique combination of operational, strategic, technology, and financial insight to portfolio companies. The firm partners with established businesses with a proven technology and business model, and the proper fit in terms of culture and values, in both minority and control situations. Riverwood has offices in Menlo Park; New York; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. For more information, please visit https://www.riverwoodcapital.com.

Twitter: @Cloudvirga #fintech #funding

REF: - Ticker: NY:BX : NYSE:BX

Cloudvirga, a leading provider of digital mortgage point-of-sale (POS) software whose enterprise technology is powered by the intelligent Mortgage Platform, today announced the closing of a $50-million Series C funding round led by private-equity firm Riverwood Capital (Riverwood) with ongoing participation from Upfront Ventures.

Related link: http://www.cloudvirga.com/

Jallo Oil Distributors’ President is Major Benefactor for Soon to Be Released Documentary on Christian Persecution

TAMPA, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Patrick Carberry, founder Joshuacord.org, has teamed up with In Altum Productions, film director Jordan Allott, and Paul Jallo, president, Jallo Oil Distributors' to produce a much-needed documentary that addresses the plight of Christian persecution in the Middle East and Africa.

Joshuacord.org is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization developed to help people persecuted for their Christian faith.

"I started Joshuacord six years ago with a yearly 5K run in Tampa to bring awareness to the ongoing plight of persecuted Christians," says Carberry. "'Christians in the Mirror,' a soon-to-be-released documentary, is just one more way to communicate our mission. Edmund Burke, an Irish statesman once said, 'Evil prevails when good men do nothing,' so we're taking those words to heart and trying to help however we can."

"Christians in the Mirror" is scheduled to be released this summer. Their goal is to reach more than 350,000 churches throughout the United States and it's the hope of the documentary's producers and directors that these churches will share it with people who will share it with people and so on and so on.

A Go Fund Me campaign has also been launched to help with the video's distribution.

Paul first met Patrick about one year ago and the two hit it off instantly.

"We really connected. We both have the goal of making a difference to raise awareness about Christians being persecuted for their faith," Jallo says.

Having been born and raised in the Middle East, Jallo knows first-hand how people who are Jesus followers are treated.

"When I met Patrick and learned about his organization and film project, I was quick to get involved. The film shows real stories of Christian persecution and we can make a difference in this struggle that kills Christians for their faith. God has given me more than I deserve and I want to pay it forward," Jallo says.

It's the hope of the film's executive team that "Christians in the Mirror" will activate Christians across America to stand united to help those under persecution for their faith.

"Paul is a good man with a kind heart who is concerned about justice and religious freedom. He understands that the documentary is about God-given human rights and religious freedom," Carberry says.

"Christians in the Mirror" includes interviews with religious leaders and persecuted Christians in Syria, India, Iraq, South Sudan and Egypt. Ultimately, it's a wakeup call for people to help.

"We want our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East and Africa to know that they're not alone and to encourage all who believe in human rights, religious freedom and freedom of conscience to step up and speak out," Jallo says.

Watch the documentary trailer here: https://vimeo.com/243393463

GoFundMe Page for "Christians in the Mirror" - https://www.gofundme.com/8addb-christians-in-the-mirror-film

Joshuacord: https://www.joshuacord.org/

Christians in the Mirror official site: http://christiansinthemirror.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuacord1.9

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshua_cord

Jallo Oil: https://www.facebook.com/jallooildist/

In Altum Productions: http://www.inaltumproductions.com/

Patrick Carberry, founder Joshuacord, Inc., has teamed up with In Altum Productions, film director Jordan Allott, and Paul Jallo, president, Jallo Oil Distributors, to produce a much-needed documentary that addresses the plight of Christian persecution in the Middle East and Africa. Joshuacord is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization developed to help people persecuted for their Christian faith.

Related link: https://www.joshuacord.org/

Virginia Startup CounterFlow AI closes $2.7M Seed Round

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. /ScoopCloud/ -- Cybersecurity startup CounterFlow AI announced last week that it has raised $2.7 million in seed funding from Osage University Partners, the Charlottesville Angel Network, and a number of individual investors who also supported the founders' previous venture, nPulse Technologies (acquired by FireEye in 2014).

CounterFlow AI is using streaming machine learning technology at the network edge to help cyber defenders more quickly find and remove network threats.

"The traditional perimeter defense approach to securing networks is still necessary," said Randy Caldejon, CounterFlow AI's CEO. "But it is no longer sufficient. The fact is that data breaches occur daily. Consequently, security analysts have turned to threat hunting as the best form of defense. Our mission is to arm them with the next generation of tools so that they can scale their hunting operations and win the day."

Network security analysts may face hundreds or even thousands of alerts every day, generated by the perimeter defense tools already in place. Many of these will be false positives, some will be trivial issues that could be resolved with automated responses, and a critical few will be real intrusion events that need to be addressed rapidly.

Dr. Andrew Fast, CounterFlow AI's Chief Data Scientist, said, "By applying machine learning to data in motion, we can draw the security analysts' attention to the most dangerous threats, allowing them to begin incident response in real time."

John Lee, a principal at Osage University Partners who oversaw the Philadelphia-based fund's investment in CounterFlow AI, said reliable security solutions still require human expertise.

"Putting a human in the loop and empowering the analyst to hunt within their network at scale is the right place for CounterFlow AI to be," Lee said.

About CounterFlow AI:

CounterFlow AI, Inc., a Virginia-based company, designs and builds threat-hunting solutions for world-class security operation centers (SOC). The company is redefining the art of threat hunting by utilizing machine learning and sensing at the edge of the network to drive targeting operations in real time. CounterFlow AI's flagship product, Dragonfly Threat Sensor, is more than a traditional intrusion detection and prevention system (IDPS). It is a cybersecurity platform that integrates signature inspection, machine learning, and adaptive packet capture, enabling security analysts to significantly reduce time to detection and response.

For more information, visit https://counterflow.ai/.

About Osage University Partners:

Osage University Partners (OUP) is a venture capital firm focused on investing in startups that are commercializing pioneering university technologies. OUP partners with top research universities to invest in their most innovative startups, and OUP shares its investment profit with its partner institutions. The firm invests in software, hardware, and life science companies at all stages of company development. OUP has partnered with over 90 universities, including 39 of the top 50 U.S. institutions by research expenditures, and has invested in over 75 of their spinouts. OUP is part of a family of investment funds within Osage Partners, which is based in Philadelphia, PA and manages in excess of $500 million.

For more information, visit: http://osagepartners.com/osage-university-partners/

Twitter: @counterflowai @OUP_VC #Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity startup CounterFlow AI, Inc. announced last week that it has raised $2.7 million in seed funding from Osage University Partners, the Charlottesville Angel Network, and a number of individual investors who also supported the founders' previous venture, nPulse Technologies (acquired by FireEye in 2014).

Related link: https://counterflow.ai/

Neurotech Reports Announces 2018 Investment and Management Conference for Bioelectronic Medicine

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Neurotech Reports, the publisher of Neurotech Business Report newsletter, today announced the launch of the Bioelectronic Medicine Forum, the first investment and management conference for the bioelectronic medicine industry. The inaugural event will take place on March 22, 2018 at the Millennium Broadway Times Square in New York, N.Y.

Featured speakers include Gene Civillico, Ph.D., the Program Manager for the National Institute of Health's SPARC program. Also presenting is Eric Van Gieson, Ph.D., Program Manager at DARPA's Biological Technologies Office, which oversees the ElectRx program. These two U.S. government programs have funded much of the early research into bioelectronic medicine.

Sessions will cover a range of technologies and indications for bioelectronic medicine, including applications in cardiovascular medicine, inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, and many other clinical specialties. Attendees will hear from some of the leading researchers and entrepreneurs developing clinically and commercially promising products such as implanted vagus nerve stimulation systems to treat hypertension, and surface stimulation devices to treat a range of disorders.

Several early-stage and emerging bioelectronic medicine firms will be presenting at the conference. These include NeuSpera Medical, which is developing a unique mid-field power technology that uses the body as a waveguide to power bioelectronic devices. Also presenting is Axion Biosystems, a manufacturer of multi-well microelectronic electrode arrays, and Neuroelectrics, a Spanish firm that manufactures noninvasive stimulation and recording devices.

The conference is co-sponsored by the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Imran Eba of Action Potential Venture Capital, GSK's venture arm in bioelectronic medicine, will serve as a moderator. The event takes place in the same venue and one day prior to the Future Leaders Conference, which is produced and organized by BioCentury, a global leader in business intelligence for the biopharma industry. BioCentury is pleased to serve as a marketing partner of the Bioelectronic Medicine Forum.

"Bioelectronic medicine represents one of the fastest growing segments of the life sciences industry. Participants at the 2018 Bioelectronic Medicine Forum will have an opportunity to help shape the future of this exciting field," said James Cavuoto, editor and Publisher of Neurotech Business Report.

For more information, contact James Cavuoto at 415-546-1259 or visit http://www.neurotechreports.com/pages/bioelectronic-medicine-forum.html .

*PHOTO: Send2Press.com/300dpi/18-0130s2p-Gene-Civillico-300dpi.jpg

Neurotech Reports, the publisher of Neurotech Business Report newsletter, today announced the launch of the Bioelectronic Medicine Forum, the first investment and management conference for the bioelectronic medicine industry. The inaugural event will take place on March 22, 2018 at the Millennium Broadway Times Square in New York, N.Y.

Related link: http://www.neurotechreports.com/

Paragon Insurance Holdings Announces Equity Investment from Edgewood Partners Insurance Center and Oak Hill Capital Partners

AVON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC ("Paragon"), a national multi-line specialty MGA, announced today that Edgewood Partners Insurance Center (EPIC) and Oak Hill Capital Partners have taken an equity stake in the company. The investment from EPIC and Oak Hill will further propel Paragon's organic and M&A growth strategies and create greater opportunity for Paragon's agency, carrier and reinsurance trading partners.

Paragon was formed in 2014 by Ron Ganiats and Ron Mairano and is one of the industry's fastest growing managing general agencies. With fifteen programs, controlled premiums exceeding $125M, and offices in Avon, CT, San Francisco, and Seattle, Paragon has established deep trading relationships with specialty carriers and reinsurers that provide unique solutions in a market that is quickly evolving.

Paragon's specialty carrier and reinsurance relationships, systems and operational capabilities, and data capture and analytics, have quickly made the company a stand out among their competitors.

"Winning in this environment is a function of talent, capability, vision and commitment," said Ron Ganiats, CEO of Paragon. "We are delighted to have strong new partners like EPIC and Oak Hill, who will help us to further build on this foundation of beliefs and values, for the benefit of all Paragon trading partners and our own team members."

About Paragon:
A broadly diversified MGA, Paragon provides unique opportunities and solutions to retail agents, insurance carriers, reinsurers and vendor partners.

Please visit http://www.paragoninsgroup.com/ for additional information.

Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC, a national multi-line specialty MGA, announced today that Edgewood Partners Insurance Center (EPIC) and Oak Hill Capital Partners have taken an equity stake in the company. The investment from EPIC and Oak Hill will further propel Paragon's organic and M&A growth strategies and create greater opportunity for Paragon's agency, carrier and reinsurance trading partners.

Related link: http://www.paragoninsgroup.com/

Philadelphia Commercial Capital Advisory CEO Discusses the Current State of the Commercial and Multifamily Finance Market

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- Rittenhouse Capital Advisors (RCA) is a commercial real estate finance advisor with over 60 years of combined banking experience. Currently in its fourth year of operation, Rittenhouse Capital has increased its loan production volume by a minimum of 30 percent year over year by delivering creative commercial financing solutions for their real estate investor clients.

Rittenhouse Capital CEO George Johnson believes that market conditions may be about to change and that now is the best time to take advantage of historically low interest rates.

"We are late in the game here," Johnson says. "Interest rates are still very favorable to borrowers, but we don't know how much longer that will last. The Fed is unwinding their quantitative easing, which will most definitely create upward pressure on treasury rates given the shift in that supply-demand fundamental. GDP growth was a very healthy 3.3 percent in the 3rd quarter, the fastest rate in 3 years, so inflationary pressure will start to build there as well.

"The new Tax Reform package will likely bring some economic stimulus with further inflationary pressure, so there is a lot of factors in play, all pointing to higher interest rates in the near term. When that happens, lenders may take a more conservative approach to underwriting, making it more difficult to obtain the level of loan proceeds real estate investors are looking for."

Many commercial and multifamily property owners would like to capitalize on today's low interest rates, but they have existing loans that do not mature for a while, and they do not want to pay a significant pre-payment penalty to get out of these loans.

"A lot of commercial borrowers are not aware of some of the financing options that are available out there," Johnson continues. "For example, we have a great balance sheet product where a borrower can lock in their interest rate today for a period of up to 12 months while they burn-off any remaining prepayment penalty. This approach saves our clients a substantial amount of money as they avoid paying their prepayment penalty while also taking interest rate risk off the table."

E-commerce Driving a Shift in Demand toward Multi-Unit Industrial Properties:

Another factor that is currently impacting the commercial lending market is E-commerce. Companies like Amazon and Wayfair are driving demand for warehousing space. And with thousands of other companies getting in on the Ecommerce craze, multi-unit industrial properties are at a premium.

"Beginning shortly after the 'great recession,' multi-family properties (e.g., apartment buildings) were very popular with buyers and the lending community, but this segment has peaked or is approaching its peak in most major markets. Supply has caught up to demand and lenders are becoming a bit more cautious.

"It is a far different story with multi-unit industrial properties. More and more online retailers need warehouse space to store their products, and demand is far outpacing supply in this sector. Lenders love these properties because they are usually at full occupancy, rents are continually going up, and cashflow is strong. For this reason, there are plenty of very competitive financing options for this asset type."

Healthcare Real Estate in Demand with Rapidly Aging Population:

In 1950, the population aged 65 and older represented 8.1 percent (or 13 million) out of the total U.S. population of 158 million. That percentage is projected to reach 13 percent (or 46 million) out of 355 million by 2030. This shift will place great demands on the nation's health-care system and spur considerable growth in the real estate segment of the healthcare industry.

This trend in the healthcare industry is already beginning to pick up steam now with the larger hospital systems building out or leasing real estate facilities focused on delivering specialized needs such as surgery centers, urgent care, and orthopedics, just to name a few.

Similar to the industrial-distribution space, the supply-demand fundamentals have swung heavily on the demand side in healthcare and the numbers would seem to indicate a good amount of runway in the current direction. As such, expect the lending community to compete aggressively to provide funding on healthcare projects as described above and also including senior living, assisted living, specialty care (nursing homes) and memory care, going forward.

Recent Rittenhouse Capital Transactions:

Rittenhouse has helped commercial property owners with purchases and refinances across a wide range of sectors. Here is a sampling of their recent transactions:
* Apartment Building Refinance: RCA arranged a $9,100,000 refinance for a 150-unit apartment building in Philadelphia. RCA delivered the lowest fixed rate in the market along with a non-recourse structure and capped transaction costs.
* Office Building Acquisition: RCA arranged a $54,250,000 acquisition loan for a 356,000 square-foot class "A" office building known as the Great Valley Commerce Center. Located in Malvern, Pa. this building is fully leased to credit tenants. The debt assignment for this property was highly sought-after and competitive. RCA was awarded the assignment by delivering maximum leverage and a strong long-term fixed rate.
* Single Tenant, Net Leased Retail Acquisition: RCA arranged a $4,000,000 acquisition loan for a commercial parcel that is being leased long-term by Royal Farms, a fresh food and gas station chain based in the Northeast. RCA delivered the most competitive rate amongst three other options the client was considering and the loan was closed in only 25 days in accordance with the borrowers agreement of sale.
* Mixed-Use Building Acquisition: RCA arranged a $3,000,000 acquisition loan for a mixed-use (apartment/commercial) building. The property has 9 apartments and 1 commercial unit (a 7-Eleven store). RCA delivered maximum leverage, 3 years of interest only, capped transaction costs and a non-recourse structure for their client.

"We have the expertise and lender relationships to deliver favorable financing for the full range of commercial real estate assets anywhere in the country."

For more information, go to https://www.rittenhousecapital.com/

About Rittenhouse Capital Advisors:

Rittenhouse Capital Advisors (RCA) is a comprehensive debt, equity, and advisory solutions provider specializing in placing debt and equity (either for acquisitions or refinances) for Rittenhouse Realty's clients and other commercial borrowers. RCA understands the complexities of the commercial real estate market, and that no two assets are exactly alike. As such, they take the time to thoroughly understand their clients' needs and goals, so they can negotiate and arrange the financing structure that works best for them. Leveraging its extensive network of lender relationships developed over the teams combined 60 years in the banking industry, RCA is able to speak "banker to banker" with the ultimate funding source, allowing them to deliver the most competitive terms in an efficient and professional manner.

Media Contact:
George Johnson - CEO
Rittenhouse Capital Advisors
107 S. 2nd Street 4th Floor
Philadelphia, Pa 19106

Phone: 215-989-4443
Email: George@rittenhousecapital.com
www.rittenhousecapital.com

Rittenhouse Capital Advisors is a commercial real estate finance advisor with over 60 years of combined banking experience. Currently in its fourth year of operation, Rittenhouse Capital has increased its loan production volume by a minimum of 30 percent year over year by delivering creative commercial financing solutions for their real estate investor clients.

Related link: https://www.rittenhouserealty.com/

In This Season of Thanksgiving Dunlap Gift of $350,000 Benefits Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs

WILLISTON, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. a national 501(c)(3) non-profit, located in Williston, Fla. and the Community Foundation for Ocala Marion County are proud to announce, and extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Al and Judith Dunlap for their incredibly generous gift of $350,000 to support the work of training medical service dogs for Veterans and First Responders.

Al and Judith are known for their passion for animals, especially German shepherds. They are long-time supporters and donors to the Marion County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit. On a recent visit and tour of Guardian Angels, the Dunlap's saw first-hand the life-saving work being done in training predominantly German Shepherds to become individually-trained medical service dogs.

Al and Judith knew immediately that they wanted to be a part of this work inquiring, "How many dogs can be trained with this gift?" It takes upwards of two (2) years to train a fully functioning service dog at a cost of approximately $22,000. This is all accomplished at no cost to the veteran who is paired with his/her dog for life.

The Community Foundation is honored to partner with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs in creating a pass-through fund for matching gifts for their year-end campaign to not only raise funds for training but to launch their campaign to expand to a new state of the art facility on 60+ acres in Levy County.

Carol Borden, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Guardian Angels states: "The need is so great. With 20-22 veterans committing suicide on a daily basis, we are so very thankful to Al and Judith Dunlap for their tremendous gift to our organization. These funds will make a life changing difference for so many of our heroes, waiting for help."

In fact, once paired with a Guardian Angels Medical Service Dog, the rate of suicide in their recipients is zero.

About Community Foundation for Ocala Marion County:

Community Foundation for Ocala Marion County is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Florida that serves as convener-collaborator-catalyst for sustainable community building through philanthropic fund management for donors, professional advisors and nonprofits in four key sectors: civic, cultural, community and economic development.

For additional information about the Community Foundation, see: http://www.ocalafoundation.org/.

To donate to Guardian Angels visit: http://www.ocalafoundation.org/me/community-foundation-ocala-marion-county/guardian-angels-medical-service-dogs-14709.html

About Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs:

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) based in Williston, Florida and has grown into a nation-wide Service Dog Organization. We raise, train and then donate individually trained medical service dogs to veterans, first responders and others who suffer from disabilities including PTS, Traumatic Brain Injury, mobility issues and more. Guardian Angels receives up to 40 applications each day for one of their medical Service Dogs. There is no state or federal funding available for this critical life-saving program. Over the past 6 years, Guardian Angels has paired more than 200 individually trained medical service dogs with those in need, and with your help, they can do even more.

For more information on our program, visit: http://www.medicalservicedogs.org/.

*PHOTO for media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-1212s2p-gamsdogs-300dpi.jpg

*Photo Caption: L to R: Al Dunlap, Donor; Wendy Richards, Mary Jo Brandt, COO of Guardian Angels; Barbara Fitos, Executive Director Community Foundation, Carol Borden, CEO of Guardian Angels; Frank Hennessey, Community Foundation; Nate Burney, Canine Program Director, Guardian Angels; and Judith Dunlap, Donor.

Media Contact:
Mary Jo Brandt
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs
Phone: 239-771-3703
Email: mj@medicalservicedogs.com

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. a national 501(c)(3) non-profit, located in Williston, Fla., and the Community Foundation for Ocala Marion County are proud to announce, and extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Al and Judith Dunlap for their incredibly generous gift of $350,000 to support the work of training medical service dogs for Veterans and First Responders.

Related link: http://www.medicalservicedogs.com/

Maxwell Closes New $3M Funding Round to Accelerate Pace of Mortgage Innovation

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Maxwell Financial Labs, Inc., a leading provider of B2B digital mortgage cloud software, announced today a new funding round of $3 million, led by the investment arm of Anthemis Group, a company committed to cultivating change in financial services, with participation from Route66 Ventures and Assurant Inc., along with its existing investors. The funding will enable Maxwell to capitalize on its accelerating growth and further increase its pace of innovation. The new round brings the total capital raised to date by the company to $5 million.

"Our latest funding round shows strong investor confidence in Maxwell's mission to power people in the mortgage industry with technology," said John Paasonen, Maxwell's co-founder and CEO. "Our commitment is to elevate growing mortgage lenders with unique technology to maximize the output from their teams, putting relationships at the center of their business strategy, ultimately creating experiences that their homebuyers and referral partners love."

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the costs to originate a mortgage have skyrocketed 80% in the last 7 years. The national average days to close a loan is now 51 days, up from an average of just 30 days just 7 years ago, as the burden of paperwork and broader requirements to vet borrowers weigh on lenders. Now, as the market shifts to purchase-driven retail sales, the lending industry realizes that efficiency is critical to profitability.

Mortgage lenders powered by Maxwell collaborate with their homebuyers in a modern digital workspace, on any device, with connectivity to over 15,000 financial institutions to automate documents and signatures, and integrations into other leading mortgage technology providers. Maxwell's proprietary algorithms, built on its network of data aggregated across loans, enable its lenders to move efficiently by accelerating processing and underwriting. Since launch in mid-2016, Maxwell's platform has facilitated over $6 billion of mortgage volume - equivalent to the volume of a Top 25 Lender - for tens of thousands of homebuyers across the United States.

"It was clear to us that Maxwell is defining this category with their technology and their thought leadership," said Sean Park, founder and managing partner of the Anthemis Group. "As mortgage lenders invest in customer experience, Maxwell has become the backbone of some of the best mortgage experiences and is now an essential platform for mortgage lenders that want to harness both their people and their technology to compete in the changing mortgage market."

About Maxwell:
Maxwell empowers mortgage lenders to be more connected, productive and successful by intelligently automating their workflow with homebuyers and real estate agents. The platform is used by hundreds of mortgage lenders nationwide to serve their customers. Maxwell is proud to be built in Denver, Colorado, and is a 2016 graduate of Techstars, the leading global technology accelerator.

Learn more at: https://himaxwell.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Maxwell press office
888-256-6067
meetmax@himaxwell.com

Maxwell Financial Labs, Inc., a leading provider of B2B digital mortgage cloud software, announced today a new funding round of $3 million, led by the investment arm of Anthemis Group, a company committed to cultivating change in financial services, with participation from Route66 Ventures and Assurant Inc., along with its existing investors.

Related link: https://www.himaxwell.com/

Matic Insurance Services Raises $7 Million in Series A Round Backed by Top Lender, Insurance Carriers and VC Firms

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Matic Insurance Services (Matic), a digital insurance agency whose technology enables borrowers to purchase homeowner's insurance during the mortgage transaction, announced today it has raised $7 million in a Series A funding round. Investors participating in the round include Mr. Cooper, one of the nation's top 20 mortgage originators and the fourth-largest home loan servicer in the country; Nationwide, one of the world's largest insurance and financial services companies; National General Insurance, one of the largest automobile insurers in the United States; and Anthemis and ManchesterStory Group, venture capital firms focused on fintech and insurtech, respectively.

"Simplifying homeowner's insurance and bringing policy selection into the home-buying process is a no-brainer - in fact, people often ask us why it's never been done before," said Matic Co-founder and CEO Aaron Schiff. "Matic brings to the table an outstanding technical team, a deep understanding of the mortgage business and unprecedented partnerships with insurance carriers, mortgage lenders and mortgage servicers, some of whom are also our financial supporters. This new funding will support us as we double our team and scale the business to serve our customers in all verticals."

"Mr. Cooper is pleased to be working with Matic to give our customers access to its innovative digital home insurance platform," said Tony Ebers, executive vice president of originations for Mr. Cooper. "Our investment in Matic will help us provide our customers a modern, easy-to-use shopping experience that could save them money on homeowner's insurance and make their homeownership journey more rewarding."

Matic has steadily grown since 2016 to become the market leader in lender and servicer distribution of homeowner's insurance. In the last 12 months, leading U.S. mortgage lenders including Freedom Mortgage and Mr. Cooper have come to rely on Matic for their homeowner's insurance needs. Matic has also forged partnerships with more than 12 of nation's top-rated insurance carriers, including such household names as Nationwide, Progressive, National General Insurance and Safeco, and announced integrations with such leading mortgage loan origination (LOS) and point-of-sale (POS) systems as LendingQB, PCLender, BeSmartee, Maxwell and Roostify.

A licensed insurance agent in all 50 states, Matic has delivered more than 300,000 quotes to the customers of some of the nation's largest mortgage lenders and servicers. Thanks to Matic, these companies can close loans faster, reduce origination costs and improve the borrower experience by dramatically simplifying the often-confusing homeowner's insurance process.

In September 2017, Matic was one of just 22 companies selected to compete in TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield, the world's pre-eminent startup competition. Matic went on to advance to the final round of the competition with just five other startups.

Largely financed by private funding, Matic previously raised $2.3 million in seed funding led by Anthem Venture Partners, a VC firm that primarily invests in early-stage technology companies, and Freedom Mortgage, one of the nation's largest non-bank mortgage lenders.

About Matic Insurance Services:

Matic Insurance Services (Matic) is a technology-driven insurance agency focused on helping lenders and loan officers better integrate homeowner's insurance into the lending process. By using loan application information and first-of-its-kind technology, Matic provides homebuyers multiple policy options within seconds, helping loan officers close their loans faster. Matic delivers the most trusted, affordable insurance policies available thanks to its partnerships with a diverse network of insurance carriers. Today's borrowers expect a digital home-buying experience, and Matic gives them the digital insurance experience to match.

For more information, visit https://maticinsurance.com.

*LOGO for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0921s2p-matic-insurance-300dpi.jpg

Matic Insurance Services (Matic), a digital insurance agency whose technology enables borrowers to purchase homeowner's insurance during the mortgage transaction, announced today it has raised $7 million in a Series A funding round. Investors participating in the round include Mr. Cooper, one of the nation's top 20 mortgage originators and the fourth-largest home loan servicer in the country

Related link: https://maticinsurance.com/

New Talking Lexa Bear Turns Your Digital Assistant Into Your Forever Friend

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Wetwire Robotics today announced they are launching the first in a new line of smart toys geared towards digital assistants like Amazon's Alexa devices. The first model is called Lexa Bear and is a talking teddy bear that is designed to hold an Echo Dot or connect with any Bluetooth device like a mobile phone or tablet. Wetwire Robotics has designed the bear to synchronize its mouth movements in real time to the human voice. It is not limited to pre-recorded audio and can speak with about any audio it's connected to.

A 2017 study by Accenture recently found that 46-percent of U.S. consumers are using voice-enabled digital assistants. As digital assistants like Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant are growing in popularity and abilities, many new and better ways are being developed to interface with the technology.

"It was really exciting when we showed the first talking bears speaking for Alexa to kids and even adults," said Victor Wong, Creator and CEO, Wetwire Robotics. "We saw how much more engaged and alive the technology can be."

Wetwire Robotics goals are to humanize access to digital assistants and AI technology into forms that people can relate to and embrace in their daily lives. Realizing technology is constantly growing and improving, Wetwire began working on Lexa Bear as an interface. Since it is not hard coded with programmed sounds and activities, but can respond in real time, Lexa Bear can continue to grow in its abilities.

"We realized early on that Lexa Bear had to be able to not only react to any audio it was connected to but it also had to focus its mouth response to the human voice," said Travis Redding, lead developer and President, Wetwire Robotics. "It was really challenging to get Lexa to be able to sing mostly the vocals and not react to the music it was hearing. Now Lexa Bear has a speaking voice and can sing to music too."

Lexa Bear(TM) already has all of the skills of the Echo Dot it's paired with such as telling jokes, stories, trivia, games, teaching, singing, and solving problems. When paired with a Bluetooth device, Lexa Bear can talk using any audio producing app. As skills and apps are added every day from around the world, people and families are integrating digital assistants into their daily lives and can add those abilities to Lexa Bear as they develop over time.

Wetwire Robotics will be launching a Kickstarter campaign October 23, 2017.

To contribute and help bring Lexa Bear to life, follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheLexaBear for updates.

Or visit the Lexa Bear Kickstarter "campaign preview" at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/244672618/1466702416?ref=355784&token=6ae7fb35

*PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-1011s2p-lexa-bear-300dpi.jpg
*Photo Caption: Wetwire Robotics Lexa Bear, a talking teddy bear that is designed to hold an Echo Dot or connect with a Bluetooth device.

*VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/LPH7Z44CqLc

Wetwire Robotics today announced they are launching the first in a new line of smart toys geared towards digital assistants like Amazon's Alexa devices. The first model is called Lexa Bear and is a talking teddy bear that is designed to hold an Echo Dot or connect with any Bluetooth device like a mobile phone or tablet. Wetwire Robotics has designed the bear to synchronize its mouth movements in real time to the human voice. Wetwire Robotics will be launching a Kickstarter campaign October 23, 2017.

Related link: https://wetwirerobotics.com/

Lender Price Names Jerry L. Halbrook as CEO and Opens New $5-$10 Million Investment Round

PASADENA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Lender Price, the emerging leader in digital mortgage lending technology, announced today that it has named veteran mortgage industry executive Jerry Halbrook as its CEO and has opened a fresh round of equity funding to fuel its growth trajectory.

"Adding a CEO of Jerry Halbrook's caliber validates the Lender Price vision and strategy for mortgage lending transformation through a technologically superior digital POS and PPE platform that offers unprecedented business analytics," said Lender Price lead investor Kevin Costner. "The mortgage industry is eager to embrace the promise of digital disruption, and Lender Price is strategically positioned to fulfill on that promise."

Jerry Halbrook's nearly 35 years of financial services industry experience includes most recently serving as president of the Origination Technology and Enterprise Business Intelligence divisions of Black Knight Financial Services, Inc. Prior to Black Knight, he has held numerous executive level positions at Prudential Home Mortgage, Bank of America, CitiMortgage, Nexstar Financial and Deloitte & Touche.

"I joined Lender Price due to its superior technology capabilities, which provide our customers with a competitive advantage," said Halbrook. "Lender Price's fully configurable digital lending platform and pricing engine allow our customers to achieve an omni-channel customer strategy with a superior borrower experience and a superior loan officer and third-party origination partner experience."

"Further, Lender Price's technology platforms allow our customers to achieve maximum flexibility to adjust to changing market conditions and to lower their overall total cost of ownership as compared to competing products," Halbrook added.

"For an investor like me that wants to be in on the early stages of a business poised to transform an industry that is critical to the U.S. economy and touches the lives and financial aspirations of millions of citizens, Lender Price is ideally positioned with a proven product, seasoned leadership and unparalleled marketing acumen," said Costner.

"I am very pleased to have Jerry lead Lender Price into the next phase of our business model," said Lender Price Co-founder, President and CIO Dawar Alimi. "Jerry's knowledge and experience will be invaluable in leading the company through our accelerated growth and market penetration."

Lender Price is opening a new round of equity investment financing at this time to expand its capacity to support implementation of new customers, according to Halbrook.

"The Lender Price products have been so well received by the mortgage and consumer lending industries that our sales pipeline is overflowing and demand for implementation services is expanding rapidly," he said.

About Lender Price:
Lender Price is a California-based technology innovator and developer of an industry leading digital lending technology platform and product, pricing and eligibility engine, supporting omni-channel strategies, full mobile functionality and real time pricing analytics delivered on a state of the art cloud based technology platform.

For more information, visit https://lenderprice.com/ or send email to: Contact@LenderPrice.com.

MULTIMEDIA:
*PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/16-1010s2p-lenderprice-costner-300dpi.jpg
*Photo Caption: Actor and Lender Price lead investor Kevin Costner.

*LOGO: Send2Press.com/300dpi/s2p-Lender-Price-Logo-300dpi.jpg

Lender Price, the emerging leader in digital mortgage lending technology, announced today that it has named veteran mortgage industry executive Jerry Halbrook as its CEO and has opened a fresh round of equity funding to fuel its growth trajectory.

Related link: https://lenderprice.com/

Sparkle Coin, Inc. Announces Initial Coin Offering at TechCrunch Disrupt SF

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sparkle Coin, Inc., designed to be the most transactable cryptocurrency available, is launching its initial coin offering (ICO) at 1 p.m. PDT September 20 and running through October 20, 2017 with coins beginning at $5. A LIVE STREAMING event will start at 12 p.m. PDT at TechCrunch SF.

Interested parties are encouraged to set up their pre-funding accounts in advance at https://app.sparklecoin.com/Home/IcoLanding to purchase Sparkle Coins as soon as they are available.

Sparkle Coin(TM) will be a part of a new economic ecosphere, which includes a currency exchange, payment gateway software and online shopping mall.

Together, this unique offering outshines other cryptocurrencies by:
1. Driving rapid increases in demand by allowing online shoppers to use their Sparkle Coins to purchase products directly from their favorite online stores.

2. Maximizing liquidity through a powerful currency exchange enabling trading with other cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies, as well as free payment gateway software that easily integrates into any e-tailer's website(s) with a few clicks.

After the ICO, online shoppers can use their Sparkle Coins, as well as other cryptocurrencies, to purchase products directly from their favorite online stores -- including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Bed Bath & Beyond, Staples and more -- via VCoinMall.com, a peer-to-peer e-tailer which connects customers with retailers and other e-tailers.

Sparkle Coins can be transacted on VCoin Exchange, a currency exchange that allows for trading with other cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies. VCoin Exchange also provides free payment gateway software in the form of easy to download plugins, allowing virtually any merchant to accept Sparkle Coin and other cryptocurrencies as payment.

"With the economic ecosphere that we have created, Sparkle Coin bridges the gap between cryptocurrencies and everyday commerce," said Victor Wong, founder and CEO. "Sparkle Coin allows users to make purchases from popular online retailers, and it can easily be exchanged for other currencies - two major barriers that have previously hindered the wide-spread adoption of cryptocurrencies.

"Additionally, Sparkle Coin is past the white paper stage, and once the ICO is complete the ecosphere is ready for buyers to begin transacting their coins."

The Sparkle Coin ICO will be conducted using a new, more efficient patent-pending method of ICO. The coins will be divided into 80 blocks of 50,000 coins each, with first block starting at $5 per coin. Rather than releasing all the coins at the same cost each subsequent block increases by $2 per coin, allowing buyers to employ various strategies when buying Sparkle Coins and letting supply and demand dictate the price of the coins. Providing 80 checkout options rather than one single checkout helps manage any potential purchasing delays.

Sparkle Coin is a hybrid cryptocurrency possessing the best qualities of both PoW (Proof of Work) and PoS (Proof of Stake), providing rapid adoption through mining of Sparkle Coin as well as long-term sustainability through minting. Sparkle Coin's hybrid PoW and PoS algorithm is the latest technology for cryptocurrency, providing a rapid ramp up of miners and subsequently processing power for the network to create extremely powerful encryption and security, and accelerated transaction processing.

For more information about Sparkle Coin and to create and pre-fund your account for the purchase of Sparkle Coins during the ICO, visit https://sparklecoin.com/.

About Sparkle Coin, Inc.:
Sparkle Coin, Inc. is a managed cryptocurrency company founded by business and technology veterans to rapidly increase adoption of and promote long-term sustainability of cryptocurrencies for real-world business transactions through a new economic ecosphere including Sparkle Coin, the most transactable cryptocurrency available; VCoin Exchange, a powerful currency exchange and exclusive payment gateway for millions of online retailers to accept cryptocurrency; and VCoin Mall, an online marketplace that connects consumers with major online e-tailers. Sparkle Coin is a hybrid of PoW (Proof of Work) and PoS (Proof of Stake) software, providing rapid adoption through mining of Sparkle Coin, as well as long-term sustainability through minting.

For more information, visit https://sparklecoin.com/.

Images for Media:
*IMAGE 1: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0906s2p-scoin-ecosphere-300dpi.jpg

*IMAGE 2: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0906s2p-sparklecoin-300dpi.jpg

Sparkle Coin, Inc., designed to be the most transactable cryptocurrency available, is launching its initial coin offering (ICO) at 1 p.m. PDT September 20 and running through October 20, 2017 with coins beginning at $5. A LIVE STREAMING event will start at 12 p.m. PDT at TechCrunch SF.

Related link: https://sparklecoin.com/

Media Advisory – TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017: CEO of Sparkle Coin, Inc. Shows New eCommerce-optimized Cryptocurrency

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sparkle Coin Inc., founders of Sparkle Coin(TM), a new cryptocurrency that allows users to make purchases from popular online retailers - like Amazon and Walmart - and features a currency exchange for liquidity, will be hosting a "lunch and launch" event during TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017.

Victor Wong, CEO and founder of Sparkle Coin, Inc., will be speaking on the future of cryptocurrency and how Sparkle Coin plans to lead the way for wide-spread adoption among businesses and consumers.

A LIVE STREAMING event will start at 12 p.m. PDT at TechCrunch SF:
"We will show the world our new economic model and reveal the Sparkle Coin ecosphere of companies," says CEO Wong. "We will also talk about how you can participate in our ecosphere as owners of Sparkle Coin and how businesses wanting to plug into the cryptocurrency world can offer your goods and services."

Live Event Link: https://app.sparklecoin.com/Home/IcoLanding

At 1 p.m. PDT the Sparkle Coin initial coin offering will begin, ushering in the next generation of cryptocurrency.

Who: Sparkle Coin, Inc.

What: Sparkle Coin ICO Lunch and Launch Celebration (registration required).

When: September 20, 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. PDT.

Where: Disrupt SF at Pier 48, Bayview Reception Room.

Why: In addition to launching the Sparkle Coin ICO live using a more efficient patent-pending ICO method, the founder and CEO will present his point of view on the recent explosion and volatility of cryptocurrencies, and why second generation cryptocurrencies, such as Sparkle Coin, will move cryptocurrencies into the mainstream.

Media Opportunities:
The Sparkle Coin team will be available in the Partner Sponsor Level Exhibit Hall from September 18 to September 20, and Mr. Wong will be available for media interviews following his lunch and launch presentation.

For more information, or for a registration link, please contact Emilie Williams-Sinn at 919-931-4943 or ewilliamssinn@apcoworldwide.com.

About Sparkle Coin, Inc.:
Sparkle Coin, Inc. is a managed cryptocurrency company founded by business and technology veterans. The goal is to rapidly increase adoption of and promote long-term sustainability of cryptocurrencies for real-world business transactions. This will be accomplished through a new economic ecosphere including Sparkle Coin, the most transactable cryptocurrency available; through VCoin Exchange, a powerful currency exchange and exclusive payment gateway for millions of online retailers to accept cryptocurrency; and VCoin Mall, an online marketplace that connects consumers with major online e-tailers.

Sparkle Coin is a hybrid of PoW (Proof of Work) and PoS (Proof of Stake) software, providing rapid adoption through mining of Sparkle Coin(TM), as well as long-term sustainability through minting. Learn more at: https://sparklecoin.com/.

About TechCrunch Disrupt SF:
TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017 is TechCrunch's 11th annual conference in San Francisco. The format combines top thought-leader discussions with new product and company launches. Morning executive discussions debate technology-driven disruptions in many industries, while the afternoons are reserved for the Startup Battlefield, where 20+ new companies will launch for the first time onstage, selected to present from numerous applications received from around the world. The winning company will receive a $50,000 grand prize and the Disrupt Cup at the conclusion of the conference.

The conference is September 18-20, 2017 at Pier 48 in San Francisco. Learn more: https://techcrunch.com/event-info/disrupt-sf-2017/.

MULTIMEDIA:
Sparkle Coin Introduction Video (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/bL3ykNeCrAo

Images for Media:
*IMAGE 1: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0906s2p-scoin-ecosphere-300dpi.jpg
*Image 1 Caption: SparkleCOIN(TM) ecosphere.

*IMAGE 2: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0906s2p-scoin-vcoinmall-300dpi.jpg
*Image 2 Caption: Sparkle Coin VCoinMall(TM).

*IMAGE 3: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0906s2p-sparklecoin-300dpi.jpg
*Image 3 Caption: SparkleCOIN(TM) logo.

Sparkle Coin, Inc., founders of Sparkle Coin, a new cryptocurrency that allows users to make purchases from popular online retailers - like Amazon and Walmart - and features a currency exchange for liquidity, will be hosting a "lunch and launch" event during TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017.

Related link: https://sparklecoin.com/

Sparkle Coin, Inc. Launches Next Generation Cryptocurrency

CHICAGO, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sparkle Coin, Inc. today introduced its eponymous cryptocurrency, the first of its kind backed by diamonds, as the initial step toward the company's goal of creating more efficient global economic growth to promote societal advancement by developing a platform that brings cryptocurrencies into the mainstream business and consumer markets. Sparkle Coin (SparkleCOIN™) is a hybrid cryptocurrency possessing the best qualities of both PoW (Proof of Work) and PoS (Proof of Stake), providing rapid adoption through mining of Sparkle Coin as well as long-term sustainability through minting.

Founded by business and technology veterans, Sparkle Coin is designed to be a part of a new economic ecosphere, built on a solid foundation of proven business fundamentals essential for real-world transactions.

"Cryptocurrencies were always envisioned to revolutionize global financial markets and the way consumers and businesses transact," said Victor Wong, founder and CEO of Sparkle Coin, Inc. "Sparkle Coin bridges the gap between cryptocurrencies and traditional business by developing an economic ecosphere comprised of an asset-backed cryptocurrency, transacted through a powerful currency exchange, with an outward facing cryptocurrency payment gateway allowing virtually all merchants to accept cryptocurrency though an online shopping mall or directly on their own websites."

After the initial coin offering (ICO), Sparkle Coins can be transacted on VCoin Exchange, an advanced currency exchange that allows for trading with other cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies. VCoin Exchange also provides software and payment gateways for virtually any merchant to accept Sparkle Coin and other cryptocurrencies as payment for products and services.

Online shoppers can use their Sparkle Coins as well as other cryptocurrencies to purchase products directly from their favorite stores including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Bed Bath & Beyond, Staples and more via VCoinMall.com, a front-end order management and payment processing service.

Together, Sparkle Coin, VCoin Exchange and VCoinMall.com make up a unique economic ecosphere that connects the latest blockchain technologies with existing business platforms and networks to drive adoption of cryptocurrencies for real business transactions.

"Cryptocurrencies have struggled in the past to be widely adopted because the technologies were still being developed and the necessary infrastructure was not in place yet," said David Chen, vice president of financial strategy, Sparkle Coin, Inc. "Sparkle coin represents the second generation of cryptocurrencies that will push through the barriers because it's already fully funded, asset-backed and easy to integrate with existing payment infrastructure."

Sparkle Coin's hybrid PoW and PoS algorithm is the latest technology for cryptocurrency, providing a rapid ramp up of miners and subsequently processing power for the network to create extremely powerful encryption and security, and accelerated transaction processing.

Sparkle Coin is the only company in the blockchain and cryptocurrency world to incorporate a fund set aside for the operation of the company for 100 years. In addition, the public will be able to mine for approximately 1,000 Sparkle Coins a day for the same 100-year period to further increase the size and stability of the network. This approach, along with minting, creates stability, longevity and managed growth.

At launch, each Sparkle Coin is backed by $5 worth of GIA certified diamonds, procured through established diamond wholesalers, which can be immediately redeemed the day after the Sparkle Coin ICO in increments of $500. By backing Sparkle Coin with diamonds, which have been shown to steadily increase in value over time more than other assets such as gold, early adopters have a safety net for their participation in this new economic ecosphere.

When the price of Sparkle Coin reaches $25 per coin, there will no longer be any need to back the coins with diamonds as the worth generated by the economy built around Sparkle Coin will have proven itself, thereby providing Sparkle Coin with its own intrinsic value five times greater than the initial price.

The Sparkle Coin ICO will occur at TechCrunch's Disrupt in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. PDT. Interested parties are encouraged to set up their pre-funding accounts at SparkleCoin.com in advance to purchase Sparkle Coins as soon as they are available.

For more information about Sparkle Coin and to create and pre-fund your account for the purchase of Sparkle Coins during the ICO, visit https://sparklecoin.com/.

About Sparkle Coin, Inc.:

Sparkle Coin, Inc. is a managed cryptocurrency company founded by business and technology veterans to rapidly increase adoption of and promote long-term sustainability of cryptocurrencies for real-world business transactions through a new economic ecosphere including Sparkle Coins; VCoin Exchange, a powerful currency exchange and VCoin Mall, an online marketplace that connects consumers with millions of online retailers. As the first cryptocurrency backed by diamonds, Sparkle Coin is a hybrid of PoW (Proof of Work) and PoS (Proof of Stake) software, providing rapid adoption through mining of Sparkle Coin as well as long-term sustainability through minting.

Disclaimer: While Sparkle Coin Group's model is intended on risk mitigation, investing in virtual currencies still involves a degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described on the SC website before deciding whether to purchase Sparkle Coin.

Images for Media:

*IMAGE 1: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0906s2p-scoin-ecosphere-300dpi.jpg
*Image 1 Caption: SparkleCOIN(TM) ecosphere.

*IMAGE 2: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0906s2p-scoin-vcoinmall-300dpi.jpg
*Image 2 Caption: Sparkle Coin VCoinMall(TM).

*IMAGE 3: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0906s2p-sparklecoin-300dpi.jpg
*Image 3 Caption: SparkleCOIN(TM) logo.

Sparkle Coin, Inc. today introduced its eponymous cryptocurrency, the first of its kind backed by diamonds, as the initial step toward the company's goal of creating more efficient global economic growth to promote societal advancement by developing a platform that brings cryptocurrencies into the mainstream business and consumer markets. SparkleCOIN is a hybrid cryptocurrency possessing the best qualities of both PoW (Proof of Work) and PoS (Proof of Stake).

Related link: https://sparklecoin.com/

STiKidotz Customizable 3D Pixel Art Stickers Fuel Imagination and Learning Too

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Dotz Company, LLC, an established games and toy business, is excited to announce a new product that's fun for all ages - STiKidotz(TM). It's sure the concept will take off, that's why it's launched a Kickstarter campaign to help get it off the ground.

So, what are STiKidotz(TM)? They're customizable, re-stickable, brightly colored 3D art pixel stickers that you can design and redesign yourself.

STiKidotz(TM) are made from soft silicone, a material that is flexible and bendy and can be cut into any shape. The designs are created on the sticker using colorful dotzPIXELS(TM). These small pieces come in a 4x4 perforated dotzBLOK(TM) that can be easily separated into the dotzPIXELS(TM) that precisely fit on the silicone sticker.

Each sticker's base is backed by a non-toxic adhesive, specially formulated to allow you to stick your design on any smooth surface. It can be removed and repositioned without leaving any residue behind. The sticker can be used on walls, windows, lockers, car bumpers, refrigerators, photo frames, signage, cabinets, mirrors, bath tub, tiles and more. The stickers can also be used outdoors. They're currently available in eight colors and the dotzBLOK(TM) comes in 12 colors.

STiKidotz(TM) were created by entrepreneur CK Tan and his daughter Yannie Tan, who dreamed of creating an innovative and fun pixel art product that all ages would love and that families could enjoy making together.

"We're saturated with technology at every turn, and while it's useful and necessary, it's nice to have a break. STiKidotz offer an alternative. They give kids and parents time to bond and play while doing something creative and fun," said Mr. Tan.

Making 3D stickers is also a fun activity for kids at a birthday party or during family time. Designs are limitless, which lets imagination and creativity be their guide.

While creating STiKidotz(TM), this father and daughter duo also discovered that STiKidotz(TM) are a fun and engaging way to practice fine motor, design, graphing, visual, spatial and creative world-building skills.

"We're convinced that STiKidotz would be a great addition to just about any classroom," added Tan. "In fact, we eventually expect to see them used as part of a STEAM-related curriculum."

The Dotz Company, LLC, is sponsoring the development of STiKidotz(TM), and will help bring it to market.

The STiKidotz(TM) Kickstarter campaign launches August 28, 2017. And since safety is a priority, the funds raised will be used for color and material safety testing for the silicone, production-ready prototypes, molds, packaging and more in order to help make STiKidotz(TM) a reality and available to the public.

STiKidotz(TM) is patent-pending and proudly designed and assembled in the USA.

For more information visit:

Website: http://www.STiKidotz.com/.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stikidotz/.

Video: https://vimeo.com/225611615/.

- Photo 300dpi: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1fWsvbzvtQGbW9HSEk1S2xFaE0

The Dotz Company, LLC, an established games and toy business, is excited to announce a new product that's fun for all ages - STiKidotz. It's sure the concept will take off, that's why it's launched a Kickstarter Campaign to help get it off the ground.

Related link: https://www.stikidotz.com/

Introducing STiKidotz Customizable 3D Pixel Art Stickers for Imagination and Family Game Time

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Dotz Company, LLC today announced a new product for all ages. STiKidotz(TM) are customizable, re-stickable, brightly colored 3D art pixel stickers that you can design and redesign yourself. The stickers' base are made from soft silicone, a material that is flexible and bendy and can be cut into any shape. The designs are created on the sticker's base using colorful dotzPIXELS(TM). These small pieces come in a 4x4 perforated dotzBLOK(TM) that can be easily separated into the dotzPIXELS(TM) that precisely fit on the sticker.

Each sticker base is backed by a non-toxic adhesive, specially formulated to allow you to stick your design on any smooth surface. It can be removed and repositioned without leaving any residue behind. The sticker can be used on walls, windows, lockers, car bumpers, refrigerators, photo frames, signage, cabinets, mirrors, bath tub, tiles and more. The stickers can also be used outdoor. The stickers are currently available in 8 colors and the dotzBLOK(TM) comes in 12 colors.

STiKidotz(TM) was created by entrepreneur CK Tan and his daughter Yannie Tan, who dreamed of creating an innovative and fun pixel art product that all ages would love and that families could enjoy making together.

"While technology is a useful and necessary part of all our lives, we saw dotzPIXELS as a way to create a fun, creative, family bonding experience outside of a digital environment," said Mr. CK Tan.

In the process, the two savvy inventors also discovered that STiKidotz(TM) are a fun and engaging way to practice fine motor, design, graphing, visual, spatial and creative world-building skills.

"STiKitdotz would have great success in the classroom," added Tan. "In fact, we eventually expect to see them used as part of a STEAM-related curriculum."

As an established games and toys business, The Dotz Company, LLC, is sponsoring the development of STiKidotz(TM), and will help bring it to market.

The STiKidotz(TM) Indigogo campaign launches August 1, 2017. As safety is a priority, and the funds raised will be used for color and material safety testing for the silicone and the adhesive, production-ready prototypes, molds, future developments, packaging and more in order to help make STiKidotz(TM) a reality and available to the public.

STiKidotz(TM) is patent-pending and proudly assembled in USA.

For more information and to contribute to the campaign, visit: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stikidotz-the-world-s-first-3d-pixel-art-sticker/

Website: https://www.stikidotz.com/.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STiKidotz/.

Video: https://youtu.be/YAWI4DWfOpA

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sara Keith
social@STiKidotz.com

CK Tan
cktan@STiKidotz.com

*PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0728s2p-STiKidotz-300dpi.jpg
*PHOTO Caption: STiKidotz 3D Pixel Art Stickers.

The Dotz Company, LLC today announced a new product for all ages. STiKidotz(TM) are customizable, re-stickable, brightly colored 3D art pixel stickers that you can design and redesign yourself. The stickers' base are made from soft silicone, a material that is flexible and bendy and can be cut into any shape. The designs are created on the sticker's base using colorful dotzPIXELS(TM). These small pieces come in a 4x4 perforated dotzBLOK(TM) that can be easily separated into the dotzPIXELS that precisely fit on the sticker.

Related link: https://www.stikidotz.com/

Oak Hill Capital Partners to Invest in EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants to Support EPIC’s Further Growth & Expansion

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage, and employee benefits consultant, announced today that private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners (Oak Hill) has agreed to acquire all of The Carlyle Group's stake, giving Oak Hill a controlling equity position in EPIC. Oak Hill's investment will enable EPIC to continue its aggressive organic growth strategy and will support strategic acquisitions of additional complementary insurance distribution platforms across the United States.

Founded in July 2007, EPIC has become a leading national insurance broker with annual revenues approaching $300 million. The company has developed a broad suite of capabilities related to risk management, commercial property & casualty insurance, and employee benefits consulting, as well as specialty programs for a wide range of industries nationally, including construction and design, real estate development and property management, transportation and logistics, energy, hospitality, financial and professional services, healthcare, and food and beverage.

Since Carlyle acquired a controlling stake in December 2013 with equity provided by Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners L.P. and Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners II L.P., EPIC has transformed itself from a California-centric insurance broker into one of the top 20 nationally recognized platforms while more than tripling its revenues.

John Hahn, co-founder and CEO of EPIC, said, "Over the past 10 years, we have built EPIC into a unique and successful firm that is focused on providing innovative solutions and significant value to our clients and EPIC team members by creating a culture of accountability and alignment through broad-based employee ownership. We are thankful for the robust support, guidance, and access to resources we have received from The Carlyle Group over the past three and a half years, and look forward to building further on the strengths of our organization across the country with the strategic and financial backing of Oak Hill Capital Partners."

Peter Garvey, President of EPIC, said, "We are proud of the unique 'people first' culture that we have built at EPIC. Our company will stay true to the guiding principles that were established when the business was launched 10 years ago. I am confident that with the support of Oak Hill, EPIC will continue to attract and retain the best talent in the industry and the clients who value them."

Scott Kauffman, Partner at Oak Hill said, "We are excited to partner with John Hahn, Pete Garvey, their executive team, and the entire EPIC organization, all proven industry leaders, to continue supporting EPIC's strong growth, innovation, and success in the insurance brokerage industry."

John Redett, Managing Director and Co-head of Carlyle's Global Financial Services team said, "We wish John Hahn and his team well as they continue to execute upon their strategic vision and buildout of EPIC. We believe in their business model and ability to capitalize upon the vast opportunity ahead of them, and are thankful to have played a part in their success over the past several years."

The investment is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the 3rd quarter of 2017. Total Enterprise Value of EPIC now approaches $1 billion, at $977 million.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch acted as lead financial advisor and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey acted as financial advisor to EPIC. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as EPIC's legal advisor.

Barclays acted as financial advisor to Oak Hill and Weil, Gotshal & Manges served as Oak Hill's legal advisor.

About EPIC:
EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property & casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty, and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,000 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues approaching $300 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States and is the 10th largest privately held broker in the nation. Soon to be backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

More information: http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

About Oak Hill Capital Partners:
Oak Hill is a private equity firm managing funds with more than $10 billion of initial capital commitments since inception from leading global endowments and foundations, public and corporate pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, financial institutions, consultants, and family offices. Over the past 30 years, the professionals at Oak Hill and its predecessors have invested in 84 significant private equity transactions across broad segments of the U.S. and global economies.

Oak Hill applies an industry-focused, theme-based approach to investing in the following sectors: Consumer, Retail & Distribution; Industrials; Media & Communications; and Services. Oak Hill works actively in partnership with management to implement strategic and operational initiatives to create franchise value.

More information: http://oakhillcapital.com/.

*LOGO for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/16-0308-epic-insurance-300dpi.jpg

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage, and employee benefits consultant, announced today that private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners (Oak Hill) has agreed to acquire all of The Carlyle Group's stake, giving Oak Hill a controlling equity position in EPIC. Oak Hill's investment will enable EPIC to continue its aggressive organic growth strategy

Related link: http://www.epicbrokers.com/

New Cannabis Compliance Company Launches Public Funding Effort with GrowthFountain

HORSESHOE LAKE, Ark. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Herbal Compliance Co. announces the launch of its compliance consulting services for legal medical cannabis and hemp businesses. This unique company will also be partnering with GrowthFountain to raise $1 million in funds through a unique form of investor funding called Regulation Crowdfunding.

Interested investors can see the offering and make an investment by visiting Growth Fountain at https://growthfountain.com/herbal-compliance/.

Herbal Compliance fills a need created by differences in marijuana legislation at the state and federal levels. While it is currently legal in 26 states and the District of Columbia to grow and sell marijuana for medical purposes, it is still illegal on a federal level, resulting in thousands of conflicts between state and federal regulations.

"Understanding the laws governing medical marijuana and hemp is our core competency," explains Chuck Carpenter, president of Herbal Compliance. "But we also offer other types of business consulting like inventory management, branding, and employee education. Our mission is to help companies in this new area of American enterprise to grow and thrive."

To fully fund their startup, Herbal Compliance is using a new form of funding enabled by recent changes in securities law in the JOBS Act called Regulation Crowdfunding. The rules for this sort of investing went into effect May 2016, allowing non-accredited investors to participate in a funding round for a private company for the first time in history.

"We're excited to help Herbal Compliance raise the money they need to grow," says Abe Orden, operations manager of GrowthFountain. "For the first time in 80 years, average Americans now have the opportunity to support and invest in local businesses and entrepreneurs they believe in."

Herbal Compliance's campaign started on June 6, 2017 and will continue through Oct. 4, 2017. Their aim is to raise between $100,000 and $1 million with a minimum buy-in of $100 per investor.

About Herbal Compliance:

Launched in January 2017, The Herbal Compliance Co. provides companies in the legal medical cannabis and hemp business with services to ensure that they remain compliant with the law. Services include design and buildout, equipment fulfillment, regulator compliance, remote inventory control and reporting, vendor relationships, brand and marketing, and tax management and education. Learn more at http://www.herbalcompliance.com/.

About GrowthFountain:

GrowthFountain Capital LLC is a Regulation Crowdfunding platform aimed at simplifying fundraising and helping businesses build collateral. GrowthFountain is registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA. Learn more at https://growthfountain.com/.

*IMAGE for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0612s2p-cannacompliance-300dpi.jpg

The Herbal Compliance Co. announces the launch of its compliance consulting services for legal medical cannabis and hemp businesses. This unique company will also be partnering with GrowthFountain to raise $1 million in funds through a unique form of investor funding called Regulation Crowdfunding.

Verify Smart Corporation Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Equity Stake and Exclusive International Reseller Rights in Med-Con Technologies, LLC

FERNLEY, Nev. /ScoopCloud/ -- Verify Smart Corporation (OTC:VSMR / OTCMKTS:VSMR) a Global innovator in financial fraud prevention and digital distribution solutions announced today that it has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire an equity stake and exclusive international reseller rights in Med-Con Technologies, LLC for cash and stock.

Med-Con Technologies provides a patented solution (MedSked(TM)) for improved medication adherence. MedSked(TM) gives patients the ability to more effectively self-manage and keep track of their daily medication dosing. Med-Con's solutions are effectively assisting patients in over thirty two countries, and twenty four languages.

Med-Con has also developed MedCon Mobile Smart Label(TM) which is a mobile based patient adherence solution for the Pharmaceutical industry and is currently being tested by a major Pharmaceutical company with other pilots scheduled. The cloud based SaaS software manages the patient's medication dosing schedule via a mobile device while sending vital adherence data to the Pharmaceutical clinical trial teams for analysis via the MedCon Central(TM) data portal. Verify Smart and Med-Con believe this product is groundbreaking and a huge first to market play in the Pharmaceutical space.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Magazine said "Medication Adherence is arguably the largest problem in healthcare, it is estimated that medication non-adherence causes 30 - 50 percent of treatment failures and 125,000 deaths annually. The direct cost to healthcare is estimated as high as $289 billion annually. Pharmaceutical companies are motivated to increase adherence because higher compliance equates to better treatment effectiveness and overall better patient health...and of course, higher drug sales."

Tony Cinotti, President of Verify Smart said "Verify Smart will work closely with Med-Con Technologies to establish Verify Smart as the exclusive international reseller of MedSked and MedCon Mobile Smart Label for pharmaceutical companies, pharmacy chains and specialty pharmacy markets.

"Verify Smart will also, in parallel, build an additional adherence solution specifically for Retail Pharmacies. This will greatly increase Med-Con sales worldwide. Pharmacy customers taking prescription medications can now have the same benefits as Med-Con's corporate adherence solutions."

Anthony Londino, President of Med-Con Technologies commented "We are excited about working with Verify Smart to develop new products and broaden our reach into new markets and opportunities. Verify Smart's sales and marketing expertise, IT partners and extensive contacts in the retail pharmacy space will provide Med-Con with the additional resources to become the world leader in medication adherence and remote patient monitoring data."

About Verify Smart Corporation:
Verify Smart Corp is an international technology company that develops and markets innovative solutions for the global digital market. The company also licenses patented technology for the prevention of debit/credit card and electronic transaction fraud. The company is expanding into the growing digital and mobile sector and will market innovative solutions for pharmaceutical companies, consumer brands, educational institutions and the sports and entertainment industries.

Contact Info:
Verify Smart Corporation
Info@verifysmartcorp.com
775-575-5897
http://www.verifysmartcorp.com/

About Med-Con Technologies:
Med-Con Technologies LLC is a global provider of medication adherence solutions and services to the pharmaceutical market. Med-Con Technologies LLC has been helping some of the world's most prominent pharmaceutical companies to provide medication adherence support to their clinical trial and commercial patients. The company is expanding into the growing digital and mobile sector and has recently launched its MedSked Mobile Smart Label platform, a novel and innovative patient compliance solution.

Contact Info:
Med-Con Technologies LLC
http://www.medsked.com/
1-888-654-0856 ext. 125

REF: OTCMKTS:VSMR / OTC:VSMR / OTCBB:VSMR

Verify Smart Corporation (OTC:VSMR / OTCMKTS:VSMR) a Global innovator in financial fraud prevention and digital distribution solutions announced today that it has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire an equity stake and exclusive international reseller rights in Med-Con Technologies, LLC for cash and stock.

Pompano Beach CRA and Urban Land Institute Symposium to Reveal Half Billion Investment Opportunity

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Pompano Beach CRA (www.pompanobeachcra.com) has partnered with the Urban Land Institute to host a unique symposium outlining the $500 million investment opportunity available for developers in the Pompano Beach Innovation District. Nationally recognized redevelopment experts and invested developers will provide comprehensive details about the last 24 acres of undeveloped parcels in Broward County with prime visibility from I-95.

The event will take place on June 23 from 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, located at 50 W. Atlantic Blvd. Admission runs from $25-$65, tickets at: http://seflorida.uli.org/events/.

"The Pompano Beach Innovation District is one of the most exciting development opportunities in South Florida," stated Emily Marcus, Project Manager with Redevelopment Management Associates, which manages the Pompano Beach CRA. "The Innovation District already has anchors and assets including three major cultural facilities, a culinary and tech industry presence, proximity to the Pompano Beach Airport, and contiguous access to over 30 million square feet of industrial space."

The symposium will feature over 15 esteemed speakers who will provide strategic insights about developing this prime location including Mitchell Weiss, now a Harvard lecturer, who was the Chief of Staff under Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston.

Mitchell will lead a session on how Boston used their public clout to launch their Innovation District and how the city of Pompano Beach can benefit from their experiences. In the afternoon, he will entertain roundtables of local stakeholders, business leaders and elected officials to share his depth of knowledge to assist the city in adopting a sound approach to building the area.

The CRA's reinvention of the original downtown is already visible with the transformation of the Ali Building and the Bailey Hotel into vibrant arts and culture venues. In addition, they spearheaded the plans for building the Pompano Beach Cultural Center and Library, which recently opened and the building of the City Vista apartments. Two new residential projects are also in the planning to permit stage, and multiple restaurants and retailer are scheduled to open in 2018.

The CRA has created a master plan for the 38-acre site, where 24 acres are owned by the CRA or the City. This plan is designed around a linear waterway system - narrow drainage canals between the parcels - to replace conventional man-made lakes that take up lots of space for drainage and result in suburban development patterns. This plan not only helps to free up more property for development but establishes an urban and walkable environment. This model is based upon similar linear waterways in locations such as San Antonio, Texas and the Netherlands.

Recent land use and zoning updates have made it possible for this type of development to take place in the downtown. The innovation district can accommodate approximately 750,000 square feet of office space; 165,000 square feet of retail; 35,000 square feet of restaurants; 1,500 residential units and two hotels with a combined 420 rooms.

For a complete list of speakers and topics please visit: http://seflorida.uli.org/events/.

The Pompano Beach CRA has partnered with the Urban Land Institute to host a unique symposium outlining the $500 million investment opportunity available for developers in the Pompano Beach Innovation District. Nationally recognized redevelopment experts and invested developers will provide comprehensive details about the last 24 acres of undeveloped parcels in Broward County with prime visibility from I-95.

WorldAPP Secures Financing Round to Fuel Growth

BRAINTREE, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- WorldAPP, a leading provider of mobile data collection and process optimization software today announced that it has completed financing round with Providence-based Bay Capital Investment Partners. The transaction amount was not disclosed.

WorldAPP combines a powerful suite of data collection products with their expertise in inspections, audits, and surveys to design and develop mobile applications for enterprise-level clients. According to CEO Oleg Matsko, the new financing will be used to fuel growth strategy.

"This additional funding provides us with the financial strength and flexibility we need to aggressively grow our company while still advancing product capabilities," said Matsko. "We're particularly enthusiastic because we now have the added resources we need to achieve our growth goals while maintaining the exemplary service and support that our clients have come to expect."

Led by Matsko and CTO Alexander Zagvazdin, WorldAPP builds mobile Data Collection and Business Process Optimization applications for large organizations. Their flagship products, Form.com and Key Survey, are customized to meet enterprise needs and used to transform the flow of critical information and operating data between people, departments, and existing programs.

Gregory Mulligan, the managing Director of Bay Capital, notes that while WorldAPP has been in operation for 15 years, their steady growth puts them in a position to maximize the investment and take the company to the next level.

"WorldAPP has demonstrated impressive momentum and trajectory over the years," said Mulligan. "They've also built a reputation for providing first-to-market technologies and solutions with an exemplary level of customer support. We believe this investment will help them capitalize on their reputation, and achieve their goal to drive explosive growth in the coming years."

According to Matsko, Bay Capital's continued backing represents an unwavering commitment to the future of WorldAPP, and a strong belief in the company's strategy.

He continued, "We're thrilled to have a strong vote of confidence from Bay Capital, and encouraged to know that they share the same vision and passion we have for helping great companies run better."

About WorldAPP:

WorldAPP helps mid to large organizations improve how they collect, manage, and leverage data across the enterprise. Using our Software Platforms, Key Survey and Form.com, WorldAPP works hand-in-hand with customers to understand their needs, and configure complete solutions that integrate with their current IT systems and the way they do business. WorldAPP products are deployed by thousands of clients around the world including a large number of Fortune 500 companies.

Whether clients need to enhance data collection, improve operations, or ensure successful strategic initiatives, WorldAPP has the right technology, expertise, and "To Be of Service" mindset to ensure a successful, enterprise-wide implementation.

Learn more at: https://www.worldapp.com/.

About Bay Capital Investment Partners:

Bay Capital Investment Partners was formed in 2007 to specifically address the capital needs of U.S. companies at the smaller end of the lower middle market, investing initially through BCA Mezzanine Fund, L.P. and subsequently through BCA Mezzanine Fund II, L.P. Each fund is licensed as a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Bay Capital Investment Partners specifically addresses the capital needs of smaller U.S. companies by providing senior debt, subordinated debt, mezzanine capital and equity capital to facilitate acquisitions, management buyouts and to provide growth capital. For more information, please visit http://www.baycapllc.com/.

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0523-worldapp-300dpi.jpg

WorldAPP, a leading provider of mobile data collection and process optimization software today announced that it has completed financing round with Providence-based Bay Capital Investment Partners. The transaction amount was not disclosed.

Mortgage Automation Pioneer cloudvirga Raises $15 Million in Series B Funding

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- cloudvirga(SM), developer of the automated, cloud-based intelligent Mortgage Platform(R) (iMP), announced today it has raised $15 million in a series B funding round led by Incenter, a Blackstone Group portfolio company. The new funding will support cloudvirga as it scales its technology and expands its product offerings.

Cloudvirga's flagship mortgage point-of-sale (POS) system, the iMP empowers consumers to take the helm of a completely re-engineered mortgage workflow that automates the entire initial disclosures process and delivers unmatched transaction speed and efficiency to both borrowers and lenders. Central to cloudvirga's success is its ability to maintain strict regulatory compliance, reduce time to close and save lenders money by moving many traditional back-office tasks to the front of the loan process.

"Unprecedented mortgage regulation has exacerbated an already labor-intensive lending process and inconsistent consumer experience, making our solution more viable than ever," said Kyle Kamrooz, co-founder of cloudvirga. "We are thrilled to have the support of such a well-respected group of investors and look forward to continuing to shake up an antiquated industry process."

According to a key investor spokesperson, the mortgage industry is at a technological tipping point that is uniquely addressed by cloudvirga's innovation and enterprise solution. A fintech company at its core, cloudvirga launched its iMP in early 2016 and has since partnered with several mega and mid-tier lenders to process more than $15 billion in loans.

About cloudvirga(SM)
Cloudvirga is the company behind the cloud-based intelligent Mortgage Platform(R) (iMP) designed to streamline the mortgage process. The platform is digitizing the mortgage industry by leveraging data and deploying an automated workflow to reduce overall cost, increase transparency and shorten the time it takes to close a loan for both borrowers and lenders. Founded by Bill Dallas, Kyle Kamrooz and Mark Attaway, seasoned financial veterans with a proven track record of building mortgage-related technologies, cloudvirga is disrupting the antiquated mortgage industry.

For more information, visit http://www.cloudvirga.com/ or follow cloudvirga on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/7577062/.

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0322s2p-cloudvirga-300dpi.jpg

Cloudvirga(SM), developer of the automated, cloud-based intelligent Mortgage Platform(R) (iMP), announced today it has raised $15 million in a series B funding round led by Incenter, a Blackstone Group portfolio company. The new funding will support cloudvirga as it scales its technology and expands its product offerings.

LevelFunded Health Selected For Plug and Play Insurtech Program

BOCA RATON, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- LevelFunded Health is excited to announce that it was recently selected as one of the new top innovative insurance businesses by one of Silicon Valley's most active venture group, Plug and Play.

The 12-week program connects promising start-ups, early and growth stage companies, to some of the world's largest insurance corporations. The official corporate partners include Farmers Insurance, Maiden Re, Munich Re, Nationwide, The Hartford, Travelers, Aflac, USAA, AON and many more.

The selection process is vigorous. It begins with 1,000 companies and is then narrowed down to a final 25. Selection criteria are based on factors such as high growth, past proof of concept, current industry traction and products with the potential to be disruptive.

"This is not only a great honor for us, but an amazing opportunity as well. Having been selected into the final 25 we're getting connected to industry powerhouses, which truly benefits our clients with expanded products, services and capabilities from major Fortune 1000 insurance companies," Russ Carpel, CEO of LevelFunded Health, says.

In turn, these market leading companies can invest in new and innovative businesses that promise to enhance the insurance industry's ability to deliver new products and services to clients.

Plug and Play scours the globe for companies that it can invest in and accelerate. And to date, it's apparent that this venture group knows how to pick top entrepreneurs. Companies in its community have raised more than $3.5 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits that include Dropbox, Lending Club and PayPal.

"Plug and Play clearly provides a platform where new companies and investors can thrive," Carpel says.

About Plug and Play Tech Center:

Plug and Play Tech Center is a global investor and technology accelerator that specializes in growing tech startups. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Plug and Play's network includes more than 300 tech startups, 180 investors, and a community of leading universities and corporate partners.

For more information, visit: http://plugandplaytechcenter.com/.

About LevelFunded Health:

LevelFunded Health is a national, direct to employer wholesale benefits' brokerage focused on level and self-insured benefit programs for small to mid-size employer groups. For businesses with employees ranging from 50 to 1,000, it can help to immediately save these businesses anywhere from $50,000 to $2 million per year on healthcare costs, while simultaneously improving benefits.

For more information, visit: http://www.levelfunded.com/.

* LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-s2p-LevelFunded-Health-300dpi.jpg

Media Contact:
Russell Carpel
of LevelFunded.com
+1-312-719-9028
russ@levelfunded.com

LevelFunded Health is excited to announce that it was recently selected as one of the new top innovative insurance businesses by one of Silicon Valley's most active venture group, Plug and Play. The 12-week program connects promising start-ups, early and growth stage companies, to some of the world's largest insurance corporations.

FENDER FRIEND LLC Offers Autonomous App to Licensors and Automotive OEMs

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- New York-based FENDER FRIEND LLC is pleased to offer the autonomous app Fender Friend(TM) for licensing, effective Feb. 1, 2017. The Fender Friend seeks to provide older model vehicles with capabilities such as automatic braking and parking assistance, as just two examples of amenities currently standard in newer automobiles.

Recognizing the potential for combining the convenience of wireless remote technology with a cellular smartphone to enhance life in a unique way, CEO Rohan Bennett has conceived a clever product invention he has creatively designated the Fender Friend. Bennett already has a Provisional Patent in place.

The app software, wirelessly connected to the car's computer, would be able to sense an obstacle or other vehicle, and send a command to the vehicle's brake system to stop -- eliminating human error which can potentially save countless lives in an emergency.

The app will also link with a specialized camera sensor to display the area behind the vehicle, so that the user need only look at the phone's screen for parking assistance. Further assuring that technology adequately compensates, and that the safety bar has been raised.

Simply stated, the Fender Friend is envisioned as a smartphone application that integrates a motor vehicle's computer system with the app's software. In this manner, Fender Friend provides a means of infusing older vehicles with certain safety amenities that are germane to newer auto models.

There are several significant benefits and advantages associated with this unique product invention. Foremost, the Fender Friend would provide consumers with an efficient means of enhancing the driving experience, regardless of the age of the vehicle. A creative fusing of wireless remote and cellular smartphone technology, this versatile application would offer a functional communications device that cleverly doubles as onboard vehicle activator.

While many vehicles that are five to ten years old are not equipped with now standard features such as parking assistance and automatic breaking, two necessary safety amenities, the Fender Friend program and system would offer these features to motorists for whom it is not practical to purchase a brand new vehicle.

With this clever system enhanced by additional remote features, a motorist who is informed by a co-worker that her headlights were left on can simply extinguish them with the pressing of a few buttons on her cell phone.

A father who suddenly awakens, worried that he may have left his car unlocked, need only to use Fender Friend to check the security status of his auto, without even getting out of bed. The Fender Friend is an innovative product invention that would bring added security and convenience to busy daily lives the world over. Simple to operate, this handy product would allow users to remotely enhance their car's computer system to match its functionality with a brand new vehicle.

Affordably priced, the Fender Friend should be well received by the vast majority of motorists, a very sizable market potential.

Even though FENDER FRIEND LLC attained a recommendation from patent agents to move forward with its invention after extensive searches, there was still the ever present factor of prior art - which is the common thread of all inventions - and whether or not the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) would grant it a patent.

With a Provisional Patent already in place, Rohan Bennett then filed a UCC 1, which is a first come first served approach to propriety. This along with perfecting a Security Agreement with his company assures him that he is first in line when it comes to interest in his technology, and perhaps more importantly, lets other potential interests know that he has a commercial lien on it.

Rohan says, "I would like to license this technology to Bosch USA or another major tech/parts player that can develop and introduce my vision to motorists with older vehicles the world over."

As for a favorite quote Rohan says this one seems appropriate in 2017: "The sun will still shine no matter who is the President" (Barack Obama).

In 2010 Rohan Bennett, who lives in New Rochelle, N.Y., wanted to stream audio and video with his app Tangaru Tunes. This year, Rohan hopes to save lives.

Contact Information:
FENDER FRIEND LLC
Rohan Bennett, CEO
myfenderfriend@gmail.com

*LOGO for Media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0127s2p-fenderfriend-300dpi.jpg

FACEBOOK PAGE (under construction Feb. 2017): https://www.facebook.com/myfenderfriend.co

New York-based FENDER FRIEND LLC is pleased to offer the autonomous app Fender Friend(TM) for licensing, effective Feb. 1, 2017. The Fender Friend seeks to provide older model vehicles with capabilities such as automatic braking and parking assistance, as just two examples of amenities currently standard in newer automobiles.

Bank of Southern California Completes $7 Million Capital Offering and Announces New Board of Directors

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL) announced that it has completed a capital raise of $7 million through a stock purchase agreement of the Bank's common stock with Castle Creek Capital, based in Rancho Santa Fe, California. As part of the offering, the Bank will issue 823,529 shares of its common stock. This is Bank of Southern California's second common stock offering in two years, raising over $14 million.

Nathan Rogge, President and CEO of Bank of Southern California commented, "This new investment represents an endorsement of the Company's direction and confidence in the bank's management by a very well regarded investment firm focused on the community banking industry."

Over the past several years, the Bank has experienced strong organic growth and has completed several acquisitions. The additional capital will help continue to fund organic growth and will provide the bank the ability to act on strategic acquisition opportunities. It also increases the bank's legal lending limit, which allows it to meet the growing needs of its clients.

As part of the transaction, David J. Volk, a principal of Castle Creek, will join the Bank's Board of Directors. Mr. Volk joined Castle Creek in 2005. Prior to joining the investment firm, he worked for a variety of well know companies providing merger & acquisition, financing advisory, corporate restructuring, and capital raising services to small and middle market companies.

"We are pleased that David will be joining our board of directors. His expertise and guidance in mergers and acquisitions, as well as his extensive history with other community bank investments will help contribute to our continued growth and future success," concluded Rogge.

About Bank of Southern California:

A growing community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, Calif., is locally owned and managed, and offers a range of financial products to individuals, professionals, and small-to-mid sized businesses. The Bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with its clients. The Bank currently operates seven branches in San Diego and the Coachella Valley in Riverside County.

For more information, please visit https://www.banksocal.com/ or call (858) 847-4780.

About Castle Creek Capital:

Castle Creek Capital is an alternative asset management firm focused on the community banking industry. Located in Rancho Santa Fe, California, the firm has been a leading investor in community banking since its inception in 1990, having raised and managed five private equity funds and multiple special situations funds.

Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL) announced that it has completed a capital raise of $7 million through a stock purchase agreement of the Bank's common stock with Castle Creek Capital, based in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Maxwell Financial Labs Announces $1.95M in Funding to Reinvent Mortgage Experience

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Maxwell Financial Labs, Inc. announced today it had secured $1.95M in funding, with anchor investors MATH Venture Partners, Techstars Ventures, Zelkova Ventures and Sovereign's Capital. The funding follows on the heels of Maxwell's commercial launch on August 16. Maxwell will invest these funds to continue to recruit top engineering talent in Denver and launch its mortgage automation platform to more lenders who believe in the power of technology and data to transform their business.

Maxwell was founded by financial services and tech veterans John Paasonen, Lance Poole and Rutul Dave; all three frustrated with their own mortgage experiences. Mr. Paasonen's experience spans start-ups to Fortune 500, most recently as director of corporate strategy at PayPal. Mr. Poole, who coached executives for Stanford's Institute of Design, has a long career in leading financial services companies to shape products around their customers. And Mr. Dave took an active role in building a number of Silicon Valley startups, from Coverity to, most recently, co-founding Bright Funds.

"Most mortgage companies use a process developed 20 years ago, predicated on assumptions that are no longer true in today's connected world," said John Paasonen, Maxwell's CEO. "At Maxwell we replace paperwork and complexity with the ease we've all become accustomed when managing our finances with TurboTax, Venmo or Mint. What's exciting is that we are doing this at a scale that will reinvent the very structure of the digital mortgage landscape."

Developed over the last 8 months, Maxwell is revolutionizing the way that lenders work with their clients to close a mortgage. Lending teams on Maxwell collaborate with homebuyers in an elegant digital workspace, on any device, with connectivity to over 15,000 financial institutions to automate paperwork and signatures. That connectivity speeds up the process by weeks. What's more, Maxwell's proprietary algorithms, built on its network of data aggregated across loans, will enable its lenders to move efficiently by delivering insights and workflow adjustments.

"Since we met the Maxwell team we've been excited about what they've accomplished in such a short time and also for what's ahead," said Troy Henikoff, managing partner at MATH. "Banks and mortgage lenders are not equipped to deliver high-fidelity technology at this speed and quality. The entire $8.5 trillion industry will be fundamentally impacted by the work this team does every day."

About Maxwell:
Maxwell empowers mortgage lenders to be more connected, productive and successful by intelligently automating their workflow with homebuyers and real estate agents. The platform is used by loan officers nationwide to serve their customers. Maxwell is proud to be built in Denver, Colorado, and is a 2016 graduate of Techstars, the leading global technology accelerator.

Media Contact:
Jason Dalrymple
Maxwell Financial Labs, Inc.
T: 888-256-6067
jason[at]himaxwell.com

Connect with Maxwell:
https://www.himaxwell.com/
:: https://www.facebook.com/maxwellHQ
:: https://twitter.com/ilovemaxwell

Maxwell Financial Labs, Inc. announced today it had secured $1.95M in funding, with anchor investors MATH Venture Partners, Techstars Ventures, Zelkova Ventures and Sovereign's Capital. The funding follows on the heels of Maxwell's commercial launch on August 16, 2016.

RMA’s Kim Briesemeister Featured in IDA’s Top Issues Council Report

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The International Downtown Association (www.downtown.org) recently released their first six Top Issues Council reports, which feature industry leaders who produced in-depth research briefs on top urban issues. Kim Briesemeister, principal of Redevelopment Management Associates (www.rma.us.com), served on the Public-Private Partnerships Council, providing insights into the best strategies city leaders should implement to attract private-sector investment in the report "Partnerships for Urban Place Management."

Briesemeister is an internationally regarded expert on redevelopment and is the co-author of "Reinventing Your City - 8 Steps to Turn Your City Around."

"For the past eight months, IDA Top Issues Council members have worked together to create this invaluable instrument to guide industry leaders and downtown champions," said Briesemeister. "I am honored to have been part of this prestigious group, and I hope that our combined research and recommendations will assist cities in creating new successes for their communities."

This guide is intended to provide practitioners with many methods, tactics, and issues that public-private partnerships (P3s) can address, including improvements within public safety, economic development, planning, mobility, infrastructure, outreach, engagement, planning, finance, public space management and activation, marketing and events.

Briesemeister, who has negotiated 11 public-private real estate transactions resulting in hundreds of millions of investment dollars in city centers and urban cores, focused on real-life examples as a way to guide leaders.

"There are many nuances to the process," she explained. "And it can be very difficult to do it right. A clear vision and strong leadership are key to establishing the environment that will attract the private sector."

In the report, one example that Briesemeister details is the reinvention of West Palm Beach's downtown through the creation of one the largest public-private real estate deals in the country. Briesemeister was the CRA Director of West Palm Beach following the opening of City Place and worked with legal counsel on multiple amendments to the development agreement. Initially, this bold plan called for acquisition of more than 72 acres of land, and redevelopment of the area as a large-scale, mixed-use project.

The development of the site spanned three mayoral terms. West Palm Beach's downtown transformed from what seemed to be permanent blight and hopelessness into a premiere destination featuring top businesses, retailers, restaurants and an acclaimed convention center.

About the IDA Top Issues Councils:

The International Downtown Association's Top Issues Councils are a strategic research initiative that brings together industry leaders to produce research briefs on the top urban issues identified by IDA members in the areas of economy, experience and partnership. Each council is led by a chair, comprised of place management professionals sharing their expert knowledge, and supported by IDA staff and the IDA Research Committee. Those selected to serve on a council contribute their expertise to the growing, relevant body of knowledge on the place management industry. The current report is available for purchase at www.downtown.org.

Learn more about Redevelopment Management Associates (RMA) at: http://www.rma.us.com/.

The International Downtown Association recently released their first six Top Issues Council reports, which feature industry leaders who produced in-depth research briefs on top urban issues. Kim Briesemeister, principal of Redevelopment Management Associates, served on the Public-Private Partnerships Council.

Sunshine Capital, Inc. Informs Shareholders of Proposed Recommendations by Advisory Board Member Daniel J. Duffy

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla., Feb. 19, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sunshine Capital, Inc. (Pinksheets: SCNP) today announces the recommendations by Advisory Board Member and Financial Expert Daniel J. Duffy, to increase shareholder value for the company.

Mr. Duffy, a new Advisory Board Member, has given recommendations to Sunshine Capital, Inc.'s management that will require a special Board of Directors meeting to approve any of the recommendations. This meeting will take place within the next thirty days.

Mr. Duffy's recommendations include having Sunshine Capital, Inc. voluntarily cancel common shares to reduce the total outstanding shares of the Company dramatically; to decrease the (currently increased) authorized share amount of the Company; to place a restrictive "sales lock" agreement on the shares of previous Company management; to allow Sunshine Capital, Inc. to grow in the market place by keeping the current float of the Company at 450,000 shares, and to strategically, without dilution to the Company's outstanding share count, execute the acquisition of private companies that are accretive to earnings.

"This is unbelievable," stated Lindel Regis, President and CEO of Sunshine Capital, Inc. "These and other recommendations by Daniel J. Duffy, in my opinion, will increase the value of the already issued shares of the Company dramatically and build shareholder value."

Mr. Duffy, who joined the Company's Advisory Board on February 16, 2016, is considered an expert in corporate structure, financing, capital raising and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Duffy was asked to join the Advisory Board of Sunshine Capital, Inc. to help execute mergers and acquisitions with minimal or no dilution to the Company's total shares with a goal to obtain a listing on the American Stock Exchange at a much more rapid rate.

"I am here for the shareholders," stated Daniel J. Duffy, Advisory Board Member. "I will make sure I advise Sunshine Capital, Inc. in such a way as to keep management performing properly with the shareholders in mind. I want Sunshine Capital, Inc. to be unlike any other Pink Sheet company."

Incarcerated since 2010 for a murder-for-hire case in which Mr. Duffy denies any involvement in, he is currently fighting his case in the courts to prove his innocence. Mr. Duffy is taking advantage of his opportunity to help others in the prison environment, being a trained impaired assistant to a visually impaired inmate and teaching all business classes in the facility's Faith and Character-Based Program. Prior to this and his Federal case, also in 2010, Mr. Duffy had a stellar reputation in the market, devoid of any legal problems.

Forward Looking Statement:

The private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking information made on the company's behalf. All statements, other than statements of historical facts which address the company's expectation of sources of capital or which express the company's expectations for the future with respect to financial performance or operating strategies, can be identified as forward-looking statements. Such statements made by the company are based on knowledge of the environment in which it operates, but because of the factors previously listed, as well as other factors beyond the company, actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements.

REF: Pink Sheets:SCNP / Pink:SCNP / Pink OTC SCNP

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/sunshine-capital-inc-informs-shareholders-of-proposed-recommendations-by-advisory-board-member-daniel-j-duffy-2016-0219-01.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Sunshine Capital, Inc. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2016 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

PDC CEO Emilio N. Francisco Announces $45 Million Capital Raise for Clear Currents

COSTA MESA, Calif., Feb. 20, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Emilio N. Francisco, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of private equity firm PDC Capital Group, announced that PDC is raising $45 million in EB-5 immigrant investor funds to assist biodegradable organic chemical products firm Clear Currents, Inc. The Dana Point, Calif.-based green technology company, which makes environmentally-safe and nontoxic agricultural products and industrial cleaners, will use the funds to assist with expanding its operations and entering foreign markets including the European Union, the Middle East, Africa and Brazil.

Populations worldwide are grappling with drought, declining food production, contaminated water supplies and overworked soil. At the forefront of the global green revolution, Clear Currents' range of SeaStar and EcoStar products deliver innovative natural solutions that create healthier crops, improve food quality, and repair soil damaged by toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Clear Currents recently completed extensive multi-year testing of several innovative products in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture in China. The company has gained traction within several provinces where this testing was performed, generating contingent order commitments in the $200M range. Poised for growth, the company is preparing for expansion and has elected to pursue registration as a public company.

Emilio N. Francisco, CEO of PDC Capital Group, said, "We are very pleased with this opportunity to assist Clear Currents with their public company ambitions and expect a straightforward process."

"We are also gaining significant traction with the upcoming deployment of our highly effective cleaning products here in the U.S. and look forward to expanding our reach into foreign markets," said Chris Fox, Chief Operating Officer of Clear Currents.

About EB5 Investment:

PDC Capital Group is a private equity firm specializing in EB5 immigrant investor projects. The EB5 immigrant investor visa is a federal program launched in 1990 that allows foreign nationals to apply for permanent residency in the U.S. in exchange for investing a minimum of $500,000 in a U.S. business. For more information about the EB-5 immigrant investor program, go to http://www.uscis.gov/eb-5/ .

About Clear Currents, Inc.:

Clear Currents is a green technology company dedicated to promoting a healthier, more abundant food supply through innovative natural solutions. The Clear Currents' mission is to be a leader in providing innovative green solutions that replace toxic chemicals and other environmentally harmful products used by agriculture and industry. For more information, please visit http://www.clearcurrents.com/ .

About PDC Capital Group:

PDC Capital Group, LLC, is a private equity firm specializing in EB-5 investment projects. In identifying and executing new projects, PDC Capital Group's goal is success for three groups: success for investors, success for the community where the project is located, and success for its project partners. For more information, please visit http://www.pdccapitalgroup.com/ .

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilioPDC .

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdccapitalgroup .

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/pdc-ceo-emilio-n-francisco-announces-45-million-capital-raise-for-clear-currents-2015-0220-003.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE PDC Capital Group LLC :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

R2Net – JamesAllen.com secures $25 Million in growth funding

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., Dec. 18, 2014 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- R2Net - JamesAllen.com, one of the two largest diamond and bridal jewelry e-commerce platforms in the U.S. announced today that is has secured $25 Million in growth funding from Israel Growth Partners (IGP).

The money raised will be used to fund R2Net's aggressive growth strategy. As part of this strategy, the Company recently acquired and consolidated the operations of Segoma Inc - an innovative provider of advanced diamond imaging technology, and Brio Animation Studio Ltd - a groundbreaking visualization and augmented reality studio.

In addition, R2Net's ecommerce brand - JamesAllen.com - has recently launched a "store-in-store" joint venture with Sears, one of the largest brick and mortar retailers in the U.S.

JamesAllen.com seamlessly integrates smart phones, tablets and PCs, as well as virtual kiosks, which enables the digital generation to easily shop for diamond jewelry in an interactive, personalized and familiar environment.

In addition to its direct-to-consumer business, R2Net operates a B2B platform that serves the online diamond sales of giants such as Signet Jewelers, the largest jewelry retailer in the world with 3,500 retail stores worldwide.

R2Net has built a sophisticated e-commerce and supply chain platform, which ties the entire span of the diamond industry's ecosystem, including diamond and jewelry manufacturers, retailers and consumers. R2Net's B2B platform utilizes advanced imaging and visualization technologies to capture and display diamonds and jewelry at a quality that surpasses a jeweler's loupe, thus enabling manufacturers to dramatically cut the lead times and costs of global diamond trade.

R2Net's innovative e-commerce, imaging, visualization and supply chain management platforms are revolutionizing the $70 billion global diamond industry during times of great change in consumer and supplier dynamics and behaviors.

"I'm excited to have IGP, one of Israel's premier private equity funds, share and invest in realizing our vision and would like to welcome Moshe Lichtman and Haim Shani to our board. I look forward to benefiting from IGP's partners' operational experience in scaling up global technology companies," said Oded Edelman, R2Net's founder and CEO.

"R2Net is a great example of the type of technology companies that IGP is focused on. Its ground-breaking technology, its strong momentum in the marketplace and Oded's vision and unique skills make R2Net a prime candidate for global category leadership in a huge market that's ripe for disruption," said Moshe Lichtman, General Partner at IGP. "IGP believes that there is a unique strategic opportunity to better serve the entire diamond industry's ecosystem and to deliver significant value across the board with R2Net's technology platforms and capabilities."

About R2Net - James Allen:

JamesAllen.com is a leading online retailer of diamonds and engagement rings. The idea behind JamesAllen.com is simple: Offer beautiful engagement settings coupled with high quality laboratory graded diamonds, all at an extraordinary value. Each diamond and ring on JamesAllen.com is displayed using proprietary 360-degree Display Technology which allows customers to see and interact with diamonds and rings from the comfort of their home. To learn more about James Allen visit http://www.jamesallen.com/ .

About Israel Growth Partners:

Founded in 2014, Israel Growth Partners (IGP) is a Private Equity investment firm founded by Moshe Lichtman and Haim Shani and backed by leading financial institutions including banks, insurance companies and pension funds. IGP's mission is to provide growth capital, strategic guidance and active involvement in Israeli-related technology companies benefiting from its founders' vast operational experience.

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/r2net-james-allen-secures-25-million-in-growth-funding-2014-12-1218-002.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE R2Net James Allen :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2014 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.