CanopyBoulder Cannabis Business Podcast

This is an oldie but, oh.. so good! We're giving you a re-run of one of the panels in our last Jumpstart Conference, where industry operators talk about what its like to work in the space and give entrepreneurs ideas on where to focus.  In this episode you'll hear from Nancy Whiteman of Wana Brands, Ryan Brown of Native Roots and Graham Carlson of CW Hemp - all moderated by CanopyBoulder's own Patrick Rea.  They'll talk about things like listening to their customers, regulatory hurdles, challenges and how entrepreneurs can best get in front of folks like them.  And if you LIKE this content, be sure to join us next week, July 25, in Denver, CO for our Summer 2019 Jumpstart Conference. Go get those tickets... like, now! http://bit.ly/CB-Jumpstart-2019

Ever wondered what the perfect cannabis product was for you? You know.. the one that'll make you feel like you did when you first started smoking and couldn't stop the giggles...? Yeah, us too. This week, we're chatting with Bob Chien, CEO & founder of Marigen, a service that uses your specific DNA to made product recommendations. We're chatting with him about all the science behind cannabis and how our bodies interact with it, what it takes to get a business off the ground and his best advice to startups.  To learn more about Marigen, visit them at marigen.us

What do you know about logistics?... wait, don't fall asleep!  Delivery and logistics are one of those areas we so often overlook. And yet, in a highly regulated industry like cannabis, are hugely important. This week, we're talking with Tim Ruybal, CEO & founder of Dyspense Technologies on what delivery, tracking and distribution looks like in the industry. He also digs into the importance of listening to your customer, how to manage multiple segments and the evolution of an industry.  Learn more about Tim and Dyspense at Dyspense.com 

How important is loyalty in the cannabis industry?  This week, we're talking with Rami Sahhar, CEO of CliqueMJ and current CanopyBoulder cohort member, about whats going on in the industry in terms of advertising and maintaining customers. He goes into the importance of loyalty, how retail businesses can leverage it and what its like starting a tech company in this nascent industry. Learn more about CliqueMJ at cliquemj.com.

When people say “cannabis industry”, often the first thought is into retailers, edible brands and large cultivation operations. But what about the picks and shovels that support those businesses? (After all, I bet you don’t know a single gold miner's name but you’ve definitely heard of Levi’s Jeans…). This week, we’re chatting with CFO of Urban-Gro, Bob Pullar. Urban-Gro offers cultivators holistic environmental solutions but, more importantly, they are a fast-growing picks and shovels business.  In this episode, we chat with Bob about what it takes to grow a fast growing ancillary cannabis business, what the trends look like in AgTech and his predictions for the future. Check it out. Learn more about Urban-Gro at urban-gro.com. 

The world of consumer packaged goods (CPG) presents a whole new set of obstacles, challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs. And since the Farm Bill passed back in December, plenty are getting in on the CBD and hemp CPG game.  This week, we're talking with one of those new brands - Backyard Sodas, an all-natural, CBD infused soda. CEO & founder, Jonathan Schultz, talks to us a little about soda, natural products, emerging hemp/CBD opportunities, what its like running a CPG company and more.  Learn more about Backyard Soda at backyardsodas.com

We're back at it.. trying desperately to make sense of the legal (???) hemp and CBD markets. We know, it's confusing.  What with the FDA and DEA and Farm Bill... it's hard to know what's real and where the actual opportunties live. This week on the podcast, we're talking with attorney and CBD expert, Cameron Field, about all the ins and outs on hemp and CBD regulation. He takes us through what's real and what's not, when we can expect final regulations, what those might look like and all the other little quiet hurdles we may have missed along the way.  Check it out. 

This is a BONUS episode where we slip inside the minds of the founders in CanopyBoulder's current business accelerator cohort.  This week, we talk with Grow with Jane, an app for home growers straight from Buenos Aires, Argentina. They talk to us about why their team is so strong, how to listen and adapt to a market and why measuring your progress is key. Check it out. To learn more about Grow with Jane, visit their website at growithjane.com

This week on the podcast, we're diving into federal policy around cannabis because, well, it's confusing.  Major shifts in policy don't happen overnight and rarely happen without some support in the form of lobbying. Cannabis is no different.  This week, we're chatting with Andrew Kline, former prosecutor, and current Director of Policy for the National Cannabis Industry Association on what the landscape looks like. Get his thoughts on what it'll take to legalize, when that could happen, who should be shaping these policies and how you can participate. 

Ever wondered how being a licensed cannabis business differs from an un-licensed one? This week, we're chatting with Cyrus Farudi, CEO of Altus Brands, a company that does just about everything. Get caught up on what it takes to run multiple cannabis businesses, in multiple verticals across multiple markets. .  Learn more about Altus Brands at altusmade.com

This episode is a rerun. Hope you enjoy this little blast from the past... Pitching to investors isn't easy but it is critical to success. This week, we're talking about best practices when it comes to putting together materials for investors and getting up there in all your glory to... gasp.. talk about yourself! Check it out!

AI. Deep Learning. Computer Vision. Whatever the term you prefer, its all the same - using computers and machines to learn processes we humans do to save us time. And, understandable, its all the rage - who wants to do things themselves?  But what does it take to build and run one of these companies successfully? What about in the cannabis industry? Join us as we tackle the terms, what makes one of these businesses really stand out, how regulations might push the sector forward and more. 

You've heard that term, right? The "banking problem" - sounds daunting. But what does it actually mean? Are all cannabis businesses still operating with mattresses full of cash or is it changing? This week, we're getting to the bottom of it with Dan Roda of Abaca. Join us to talk about the problem, the solutions, federal legislation, what it all means for businesses and predictions for the future.  . To learn more about Abaca, go to https://www.abacabanc.com/. 

Last week, we attended CannaTech Tel Aviv, a cannabis-focused conference for the global cannabis industry. In the US, we have a tendency to talk only about the US market so join us as we go through some of the key take-aways from a week of Israeli cannabis.  . Learn more about CannaTech and iCan at https://www.canna-tech.co/

The nascent cannabis industry has a lot to think about - regulations, federal prohibition, building a complete infrastructure... it's a lot. But in a world where climate changes are real and there is a island twice the size of Texas of plastic floating in the pacific ocean, isn't it time for the cannabis industry to think about sustainability? This week, we're breaking down the waste issues in the cannabis industry, how regulations add to the problem and what solutions exist to fix this issue before it becomes more of a problem. Joining us to discuss this topic is Ron Basak-Smith  and James Eichner of Sana Packaging, a sustainable packaging solution for the industry. . Learn more about Sana Packaging at sanapackaging.com

The dispensaries of yesteryear are long gone these days. What used to be sketchy buildings with bars on the windows have given way to a whole new world of retail experiences. Restrictions around retail and advertising have created a need for innovation in retail that promises to impact traditional buying experiences. This week on the podcast, we're talking with Peak Beyond about retail tech, interactive buying and their predictions on how cannabis will change shopping forever. . Learn more about The Peak Beyond at https://thepeakbeyond.com/

In the world of startups, any edge you can give your team is a good thing. Could mentorship be one of those? Based on a study done by Endeavor insights, the answer is a big, fat YES. This week on the podcast, we're breaking down why thats the case, how to find a mentor for your startup and imparting some best practices to be sure you're the best mentee possible.  .  Learn more about the Endeavor Insights study here: https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/22/mentors-are-the-secret-weapons-of-successful-startups/ .  Learn more about Canopyboulder at canopyboulder.com

Any venture-backed startup is always thinking about how to return the investment made into them. But taking a company from concept to exit is no easy task. This week on the podcast, we're joined by Mason Levy, CEO & Founder of WeGrow, which was acquired in 2018. He takes us through his journey and some of the important components to readying your business for acquisition.  .  Learn more about Mason Levy and his next venture, Swivl, at tryswivl.com . Learn more about CanopyBoulder at canopyboulder.com

The world of retail is changing - when was the last time you talked to a person at the grocery store? Matt Frost, CEO & Founder of anna is trying to bring the same thing to the cannabis industry with his cannabis vending machine. Yes, you heard that right... cannabis. vending. machine.  Hear about his journey into the world of cannabis entrepreneurship on this week's BONUS episode of the podcast. 

Fundraising for your startup is a full-time and stressful job. Sometimes, it can feel a lot like beating your head against the wall. And in an industry flooded with new businesses, standing out to investors is key. But what do investors really look for and how can you ensure your business takes center stage? This week, we're letting entrepreneurs in on the secret of what investors (like CanopyBoulder) look for in potential deals so that you can be sure to tighten up those areas.  . Looking for support with your cannabis startup? Apply for funding at canopyboulder.com/apply.