Well guys this is it for iC!  I tried to think of something intelligent or witty or thought provoking to leave you all with, but it didn’t come. Words can’t really express the gratitude I feel for everyone who gave me their ears over the last 7 years. If you let me into to you workout session, your commute to work, your bathroom time, thank you!  I had no idea what to expect from starting a podcast. It truly was just an excuse for me to meet awesome people like Hua, Ben Larson, Seibo, Doug Leighton, Emily and Morgan Paxhia. I had no idea it would turn into such a meaningful part of life. It still amazes me that all of you smart people took interest in what a chubby stoner entrepreneur had to say about startups and investing. I never went to school for business and did my best to hang with the big dogs of cannabis investing. A couple groups I want to address directly: To the founders - keep going. Keep learning. You don’t know what opportunity is going to pop. Whether it be in cannabis or another industry, keep fucking going! To the investors- I’m sorry this industry hasn’t worked out better so far. I’m still a believer that with time great wealth can be created from cannabis, but the obstacles and barriers are still monumental.  To the guests - thank you for taking a chance on me! I was a kid with zero experience with either cannabis or podcasting. Thank you for everything you taught me.  To Producer Erik and Director Jacob - without question the fondest memories of the show will be with you two just trying to figure shit out. In many ways my favorite time was when nobody listened and we did this for ourselves. Let’s start a new show!  For the last time . . . Tune in, listen up, get acquainted!

Just one more after this! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little sad ;( Next ep we will have a special guest to wrap up the show; me! Everyone in the cannabis industry right now seems to be focusing on big markets like CA, NY, NJ and others with huge potential market value. Greenlight and John Mueller have taken a different approach. They have targeted medical dispensaries in "fly over states" with a focus on operations and profitability. With states on the brink of recreational like Missouri, Arkansas, and West Virginia, Greenlight is well positioned to take advantage. It's a great episode and one of the few success stories in this industry. https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mueller-6a3749a/ https://greenlightdispensary.com/about/

The rumors are true . . . there are only 2 episodes remaining of Investing in Cannabis. More on why in the coming weeks. This week we have Nick of Claybourne. Nick describes their process as breed to brand as he heavily values their genetics and cultivation techniques. In a personal favorite move, Claybourne was one of the first to offer half ounce smalls . . . brilliant. We also talk marketing, distribution, expanding to new states and much more. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-ortega-22926791/ https://www.claybourneco.com/

Only 3 episodes of Investing in Cannabis left! Yes the rumors are true, after 7 years iC podcast is coming to an end. I need new challenges and nobody makes money in the cannabis industry. Over the next few weeks, I'll be talking more about the decision, what I learned, and my predictions for where the industry is headed. For now, enjoy the final remaining eps! This week we take a look at #Oklahoma . Although still only a medical market, a large percentage of the population hold medical cards and tax revenues have been substantial for an otherwise slow state economy. It is a tiny but mighty case for cannabis across the country. I had the chance to connect with Arshad Lasi of the The Nirvana Group. At only 23, Arshad is wise beyond his years. He has successfully grown the family business into one of the major players in OK. We talk: - vertical integration - genetics - licensing vs building brands - Taxes and what most states are doing wrong - The price of top shelf is shockingly low.

In a rare iC episode, Matt Hawkins of Entourage Effect Capital joins the show for the 2nd time! Matt has been very busy since we last chatted. Through 3 funds, the firm has invested in 60+ companies since 2014. He is truly one of the best and most experience minds we have in our industry.

5 years ago, Helene of JourneyOne Ventures reached out to ask me how to become a cannabis VC. What a goal! Several very long cannabis years later, she has launched a pre-seed to series-A fund focused on cannabis technology startups. She is very interested in compliance, ecommerce, marketing tech, d2d and more. On a personal note, it warms my heart to hear Helene share how much she learned from my little old podcast. I'm so happy to have played a tiny role in her success :) We go deep on: How to build a investment thesis Attracting deal flow Raising capital Evening the playfield for minorities What kind of weed we like. https://www.journeyone.vc/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/hservillon/

We've talked many times on this show about the pros and cons of being vertically integrated. Increasingly we are seeing successful brands that are asset light and benefit from the infrastructure others have built. At the same time, as values rise in the future, having those hard assets will certainly be much more valuable than they are today! Germany in an interesting move has decided it will not allow cultivation when it fully legalizes next year. The ramifications of this could be numerous but most immediately it requires international trade to get product into the country. This is nothing new for Nik of the Bloomwell group. He was responsible for a lot of firsts in German cannabis including ecommerce, same day delivery, and most recently the first major plans for large scale imports. The world is a changing . . . Nik and I get into the process of legalization in Germany, where in the world has the best weed, where he will expand to next, and why Germany will be the biggest legal market come 2023.

The California cannabis knife fight continues! In a deep field of competitors, Falcon Brands has managed to rise to the top. Their brands CRU, Jetpacks, and others are in the top 3 for their categories. CEO Steve Gutterman attributes this success to a blended team of traditional CPG execs and legacy cannabis talent. Maintaining cool at scale is just HARD! The future will not be simple for Falcon either, as their focus shifts to maintaining and expanding into new markets. Steve is a seasoned executive and former head of Harvest and General Cannabis Corp. Steve and I go deep on capital raising, acquisitions, marketing, branding, illicit market, and much more. https://falconbrands.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-gutterman-38970738/

Do you like edibles? What do you like about them? People who don't tend to have the same complaints; it takes too long to hit, it lasts too long, it makes me tired. What if we could solve some of these complaints? Kim of Azuca and their "precursor" product have started to chip away at the edibles gap for new consumers. For those who like to smoke, the effects of new emulsion technologies may hit you differently than you expect. Kim and I chatted from MJ Unpacked about onset time, offset time, the downsides of distillate, and whether it was worth it to sponsor the conference. https://azuca.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-sanchez-rael-49379/

Does the east coast want California cannabis brands? While most California cannabis brands struggle to find relevancy (and profitability), Big Pete's is bringing its #1 selling cookies to New York and beyond. Licensing and a franchise-like-model looks to be very profitable for them in AZ, NV, CO vs the asset heavy MSOs. Little Pete joins me live from MJ Unpacked and dives deep into: *cannabutter *distribution / d2c *what makes a good brand *quality control *what its like to be a legacy brand https://bigpetestreats.com/

Should companies de-verticalize? How do CA brands win on the east coast? Do billboards work? How much does Jay Z actually do? These questions and more with my friend and former Caliva CEO Dennis O'Malley. https://www.linkedin.com/in/domalley/

Did you go to MJ Unpacked in Vegas last year? The new event was talk of the town and created a more intimate, focused environment that was refreshing after the madness and party that MJBiz and Hall of Flowers have become. Founder and my guest this week George Jage says that different, more professional vibe was very much intentional. He is the former president of MJBiz and Dope magazine and wanted to focus on productivity for MJ Unpacked. The conference will bring together brands, retailers, and investors, as well as an unprecedented level of diversity for a business conference. George and I also discuss what makes a good brand, illicit market, dtc, beverages, and why virtual events suck so much. Join George, myself, and many more May 18th-20th in NYC. https://mjunpacked.com/

Lots of news last week! My good friend Judson and I sat down to chop it up and share our takes on all the happenings from last week: Leaf Trade b2b marketplace raises $12.5M Backbone supply chain software raises $14M Bespoke Financial expands to East coast and beyond 420, Benzinga, and "green wednesday" ====== This episode is brought to you by MJ Unpacked: May 18-20 - NYC. Brands, Investors, and Retail come together to shape the future of east coast cannabis. https://mjunpacked.com/

Celebrity brands have taken over the cannabis industry. Everywhere you look brands are slapping celebrity endorsements on the packaging and hoping someone picks it up and tries it. Real connoisseurs should be wary, as most of these brands are more focused on marketing than on quality. I was skeptical before my interview with Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau of SeaWeed Naturals. Of course the legacy of Jacques Cousteau speaks for itself in the oceanography world, but what did they know about cannabis? As I pressed them on why and how they developed their product line, I was impressed with their knowledge and intentionality around ingredients, packaging, and formulations. It is clear they could have created any number of products in the world, but they chose cannabis. I think that speaks volumes about how this industry has evolved. https://www.seaweednaturals.com/ ==== This episode is brought to you by MJ Unpacked: May 18-20 in NYC. MJ Unpacked provides an exclusive forum for qualified brand and retail decision-makers. https://mjunpacked.com/

In this Throwback episode we bring back Michael Piermont of Leaf Trade. This week Leaf Trade raised a fresh 12.5M round to propel its marketplace and technology platform for wholesale cannabis. We recorded this back in 2020 and the episode has aged really well. Fascinating discussion of why this technology is necessary for buyers and brands. What does this mean for vertical integration and Limited Licences MSOs? Can they catch LeafLink? https://www.newcannabisventures.com/cannabis-technology-company-leaf-trade-raises-12-5-million/ https://leaf.trade/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-piermont-049839a/

Do you like vapes? Yeah, me neither. Except Friendly Farms. The best live resin cart on the market has quickly spread across California. This is high level cannabis nerdery at its finest. Chaz breaks down what is the actual difference between live resin, live rosin, and how you make them. Fascinating. Friendly Farms is a legacy brand that heroically traversed the transition from medical to rec. Not an easy feat and a tremendous success story from a fully founder owned cannabis company. Novel. https://friendlyfarmsca.com/ ---------- Friendly Farms is a client of our sponsor, Bespoke Financial. Friendly has raised millions of dollars without diluting their equity. You can too. https://bespokefinancial.com/

200. It has a nice ring to it. I started the Investing in Cannabis podcast in 2015 with some friends and one goal; Meet some cool people in the new cannabis industry. It worked! 200 episodes later I am overcome with gratitude. Gratitude for the team, @Jacob @Erik. Thankful for every guest that took valuable time out of building their company to take a chance on a guy with no experience. Especially in the beginning when literally zero people were listening. Most of all im grateful to the listeners. The core 1000 that listen to the entire episode on the day it comes out and the other 30,000 that listen to the first 10 min. I love you equally. Your messages and questions, feedback and endless passion for your newest ventures have kept me going. It is an honor that so many people want my feedback and advice. It's an honor that people put me in their ears every week. They literally put my voice in their brain! THANK YOU! There is no iC without this smart motivated, creative, rebel audience. For 200, I am launching a throwback thursday series to go along with new eps on Tuesdays. It’s a little weird for me to call anything I’ve done a classic (who am I, Dr. Dre?), but nonetheless I think you guys will really enjoy gaining some history and context. Understanding where we came from is crucial to understanding where we are going. First up in the throwback line up is Dennis of Caliva. Now the crown jewel of The Parent company portfolio, Caliva is a dominant player in CA and beyond. I spent the day with Dennis and team walking around their San Jose cultivation and talking the future of what is one of the most important companies in cannabis. Enjoy! (also on my linkedin there is a little video montage if you want to check that out: https://www.linkedin.com/in/badavid/) ------- This episode of iC is brought to you by Bespoke Financial. Raise non-dilutive capital and hold on to your precious equity. https://bespokefinancial.com/

In an iC exclusive, Grassdoor founder Zack Ein does his first ever public interview. In the backyard of his LA home, Zack opens up about the ins and outs of starting and scaling a last mile delivery business. If you aren't familiar with the name, it's because Grassdoor seemingly came from nowhere during the pandemic, and quickly became one of the biggest players in CA. Zack goes deep on his view on competitors both inside of cannabis and out and what the future of cannabis delivery looks like. Fascinating discussion and a Brandon instant favorite. https://grassdoor.com/ === This episode of iC is sponsored by Bespoke Financial, the leader in non-dilutive financing for the cannabis industry. https://bespokefinancial.com/

Cannabis and video games have long since been a perfect match on a Saturday afternoon, but how much do the customer basis overlap? If you like cannabis or just nascent industries, you probably are interested in gaming and esports. It's one of the few industries that has grown faster than cannabis over the last few years. This week's guest represents one of the first real brands capitalizing on the marriage. Pine Park is the brainchild of Opennest Venture Studio and Hector Rodriguez aka gaming influencer HECZ. https://pineparkgear.com/ ==== This ep is brought to you by Bespoke Financial - The leader in debt and non-dilutive funding for the cannabis industry. https://bespokefinancial.com/

Sunderstorm is a family of cannabis brands best known for its legacy and true OG gummy brand, Kanha. Keith explains the full playbook for scaling from a small mom and pop to a national brand including; manufacturing, licensing, marketing, and fundraising. Sunderstorm is one of the biggest edible companies in the world, and it shows. ==== iC is brought to you by Bespoke Financial - Raise money without giving up equity. Bespoke's complete fintech platform now includes seamless integration with METRC. https://bespokefinancial.com/

Do celebrity brands work? Most celebrity brands suck. They get away with inferior products and marketing because they have that celebrity photo on the packaging. It's kind of like how restaurants with incredible views don't need to have great food. Tyson 2.0 is the exception. Tyson 2.0 sets itself apart with true authenticity. Mike Tyson loves weed and personally samples everything that goes in the bags. Adam and the team have done a great job of capturing what today's consumers want and the market is rewarding them. They recently signed a deal with MSO Columbia Care that will bring Tyson 2.0 products across the country. https://tyson20.com/ ==== Thanks to Bespoke Financial for sponsoring. If you are raising money, you need to check out the Bespoke Fintech Platform. https://bespokefinancial.com/

This week on the pod, we have Hilary of Our Dream Academy, a non profit accelerator designed to help minorities and founders impacted by the war on drugs build businesses. It is a fascinating discussion about where we are in the fight for equality and what big cannabis can and should do about it. https://thisisourdream.com/our-academy/ ==== Thanks to Bespoke Financial, the leading fintech platform in cannabis. Raise money without giving up equity at https://bespokefinancial.com/

This week we welcome a very special guest Alexander Rabinovitch CEO of Intercure. Intercure is a large vertically integrated Israeli cannabis firm pushing the boundaries of international trade. Intercure also has the exclusive license to sell cookies in Israel. That's right you can get a prescription, go to a regular pharmacy and buy cookies flower! https://www.intercure.co/

Dutchie creates technology that powers e-commerce and point of sale solutions for dispensaries. It ​is a name synonymous with cannabis technology. If you don't know that name, you should. Jon Bond is a true OG of the industry and a massive part of the reason Dutchie is where it is today. Have you tried Leafwire? It is the #1 place for B2B networking; online and in person.

Leafwire is the world's largest Cannabis and Hemp B2B Network. The Linkedin of cannabis is about to get a massive pivot, as Leafwire takes over the cannabis events space. Peter explains how he built a social media platform from scratch and why we all need an app in our hands during cannabis conferences. Leafwire is currently raising to build 2.0 and maintain its spot as the go to network for cannabis businesses. Go to https://www.leafwire.com/ to create an account.

Originally from Washington, 4Front Ventures is very focused on low cost production and operations. They are not interested in celebrity endorsements or fancy marketing. The team at 4Front wants to get down to business and expand with the same playbook. Thanks to this episodes sponsor LeafWire (www.leafwire.com/) - 100% Cannabis Business Network. No stigma. Just business.

Starting 2022 with a big episode and an all-time great conversation. We have Adam Bierman taking us through the past 10 years of MedMen. Much has been said about the MedMen story but this conversation reaches depth that only the podcast format can achieve. This week we are also joined by special guest co-host Ben Kovacs. As Brandon says every episode, you're going to learn a ton! Thanks to this episodes sponsor LeafWire (https://www.leafwire.com/) - 100% Cannabis Business Network. No stigma. Just business.

Are you following the rules as a cannabis business owner? Are you expanding into new regions/states in the USA and want to make sure you stay compliant with local law? Brandon's conversation with Marion the CEO of Simplifya is a must listen. This topic can be overwhelming as legalization continues to spread across the country. That's why Simpliya is so clutch. Tune in, listen up, get acquainted!

From Jake's LinkedIn: "Gardenhouse is a cannabis brand house based in California offering retailers a curated menu of affordable premium brands. Gardenhouse evolved from DomPen, a leading all-in-one vape brand with efficient and licensed in-house manufacturing and sales. As Co-Founder and CEO of DomPen, Jake has helped grow the brand from a living room operation to over one million units sold across the country." There is always a special vibe when Brandon can sit down in person with the guest. This episode is no exception! Brands in the cannabis space are a tricky thing. These guys dive right into the conversation and would be founders have a lot to learn from this conversation. Tune in!

Brandon chats with Tahira the co-founder and CEO at Commons. Her and her co-founder have had big positive impacts from the use of CBD products in their lives. Now they are on a mission with Commons to democratize the access to products and information that will help others with chronic pain. This one is a masterclass on listening and learning from customers. Enjoy!

Brandon stops by The Artist Tree in Los Angeles to talk to co-founder Lauren Fontein. About the company: "With more than 13 years of experience in the California cannabis industry, The Artist Tree team is passionate about changing how people experience cannabis. Our mission is to provide safe access to legal cannabis, raise awareness of the health benefits of cannabis, showcase artists from the community and break stereotypes surrounding cannabis sales and consumption."

Time to nerd out about cannabis extraction a little. Brandon starts with a basic line of questioning; What is a Terpene? And as the episode progresses they get into the deep water of the conversation about the science behind some of your (and our) favorite products.

Brandon is in Santa Ana, California this week at the dispensary/office of Unrivaled Brands. They believe the dominate cannabis brands of the future will come from the west coast. Specifically California and Oregon where Unrivaled Brands is currently doing business. Enjoy the episode!

Eddie Lucarelli, the CFO at Riv Capital is on the program this week. Enjoy!

Looking for level ups for your cannabis business? Do you have very specific goals that will get your business from A to B or 0 to 1? The marketing and sales team at Pedalfast is world class and industry specific. Not only will you want to work with them after this episode you will learn a lot from this conversation with Jason Vegotsky the CEO of Pedalfast. Double teaming with a co-host this week! Brandon is joined by Ben Kovacs for some additional expert commentary.

Brandon continues his tour of New York with another in-person interview! This episode is a must listen for those would be cannabis business owners in the state of New York.

Jeanne Mariani Sullivan a founding member of Arcview Ventures sits down with Brandon in New York City.

Roie Edery the founder and CEO of Ginger Brands sits down with Brandon to talk about enabling brands with new tools. This guy knows the business super well, you will learn a ton about the industry. Specifically how products move through the ecosystem and how it can all be improved. Tune in!

Info packed episode this week with Trent, Chief Commercial Officer @ Jushi Holdings. As one of the bigger and well known MSOs, Trent has great perspective on how the industry and different markets are evolving. Awesome interview for any investor trying to decide which cannabis stocks to buy!

Todays guest is Alexander Gastevich, the vice president of V. Gastevich Investments. They are a Chicago-based Family Office with decades of diversified investing and portfolio management experience. A great guest paired with some awesome questions from our host Brandon. You simply cannot find this investing knowledge in another cannabis podcast. Strap in for an info packed episode!

In this episode we have Brian Ward, the CFO at Verano Holdings. They're a big deal in the cannabis industry. "Leveraging world-class genetics and industry-leading grow & process techniques, Verano creates artisanal cannabis products unrivaled in quality, consistency and experience. From our award-winning seeds to our signature aesthetic, at Verano there is an obsessive commitment to quality, evident in each of our products, dispensaries and teams." You can tell Brandon enjoyed going deep and talking details in this one. Enjoy!

This week we have Ted Lichtenberger the co-founder of Flower Company. He thinks you should spent less money on cannabis and delivery. FLOWER CO. delivers top weed brands throughout the Bay Area, Los Angeles from Calabasas to Long Beach, Sacramento, and Humboldt County.

CEO and Founder of Rebel Coast, Josh Lizotte is on the program. If you're curious to hear from the first brand to ever dare to infuse a wine, you will want to listen in this week. Marketing a cannabis brand is a common theme on this show and this week is no exception. Get out your note taking devices friends, this is a good one.

Scott Jennings makes cannabis food with healthy, guilt-free ingredients. Finding himself wanting more from the cannabis industry, Scott set out to build the company he wanted to see in the cannabis industry. That company is Pantry Food Co. Brandon and Scott talk about how his products compete with traditional flower consumption. They also dig into the economics of dispensaries and much more. Tune in, listen up, get acquainted!

Board Member & Executive Chairmen Ben Kovacs has several irons in the fire. Much of his focus is going to Next Green Wave where he is a board member. They have over 1 million square feet of permitted facilities in the state of California. Not bad! You have a ton to learn from this conversation. Tune in, listen up, get acquainted.

Brandon sits down IN PERSON :) with CEO of Blaze, Christopher Violas. Based in Newport Beach, Blaze is a cannabis ERP technology platform specializing in track and trace/seed to sale technologies. Oh and BTW, they are hiring! The past year has made us thankful anytime we get to connect with people in person. The vibe was super positive and this was an awesome chat. You can tell Brandon was smiling ear to ear for this one.

Brandon sits down with Demitri Downing the Founder and CEO of MITA (Marijuana Industry Trade Association) Arizona legalization is new, but Demitri has been a part of the scene for years. Great episode of learnings and a peak into the future - Especially if you live in Arizona!

Brandon has a detailed chat about the hurdles to marketing cannabis companies with Irfran the Co-Founder and CEO at The Flower Agency. They have some innovative ways to target and reach existing and potential customers. If you run a cannabis related company and are struggling with your marketing this is the episode for you. Irfran has a ton of knowledge you will find useful as a founder.

Special guest host Jocelyn Sheltraw of Headset is at the Arizona Cannabis Executive Golf Tournament. She has a quick chat with Samuel Richard Executive Director of The Arizona Dispensaries Association protecting and advancing the ecosystem of regulated cannabis across the Grand Canyon State

Brandon is in AZ this week talking with Brian Yauger the CEO of Lemonhaze. They bring together thousands of people from the industry by providing, executive golf tournaments, budtender events, education, conventions, industry reports and more.

Brandon thinks Aaron makes the best small batch indoor cannabis in the world. Brandon also points out they he is "the 1%" and what a cannabis consumer looks like is going to change a lot over the next few years. Gold Seal San Francisco is a boutique cannabis lifestyle and apparel company, advocating for legalization of medical cannabis.

Brandon is joined by the creator of Myster, Davis Clayton Kiyo. They talk about his innovative products and the importance of pushing cannabis product design to a new level. You can check out everything Myster by visiting: https://www.getmyster.com/

Happy High Holiday!!! This week on the show we have Mikel, Cofounder and VP of Engineering at Onfleet. Onfleet's is a classic silicon valley startup story woven delicately into the cannabis industry. Onfleet's last mile delivery platform is the go-to for dispensaries, delivery services, and brands. Mikel and Brandon discuss why delivery is so important for the industry, open vs closed software systems, privacy concerns, and why the hell is Joe Biden firing people for smoking weed!? https://onfleet.com/ https://www.instagram.com/onfleet/?hl=en

. . . and we're back! It's been a bit, but we are back with a fresh episode and a fresh outlook on life! On this week's News Roundtable episode, Brandon welcomes Jocelyn Sheltraw, Director of Strategy @ Headset; The leading provider of data driven insights for Growers, Processors and Retailers. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynsh...​ https://www.headset.io E163

On this week’s new episode we welcome back Greenbits! Founder Ben Curren was on the show over 4 years ago, and now Brandon welcomes new CEO Barry Saik on the show to discuss the future of cannabis retail, dispensary software, and the amazing growth of their company. Greenbits is one of the premiere POS and compliance solutions for the cannabis industry with over 1200 dispensaries utilizing their software. They’ve raised a boatload of money, including a $23 million Series B in April of this year from Tiger Global, Casa Verde, and others to bolster their balance sheet and go dominate the dispensary POS market. Brandon and Barry dive deep into Barry’s transition into CEO, the constant hurdles of scaling a software company, and how Greenbits has dealt with COVID concerns and the changing office environment during the wild times of 2020. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with one of the best software companies in the cannabis space! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv E162

On this week’s awesome new episode to kick off July, Brandon chats with CEO Scott Goldie of Goldenseed. Goldenseed is a relatively new player in the cannabis market, but Scott and his team have quickly built their operation since they started their journey in late 2017. The main Goldenseed products are eighths and their infamous terpene tipped pre-rolls that have won them 2 Cannabis Cups thus far. Scott’s background is in real estate and finance, and he put together a strong team to execute their cannabis brand and vision. One unique aspect of Goldenseed is their Reg A fundraising offering aka crowdfunding. For as little as $100, investors can own a piece of Goldenseed and be a part of this story. Brandon and Scott dive deep into why they chose to use this fundraising option, their plans for building a true lifestyle brand, and why terpenes are more important than THC as the cannabis industry evolves. Learn all about how Scott transitioned from real estate to cannabis, how he built his dynamic team, and how coronavirus has impacted Goldenseed this year. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Scott of Goldenseed! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv E161

On this week’s exciting new episode, Brandon chats with CEO Max Simon of Green Flower about the wild world of online cannabis education. Green Flower is the leader in online cannabis education and training with courses and certifications across the spectrum. You can learn everything from the fundamentals of cannabis, to how to deliver high quality patient care, the extraction process, how to be compliant, and the ins and outs of the CBD market. Green Flower was founded way back in 2014, and they’ve raised a warchest of $20 million to try and win the online cannabis education sector. Brandon and Max dive deep into how to build an audience, what he’s learned since he started this company 6 years ago, and why the future of cannabis education is brighter and more vibrant than ever. Learn all about Max’s personal story, Green Flower’s vision, and learn from one of the best minds in the industry. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Max and Green Flower! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv E160

On this week’s awesome new episode, Brandon chats with CEO Blaine Hatab of Distru. Distru is another great company in the burgeoning cannabis software world. They deliver high quality seed to sale software solutions for licensed distributors and manufacturers. Their METRC compliant system has many features they’ve built including inventory management, a CRM, and the tools to keep your production and sales teams on the same schedule. Blaine and his small team have quickly built Distru into a regional powerhouse with customers across California. Brandon and Blaine dive deep into his managerial style and how he runs his team that is mostly remote, what it’s like being a young founder, and how the coronavirus has impacted his business and his customers in the last 2 quarters. Learn how Blaine and his team stay on top of industry changes, local and state regulations, and how they continue to raise capital and build out their team and product during the corona pandemic. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Blaine and Distru! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv E159

On this week’s awesome new episode, Brandon chats with CEO Melissa Parker of Reed’s Remedies about the wild world of CBD and how to build a strong brand in a crowded space. Melissa came into this business, like many founders, from a point of personal passion and self-care. She dealt with and suffered from a number of health issues, and was creating her own formulations to self-medicate for over a year. After much trial and error, plus feedback from friends/family, Melissa launched Reed’s in 2018 to share her products with others. Learn how she built her suite of high-quality, unique products with a very small team. Her products include feelings and effects like “Sleep”, “Calm”, “Relief”, and even “Desire”. Reed’s products were also finalists at the Natural Products Expo in the CBD/HEMP product category. Brandon and Melissa dive deep into the staggering impact that COVID-19 has had on her business and her suppliers, the issues with bringing new products and marketing campaigns to light in this environment, and why she’s waited to raise outside capital for so long. You’ll learn in depth about Reed’s plethora of CBD wellness products and hear the full story of Melissa’s personal journey into cannabis. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Melissa and Reed’s Remedies! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv. Episode 158

On this week’s exciting new episode, Brandon chats with CEO Colton Griffin of Flourish Software about the ever-evolving world of seed to sale software in cannabis. Flourish helps operators across the cannabis supply chain manage their operations more efficiently and compliantly. Colton and his team began the Flourish journey about 3 years ago, and since then they’ve grown to over 30 employees with customers deployed across more than 15 different states. The market for cannabis software has shifted of late, with more industry consolidation, companies scaling to new states and countries, and a renewed focus on efficiency amidst the corona pandemic. Brandon and Colton dive deep into the impacts of corona on their business and their customers bottom-line. From lowering their burn rate to more remote implementations, Flourish has had to adjust to the new normal just like their customers. Learn why Flourish is still thriving, how the landscape of capital raising has shifted, and why the coronavirus pandemic won’t kill the cannabis industry. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Colton and Flourish Software! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s awesome new episode, Brandon chats with CEO AC Braddock of Eden Labs about the world of extraction, the extreme growth of hemp, and how coronavirus is affecting their business. Eden Labs was started back in 1994, and they’re one of the pioneers of various extraction processes and methods. AC took over the reins as CEO in 2009, and grew Eden into the extraction powerhouse it is today. Learn how Eden helps a multitude of cannabis and hemp companies deliver safe and efficient extractions utilizing a variety of methods including, CO2 and ethanol. Brandon and AC also dive deep into the astronomical growth of hemp extraction and how Eden has repositioned itself to handle this booming new business since the Farm Bill. In addition, they are raising capital soon (their first outside raise!) and AC delves into how to educate investors and build their confidence in investing in a non-typical startup. Lastly, they discuss the endless industry issues created by the coronavirus, the lack of SBA loans and banking for cannabis, and the likelihood of increased US legalization in the fall as the 2020 election approaches. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with AC and Eden Labs! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s iC News episode, Brandon has a wonderful conversation with our good friend, Sam Edwards. Sam is a cannabis expert who has judged Emerald Cups for years, advised + consulted on large-scale grower operations, and now works for a cannabis-focused investment firm. Or in his words, "I've judged the Emerald Cup for 4 years, I've grown acres of cannabis, thousands of pounds, and smoked hundreds of pounds." This week, Sam and Brandon dive into how the coronavirus has impacted the cannabis industry and specifically how it’s led to increased sales amid the stay-at-home orders. They also touch on auto-flowering and why 2020 crop and election predictions are so crazy right now. Get your cannabis news fix and learn more this week from Sam Edwards! Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s brand new episode, Brandon chats with CEO George Mancheril of Bespoke Financial about the world of cannabis finance, debt, and business loans. The cannabis landscape has shifted immensely of late with the enormous impact of coronavirus on all aspects of the supply chain, massive companies having serious issues, widespread industry layoffs, and a continued lack of federal legalization and banking support. George and his team help cannabis companies weather the storm by providing debt and lending options for companies of all sizes in the cannabis industry. With a wide range of services, including invoice financing, inventory financing, and PO financing, Bespoke is well positioned to help companies get cash quickly without giving up any equity in the process. Founders can learn what it’s like working with Bespoke, and why having this option can make investor and supply chain negotiations easier to manage. Learn why Bespoke’s services are even more valued in the current environment, the reasons why George is so passionate about this space, and why the world of cannabis debt financing is alive and well. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with George and Bespoke Financial! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s awesome new episode, Brandon heads to Cann to sit down and interview co-founder Jake Bullock in their office in Venice, CA. Cann is one of the coolest cannabis beverages in the market today. They are low-dose, very high in flavor, and they have some of the best packaging + branding in the industry. Jake and his co-founder Luke completed a $5 million raise in early 2020 to start building their team, machine, and vision for a cannabis social tonic. With only 2mg of THC and 4mg of CBD per drink, customers can drink a 6 pack of Cann and still be functional at an event or party. Since the beverage wars are just getting started in cannabis, Brandon and Jake dove into the myriad of issues building distribution, the struggles of gaining shelf space, and how to assemble a sales + marketing team to support growth. Brandon and Jake also dive into some big industry topics like: the continued presence of the black market, the rise of CBD, and why beverages may be the best choice for the new cannabis consumer. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Jake and Cann! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s iC News episode, Brandon welcomes Matt Gray, CEO + founder of HERB to the show! HERB is one of the leading digital platforms in the cannabis industry, allowing customers to find cannabis products, educate themselves, and engage with all of their awesome, original content. Matt has been in the cannabis industry a long time, and we’re very grateful he made the trip down to Venice to come on our show. Brandon and Matt also dive into other big topics in the industry, including: capital raising in this constrained environment, the continued presence of the black market, and how Matt keeps his finger on the pulse of American cannabis while running a Canadian based company. Learn about the HERB story, Matt’s biggest challenges recently, and why he’s staying so zen during the worldwide upheaval of 2020. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with another episode of iC News with Matt Gray! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s brand new episode, Brandon chats with CRO Michael Piermont of Leaftrade about the world of wholesale cannabis. Leaftrade helps buyers and sellers facilitate their transactions of wholesale cannabis and hemp. This is a classic two-sided marketplace, and Michael and his team have built a simple, smart process that works. With increasing competition in the cannabis supply chain software space, Leaftrade has had to scale quickly and steadily increase their service offerings. But with a round of fundraising from the Hyde Park Angels last December, they are well positioned to continue to gain market share across the country. Learn about Michael’s B2B SaaS experience, why Leaftrade focused on MSO’s to start, and why integrations are so valuable to their long-term success. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Michael and Leaftrade! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s awesome new episode, Brandon gets a visit from Christian Patino of Day One CBD! Day One is one of the best functional CBD beverage brands on the market today, and Christian brings a wealth of CPG knowledge from his past experiences at Red Bull, Johnson & Johnson, and Proctor & Gamble to the team. Day One is in the midst of building a brand to win the CBD beverage market, but it’s full of headaches. Christian and Brandon dive into Day One’s expanding product lineup, the pitfalls of distribution and reaching scale in CPG, and how tactics he learned at previous CPG roles will help Day One build a winning strategy in cannabis. Also learn about Christian’s past growing up in Mexico City and why Mexico might be the next big growth market for cannabis and CBD! Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Christian and Day One! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s new episode, Brandon gets a visit from Jonas Lalehzadeh of the premium cannabis brand, Herbes! Jonas and his family have built one of the most high-end, beautiful products in the cannabis industry. Their main SKU is a 2 gram cannagar called “The Trophy” that is wrapped in a delicious hemp paper dipped in kief. Jonas dives into Herbes as well as his own unique experience getting back from Iran, where he was playing professional basketball this year. Learn how Herbes is attacking the premium cannabis market, the current state of basketball and coronavirus in Iran, and why it’s so vital to be giving back in this time of global crisis. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Jonas and Herbes! Support for this episode comes from Newfront Insurance. Newfront is a modern insurance brokerage that leverages technology to vastly simplify the buying process for clients and the selling process for brokers. Our experienced brokers help cannabis clients save money and find the right coverage for their unique risks. Learn more at https://www.newfront.com/ or send them an email at iC@newfront.com! Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s awesome episode, Brandon visits the Autumn Brands farm in Carpinteria to interview Hanna! Autumn is a family run business that was shaped by 6 generations of farming. They started as cut flower growers, but quickly morphed into cannabis growing once California legalization hit. Hanna and her family have built a decent sized enterprise now with 75+ employees, multiple greenhouses, and presence in over 120 dispensaries across the state. They have some of the most beautiful, disease-free, and delicious cannabis on the market. Learn how Hanna and her team grow cannabis with care, how they transitioned from flowers to cannabis, and why ladybugs and other unique solutions can control pests. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Hanna and Autumn Brands! Support for this episode comes from Bespoke Financial. Bespoke Financial is the first licensed commercial lender providing short-term working capital loans exclusively to cannabis and hemp businesses. Operators often deal with long cashflow collection cycles in this industry. Bespoke aims to alleviate working capital constraints across the cannabis supply chain by providing a line of credit to their clients. https://bespokefinancial.com/ Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s iC News episode, Brandon welcomes Roger Obando, founder + former CTO of Baker Technologies and author of “The Highest Common Denominator”. Roger has incredible insights into how to build, scale, and operate a successful cannabis software business and he’s now consulting, writing, and sharing that knowledge with others. Brandon and Roger dive into some of the biggest topics in the industry, including: the Black Market, raising capital in this environment, hiring minorities, equity applicants, and his work with the 4thMVMT. Learn more from Roger and Brandon as they share their opinions on #VapeGate, recent cannabis CEO departures, and the public cannabis meltdown. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with another episode of iC News with Roger Obando! Support for this episode comes from Bespoke Financial. Bespoke Financial is the first licensed commercial lender providing short-term working capital loans exclusively to cannabis and hemp businesses. Operators often deal with long cashflow collection cycles in this industry. Bespoke aims to alleviate working capital constraints across the cannabis supply chain by providing a line of credit to their clients. https://bespokefinancial.com/ Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s new episode, Brandon visits CEO Maggie Connors of Besito at her awesome Santa Monica office for an interview! Maggie has built one of the coolest vape companies in the space, with a very unique design and more approachable dosing for a new class of cannabis consumers. Maggie’s team has raised some capital and created a beautiful brand with amazing packaging that has resonated well in the LA cannabis scene. Brandon and Maggie dive into how to differentiate your brand in a crowded vape market, why disposable vapes are easier for consumers, and what made Maggie take the leap of faith and jump into cannabis full-time. Also, learn how Maggie took her experiences as a Stanford MBA and multiple roles in the CPG world to create Besito. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Maggie and Besito! Support for this episode comes from Bespoke Financial. Bespoke Financial is the first licensed commercial lender providing short-term working capital loans exclusively to cannabis and hemp businesses. Operators often deal with long cashflow collection cycles in this industry. Bespoke aims to alleviate working capital constraints across the cannabis supply chain by providing a line of credit to their clients. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s episode, Brandon has CEO Devin Alvarez of Straight Hemp join the show! Devin is another founder who’s part of the Canopy Boulder accelerator and he’s attacking the world of hemp in a new, quality-driven way. We all know hemp is fast growing industry, but this week you’ll learn what hemp products are really selling well, why some consumers still like shopping in-person, and how to really compete and win in the crowded hemp market. Devin isn’t alone in trying to build a business in hemp, but with the resources and support of Canopy, he’s taken massive leaps very quickly with his business. Brandon and Devin dive into the founder experience at Canopy, raising capital in this environment, and why quality will win in the end. Learn what it’s like being a young founder in cannabis; and tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Devin and Straight Hemp! Support for this episode comes from Balanced Advisor. Whether you’re a founder struggling to raise capital + run your business efficiently, or you’re an investor looking where to place capital, we’re here to help. Reach out to us with your problems, and we’ll help you find a solution! www.BalancedAdvisor.com Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s new episode, Brandon welcomes CEO Robert Kenny of Royal Supply to the show! Robert is part of the Canopy Boulder accelerator and is building one of the top packaging companies in the cannabis space. While it is not a sexy business, it does make money!! Learn how Robert saw this need in cannabis and started building deep partnerships with overseas suppliers. Brandon and Robert also discuss his experience at Canopy, the perils of early-stage fundraising, and why the industry needs to rethink how it packages and brands it’s products. Learn what it’s like being a young founder in cannabis; and tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Robert of Royal Supply! Support for this episode comes from Balanced Advisor. Whether you’re a founder struggling to raise capital + run your business efficiently, or you’re an investor looking where to place capital, we’re here to help. Reach out to us with your problems, and we’ll help you find a solution! www.BalancedAdvisor.com Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On iC News this week, we welcome Patrick Rea of Canopy Boulder to the show to share his thoughts on all of today’s hottest topics the trends and in the cannabis industry. Patrick and his team run the best startup incubator in the cannabis industry. They’ve put dozens of companies through their program including, BDS Analytics, Wurk, Leaf, Peak Beyond, and more! Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge on building companies, raising capital, and how legal cannabis should work. Brandon and Patrick dive into some exciting topics this week; including the long tail effects of Vapegate, the dearth of debt options available to companies, industry layoffs, capital constraint, and why the 2020 election could create a sizable shift in the cannabis industry. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Patrick and some more iC News topics + opinion! Support for this episode comes from Bespoke Financial. Bespoke Financial is the first licensed commercial lender providing short-term working capital loans exclusively to cannabis and hemp businesses. Operators often deal with long cashflow collection cycles in this industry. Bespoke aims to alleviate working capital constraints across the cannabis supply chain by providing a line of credit to their clients. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s new episode, Brandon welcomes our good friend Joyce Cenali, COO + Partner at Big Rock to the show! Big Rock Partners is one of the top investors in the cannabis space with investments in brands such as Cannacraft, Henry’s Original, Sava, Vertosa, and High Times. With their extensive list of high level brands they’ve invested in, we’ve dubbed them the “Brand Hunters”. Joyce is an industry veteran herself and has been instrumental in building the Big Rock portfolio into the powerhouse it is today. You’ll learn a ton as Brandon and Joyce dive deep into the continuing shift of VC to PE in the cannabis industry, why distressed assets are becoming big business, and how the public cannabis market meltdown + widespread layoffs have shifted risk appetites across the space. Learn from one of the coolest people + top investors in the space, Joyce of Big Rock! Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted! Support for this episode comes from Balanced Advisor. Whether you’re a founder struggling to raise capital + run your business efficiently, or you’re an investor looking where to place capital, we’re here to help. Reach out to us with your problems, and we’ll help you find a solution! www.BalancedAdvisor.com Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On iC News this week, we welcome back Matt Nordgren of Arcadian Fund to the show to share his thoughts on all of today’s hottest topics the trends and in the cannabis industry. Matt and his team have invested in many of the top companies in the cannabis industry including; BDS Analytics, Treez, Jane, and Wurk. Matt brings a wealth of knowledge on building companies, pitching to investors, and understanding market forces in public and private capital. Brandon and Matt dive into some fun topics this week, including the death of cannabis angel investors, industry layoffs and lingering effects of the black market, and why the 2020 election could be a huge win for the cannabis industry. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Matt and some more iC News topics + opinion! And since it’s Super Bowl week, it’s also nice having a former football player on! Go Niners!

On this week’s new episode, Brandon welcomes CEO Jeffrey Harris of SpringBig to the show! SpringBig is one of the biggest dispensary marketing and loyalty platforms in the cannabis industry. While their main competitor, Baker, joined TILT recently; Jeff and his team have stayed lean and continued to execute and build out their vision. SpringBig was originally built to help pizza parlors and ice cream shops with marketing back in 2014, but by 2017 Jeff and his team had completely shifted to cannabis. Over the last 2+ years, they’ve served over 10 million customers and they’ve gained 23% national market share while raising over $11 million in capital. Jeff and his team are crushing it, and the next 3-5 years will determine whether they can scale and win the cannabis market nationally. Learn how Jeff handles his daily stress, why POS integrations + partnerships are paramount to their success, and where he thinks the cannabis market is headed in 2020 + beyond. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Jeff and SpringBig! Support for this episode comes from Balanced Advisor. Whether you’re a founder struggling to raise capital + run your business efficiently, or you’re an investor looking where to place capital, we’re here to help. Reach out to us with your problems, and we’ll help you find a solution! www.BalancedAdvisor.com Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s episode, Brandon welcomes CEO Steve Albarran of Confident Cannabis to the show! Steve and his team bring trust, transparency, and simplification to the wholesale testing and purchasing side of the cannabis market. They are in 26 markets around the US currently, and in California 40% of all legal cannabis is already on their lab platform. Steve and his team launched their wholesale marketplace a year ago in Oregon, and they are launching in California early this year. With $18 million raised in total, and $12 million raised in a Series A last April from Poseidon + other investors, Confident Cannabis is in great position to continue gaining market share across the country. Learn how Steve tripled the size of his team in 2019, how they built partnerships and integrations across the industry, and why their initial experience in YC set them up for their success today. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Steve Albarran and Confident Cannabis! Support for this episode comes from NorCal Cannabis Company, the most complete cannabis ecosystem in California. As the number one delivery network in the state, NorCal Cannabis makes more than 2,000 delivery transactions daily. And has the reach to serve 10 million customers - in person - within 60 minutes. This isn’t food delivery....this is cannabis! To learn more, visit: “www.thefutureofcannabis.com” for more details. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On iC News this week, we welcome back FlowerHire CEO David Belsky to the show to share his thoughts on all of today’s hottest topics the trends and in the cannabis industry. Dave and the FH team continue to help build incredible teams for some of the biggest companies in cannabis including, Eaze, Connected, Papa & Barkley, and Flow Kana. While hiring in all industries is difficult, it’s particularly hard in cannabis. This week, Dave and Brandon dive into MJ Biz conference wrap-up, another review of “Vapegate”, continued layoffs and stock crashes in cannabis, and what they are most excited for in 2020. Learn more from Dave, who’s on the ground floor everyday and hear more of his thoughts on the biggest topics in cannabis! Tune in, listen up, and get reacquainted with Dave and another episode of iC News! Support for this episode comes from Balanced Advisor. Whether you’re a founder struggling to raise capital + run your business efficiently, or you’re an investor looking where to place capital, we’re here to help. Reach out to us with your problems, and we’ll help you find a solution! www.BalancedAdvisor.com Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s episode, Brandon welcomes the amazing Andrea Brooks of Sava to the show! Andrea is the CEO of Sava, one of the best run delivery companies in the cannabis industry. Andrea came from the nonprofit world and had experience with a personal injury that also led her on the path to cannabis. Based in SF, Andrea and her team have built an awesome customer experience on very little capital from investors like Big Rock and Founders Fund. Sava is now raising a new $2.5 million round to expand across California! Andrea and Brandon also dive into the continued impact of the black market, widespread industry layoffs, and what it’s like raising money as a women in cannabis. Learn how Andrea and her team built a sustainable, successful delivery business in one of the most difficult business climates, California cannabis. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Andrea of Sava! Support for this episode comes from Balanced Advisor. Whether you’re a founder struggling to raise capital + run your business efficiently, or you’re an investor looking where to place capital, we’re here to help. Reach out to us with your problems, and we’ll help you find a solution! www.BalancedAdvisor.com Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On iC this week, Ophelia Chong of StockPot Images and Green Sky Strategy joins iC news to discuss all the major topics in cannabis. With a deep marketing + design background, Ophelia is a wealth of knowledge with years of experience in the cannabis space. She’s worked with brands across the board including Cannadips, Wildflower, Joynt, and many more. Not only is Ophelia extremely knowledgeable, she’s also pretty hilarious. Brandon and Ophelia dive deep into sobriety in cannabis, what it’s like being an Asian woman in the industry, the effects of the black market, and why the cannabis soccer mom demographic is a myth. Learn from an expert who’s helping turn around cannabis companies daily. We hope you all enjoy and learn something from this episode while you’re at MJ Biz in Vegas this week. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Ophelia and another episode of iC News! Support for this episode comes from Balanced Advisor. Whether you’re a founder struggling to raise capital + run your business efficiently, or you’re an investor looking where to place capital, we’re here to help. Reach out to us with your problems, and we’ll help you find a solution! www.BalancedAdvisor.com Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On this week’s episode, Brandon welcomes long-time friend Seibo Shen to the show! Seibo is the CEO of Hanu Labs and the infamous VapeXhale. Seibo left the tech world to build a better vape for himself and others. His first creation, the VapeXhale, was a huge hit for high-end, sophisticated consumers. But his newest creation, the Hanu Stone, is here to change the portable vape game forever. Brandon and Seibo dive deep into VapeGate 2019, Seibo’s journey from the VapeXhale to the Hanu Stone, and how he balances being a CEO, father, and role model with the increasing competitiveness of the cannabis vape market. With a small team, Seibo built VapeXhale from the ground up, and now he’s doing the same thing with the Hanu Stone. Learn from a founder grinding everyday who’s also incredibly kind, generous, and a true warrior in the industry. If you’re curious at all about vaping, listen to this episode. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Seibo Shen and the Hanu Stone! Support for this episode comes from NorCal Cannabis Company, the most complete cannabis ecosystem in California. As the number one delivery network in the state, NorCal Cannabis makes more than 2,000 delivery transactions daily. And has the reach to serve 10 million customers - in person - within 60 minutes. This isn’t food delivery....this is cannabis! To learn more, visit: “www.thefutureofcannabis.com” for more details. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On iC News this week, our infamous iC producer Erik Frodle joins the show! Erik’s background in finance, means we’re diving into the numbers with this week’s topics. Those topics include: the public cannabis market meltdown, increased layoffs across the cannabis industry, Medmen’s flawed business strategy, why Trulieve is one of the few companies crushing it, Drake’s new “More Life” brand with Canopy, and John Legend partnering with PLUS. Learn about the real #’s in cannabis, how most companies don’t make any PROFITS, and why celebrity brands are more and more prominent in the space. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with our producer Erik and another episode of iC News! Support for this episode comes from NorCal Cannabis Company, the most complete cannabis ecosystem in California. NorCal Cannabis is shaping the industry in new ways, every day. With 12 tons of annual yield, delivered to 10 million Californians in under an hour, a growing network of retail locations, and a living portfolio of brands. THIS is CANNABIS! To learn more, visit: “www.thefutureofcannabis.com” for more details. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

This week on iC, Brandon welcomes good friend and CEO of Vertosa, Ben Larson, to the show! Ben is a former cannabis investor, turned operator, who helps cannabis brands deliver targeted, fast-acting doses to their customers via edibles, beverages, and many other product types. Ben and his small team have already raised a $6 million Series Seed with investors such as WelCan Capital and AFI Capital. In addition, they’ve expanded quickly into the burgeoning CBD space. Learn how Ben shifted from investing in cannabis startups to building his own, why cannabis infusion is best done via emulsion systems, and how to build a true B2B business in cannabis. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Ben and Vertosa! Support for this episode comes from NorCal Cannabis Company, the most complete cannabis ecosystem in California. As the number one delivery network in the state, NorCal Cannabis makes more than 2,000 delivery transactions daily. And has the reach to serve 10 million customers - in person - within 60 minutes. This isn’t food delivery....this is cannabis! To learn more, visit: “www.thefutureofcannabis.com” for more details. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On iC News this week, FlowerHire CEO David Belsky joins the show to share his thoughts on all today’s hottest topics the trends and in the cannabis industry. His working knowledge surrounding hiring and current demographics of the industry help debunk some commonly held beliefs about hiring in cannabis. Dave and the FH squad help build incredible teams for some of the biggest companies in cannabis including, Eaze, Connected, Papa & Barkley, Flow Kana and many more. While hiring in all industries is difficult, it’s particularly hard in cannabis. Dave and Brandon dive into minority + women hiring trends, unemployment, executive placement, the shifting corporate culture in cannabis, and why hiring is the key to building and sustaining a successful cannabis business. Learn from a leader who’s on the ground everyday and hear their thoughts on the biggest topics in cannabis! Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Dave and another episode of iC News! Support for this episode comes from NorCal Cannabis Company, the most complete cannabis ecosystem in California. NorCal Cannabis is shaping the industry in new ways, every day. With 12 tons of annual yield, delivered to 10 million Californians in under an hour, a growing network of retail locations, and a living portfolio of brands. THIS is CANNABIS! To learn more, visit: “www.thefutureofcannabis.com” for more details. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

On iC this week, Brandon sits down with Chris Emerson PhD of Level. Chris and his team have built one of the most interesting and innovative brands in the cannabis industry. Level is a cannabinoid company that focuses on creating targeted effects for consumers using unique + rare cannabinoids. THCA, THCV, CBG, CBN, and CBC are just a few of the unique cannabinoids you will learn about this week. Level recently raised their Series A and they have appx 30 people now on their team as they expand across California. This episode is all about cannabis science, unique cannabinoids and formulations, and how Level is educating consumers around this new product experience. Level is a great example of the evolution of cannabis. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Chris and Level! Support for this episode comes from NorCal Cannabis Company, the most complete cannabis ecosystem in California. Market analysis, consumer segmentation, and first party data analytics are helping NorCal Cannabis shape the industry in new ways, every day. From cultivation to production, delivery, retail, brands and beyond...THIS is CANNABIS! To learn more, visit: “www.thefutureofcannabis.com” for more details. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

This week, marketing guru Betsy Kabaker lends a hand to iC news. Betsy has shaped the marketing and social media strategy for many of our favorite brands including; Garden Society, Somatik, Mighty Health, MJ Lifestyle Magazine, Jetty Extracts, Harvest, and many more. Betsy is particularly good at helping cannabis brands tell their story. Betsy & Brandon get into a heated discussion about how women succeed in cannabis, the pitfalls of cannabis marketing, and the continued corporatization of cannabis. Hear from an expert, who’s entrenched in the industry everyday. Learn how one of the best navigates this crazy industry as a young female. It’s a fascinating perspective we in the investment community don’t hear often enough! Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Betsy and another episode of iC News! Support for this episode comes from NorCal Cannabis Company, the most complete cannabis ecosystem in California. As the number one delivery network in the state, NorCal Cannabis makes more than 2,000 delivery transactions daily. And has the reach to serve 10 million customers - in person - within 60 minutes. This isn’t food delivery....this is cannabis! To learn more, visit: “www.thefutureofcannabis.com” for more details. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

This week, Brandon sits down with Biscotti CEO + cofounder, Luca Andrea Collins, to discuss how he and his team built a premium Italian hash brand in California. With regulations, taxes, and the black market crushing many legal brands, Luca and his team have found their niche focusing on taking high-end indoor flower and creating a beautiful hash experience. After completing their Series A at the end of last year, Biscotti now has over 30 employees helping build their brand across California. Brandon and Luca dive into his background going to Oaksterdam and the Elevate Startup Cannabis Conference, the benefits of cold water hash, and why launching their value brand Tutti was so important to their growth strategy. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Luca and Biscotti! Support for this episode comes from NorCal Cannabis Company, the most complete cannabis ecosystem in California. NorCal Cannabis is shaping the industry in new ways, every day. With 12 tons of annual yield, delivered to 10 million Californians in under an hour, a growing network of retail locations, and a living portfolio of brands. THIS is CANNABIS! To learn more, visit: “www.thefutureofcannabis.com” for more details. Want to Support Independent Cannabis Media? Want to promote your product or service to our audience of decision makers? Email hi@investingincannabis.tv

In this week's special episode, Brandon sits down with Bushl CEO + founder, Josh Bareket, to discuss the world of clean and sustainable craft cannabis. Recent issues with pesticides and vitamin E in vapes have highlighted safety and quality concerns across the industry. Josh saw this issue coming, and created Bushl to help fix the problem. Bushl gives customers a marketplace to buy highly vetted CBD and THC products. With over 25 brands on the platform, Bushl provides customers with a safe space to buy clean, natural, and sustainable cannabis products online. Josh and Brandon also dive into certification standards, Bushl's vetting process, and how to create transparency with their brands. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Bushl! If you're interested in learning more about Bushl and the investment opportunity, their SeedInvest crowdfund is open to everyone. Bushl SeedInvest: http://bit.ly/BUSHLSeedInvest EVERYONE CAN INVEST! ======================== Disclosure Note: This info is solely for informational purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by E&B LLC unless a client agreement is in place. ========================

Welcome to another iC News! There's a plethora of announcements and other news about the cannabis industry, but very little opinion. We've decided to change that. Every 2 weeks, our host Brandon will dive deep into timely topics and give his unvarnished, unfiltered thoughts. And this week he's brought on our first iC News guest, Sam Edwards! Sam is a cannabis expert who has judged Emerald Cups for years, advised + consulted on large-scale grower operations, and now works for a cannabis-focused investment firm. Or in his words, "I've judged the Emerald Cup for 4 years, I've grown acres of cannabis, thousands of pounds, and smoked hundreds of pounds." Topics Discussed This Week: 1) Vapes!!! (again!) 2) Black Market in California 3) Flawed Data in Cannabis We're excited to share our latest iC News with all our fans. We hope you enjoy it! Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted!

In this week’s episode, Brandon interviews Dan Adler-Golden, founder and CEO of Node Labs. Dan and his team are helping cultivators manage their genetics, use micropropagation and tissue culture technology to clean their plants, and supply them with clones when needed. Node Labs and others like them are essential to the cannabis cultivation community. While traditional agriculture has extensive nurseries, cannabis does not. Dan saw this issue from his days running the Chalice Festival, and decided to find a solution. Now Node is becoming the Driscoll’s of cannabis! With a recently acquired genetics company and 2nd facility, Node is currently raising capital to fund their growth. Learn more about the world of cultivation, breeding, clones, and cannabis nurseries in this week’s awesome episode. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted!

Welcome to iC News! There's a plethora of announcements and other news about the cannabis industry, but very little opinion. We've decided to change that. Every 2 weeks, our host Brandon will dive deep into timely topics and give his unvarnished, unfiltered thoughts. Topics Discussed This Week: 1) Vapes!!! We're excited to share iC News with all our fans. We hope you enjoy it! Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted!

In this week’s episode, Brandon sits down with Oliver Higgins, founder and CEO of Higgs. Oliver went to film school before trying to get a license in the newly legal cannabis industry. After difficulties securing a plant-touching license, Oliver remade Higgs into a brand packaging and true cannabis lifestyle brand. By not touching the plant, Oli and his team can focus 100% on building their brand, their brand community + lifestyle and the incredible packaging they’ve created. With a small team, Higgs has captured much of the SoCal market. Now they are looking to raise money with their $1 million seed round, hire a COO, and expand to other states + markets. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with one of the coolest brands and one of our favorite founders in the industry, Oli + Higgs!

Welcome to iC News! There's a plethora of announcements and other news about the cannabis industry, but very little opinion. We've decided to change that. Every 2 weeks, our host Brandon will dive deep into 3-5 timely topics and give his unvarnished, unfiltered thoughts. Topics Discussed This Week: 1) State of California Cannabis Black Market 2) Cannabis Stock Market + Canopy (CGC) + Bruce Linton 3) CBD Hemp Explosion 4) Experiential Cannabis We're excited to share the first iC News with all our fans. We hope you enjoy it! Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted!

This week, Brandon sits down with Mat Fogarty, co-founder and CEO of Can of Bliss. Mat has a previous exit in technology with his former startup Crowdcast, and he spent time at Oaksterdam University learning the cannabis space. With this knowledge, Mat and his team created some of the most innovative flower packaging in the industry, with Can of Bliss. Can of Bliss combines AR technology, scannable QR codes, and terpene scratch & sniff smell technology to enhance the flower packaging + consumer purchasing experience. They relaunched in May 2019, they have a team of 11 based in Oakland, and they’ve raised over $1 million with appx $250K left in their seed round! Flower brand packaging has needed a makeover for some time, and Mat and his team have the talent, the tools, and the passion to help remake this consumer purchasing experience. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Mat and Can of Bliss!

In this week's episode, Brandon welcomes Socrates Rosenfeld, co-founder and CEO of iHeartJane, to the show. Socrates was in the Army flying Apache helicopters before going to MIT(where he met his co-founders), and they started iHeartJane in 2016. iHeartJane is the largest e-commerce marketplace for online cannabis purchasing. They power dispensaries by helping them offer e-commerce shopping for their customers. They must be doing something right, because just 2 weeks ago they raised $21 million from Gotham Green and other investors in their Series B! This follows a $6 million Series A capital raise in October 2018. Socrates and his team are now well positioned and well capitalized to win the MSO's, scale nationally, and bring real e-commerce tools to millions of cannabis customers. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Socrates and iHeartJane!

On this week's episode, Brandon sits down with Nico Richardson of AFI Capital Partners to discuss the world of cannabis investing. Nico has quite the investing background with experience at Deutsche Bank and the renowned cannabis firm Privateer Holdings. With those skills and experience under his belt, Nico and his partner Chi-Chien Hou started AFI Capital and have invested in Headset, Treez, Vangst, and many other top cannabis companies. Whether it's plant touching or not, AFI has investment opportunities across the industry. Learn how Nico used his experience to launch his own firm, how AFI uses side cars, their creative investment structures, and what it was like raising his first fund. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Nico Richardson of AFI Capital!

In this awesome new episode, Brandon heads to NorCal Cannabis to interview their President, Jigar Patel. Jigar and his team have raised over $76 million so far to fund their large scale cultivation, delivery network, and overall vertical integration. Brandon and Jigar dive into the difficulty of scaling efficiently, hiring quickly, and how Jigar's role has shifted as NorCal has grown. Learn from one of the largest operators in California and one of the coolest executives in cannabis today. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Jigar and NorCal Cannabis!

In this investing heavy episode, Brandon chats with Mitch Baruchowitz of Merida Capital. Mitch and his team have deployed over $80 million in the last 18 months! With investments like KushCo, New Frontier, and Canndescent, Merida has become one of the top investors (PE or VC) in the cannabis space. Mitch and Brandon dive into how raising their 3rd fund is different than the first one, his daily use of Twitter, and why treating people well is foundational to building a successful fund. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with Mitch of Merida Capital! Special thanks to Heffernan Insurance Brokers for supporting independent media. Learn how to protect your growing business with a completely free conversation with Marshall or Tanner! Email them directly at iC@Heffins.com.

In this delightful new episode, Brandon sits down to interview CEO John Oram of NUG. NUG is a vertically integrated SSO in California. With enormous on-site cultivation, processing, co-packing, and their new flagship retail experience in Sacramento this company is one of the best run operations in the cannabis industry. Learn how John’s experience building CW Analytical lead him to NUG, how John built NUG’s internal software, and why raising capital has changed drastically since John entered cannabis. Tune in, listen up, and get acquainted with NUG!