The podcast episode features Matt Hawkins, co-founder of Entourage Effect Capital, discussing the challenging landscape of the cannabis industry in 2023, marked by financial struggles and limited investment capital. Hawkins highlights the potential impact of rescheduling cannabis, particularly the elimination of tax burdens, and discusses the upcoming opportunities in 2024, including the launch of a new fund with a substantial institutional investor. The conversation ends optimistically, focusing on the potential growth and investment prospects in the cannabis industry in the coming year.

"From Schedule I to III: How Cannabis Regulatory Changes Could Reshape Investment Landscape" Ian Dominguez, the founder and chief investment officer at Delta Emerald Ventures, joins Dan Humiston to discuss cannabis industry investments and the potential impact of regulatory changes on the market. The conversation focuses on the shift from cannabis being classified as a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance and its potential implications. Produced by PodConx

"From Maryland to Ohio: Story Cannabis' Expanding Footprint" Jason Vedadi, CEO of Story Cannabis, joins Dan Humiston to discuss the company's impressive growth in the cannabis industry. Story Cannabis is a young company rapidly expanding in the MSO (Multi-State Operator) space, operating in Maryland, Ohio, and planning to enter New Jersey. Jason highlighted their focus on winning licenses, potential benefits from cannabis rescheduling, and their ongoing capital-raising efforts for expansion. Produced by PodConx

Cracking the Cannabis Advertising Code Dan Mondello, the CEO of Rank Really High, discusses how his company helps cannabis businesses overcome online advertising challenges. They cover the limitations stemming from cannabis's classification alongside dangerous products and the importance of creative language in advertising. Dan also highlights the significance of local search, e-commerce-focused website experiences, and the potential for investment opportunities in Rank Really High. Produced by PodConx

"MRMD: The Undervalued Cannabis Stock with 14 Consecutive Growth Quarters" Jon Levine, CEO of MariMed joins Dan Humiston to discusses the evolution of MariMed from a cannabis advising company into one of the industry's leading multi-state operators. The company's strategic plan involves rolling up partners, expanding organically in current states, and exploring opportunities in new markets. They also touch upon the potential impacts of cannabis rescheduling from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, and how MariMed's conservative financial approach has led to 14 consecutive quarters of growth. John provides insights into their growth strategies and their stock symbol, MRMD. He emphasizes the importance of responsible growth in the cannabis industry. Produced by PodConx

"From Immigrant to Cannabis Mogul: A Story of Resilience and Impact" Annu Khot, the founder of Sociale, a cannabis dispensary in Chicago, shares her inspirational journey, highlighting how she raised capital in the challenging cannabis industry and opened a dispensary with a focus on promoting diversity and social equity. She joins Dan Humiston to emphasize her immigrant experience and commitment to giving back to the community. Despite facing numerous challenges and conducting extensive outreach to secure investments, her passion and belief in impact investing ultimately led to success. She also discusses her dispensary's recent opening and expansion plans, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and education in the cannabis industry. Produced by PodConx

"Optimizing Cannabis Quality and Longevity with TerpLoc Packaging" Jack Grover, the co-founder and CEO of Grove Bags joins Dan Humiston to explains how their innovative packaging system, TerpLoc is revolutionizing the cannabis industry by creating a controlled microclimate to optimize the curing and preservation of cannabis products. He discusses the evolution of the cannabis industry and its need for long-term viability, and he shares insights into the company's future plans, including sustainable packaging materials and continued growth. Grove Bag plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of cannabis products and is poised to thrive as the industry matures. Produced by PodConx

"Investing in Cannabis: The Innovative 'Spark Tank' Gary George, the founder of the Real Cannabis Entrepreneur Conference joins Dan Humiston. to shares how he started the conference out of personal necessity after finding a gap in the cannabis event space. He wanted to provide attendees with practical, real-time insights and actionable information from industry experts who are actively involved in the cannabis business. Gary discusses the unique "Spark Tank" segment of his conference, where cannabis entrepreneurs pitch their businesses, and attendees can invest in real-time through crowdfunding. He emphasizes the importance of curating vendors that align with the audience's interests and ensuring sponsors receive a strong return on investment. The conference is scheduled for October 5th and 6th at the Doubletree in Newark, New Jersey, with a focus on networking and bringing together key players in the cannabis industry. Produced by PodConx

"Cannabis Funding in Flux: Strategies for Success in Today's Market" Raising capital in the cannabis industry is challenging, CEO Paul Weiss, of Paper Planes is back for Part 2 of his interview with Dan Humiston. In this episode he highlights the current dry spell in funding, emphasizing the importance of realistic expectations and responsible growth strategies. Weiss also shares insights into managing a diverse cap table and the benefits of maintaining tight control over capital, emphasizing the need for disciplined financial management in the cannabis space. Produced by PodConx

"From Investor to Operator: Navigating the Cannabis Industry's Unique Challenges" Paul Weiss, CEO of Paper Planes joins Dan Humiston to discuss his unique position as both a cannabis investor and operator, emphasizing the importance of having control of a brand in the ever-changing cannabis industry. He also highlights Paper Planes' focus on quality, consistency, and competitive pricing in their products, and their ongoing search for the right institutional capital partner to support their growth. Paul expresses gratitude for the podcast's contribution to the industry and looks forward to future conversations. Produced by PodConx

"Revolutionizing Cannabis Cone Manufacturing: From Shortage to 100 Million Cones a Month" Bryan Gerber, CEO of Hara Supply, joins Dan Humiston to discuss the success of his cone manufacturing business. In response to a cone shortage, Hara Supplies established facilities in India, earning various certifications and producing high-quality, clean-room cones. With remarkable growth, the company now manufactures around 100 million cones a month, capturing a significant market share and eyeing potential strategic partnerships in the future. Produced by PodConx

"From Self-Funded Success to Consistent Quality: The Gelato Canna Co. Story" George Sadler, co-founder and CEO of Gelato Canna Co., joins Dan Humiston to discuss his background, his previous cannabis business win and the success of Gelato. The company has a family-driven ethos and prides itself on maintaining consistent, high-quality products. Despite rumors of outside funding, Gelato remains self-funded and values its self-sufficient growth. Produced by PodConx

"Utilizing Data-Driven Decisions for Raising Capital in the Cannabis Industry" Lara Fordis, founder of Fortis Consulting, joins Dan Humiston to discuss how cannabis companies can utilize data-driven decisions to raise capital successfully. She emphasizes the importance of vetting data sources and avoiding skewed data to avoid misrepresentation. For investors, Laura recommends seeking a second set of eyes to validate data presented in pitch decks to ensure reliability and credibility. Produced by PodConx

"Unlocking the Power of Cannabis Testing: Ensuring Safety and Quality in the Industry" Christopher Altomare, the CEO of Nova Analytic Labs, discusses the importance of testing in the cannabis industry. He highlights the risks associated with untested cannabis, such as exposure to pesticides and unknown health impacts. Chris also shares insights with Dan Humiston into Nova Analytic Labs' advancements in terpene testing and their plans for expansion into new markets, starting with New York. Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capital Dan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humiston NOVA Analytic Labs - https://nova-analyticlabs.com/ Christopher Altomare - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-altomare-33030654/ Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/

Revolutionizing Cannabis Rolling Papers: Unveiling a 400-Year Legacy of Quality and Innovation Alex Boone, the managing director at Botani, discusses the history and expertise of his parent company, which has been involved in paper making for over 400 years. Botani focuses on providing premium botanical hemp and hemp rolling papers to the cannabis industry, offering lightweight rolling papers and hemp wraps that enhance the smoking experience. He joins Dan Humiston to talk about working with B2B customers, including white label converters and brand owners, providing them with sustainable solutions and helping them navigate the process of starting a brand in the cannabis market. Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capital Dan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humiston Alex Boone - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-boone-1b2a8b13/ Botani - https://botani.com/ SWM International & Neenah, Inc. recently combined to become Mativ (NYSE: MATV) Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/

Revolutionizing Joint Rolling: The Story of an Innovative Machine Kyle Loucks, the CEO of Roll Pros, joins Dan Humiston to discuss his journey of creating a machine that automates the process of rolling joints. He shares how he was inspired by his college days and the need for a solution to the inefficient process of hand-rolling joints. With 85 machines already in the market, Kyle talks about the success of Roll Pros and potential opportunities for growth and investment in the future. Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capital Dan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humiston RollPros - https://rollpros.com/ Kyle Loucks - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleloucks/ Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the Cannabis Industry: A Journey Towards Funding Success Kyra Reed, the founder of Women Employed in Cannabis, joins Dan Humiston to discuss her organization's shift in focus from education and networking to fundraising for women in the cannabis industry. Recognizing the funding gap for women-led businesses, she partnered with the Panther Group to create "The Roadmap to Funding," a comprehensive guide for securing funding. They also launched a Mentoring Program that follows the guide's chapters, providing support and guidance to women entrepreneurs throughout the fundraising process. Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capital Dan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humiston Kyra Reed - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyrareed/ The Panther Group - https://thepanthergroup.co/ Mentoring Program - https://hopin.com/events/roadmaptofunding/registration The Roadmap to Funding - https://thepanthergroup.co/roadmaptofunding/ WEiC - https://womenemployedincannabis.com/ Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/

The Importance of Cannabis Insurance Brokers: Expertise, Advocacy, and Transparency Eric Schneider, the managing director at Alpha Ru, discusses the importance of having a broker when obtaining insurance for cannabis companies. He highlights the specialized nature of the industry, the need for brokers with expertise in cannabis, and the role of brokers as advocates for their clients. Schneider emphasizes transparency, storytelling, and the value of broker relationships with insurance companies. He also mentions that Alpha Ru was acquired by Baldwin Risk Partners and clarifies that they are not currently raising capital. Alpharoot - https://alpharoot.com/ Eric Schneider - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericschneider5690/ Baldwin Risk Partners - https://baldwinriskpartners.com/

"Missouri's Smooth Entry into the Cannabis Market" Nicholas Rinella, the CEO of Hippos Cannabis, a Missouri-based vertically integrated cannabis company joins Dan Humiston to provide Missouri cannabis market insight. He talks about Hippos Cannabis' production facility in Vienna, Missouri, and three dispensaries across the state. He also discussed the benefits of being located in The Ozarks and their plan expansion plans. Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capital Dan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humiston Hippos Cannabis - https://hipposcannabis.com/ Nicholas Rinella - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasrinella/ Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/