Seed to CEO - Pod.casts

Winning Licenses: How One Industry Pro Used Storytelling As Strategy

December 02, 2021 16:19 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MB

Sara Gullickson didn’t have much business experience of any sort when she got the chance to buy DispensaryPermits.com. She jumped at the opportunity, working and learning furiously to build it into a successful cannabis consultancy. But when an industry big shot told her no one would want to buy what she had built, she doubted herself - but only briefly. She ultimately sold that firm for an enviable sum. Today, she’s back in the cannabis industry with a new boutique consulting firm, The Cann...

Decontaminate This: Willow Industries' Plan to Make Dirty Cannabis Obsolete

November 18, 2021 17:05 - 41 minutes - 56.3 MB

When Jill Ellsworth, founder and CEO of Willow Industries in Denver, looked to bring her food and beverage safety knowledge to this new industry, she noticed a huge gap in the process of getting safe, clean cannabis to consumers: a “kill step” to eradicate pathogens. Legalization might be spreading rapidly, but testing is still trying to catch up – and the lack of regulations at the time Jill launched Willow required the creation of such a step. In this episode, Jill talks about how initial ...

Private vs. Public: How Harborside Navigated New Challenges

November 11, 2021 18:07 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MB

Oakland, California-based Harborside is one of the oldest cannabis dispensaries in the U.S. But when the company went public a few years ago, it had to adapt to some new challenges – and new challengers. In 2020, for example, a group of disgruntled shareholders challenged leadership and ultimately overturned the board of directors. In this episode, Matt Hawkins, Harborside’s chair and interim CEO, talks about how the company faced the new challenges and laid the groundwork for future growth....

Quick Pivots: How One Arizona Operator Went from Med to Rec in 3 Days

November 04, 2021 16:22 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MB

Lilach Mazor Power, CEO of the Giving Tree Dispensary in Arizona, launched a vertically integrated medical marijuana operation in 2012, successfully navigating a market beset with strict rules and hostile politicians. And then, when voters legalized adult-use cannabis in the 2020 election, Lilach thought she’d have time to prepare for the transition. Arizona had other ideas. In this episode, Lilach talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about: How she pivoted her operations from medical to recr...

Consumers & Cannabinoids: How Tracking Trends can Keep Extractors Ahead

October 28, 2021 19:18 - 43 minutes - 59.9 MB

After investing in and launching several cannabis companies, Jim Makoso took time during the COVID-19 pandemic to reflect on where he next wanted to turn his focus. The result? Flowe Technologies, a platform and system for researching and developing CPG products in cannabis. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Jim talks about why he left a promising career in finance for the riskier marijuana industry and how his experience has led him to what he sees as the “future of cannabis products.” Jim ...

Voices of the Industry: A Special Seed to CEO featuring Speakers from MJBizCon

October 22, 2021 00:16 - 26 minutes - 36.6 MB

The cannabis industry got the band back together this week! MJBizCon 2021 met together in person in Las Vegas for the first time since 2019. In this special episode, we share insights from featured event speakers who previously appeared on our show, including: Chris Ball, CEO, Ball Family Farms Berner, CEO, Cookies (Due to his cancer diagnosis, Berner was unable to appear at the event but still appears in this episode.) Nancy Whiteman, CEO, Wana Brands Denise Mink, owner, Med Pharm ...

Simply Pot & Politics: How Social Activism Aided Wanda James' Cannabis Success

October 14, 2021 17:25 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MB

After her brother was arrested and given a 10-year sentence for cannabis possession, Wanda James knew she had a mission. She opened her first Colorado dispensary with her husband in 2009 to help advance social justice and provide medicine to those in need. Today, James and her husband own and operate Simply Pure - “America’s most political dispensary” - in Denver. In this episode, Wanda shares her insights on: How staying true to your values can benefit a business’ bottom line. Why it’s...

Marketing Mixer: How a Quest for Answers Resulted in a New Cannabis Association

October 07, 2021 16:00 - 41 minutes - 57.6 MB

When marketing maven Lisa Buffo broke into the marijuana industry in 2014, she had lots of questions concerning compliance, regulations and other issues, but there was no place for a cannabis marketing professional to find an answer. So she created that place herself, nurturing a series of marijuana marketing meetings that became the Cannabis Marketing Association. Today, the organization has nine “communities” across the nation and a growing membership. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Lis...

From Grub to Greens: Why Dutchie Took Cannabis Ordering Online

September 30, 2021 16:12 - 44 minutes - 61.5 MB

Ross Lipson had built and sold his second online food-ordering company by the time he was 25, but when he decided to launch a B2B online ordering platform for cannabis - Bend, Oregon-based Dutchie - he jettisoned his previous experience, saying it’s better to start with a “fresh slate” because cannabis is so different. The philosophy paid off. Today, Dutchie serves roughly 4,500 businesses in every legal U.S. market and Canada. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Ross talks with MJBiz CEO Chri...

Elev8ed Entrepreneurship: How to Build the Green American Dream

September 23, 2021 16:00 - 43 minutes - 59.8 MB

Starting a cannabis retail business with only $50,000 may seem impossible, but that’s how Seun Adedeji got his start in the Oregon adult-use market at just 23. Today, the 28-year-old's Elev8 Cannabis has locations on both coasts (Oregon and Massachusetts) and plans for further expansion. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Seun talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about how he leveraged lessons from some early foibles to become one of the most successful young entrepreneurs in the U.S. cannabis indu...

Phenotypes & Partnerships: How Cookies Became an International Brand

September 16, 2021 16:01 - 38 minutes - 52.7 MB

While cannabis brand Cookies started modestly in a garage in San Francisco, today it is a global empire, with a presence in 11 U.S. states and three countries (with two more on the way) and selling more than co-founder Berner could have ever imagined. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Berner talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about how he built Cookies into one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Berner shares: How integrated social media and noncannabis products, such as clothing, ...

Regenerative Rewards: Low-Cost Cannabis Farming with High Returns

September 09, 2021 06:33 - 38 minutes - 52.6 MB

Karla Avila and Jacob Johnson started Flowerdaze Farm in California’s famed Emerald Triangle with a focus on farming cannabis sustainably with as small of a carbon footprint as possible. Today, their small farm produces 200-300 pounds of craft cannabis annually, selling for up to $1,500 per pound. But thanks to their regenerative farming techniques, their costs are extraordinarily low. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Karla and Jacob share: How to be both a regenerative and profitable farm...

Unlocking Cannabis: The Business Case for a Science Focus

September 02, 2021 15:40 - 42 minutes - 57.9 MB

Albert Gutierrez launched MedPharm in 2017 with visions of building a scientifically focused company to help patients and consumers by providing hard evidence about marijuana’s medical benefits. Today, MedPharm has a diverse line of wellness cannabis products, patents, partnerships and a DEA license to cultivate cannabis for research. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Albert talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about how MedPharm accomplished all this and where the Denver-based company plans to go...

Higher Learning: How Oaksterdam University Pioneered Cannabis Education

August 26, 2021 15:00 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MB

Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California, is a pioneer in cannabis education whose legacy is being the blueprint for many cannabis study programs started by other academic institutions. Since its founding, Oaksterdam has faced federal raids, a fire at its main campus and a global pandemic. Dale Sky Jones, executive chancellor, president and CEO of Oaksterdam, calls such tough times “fertilizer for innovation.” In this episode of Seed to CEO, Dale talks about how she navigated the “poop...

Good Chemistry: How to Extract CBD Success

August 19, 2021 16:05 - 42 minutes - 58.3 MB

When Dr. Priyanka Sharma’s father’s chemical engineering company in Illinois kept getting phone calls asking if it performed industrial hemp extraction, she flew to Colorado to learn more about the ascendant CBD industry. They were floored by how many consumers said they used CBD and other cannabinoids for wellness and saw a huge opportunity. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Priyanka talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about how Kazmira – the company she and her husband founded and now serve as ...

From Here to There: What's Next for Cannabis Industry Veteran Kris Krane

August 12, 2021 15:44 - 41 minutes - 56.4 MB

Before it became one of the biggest multistate operators in the United States, 4Front Ventures was a consulting firm, 4Front Advisors. But change in the cannabis industry coupled with frustration over collecting fees led Kris Krane and his colleagues to change direction. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Kris talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about the ups and downs of the decision – and what’s next as he steps away from 4Front’s day-to-day operations. Kris shares: How his team plugged the k...

Consultant to MSO to Exit: An Industry Pioneer’s Cannabis Journey

August 12, 2021 15:44 - 41 minutes - 56.4 MB

Before it became one of the biggest multistate operators in the United States, 4Front Ventures was a consulting firm, 4Front Advisors. But change in the cannabis industry coupled with frustration over collecting fees led Kris Krane and his colleagues to change direction. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Kris talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about the ups and downs of the decision – and what’s next as he steps away from 4Front’s day-to-day operations. Kris shares: How his team plugged the k...

Smooth Sailing: Navigating the Sea of Cannabis Investing

August 05, 2021 15:48 - 40 minutes - 55.9 MB

In the early days of legal cannabis, when rules and markets were still being figured out, siblings Emily and Morgan Paxhia saw a tremendous investment opportunity – if they could navigate the incredible risks that come with an emerging sector. In this episode of Seed to CEO, the Paxhia siblings share their journey from idea to successful investment firm and where they think the road ahead is leading. They talk about: What it takes to launch a cannabis investment firm. The elements that ...

Out of Thin Ayr: How to Make Money in Cannabis in Three Short Years

July 29, 2021 16:00 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, Ayr Wellness’ Jonathan Sandelman floats tips and insights for building a national MSO. Jonathan talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about his ambitious goal - being the largest-scale producer of high-quality flower - and how he plans to achieve it. Jonathan shares his insights on: Where he sees the best and biggest opportunities for the industry. How Ayr has managed to become cash-flow positive in less than three years while many other firms are still strugg...

Growing Off Grid: How to Build a Sustainable Cannabis Cultivation Facility

July 22, 2021 15:41 - 40 minutes - 55.1 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, Edward Dow, CEO of Massachusetts-based Solar Therapeutics, talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about how he built his “island microgrid” to support his cannabis company’s sustainability strategy - from unexpected expenses and pitfalls to the creation of a scalable, repeatable model for new markets. Ed shares: The real costs of building his vision for a fully off-grid facility and how that compared to staying on the traditional grid. His unconventional path t...

Consumption Lounge Conundrum: Bringing Cannabis Events to Light

July 15, 2021 15:58 - 42 minutes - 58.4 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, Vladimir Bautista, the co-founder and managing member of Happy Munkey, a New York City cannabis event company, talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about his plans to parlay 20-plus years of legacy cannabis experience into a legal multistate marijuana hospitality business. Bautista shares: How he built an international following for his brand even before being licensed in his home state. Why he sees consumption lounges and events as a critical piece of creati...

Sweet and Sour: Building an Edibles Empire

July 08, 2021 15:57 - 41 minutes - 57 MB

Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Colorado-based Wana Brands, has been called the “Martha Stewart of Edibles” by Entrepreneur magazine, but her path to becoming the “Queen of Legal Weed” (Inc. Magazine) hasn’t always been easy. In this episode of Seed to CEO, Nancy talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about how she helped grow Wana Brands from a bootstrapped grassroots cannabis food manufacturer into an edibles empire across North America. She shares: How partnerships with other cannabis companies play ...

From 1 to 100: How to Successfully Scale a Cannabis Operation

June 24, 2021 16:00 - 42 minutes - 58 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, Nicholas Vita, the CEO of Columbia Care, shares with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh how he started in the cannabis industry with a mom-and-pop dispensary in Washington DC and now heads one of the biggest cannabis companies in the United States, present in 18 states and abroad. He’ll share: The importance of learning from the mistakes made along the way. How the company picked and won new markets. How he helped build a company that would attract investor capital ...

Chasing Cannabis Magic with Jim Belushi

June 17, 2021 15:41 - 40 minutes - 55.7 MB

For many celebrities, being involved in cannabis means lending their names and personalities to another business for marketing purposes. Not so for Jim Belushi. Instead Jim purchased 93 acres of land in southern Oregon to start his own grow, where he’s involved at every step of the process. In this episode, Jim speaks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about: Why his focus is on the “magic” of cannabis and not just the money (even though he does try to break even). His reasons for transitioning...

Clueless in Cannabis: An Oklahoma Dispensary Success Story

June 10, 2021 16:00 - 39 minutes - 54 MB

When Oklahoma flung open the doors to its medical cannabis industry, Denise Mink thought it would be a good opportunity to “semi-retire” by opening a dispensary with her husband. But things didn’t go quite as planned. In this episode, Denise reveals to MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh some of the lessons she learned while trying to get Med Pharm off the ground. Denise shares: How her lack of experience led to costly inventory mistakes. How she and her husband dealt with pushback from the community...

Is Less More? The Low-THC/High-CBD Cannabis Cultivation Strategy

June 03, 2021 16:00 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MB

At a time when much of the cannabis industry is focused on elevating THC levels to new heights, East Fork Cultivars has taken a different tack. In this episode of Seed to CEO, East Fork CEO Mason Walker talks with MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh about the mission behind the strategy and what he sees as the future of cannabis. Mason shares: Why he believes low-THC cannabis will be a big part of the industry’s future. Insights on the potential benefits of sun-grown cannabis at all levels of the ind...

Distilling a Disrupter: The Highway Vodka Story

May 27, 2021 16:00 - 41 minutes - 56.5 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh talks with Highway Vodka co-founder Ben Williams about his journey from a hobbyist distiller to an industry disrupter, thanks to his vodka made with hempseed. After years of experimentation – and a hint of laziness – Ben and his partner came up with the "perfect recipe" to make a splash in an established and crowded industry. His story also highlights a novel way to tap into the cannabis industry outside the obvious routes. Who is B...

How to Increase Your Market Presence

May 20, 2021 15:10 - 42 minutes - 58.3 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh talks with Sozo Companies' Kristi Kelly about why community involvement is a key piece of her business' success strategy. Kristi shares tips on how marijuana executives can create and execute these strategies and how community involvement gains currency with customers and neighbors. Who is Kristi Kelly? Kristi Kelly is a cannabis industry pioneer currently blazing trails as the chief strategy and government affairs officer at Sozo Com...

Inside the Investing Mind

May 13, 2021 16:00 - 43 minutes - 26.2 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh taps into the brain of Tuatara Capital's Al Foreman to gain insights on what cannabis investors are really looking for in investment targets. Al shares what he's learned about the cannabis industry over the last seven years and where he sees the best opportunities ahead. He also provides direction for cannabis entrepreneurs looking to get a piece of the investment pie. Who is Al Foreman? Al has more than 20 years of professional exp...

Illicit Roots: How to Grow Into the Legal Market

May 06, 2021 16:00 - 46 minutes - 36.3 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, Chris Ball shares his experience with transitioning from a very lucrative illicit market operator to a very successful legal licensee. He talks about how he leveraged his legacy experience and network, what types of know-how he needed to hire to complement his legacy experience and how he brought his illegal operation up to legal norms and the challenges of financing the project. Now that Ball is thriving in Southern California, he’s looking to expand. Who i...

Small Biz Survivor

April 29, 2021 17:07 - 39 minutes - 29.3 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, James Lathrop talks about opening Cannabis City, Seattle’s first recreational marijuana retailer, in 2014. By winning Seattle’s first license, Lathrop enjoyed a major first-mover advantage, but a brutal location, inventory management troubles & soul-sapping regulations all bedeviled Cannabis City. But they couldn’t kill it - and now Lathrop has plans to expand. Who is James Lathrop? Lathrop is a U.S. Army veteran and a doctor of nursing practice who spent ...

Retail Re-invigoration: Conquering California

April 22, 2021 18:09 - 36 minutes - 29.9 MB

In this episode of Seed to CEO, Margot Micallef shares how she launched Gaby as primarily a product company only to have a tough time getting those products onto dispensary shelves. Micallef’s solution was to pivot toward building the biggest retail store brand in California through acquisitions and openings. Her goal: to have 100 stores in the next three to five years, and Micallef explains how she plans to get there. Who is Margot Micallef? Margot Micallef is the CEO of Gaby, a mul...

Marijuana Business Daily Podcast

March 29, 2021 17:10 - 8 seconds - 461 KB

This is the Marijuana Business Daily Podcast Trailer. Episodes launching SOON!