Entourage Effect Capital | Matt Hawkins | 2024 Preview
"Reshaping Cannabis: Predictions and Potentials for 2024"Dan welcomes back Matt Hawkins, the co-founder of Entourage Effect Capital. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by the cannabis industry in 2023, marked by limited investment capital, portfolio management struggles, and fundraising difficulties, impacting both private and public sectors.Hawkins discusses the impact of rescheduling cannabis, highlighting its potential to eliminate tax burdens under Section 280E, potentially leading to substantial financial gains for businesses. They also explore the upcoming opportunities in 2024, including the launch of a new fund by Entourage Effect Capital with a substantial institutional investor committing a significant investment, which could reshape the landscape for investing in the cannabis space. The discussion emphasizes the potential changes in legislation and the prospects for investment in both private and public cannabis companies.The conversation ends on an optimistic note, focusing on the potential for growth and investment opportunities in the cannabis industry in the upcoming year. Matt Hawkins - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-hawkins-11288a2/Entourage Effect Capital - https://www.entourageeffect.com/ 00:00:05 - EBITDA and Profitability Discussion00:00:38 - Introduction to Raising Cannabis Capital Show00:00:50 - Guest Introduction: Matt Hawkins00:01:41 - Rating the Cannabis Industry Growth in 202300:02:11 - Investment Challenges in the Cannabis Industry00:03:17 - Impact of the Macro Economy on Cannabis00:04:03 - Legislative Optimism for 202400:04:25 - Excitement for Rescheduling and New Fund Launch00:05:47 - Institutional Investor Involvement00:06:45 - Impact of Rescheduling on Cannabis Businesses00:09:08 - Investment Opportunities in Cannabis Stocks00:09:32 - Private Company Investments and 280E00:10:06 - Opportunities in Fund4 for Investors00:10:49 - Accredited and Qualified Investors00:11:00 - Timing for Investment with Institutional Partner00:11:27 - Federal Legality and Institutional Capital00:12:42 - Closing Remarks and Future Discussions Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/humiston/Sound Design - Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/
Delta Emerald | Ian Dominguez
"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.Ian highlights that such a change could attract more capital into the industry, similar to how states with legalized cannabis are already functioning to some extent. However, he cautions against assuming an immediate windfall, drawing parallels to historical instances where sudden profitability led to frivolous spending and discounting.He emphasizes the need for technology in the cannabis sector, especially for operators facing increasing competition and the necessity to drive costs down. Ian sees significant potential in technological advancements to help operators improve efficiencies and remain competitive. He points out that while Multi-State Operators (MSOs) usually get attention, smaller, independent operators also drive innovation in cannabis retail.Regarding investment opportunities in the cannabis industry, Ian suggests that individual retail investors can benefit from learning and networking within the industry but advises against navigating it alone. He emphasizes the value of collective learning and sharing information. Ian invites people to explore their newsletter and events for insights and learning opportunities.Produced by PodConxMJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humistonIan Dominguez -https://www.linkedin.com/in/iancdominguez/Delta Emerald Ventures - https://www.deltaemerald.com/Sound Design - Jamie HumistonRecorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/ Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/humiston/Sound Design - Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/
Story Cannabis | Jason Vedadi
"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 PodConxMJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humistonStory Cannabis - https://storycannabis.com/Jason Vedadi - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-vedadi-949979159/Sound Design - Jamie HumistonRecorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/ Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/humiston/Sound Design - Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/
Rank Really High | Dan Mondello
Cracking the Cannabis Advertising CodeDan Mondello, the Co-founder and CEO of Rank Really High, joins Dan Humiston to discuss how his company helps cannabis businesses maximize their website's visibility and conversions. They explore the challenges faced by cannabis companies when it comes to being online, such as advertising restrictions due to regulations, stigma, and nuances in the industry. Dan explains the difficulties associated with online advertising in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the limitations imposed by companies like Google due to cannabis's classification alongside dangerous products. He describes the process of running ads for dispensaries and the need for creative language in advertisements.The discussion then shifts to website optimization and ranking high on Google searches. Dan highlights the importance of local search and the Google Business Profile in attracting customers. He emphasizes the need for e-commerce-focused, immersive website experiences to engage and retain visitors. They also discuss the significance of offering deals and recommendations on websites to drive more traffic and improve search engine rankings.The conversation delves into the technical aspects of website building, with Dan explaining that Rank Really High offers a WordPress-based platform-as-a-service solution that integrates with dispensaries' POS systems and publishes inventory, giving them an advantage in search engine rankings.Towards the end, the Dan asks about investment opportunities in Rank Really High, and Dan mentions that they recently closed a funding round with investors from the automotive and cannabis industries. He suggests that there might be future investment opportunities but highlights the importance of choosing the right investors who understand the company's goals and potential.Overall, the podcast episode explores the challenges and solutions related to online visibility and website optimization for cannabis businesses, with a focus on Rank Really High's approach and success in the industry.Produced by PodConxMJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humistonDan Mondello - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-mondello-marketing/Rank Really High - https://www.rankreallyhigh.com/Sound Design - Jamie HumistonRecorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/ Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/humiston/Sound Design - Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/
MariMed | Jon Levine
"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 PodConxMJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humistonMariMed -https://marimedinc.com/Jon Levine - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-levine-85550a9/Sound Design - Jamie HumistonRecorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/ Produced by PodConx MJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/humiston/Sound Design - Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/