Judges for Investor Pitch Competition
Speakers Listed Alphabetically by First Name
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Adam Levin - Executive Chairman, HIGH TIMES
Adam Levin is the founder of Hightimes Holding and has served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, since its inception in December 2016. In March, 2017, Mr. Levin led the acquisition of Trans-High Corporation and has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Hightimes Group since March 2017. He brings over 15 years of leadership experience running Internet-based technology and e-commerce companies to his role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Levin has been Managing Director of Oreva Capital Corp, since September 2016 and for five years prior to that was the Managing Director of Vert Capital Corp where he oversaw the day to day operations of the firm and led the acquisition of a number of companies. He has extensive experience in the fields of mobile, social networking, entertainment as well as venture capital and merger and acquisition strategies. Mr. Levin has been a featured speaker at CES, MIPTV, MONY Conference, CTIA, Wireless Influencers, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The NY Times, Fortune, Bloomberg and Entrepreneur Magazine. He has appeared on CNN, NPR, MSNBC, HBO and Fox News. Mr. Levin also served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Bebo.com, Inc., a social networking and content website, from 2010 to 2012. Bebo.com, Inc., filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in May 2013. Mr. Levin was an officer of Bebo within the two-year period prior to the filing of the Chapter 11 petition but had resigned as an officer and director prior to such filing. Mr. Levin currently serves as chairman of the board of directors of Barington/Hilco Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition corporation, is a member of the board of directors of Pride Media, Inc., and previously served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pixelmags until its sale in 2016. Mr. Levin earned a BA from Thomas Edison State College. We believe Mr. Levin's extensive leadership experience in social media; e-commerce companies and venture capital will benefit the Company's development. |
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Alan Stone - Managing Director, Wall Street Research
During the past 25 years, Alan Stone & Company, LLC, has become one of the top ranked investment consulting firms serving emerging companies. During his career, he has been involved in a wide variety of investor relations, investment banking, corporate finance, and merger and acquisition activities and has arranged numerous $2-$25 million financing and merger transactions for NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, OTC Markets and TSX listed companies. Mr. Stone was Director of the Southern California AMEX Corporate Focus and Security Analyst Forum, a private group of investment brokers, money managers, investment bankers and analysts. Alan was an analyst and assistant portfolio manager of Merrill Lynch Asset Management's $250 million high yield "corporate bond" fund. As one of the largest buyers of corporate stocks and bonds on Wall Street, Alan worked closely with the investment community's leading underwriters. Subsequently, he joined Merrill Lynch's brokerage subsidiary, engaging in brokerage and money management activities for wealthy individuals, corporations, pension funds and institutional investors. He was also associated with Thomson McKinnon Securities and Ladenburg, Thalmann in New York City, both well-established NYSE member firms. Alan holds a BS degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and an MBA in Finance and Investments from New York University's Graduate School of Business and has completed advanced studies at the London School of Economics and UCLA. Mr. Stone is active in various community affairs in Westwood and Beverly Hills, California. Mr. Stone is an active member of the Penn Club in New York City and has served on the board of directors of the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Association of South Florida. |
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Anthony Coniglio - Chief Executive Officer, New Lake Capital Partners
Mr. Coniglio has been growing businesses for more than 20 years. Since December, 2018, he has been working on the launch of New Lake Capital Partners, which closed an $85 million capital raise in August, 2019. Previously, Mr. Coniglio led a start-up from concept to exit, selling to the #3 player in the segment. Mr. Coniglio used a combination of acquisitions, partnerships and organic growth (products and geographies) to deliver revenue CAGR in excess of 30% over the last three years. While at JPMorgan, Mr. Coniglio led various businesses to #1 positions, including a start-up platform, and exponentially grew business line profitability. He led complex transactions such as the financial-crisis restructurings for GMAC ($60Bn) and Chrysler Financial ($24Bn), the Initial Public Offering for MasterCard and AmeriCredit’s $3.5Bn sale to General Motors. With more than 25 years of financial services experience, Mr. Coniglio is a proven executive possessing a unique mix of skills that have allowed him to be highly successful at a Fortune 100 company as well as a start-up environment. He believes success is achieved by inspiring, motivating, educating and coaching your team, which allows the group to innovate, create efficiencies, drive profitability and elevate to a higher level of performance. Experienced NYSE Board member, Advisory Board Member, Speaker, Volunteer and recipient of United Hospital Fund’s 2018 Distinguished Trustee Award. Mr. Coniglio has amassed a deep understanding of leadership, management, financial technology, innovation, digital marketing, cyber-security, consumer finance, commercial finance, banking and the residential mortgage marketplace. |
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Brent Johnson - CEO, Hoban Law Group
Brent Johnson has managed and executed over $2 billion in capital raising, private equity, venture capital, and M&A transactions. He has managed multiple investment funds up to $65 million in assets under management. He routinely advises investors, fund managers, and companies regarding capital raising, structure, finance, and operations. Brent is also an advisor to numerous companies and investment funds in the cannabis industry. In his legal practice, Brent specializes in the representation of closely-held and emerging growth companies through the whole business life cycle, including entity selection, formation, equity and debt financing transactions, acquisitions, and the eventual public offering or sale of the business. Brent also serves as outside general counsel to clients in support of their overall strategy, operations, capital raising, corporate governance, commercial transactions, contract drafting and negotiation, intellectual property, and general business matters. Brent previously served as EVP, Managing Director, and General Counsel of First Capital Ventures, a leading capital advisory services provider, accelerator and fund management firm. Prior to that, he was EVP, CFO & General Counsel for Atrium Capital Markets Group, where he was responsible for strategic planning, executive management, and compliance across multiple business units, including oversight of the firm’s $65 million investment fund. Brent was previously Associate General Counsel for Quiznos during its aggressive growth phase where he managed corporate legal matters, including debt and equity financing transactions, franchise matters, acquisitions, intellectual property, corporate governance, and commercial transactions. Brent Johnson began his legal practice at the Silicon Valley office of law firm Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison where he worked with venture capital firms and emerging growth and technology companies focusing on capital raising transactions, mergers & acquisitions, securities, public offerings, and general corporate matters. He then joined Denver-based Brownstein Hyatt & Farber where he represented public and private companies as well as venture capital and private equity firms. Brent is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served on active duty in the Air Force for five years, rising to the rank of Captain. He also holds a JD from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Nebraska. |
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Codie Sanchez - Managing Director & Partner, Entourage Effect Capital
Codie has worked at leading global investment firms to start and scale new businesses within as well as with small venture firms. She’s an expert at digital, marketing, branding, sales and international JV’s. Head of Investments Latin America - First Trust - Codie built and led the LatAm & Offshore Business to $2billion+ in AUM, providing ETFs, and alternatives to institutions. SSgA – Director Institutional IR - Codie was responsible for the $2.8 trillion firm’s institutional investment business in the Southwest and LatAm, with Fortune 500, pensions, SWFs, FO’s and foundations. Goldman Sachs - Analyst. Focused on commingled funds and PE with a regional focus on the west coast and the tech sector. Codie’s won numerous awards for her work, such as; Alumni Society Financers Award, LATISM Influencer of the Year, DHCC Exec of the Year, a Robert F. Kennedy Award & two National SPJ Awards. She’s also a contributor in Inc, Entrepreneur, Forbes and others.
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David Cunic - CEO, UCS Advisors
David M. Cunic is an entrepreneur who specializes in Investor Relations Advisory services. "Dr. David", as most people know him as, has raised capital, expanded several companies, and has employed over 300+ people. He has been in the medical field for 18+ years, has been a business owner for 19+ years, and has been in the cannabis industry for 10+ years. Some people have called him the "triple headed dragon" due to his diversity and experience. Over the past 16 years, Dr. David has started over 10+ companies, in both the public and private sector, and has successfully sold many of them. His efforts in business operations and human resources won him the prestigious Alfred Sloan Award for Workplace Programs and Flexibility. David has assisted many companies in securing millions of dollars for his clients ranging from the cannabis, hemp, energy, medical, water, and the beverage industry. He has served on numerous boards as an advisor and trusted source of information. Dr. David also performs presentations and speaks at conferences on a variety of topics in both the medical sector and cannabis industry. |
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G. Ryan Ansin - Co-Founder, Revolutionary Clinics
G. Ryan Ansin is an entrepreneur, early-stage investor, and philanthropist focused on using that combination to generate returns and positive impact for those in the targeted communities wherein he works. A Boston native and Emerson College Graduate, today, Ansin splits his time between multiple entities. As Founder and CEO of Clarity Project, a lab-grown diamond distribution company, Ansin is dedicated to utilizing consumers’ luxuries as a force for employment diversification in resource-cursed areas. As President of Family Office Association, a membership of 300 families of great wealth, Ansin encourages US-based Single Family offices to more strategically allocate their investment and philanthropic capital to work in tandem. Ansin is the Co-Founder of Revolutionary Farms an indoor cannabis cultivation facility dedicated to maximizing energy efficient technologies and automation aiming to be the lowest-cost, highest-quality producer in Massachusetts. We were born out of a desire to bring industry back to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, helping to revive a wonderful city. As an investor, Ansin has built a portfolio of industry-changing start-ups and growth stage companies in tech, health tech, ethical fashion, and real estate. Ansin is also leveraging abandoned mill buildings in Massachusetts to aid in the fast-expansion of the medicinal marijuana industry. Having started his career in his early teens in documentary production, Ansin went on to found EPHAS (Every Person Has a Story), in 2009. At the time, EPHAS was the most expansive international photojournalism 501c3 with thirty-two partners throughout thirteen countries utilizing newly accessible digital technologies to share up-to-date realities from previously underexposed areas of the world. Ansin then went on to start a fully transparent diamond mining operation near Kono, Sierra Leone, the preface to today’s Clarity Project. Ansin is a committed supporter of: ALCU, Orphan Starfish Foundation, Ashoka, Creative Visions Foundation, and Root Capital. Ansin meditates often, writes fiction, plays squash, only truly relaxes when SCUBA diving, and dreams of conquering kite surfing and HALO diving. |
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John Nemanic - Partner, Green Coast Capital International S.A
John is a partner in Green Coast Capital International S.A. Green Coast is an international investor providing flexible and innovative financing to the small-cap and micro-cap marketplace in a variety of sectors. Our team consists of experts in capital markets making quick decisions to provide growth capital to issuers. John is a serial entrepreneur and investor. As co-founder, Chairman and CEO, he exited 3 very successful Internet start ups. In 2006, Hostopia raised 29.2 million (TSX:H), then sold to Deluxe Communications for $124 Million USD. Tucows was sold to the Steinmetz Group for $45 Million April 1999. Tucows current market cap. is over $600 Million. Internet Direct was merged with Look Communications in 1999 with a deemed value of $560 Million John's current interests are medical cannabis, cultivation, hemp and CBD start ups, with a focus on Colombia. He is married to Sandra Carrillo MD a leading expert in Cannabis for clinical applications, and was appointed as "Clinical professor in charge of the scientific program for cannabis research and education", Faculty of Medicine, University of Panama. John manages Panamanian and Colombian based businesses. He is a former member of EO Panama and has extensive contacts within Panama. He also is a former member of EO Toronto (1995) and YPO Toronto (1999). He is actively seeking high-return opportunities to invest in and serve as a director for high-quality cannabis oriented firms. If you are seeking a highly experienced operator, a dynamic leader who understands the growth cycles of start-ups, and how to develop exit strategies please contact John Nemanic. |
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Mathew J. Nordgren - Founder & CEO, Arcadian Fund
Matthew Nordgren is an ambitious executive, dedicated philanthropist, and accomplished athlete who brings a unique passion to creating strategic alliances. He brings breadth and depth of experience in finance, corporate development, and capital sourcing, as well as in building highly motivated teams of skilled professionals. Mr. Nordgren is currently CEO and Founder of ARCADIAN Fund and ARCADIAN Capital management, a venture fund focused that invests in ancillary businesses in and around the cannabis and hemp industries. More specifically, on Series A type opportunities where proven businesses are looking for growth equity to attack and win new markets. He was recently named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the Cannabis Industry” by High Times Magazine. Additionally, he is the founder of NORDCO Consulting LLC, a private equity firm dedicated to buying and selling middle market companies with forward-thinking vision. To date, Mr. Nordgren has personally managed over $7 billion in transactions and maintains a portfolio of approximately 25 companies. Inspired by his belief that education and athletics can open doors for at-risk youth, Mr. Nordgren founded The Leadership Foundation—an organization committed to giving back to non-profits whose purpose is to empower youth through sports and education. He feels strongly that young people, regardless of their personal circumstances, should have the opportunity for a bright future and the chance to make a positive impact. Furthermore, he is involved with and contributes to numerous philanthropic causes and remains dedicated to giving back and making a difference. |
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Nic Easley - CEO & Managing Director, Multiverse Capital
Nic is the CEO & Managing Director for Multiverse Capital™ and a globally recognized Cannabis Industry Expert. He is also the founder and CEO of 3C Consulting, LLC™, the nation’s leading strategic cannabis consulting firm. Nic and his team have worked in 16 countries, 34 U.S. States, and two territories assisting nearly 500 cannabis companies across all sectors of the industry. He is known for his passionate commitment to introducing demonstrated best practices from other industries into the cannabis space. His industry-leading track record of building strong cannabis businesses and guiding others towards their own victories has established him as a trusted and proven resource for anyone considering investing in the cannabis industry. Nic serves on numerous state regulatory boards ranging from agriculture, public health and human safety, pesticides, and compliant business practices. He is also a committee or board member for multiple cannabis industry organizations, including as a Board Member for Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Nic recently educated delegates on medical cannabis at the UN Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting on International Challenges Posed by the Non-Medical use of Synthetic Opioids. Nic received a High Times Trail Blazer award in 2015 and was named one of the rising stars in cannabis investment by Business Insider in 2018. Nic is a Veteran of the United States Air Force and fluent in numerous languages holding degrees in both Environmental Studies and Biology. Nic’s scientific background combined with over 15 years of agricultural field and biological experience provides Multiverse Capital™ portfolio companies with new possibilities of productivity, profitability, and professionalism. |
