Presenting Companies - Investor Pitch Competition
Cannabis Investing Forum - December 10, 2020
Moderator - Investor Pitch Competition
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Moderator - Investor Pitch Competition
Joseph Chicas, CEO, Cannabiz Venture Partners
Joseph Chicas is a proven cannabis strategist that guides emerging cannabis companies through licensing, real estate acquisition and growth strategies.He's currently the Founder and CEO of Cannabiz Venture Partners and heads up strategic relations for the Leaves of Legend cannabis brand. He is a part owner in multiple cannabis licenses in California, from delivery to cultivation to retail. Joseph is also a business strategist for Nugl Media where he publishes articles and content to support cannabis entrepreneurs. He once served as the Executive Director of Cannabis Advising Partners, at a point when it was the top cannabis advising firm in California.Joseph is a former policy professor from the University of Southern California where he taught government relations and policy analysis, which are essential tools to excel in the cannabis regulatory landscape. Earlier in his career, Joseph served as an advisor to LA Mayor Eric Garcetti on economic development issues, specifically veteran affairs and small business. He obtained his BA from UCLA and his Master's Degree from USC.
About Cannabiz Venture Partners Our mission at CVP, is to help you win big in the cannabis industry. Navigating and finding success within this emerging industry is filled with risks, but are here to minimize your risks, while maximizing success. We're here to support and partner with you as you set your foundation and scale your ventures. We offer three core services to position you for success.
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Cecil Page, Co-Founder & CEO, Peli Labs
Cecil Page has dedicated the last eight years of his life to learning the science and art of extracting cannabis, with an emphasis on compliance. He was fortunate enough to become a co-developer with a phytochemist, who took Cecil under his wing. He taught him more advanced processing procedures and the skills to operate at a more significant potential. From there, he funded, built and operated a closed-loop hydrocarbon lab followed by a short-path refinery. When the State of California legalized cannabis manufacturing, Cecil shut down his clandestine (Prop 215) laboratory and pursued lobbying the City of Ojai to create a cannabis manufacturing ordinance. After two years of educating the City Council, Police Chief and Fire Department, the Ordinance was drafted and passed. During those two years of lobbying, Cecil assisted in the design and optimization of Type-6 (Non-Volatile) manufacturing facility in Van Nuys. At the Type 6 facility, he manufactured large volumes of biomass into distilled cannabis oil. He developed SOP's and compliance documents for the facility to comply with State and Local regulations. After eight months of manufacturing for the Type 6 facility, he had the opportunity to design a Type-7 (Volatile) facility for Shryne Group (STIIIZY), one of the giant cannabis brands today. He was quickly promoted to Sr. Extraction Engineer and then assisted with the formulation of new products, marketing, and designing new manufacturing facilities. As the project in Ojai began to get more traction Cecil fulfilled his contract at Shryne Group to pursue his own facility/company: Peli Labs, Inc.
About Peli Labs Peli Labs, Inc. is a cannabis manufacturing and distribution company located in Ojai, CA (Ventura County). Our team specializes in science, technology, and engineering. Through decades of research and experience in the field, Peli Labs is positioned to heavily disrupt the California cannabis market and intends on vertically integrating in preparation for federal legalization.
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Dakota Sullivan, CEO, Doc Patels
Dakota Sullivan joined Doc Patels CBD in the fall of 2020 as CEO. Previously, he co-founded and served as CEO of Calyx Brands, the #1 wholesale distributor of cannabis edibles in California, surpassing $20M in 2019 sales and servicing more than 500 retail accounts.
Prior to entering cannabis, Dakota served as SVP Americas, for Amobee, a global mobile ad tech company servicing Fortune 1000 brands on five continents. Amobee was acquired by SingTel in 2012 for $320M. Dakota joined Amobee from Velti, also a global mobile ad tech provider, where he was SVP, GM and helped lead the company’s $150M NASQAQ IPO. Dakota was Chief Marketing Officer for BlueLithium, an online advertising network that was acquired by Yahoo! for $300M cash. Dakota also previously held executive positions with Draft FCB, an international advertising agency, and was co-founder of Big Island, a New York-based interactive advertising agency that was acquired by Marc USA in 1999, and where he subsequently served as managing director. He holds a B.A. in English and Business from the University of California, Berkeley. About Doc Patels Doc Patels CBD is the first company that provides training for medical professionals, a full range of CBD products and a CBD patient referral network to help millions of people around the world benefit from the healing power of CBD |
Davina Kaonohi, CEO, Element Apothec
Davina is the CEO and Co-Founder of Element Apothec. She is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years experience in B2C, tech, and recruiting sectors. Experienced with startup strategy development, leadership, people strategy, recruitment, and organizational development.
About Element Apothec Element Apothec is a new, disruptive CBD brand redefining the body care and wellness industry.
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Glenn DeSimone, CEO, Curatio Life Sciences
5 years in the healthcare industry with Medicus, a Publicis company
Executive for blockbuster brand, Symbicort Pivoted out of the pharmaceutical industry and began research in natural medicine, founding Curatio in 2019 Invested 3 years researching cannabinoids and the ECS to develop the ideal ratio of cannabinoids, terpenes and triglycerides to create a true medical-grade product line. About Curio Life Sciences Curatio is a new dimension in medical grade full spectrum CBD therapy. We specialize in potent hemp-based medicine that contains a THC free active ingredient that we believe to be the strongest synergy of cannabinoids, terpenes, and triglycerides available. Our API contains a very specific ratio of CBD, and 15% secondaries, 3% of which is CBN. Like THC, CBN binds to the CB1 receptor providing a full spectrum therapeutic effect without intoxication. Furthermore, our API is delivered using a pharmaceutical grade nano-absorption technology, which increases absorption by 10x compared to other brands that use traditional oil. All of our products are manufactured under stringent GMP guidelines, with a COA presented at every batch. Our state-of-the art medical grade CBD product line is recommended by a network of over 4,000 healthcare professionals, distributors and retail stores. We are succeeding in our mission to become the Doctor’s choice as a powerful natural therapeutic option for a variety of health conditions.
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Gregg Steinberg, CEO, Greenway DNA
Gregg Steinberg is the CEO of Greenway DNA a comprehensive personalized DNA testing solutions provider that provides individuals exact THC and CBD dosing recommendations based on how their genetic makeup can affect their response to specific cannabis products. Greenway DNA’s recommendations assist in identifying the best cannabinoid profile for that individual relative to impact for a specific medical indication, such as pain, anxiety and insomnia.
Gregg is also CEO for Green Globe Data and Research. Green Globe is the holding company for the operating entities controlling various brands and cultivation operations controlled by Jim Belushi. Jim’s farm in Oregon, Rogue’s Lair, has a license for 40,000 sq. ft. of canopy and the brands consist of The Blues Brothers, Belushi’s Secret Stash, Captain Jacks (SNL), and Good Ugly Weed. Gregg is a member of the Board of Directors of The ArcView Group. The Arcview Investor Network currently consists of 600+ accredited investors investing in the cannabis and hemp market. More than 260 companies have raised at least $212 million as a result of their participation in Arcview. Arcview is also a partner in Canopy, a seed-stage business accelerator Gregg is a current Board Advisor and immediate past founding CEO of Growcentia, a Fort Collins Co. based company that manufactures both organically derived microbial plant bio-stimulants that enable growers to maximize the yield and quality of various crops and natural plant extract 25 (b) bio-control products. All in the market under the brand “Mammoth®” The company launched in 2015 and its #1 market share technologies are sold primarily in the cannabis and industrial hemp markets through grow (hydro) stores and direct to commercially licensed cultivators and farmers coast to coast in the US as well as internationally across more than a dozen countries. Gregg is a Board Advisor to Cloud Creamery and early stage company focused on bringing premium quality infused (cannabis) specialty edible products to market. The company’s first product line is artisanal ice cream in multiple flavors. Gregg is also Vice-Chairman of the Board for OXIO Health, a healthcare technology and service provider aggregator. Prior to the afore mentioned Gregg founded Charlemagne Global Advisory a strategy and operations advisory firm for both for profit and not for profit entities. Projects and initiatives of CGA have been in and around the incubation and acceleration of early and development stage start-up ventures as well as more mature enterprises in various industries including clean and green tech, healthcare, CPG, professional services, technology and cloud-based apps, startup / early stage incubators and educational endeavors. Previous to founding CGA, Gregg was the President and/or Managing Director of numerous associated companies delivering a broad spectrum of strategic consulting and other professional services. The company was listed twice (both times in the top 10) by INC. magazine in the INC. 500. Cumulative revenues under Gregg’s presidency exceeded $2 billion. Gregg was a participant in the healthcare technology explosion in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. Gregg was an early investor in and advisor to The Quantum Group a health services MSO and cloud EMR platform. Gregg initially engaged in the company during its start-up and pre revenue phase. The company went public in 2007 and Gregg sat on the company’s Board of Directors and its audit and compensation committees between 2007 and 2009. Between 2011 and 2013 Gregg took on an acting C-suite role for the company. Gregg has stayed actively engaged as an advisor to the company. Gregg is a past sustaining member of NCIA (National Cannabis Industry Association) and sat on the Marketing Advisory Committee, has been involved in other committees including in the cultivation committee. Gregg has been involved in numerous early stage and entrepreneurial initiatives in a broad ranging array of industries. Gregg also serves on the Board of the Simon School Venture Fund (Simon School of Business, About Greenway DNA The founders of GreenWay DNA came together around a vision of providing personalized information that will help accelerate each individual’s path to wellness with the natural-healing powers of cannabinoids, the medicinal compounds produced by cannabis and hemp. We realized that bringing individuals the knowledge, based on their personal genetic information, of how their endocannabinoid system might be predisposed to function in response to phytocannabinoids (those cannabinoids that are produced by cannabis and hemp) would provide useful information for better understanding the potential efficacy of dose regimes of cannabinoids for the relief of conditions such as pain, anxiety, sleep disorders and other conditions.
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Jeff Ullman, CEO, GoodFOR
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Jeff Ullman is a multiple serial entrepreneur. Most experts declare entrepreneurs should not admit their defeats but as a life-long entrepreneur I've had a challenging life making lives healthier, wealthier & happier. Changing consumer behavior can be punishing: I know the thrill of ascending unclimbed mountains (making million$ for myself & partners) along with the humility in falling from grace (with grace): Entrepreneur vs. EntreMANURE.
In 1976 I created my first breakthrough socially responsible company, Great Expectations Video Dating and helped 100,000+ couples marry. In the '80's & '90s co-created 2400+ hours of TV series: Love Connection (12 seasons); TailDaters (4 seasons); Authored: The Singles Almanac; 12 Secrets for Helping Find Love & Commitment; The Lost Love Life of the Workaholic. I loved helping change romance for the ages. Yet it wasn't long ago when people scoffed at 'losers'; singles who chose a new route to happiness by opting for modern search tools like video dating. Critics cried: "No one will pay to find love!" (Yet I was the first to prove it untrue & exited quite successfully) My wife Cindy & I created Twoology.com to help couples stay happily together by remembering their Relationship ABCs: Always Be Courting. (Another successful exit) I've raised million$ for charities; am a non-monotonous monogamist & a devoted dad. In 2013 I quietly entered the medical cannabis industry helping match people with information that was good for them. In 2015 I created the YPO (Young Presidents Organization) Cannabis Industry Wealth & Health Group. In 2016 I dived deeply into pharmacogenetic testing to save my wife's life from Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer: found the right researchers, clinicians & cannabis. She's healthy! In 2018 my wife, Cindy Ullman, and I created GoodFOR® and invite you to exceed your expectations by finding the wellness products which can be good for you and your loved ones. About GoodFOR GoodFOR’s breakthrough pain products are superior to any other pain topical. They work to relieve aches and pains in seconds, last longer, and are far less expensive. They are so extraordinarily good for pain relief of all kinds that the company guarantees their effectiveness, or double your money back. As good for health as they are, they are even better for investors who recognize the wealth value. The Company’s global trademarks make it extremely attractive to sell to a buyer with healthcare, beauty, performance, and an infinite array of consumer products and services
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John Coppolino, Co-Founder & COO, Tygrus
John Copplino has over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, operations, distribution, restructuring, and finance working with both middle market and Fortune 500 companies.
About Tygrus Tygrus is a platform technology company that has innovative, proprietary chemistries and systems for use across a wide range of industries from water and industrial waste stream remediation to industrial cleaning solutions and food processing. Our patented and patent pending technologies are environmentally friendly, sustainable, and energy-efficient. Tygrus, with corporate offices in Detroit, Michigan, was formed in 2012 as a Delaware limited liability company in partnership with the original inventors of the technology.
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Michael Nistorescu, CEO, CannaVerde
Mr. Nistorescu started his career as an analyst at Gluskin Sheff, a hedge fund catering to high net worth families based in Toronto, Canada. Following his career at Gluskin Sheff, he was appointed Investments Director at Infinite Potential Management, the private family office of the founders of Blackberry. Prior to joining CannaVerde Pharma, Mr. Nistorescu co-founded a cannabis-focused private equity firm where he served as the CEO and Investments Director. Mr. Nistorescu is a CFA charterholder and holds an Honors Double Major Degree in Economics and International Studies from York University. About Cannaverde
CannaVerde Pharma is a vertically integrated licensed producer of medicinal cannabis and cannabis derived products, with its core operations located in Mesa de Los Santos, Colombia. CannaVerde, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Green Health Colombia, holds licenses to cultivate, extract, manufacture, domestically distribute and internationally export low-THC and high-THC medical extracts.
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