Cannabis Social Equity Mentorship Program Launches

Earlier this year, the Cannabis Business Office (CBO), a division of Colorado’s Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT), awarded $750,000 in funding through its Cannabis Business Grant to social equity licensed cannabis businesses that have, or are actively pursuing, a regulated business license from the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division.

The Cannabis Business Grant was launched as a pilot program in 2022, and it supports the ongoing growth of Colorado’s small cannabis businesses and fosters equity and diversity within the state’s cannabis industry.

On April 17, BIPOCann launched its second Social Equity Mentorship Program in partnership with Colorado’s Cannabis Business Office (CBO).

Throughout the spring and summer, BIPOCann will be supporting the grant recipients weekly 1:1 mentorships to support their business growth. In addition direct mentorship, the program offers an exciting curriculum that includes education, industry networking opportunities, and marketing intensives:

• Business Foundations Webinar
• Business Foundations Workshop
• Brand Building & Storytelling Webinar
• Relationship Building Networking Event
• Supplier & Vendor Diversity Webinar
• Media Day
• Industry Conference Participation
• Graduation & Networking Event

Please contact info@bipocann.com for participation interests.

Elevating BIPOC Owned Cannabis Brands

On April 12, BIPOCann’s founder, Ernest Toney (far left), moderated a panel conversation titled Invest in Emerging BIPOC Owned Cannabis Brands at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami, Florida.

The panel featured three BIPOCann members: Timeka Drew, CEO of California-based Biko Flower (second from left); Jarell Wall, CEO and Creative Director of Colorado-based Gentleman Quinn’s Blunt Co. (second from right); and Carlondo Mitchell, Owner of Washington-based 5th House Farms (far right).

Drew, Wall, and Mitchell spoke about the successes of their fast-growing brands in their respective markets, the challenges of capturing shelf space and market share, and their goals for multi-state expansion through capital raises or strategic partnerships.

Over the past year, BIPOCann engaged with the member trio to learn insights about their brands, journeys, and goals. In recent months, BIPOCann interviewed and published long-form feature articles on each of them through its monthly spotlight series on uplifting BIPOC and underrepresented communities in the cannabis industry.  

BIPOCann Partners with Capital Conference on Social Equity Initiatives 

In the months leading up to the Capital Conference, BIPOCann leveraged its partnership with Benzinga to influence cannabis social equity and diversity initiatives for the conference.

At the Miami conference, Benzinga approved four social equity scholarship panels (including this one), awarded 143 scholarships (giving social equity and women-owned businesses free access to the event), and introduced the BIPOCann Social Equity Lounge to create space for scholarship recipients and attendees to network, share ideas, and interact directly with mentors and investors. 

The Invest in Emerging BIPOC Owned Cannabis Brands panel recording can be watched here on YouTube.