The Break Down: Nuances To Investing In Social Equity Businesses
A guide for investors who want to back social equity businesses in the cannabis industry. Register for our upcoming webinar where we dive into the details.
Despite increased legalization of cannabis across the United States only 1/5 of cannabis owners identify as a person of color. While municipalities have started to implement their own social equity programs in attempts to right some of the wrongs of the war on drugs and increase participation in the industry among marginalized communities, access to capital remains one of the primary barriers for social equity founders.
As investors in the cannabis industry, our firm has been working on ways that we can support and invest capital and resources into social equity programs and business owners. As we dove into this topic we realized that the various social equity programs across the US were challenging to navigate given that each municipality has different structures and mandates.
To address these nuances, we collaborated with some of the top social equity leaders and advocacy groups to uncover and highlight the advantages that these business owners have and how investors should approach evaluating these investment opportunities.
Thank you to our partners Our Dream Syndicate + Our Academy, Hiller PC, Life Development Group, and the Social Equity Owners & Workers Association in working with us to create a much needed white paper to educate investors, drive awareness, and direct capital to social equity business owners.
What we cover in this white paper:
Defining social equity and justice in the cannabis industry.
The history behind social equity programs.
Defining what it means to be a social equity business and how programs differ state-by-state.
Outlining the nuances to investing in social equity businesses, covering topics like ownership requirements, management structures, and predatory practices.
Resources for investors to utilize to diligence a social equity business.
Register For The Webinar
Investing In Social Equity Founders + Businesses Presented by Our Dream Syndicate + JourneyOne Ventures. Highlighting investment strategies and best practices to maximize impact and returns when investing in social equity licenses and operators.
When: Thursday, December 16th, 2021
Time: 1:00 - 2:00pm PST
Featuring:
Hilary Yu, Our Dream Syndicate + Our Academy
Helene Servillon, JourneyOne Ventures
Kika Keith, Gorilla RX - Social Equity Founder
Madison Shockley III, Off Limits Dispensary - Social Equity Founder
Norman Youssif, Investor
Tiffany McBride, The Parent Co (TPCO)
Founder Resources
While our guide to investing in social equity businesses is directed towards investors, we’re always looking for ways to support founders. Check out our list of the top programs and accelerators directed towards helping social equity founders succeed.
Grow Generation and Harvest 360 Technologies Accelerator program
Education and training program for social equity individuals and micro cultivators; commitment of $500,000 from Grow Generation to provide full scholarships for up to 25 micro cultivation teams in New Jersey.
GROmentum Lab’s Cannabis Accelerator Business Program
Provides culturally relevant programming and resources focusing on entrepreneurs affected by the war on drugs in Illinois; a range of programs depending on the stage of the business with the opportunity to receive a seed investment and professional development services.
The New Jersey Cannabis Project with Lantern
Business incubator program that provides social equity entrepreneurs in New Jersey with the knowledge, tools, network, and resources needed to be successful in the cannabis industry.
Cultivation Warehouse and AMCON Green Social Equity Program
Rewards social equity applicants across the country with up to $1.25 million in products and services necessary to launch or optimize a regulated commercial cannabis cultivation operation.
Green Thumb LEAP New Business Accelerator
Business accelerator program including funding and mentorship for Illinois social equity applicants with a Craft Grower and/ or Adult-Use Dispensary license.
Sira Community Massachusetts Cannabis Accelerator
Business mentoring, advisory services, and the ability to leverage Sira Natural’s manufacturing, retail, and wholesale distribution network to benefit economic empowerment Massachusetts applicants.
Colorado Social Equity Program
Pairs social equity entrepreneurs in Colorado with existing cannabis businesses, providing mentorship opportunities, technical assistance, and financial support.
Eaze Momentum Business Accelerator
Business accelerator for social equity businesses across the country, offering $50,000 grants, industry expertise training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
LASER Incubation in Action Program
Incubator program for social equity entrepreneurs, offering access to Growing Talent’s business resources, a business curriculum program, mentorship opportunities, and the opportunity to become a Good Trees owner-operator.
Community business incubator providing technical and financial assistance to entrepreneurs negatively impacted by the war on drugs.
Mentorship accelerator program providing skills, knowledge, and resources to Michigan community members seeking opportunity through cannabis.
Mentorship program for socially disadvantaged farmers in the cannabis industry, providing farming and business education.
Empowers social equity entrepreneurs through mentorship, educational training, networking, and pre-seed funding opportunities.
Additionally, you can find more founder resources on our website.