Marijuana Business Magazine - April 2018

Canopy Cohort CanopyBoulder , a seed-stage accelerator program for technology and business infrastructure companies that support the legal cannabis industry, announced its Spring 2018 cohort of six start-up companies. The com- panies will undergo a 16-week cannabis-specific program designed to spur development and prepare the portfolio companies to raise outside capital upon graduation in early August. The companies are: •Realm 72, an online marketplace for marketers, brands and influencers. Founded by Christine Penny and Seth Shimkonis. • Andia, a firm developing a decentralized plug-and- play platform that harnesses blockchain technology to provide a compliance solution for the adult-use and medical cannabis industries. Founded by Angel Diaz and Alberto Garcia. • Catalyst Business Partners , an online human resources management platform. Founded by Kirsten Knutson. • Best in Grow, a cultivation data and information plat- form. Founded by Andrew Duffy and Jacob Levin. • KNXIT, a firm that will connect apps and automate workflows in the cannabis industry. Founded by Tom Quigley and Kevin Dugan. • TreatmentX, a network of cannabis brands commit- ted to the advancement of well-designed research promoting the efficacy of cannabis as medication. Founded by Kevin Staunton and Susan Trapp. NCIA’s Industry Excellence Award Winners The National Cannabis Industry Association presented its Industry Excellence Awards, given to businesses that have disrupted and advanced the industry with innova- tion. The 2018 winners are: NCIA’s Excellence in Innovation Award: • Cultivation: L’Eagle Services • Infused Products and Extractions: Wana Brands • Business Innovations and Strategy: Cannabis Trainers NCIA’s Excellence in Technology Award: • Cultivation: Urban-Gro • Infused Products and Extractions: Kin Slips • Business Innovations and Strategy: New Frontier Data NCIA also presented the esteemed Industry Excel- lence Award to Jay and Diane Czarkowski, co-founders of Canna Advisors . Green Roads and Golden Gloves Green Roads​Athletics , the sports division of Green Roads , a CBD products company, signed a sponsorship deal with professional boxer and 2015 Golden Gloves champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. As part of his new sponsor- ship agreement with Green Roads Athletics, Lopez will feature the company’s logo on his gear and apparel for the remainder of 2018. Testing Slam Dunk GreenSpace Labs , a cannabis test- ing company in Boston able to detect pesticides, heavy metals and bacteria rapidly in the field, partnered with former NBA star John Salley to launch its mobile pesticide screening device, the Green- Lite Screener. Also an actor, talk show host, entrepreneur and cannabis reform advocate, Salley has taken an ownership position in the company. Central Oregon Cannabis Leaders Launch Celebrate Cannabis A group of Central Oregon marijuana industry leaders formed Celebrate Can- nabis , a trade group aiming to represent the legal MJ community. The founding board members include Jennifer Clifton of Clifton Cannabis Law , Hunter Neubauer of Oregrown , Chris Telfer of Spectrum CPA Group , Gary Bracelin of Tokyo Starfish , Judy Camp- bell of Campbell Consulting Group and Jack Robson of High Desert Pure . LED Manufacturer Acquires Grow App VividGro , a manufacturer of LED grow lighting prod- ucts in West Warwick, Rhode Island, acquired WeGrow , a cannabis home grow app with over 20,000 downloads in the iTunes Store. WeGrow launched a chatbot-based technol- ogy in April 2017. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Jennifer Clifton John Salley 104 • Marijuana Business Magazine • April 2018