In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Ernst Rustenhoven and Jake Kuczeruk of I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM) join KEY Founding Partner, Jordan Youkilis, to explore the momentum behind the home grow movement. Ernst, an Amsterdam-based venture veteran and CEO, joins Jake, head of ILGM’s community growth program, to break down how ILGM has evolved from a “seed bank" into a full-scale educational platform supporting home growers. Next they dive into ILGM’s pivot towards creating a community, exploring changes in customer demographics, and the reasons people are starting to grow themselves. In closing, the three discuss how ILGM’s platforms helps solve the common hurdles of starting your own grow and how cannabis is trending toward refinement much like the wine industry where local, small batch, and regional varieties hold value. Please enjoy the episode!

In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Fred Gomez, Director of Institutional Research at ATB Capital Markets, joins KEY Founding Partner, Pete Karabas, to unpack what the latest data is telling us about U.S. and Canadian cannabis markets. Fred covers over 20 public cannabis companies across North America and shares what he believes investors should be watching, from upcoming MSO refinancing, to ongoing price compression and market saturation. From here Fred and Pete provide their insights on how Canada’s path offers lessons for U.S. operators exposing the myths around 280E and how it won’t solve the industries biggest issues. Lastly, they discuss why many investors overestimate growth and underestimate risk even in highly volatile industries like cannabis.

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In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Keith Cich, Co-Founder and President of Sunderstorm, joins KEY Founding Partner, Pete Karabas, for a deep dive into building one of California’s most trusted cannabis edible brands. Keith shares his journey from Wall Street to weed, starting out as a bond trader before pivoting to cannabis with his Stanford classmate Cameron Clark to found Sunderstorm. The conversation covers how Sunderstorm’s Kahna brand edibles are different from the other edible products you’ll find on dispensary shelves, delivering a consistent experience to the cannabis consumer. Next they discuss why a focus on deep vertical integration has been key to their scale and how they survived post-COVID market contractions despite California’s crowded brand scene. In closing Keith shares how the company has used AI, automation, and centralized operations to scale across new markets while maintaining quality, from LA to Thailand. 

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In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Hugo Alves, Co-Founder and CEO of Auxly Cannabis, joins KEY Investment Partners Founding Partner, Tiby Erdely, for a conversation about building one of Canada’s most successful cannabis companies. Hugo shares his path from McDonald's employee to Senior Partner at Bennett Jones before taking the leap in 2017 to build Auxly. From there, they explore the company’s evolution into a vertically integrated cannabis leader headlined by the success of its flagship brand Back 40. Next, Hugo and Tiby dig into the difference makers for Auxly including early bets on fast-growing product categories and how the company’s recent refinancing is paving their long-term path of growth and profitability. To close, Hugo shares his mission to help people live happier lives through fun, accessible, high-quality products and why he sees Back 40 becoming a global cannabis staple over the next five years.

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In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked: Joe Lustberg, Co-Founder of Upwise Capital, joins KEY Investment Partners Founding Partner, Jordan Youkilis, to unpack what’s happening in cannabis debt markets. The conversation begins with Joe’s background, from his origins in the New York cannabis scene to his entrance in direct lending, which eventually led him to build Upwise Capital. From there, Joe and Jordan dive into how MSO’s have evolved and the current state of debt in cannabis, which has been marked by a sharp rise in the cost of capital. The episode closes with a look ahead, including the rise of the intoxicating hemp products, the competition it presents, and the harm legalization could do to smaller operators. Please Enjoy the episode!

In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Representative La Shawn Ford of the Illinois state Congress, and John Donovan, a lobbyist for Dykema join KEY Founding Partner Jordan Youkilis. In this conversation, Rep. Ford, Donovan and Youkilis discuss how the government of Illinois has shaped their cannabis legislation.

They start the conversation covering the structure of the Illinois General Assembly including the challenges of passing meaningful reform. From there, they discuss the successes of the state’s cannabis legalization, and specifically the benefits of social equity initiatives.

Next, they address the threat posed by unregulated hemp-derived products and emphasize the importance of consistent testing, taxation, and oversight. Looking ahead, they consider emerging reforms around psychedelics, hemp beverages, and delivery licenses, with a focus on public health and equity. 

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In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Jason Pickle (Founder of Volunteer Botanicals) joins Tiby Ederly (Founding Partner at KEY Investment Partners) to talk about the evolving role of cannabinoids in the consumer product space. The conversation begins with the launch of Volunteer Botanicals following the 2018 Farm Bill setting off pioneering cannabinoid intermediates. From there, Tiby and Jason dive into the science of product formulation-how Volunteer Botanicals powderizes and tabletizes solid oral doses and develops full-spectrum extracts. The episode wraps with a look ahead at the next 10-15 years. Please enjoy!

In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Ben Burstein, Corporate Development Manager at LeafLink, joins Jordan Youkilis (Founding Partner at KEY Investment Partner) to share his fast track into mastering industry research and M&A. Ben dives into the cannabis industry's biggest challenges, from lack of institutional banking and poor inventory management to limited investor readiness. From here Ben and Jordan put a spotlight on varied states market trend wrapping up by exploring the impact of grey market dynamics and the future of M&A in newer cannabis markets. Please enjoy!

In this episode, Felipe Recalde (CEO of Compound Genetics and Fartech Ventures) joins today’s host Jordan Youkilis (Founding Partner at KEY Investment Partners). Felipe shares his journey from South-Texas patient to multi-brand cannabis entrepreneur and investor. 

The conversation opens with Felipe’s early home-grow experiments, his move into California cultivation, and his advocacy work on the California Growers Association board. Then, Felipe and Jordan dissect the market downturn, licensing delays, 280E taxes, and an entrenched illicit supply chain. 

Next, we debate what it will take for the legal market to out-compete the black market. Felipe describes his various responsibilities, including CEO of Compound Genetics and of investment firm Fartech Ventures, and CTO of OOG.Health. We cover the hunt for good cultivators and supporting “picks-and-shovels” tech . The episode closes with an outlook on federal rescheduling, hemp regulation, the MAHA movement’s views on cannabis, and the emerging global market. 

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In this episode of Cannabis Unlocked, Guy Rocourt (Founder of GR Consulting and Co-Founder of Papa & Barkley) sits down with Jordan Youkilis (Founding Partner at KEY Investment Partners) to talk about the evolution of cannabis product formulation, the history of legalization, and the power of plant medicine. The conversations starts with Guy’s journey into cannabis from the early days of California's care giver program all the way to opening one of the first extraction labs in Colorado, leading to his realization of the importance of full spectrum products and label transparency. Guy and Jordan move on to talk through the head winds the cannabis industry has faced, the opportunities hemp presents and the current political landscape around cannabis. The episode wraps up with Guy’s perspectives on cannabis meditation, his consultancy GR Cannabis, and his product brand CLEA Mid Life. Please enjoy!