In our fourth episode, host Benjamin Ballinger sat down with Jonathan Kane, PhD, co-founder, and Chief Scientific Officer of Lion Labs out of Lansing, MI. Lion Labs is one of the state's most prominent processing and manufacturing operations, with a portfolio of retail brands, including their flagship brand Element Extractions—one of the best-selling concentrate brands in the state.

Rooted in Michigan's caregiver market, Lion Labs represents an artful combination of legacy knowledge and corporate/academic acumen—between three of the executives' previous roles at PepsiCo, and Jonathan's background in scientific research.

Unlike many operators in the state, Lion Labs chose to grow slowly and strategically and avoided vertical integration—instead focusing on processing and manufacturing operations in-house, while partnering with third-party cultivators and retailers. In retrospect, their choice was a solid one—as the company is profitable, self-funded, and in a good position to expand to new markets where they plan to repeat the same winning process all over again.

Jonathan discusses how Lion Labs has stayed true to its core mission—providing accessible, high-quality products to its target consumers—in everything they do, from product innovation to customer service, to the way the team approaches partnerships with suppliers and retail customers.

For the episode notes, transcript, and linked resources, please visit https://podcast.diamondminers.co/episode-4/