Seth Yakatan, Co-Founder of Katan Associates International, serial entrepreneur who has raised over $1 billion and sold 22 businesses, and one of the most distinctive voices in cannabis and capital markets on LinkedIn, joins Personable to challenge everything you think you know about entrepreneurship, raising money, and what success actually looks like.

In this episode, Seth reflects on growing up with a father who came from nothing and became a serial entrepreneur, why he walked away from 14 years in institutional investing, and how a single carousel post on LinkedIn changed the trajectory of his career. From the brutal realities of the cannabis industry to the unspoken rules of closing a deal, this conversation cuts through the noise and focuses on what it actually takes to build, sell, and survive in business.

This is an essential listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, capital raising, cannabis, LinkedIn growth, and building a career on your own terms.

He discusses: 

◽️ Why success is less about hustle and more about luck, timing and right place right time 

◽️ How he raised over $1 billion and what investors actually look for before writing a cheque 

◽️ Why companies are bought not sold and what that means for founders ◽️ The LinkedIn strategy that took him from 20,000 to 38,000 followers and opened unexpected doors 

◽️ The future of cannabis in the United States and where the real opportunity lies ◽️ What makes him say no to a deal and how he does due diligence on founders 

◽️ Why giving without expectation is the most powerful networking tool you will ever use

00:00 Introduction and Seth Yakatan background 

02:15 How he got into entrepreneurship and his father's influence 

07:30 Why he stopped believing success is a meritocracy 

13:45 How to raise capital and what investors actually want 

19:20 Companies are bought not sold, the art of the exit 

25:10 How Katan Associates competes with a lean team 

32:40 Getting into cannabis and demystifying the industry 

39:15 The future of cannabis in the USA and globally 

45:30 LinkedIn, authority building and why he started posting 

51:20 The strategy behind 38,000 followers and one post a day 

57:00 What makes him say no and how he reads founders 

1:02:30 Legacy, what is next and one thing every listener should take away

Seth Yakatan:

◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-yakatan/

Harvey Bracken-Smith:

◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith

◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/harveybsmith

◽️ X (Twitter): https://x.com/harveybsmith_

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Personable Podcast:

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Additional:

◽️ Fundraising: https://www.loulouracefoundation.org/donate

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023. 

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.