Smells Like Business

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Lone Knudsen Krogsbøll, an Investment Manager for the city of Odense. The conversation took place at the Symposium for Medical Cannabis in Copenhagen, where academics, doctors and businesses converged to discuss, network and learn more about where this industry is heading in Denmark.

Lone shares how Odense is going the extra mile and taking all the necessary steps to ensure that Fyn, the island it sits on, becomes the centre of medical cannabis in Denmark (if not all of Europe). By investing in lab-testing facilities that can provide EU-GMP certification and greenhouses retrofitted for medical cannabis production, the country is attracting both big companies and startups. QNTM Labs, Aurora Nordic, and Little Green Pharma are just some of the companies that have recently set up operations on Fyn.

Lone explains how Denmark promotes collaboration between the private and public sectors and how this brings new and much-needed innovations to the medical cannabis industry. Universities and other educational facilities are also partnering up with companies to help find new medical cannabis solutions.

So if you’re interested in discovering this little country’s big plans for the medical cannabis industry here in Europe, then this episode is for you.

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com

City of Odense - www.investinodense.dk

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/loneaaknudsen/

Related podcast episodes:

#31 - What is Cancard? - Carly Barton from Cancard

#35 - Medical Cannabis in Denmark - Dr. Julie Moltke from Clinic Horsted

#43 - Bringing Danish Design to Cannabis Consumers - Simon Villum Folmann from HØJ

#54 - TechforCann Accelerator: How to Get Your Cannabis Startup Into the Program - Lilac Mandeles

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Sergiy Kovalenkov. He is the Founder and CEO of Hempire, an award-winning company dedicated to bringing hemp-building innovations into the construction industry. The company was founded in 2015 in Ukraine, but they now have offices in Ukraine, Poland, and the USA. Hempire has worked on projects in over 20 different countries. 

Sergiy shares how he stumbled upon hemp and its use in construction and why he started his company, Hempire. He also talks about the difficulties of bringing hemp into the mainstream of the construction industry and what it’s been like to run a company in a war-torn country. 

So if you’re interested in construction, love hemp and maybe want to build a house with it one day, this is the episode for you.

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com
Hempire - www.hempire.tech
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/hempireint/

Related podcast episodes:

#16 - Life of a Swedish Hemp Farmer - John Hedström from Hooly Hemp
#23 - Photographing Hemp Projects Around the World - Maren Krings
#53 - Caring With Cannabis and Helping With Hemp - Simon Blackwell

On this episode Tom is having a chat with the late Frenchy Cannoli, who was a master hashishin. By sharing his life story and cannabis experiences, Frenchy explains why hash played such an important role in his life. He also gives tips on what you can do to stay relevant in the cannabis industry and have an upper hand over the cannabis industry giants. 

Other topics discussed:

• What is the difference between hash-making in India and in the Middle East? 
• Why is the process of making hand-rubbed hash so magical?
• How did the Frenchy Cannoli Brand come to life?
• How did Frenchy manage to gain access to the Emerald Triangle?
• Why is  the Emerald Triangle so special?
• What is the purpose of Frenchy’s “Lost Art of the Hashishin” workshops?
• How to make apparition work in the cannabis world?
• Can Northern California become the Bordeaux of cannabis?
• How important is tradition in hash making?
• How is science helping Frenchy?
• What will the cannabis industry look like when Europe legalizes?
• How can you make yourself relevant in the cannabis industry?

Links:

• Frenchy Cannoli - www.frenchycannoli.com
• Frenchy Dreams of Hashish (Documentary) - www.frenchydreamsofhashish.com
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/frenchycannoli/?hl=en
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgeIHacD5YcF8DISyGrDr6g
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frenchy-cannoli-146175118/

Similar Episodes:
#17 - The Importance of Activism in The Cannabis Industry - Mike Wise
#26 - Cooking With Cannabis and Other Psychoactive Ingredients - Noah Tucker from High Cuisine
#42 - What Does a Ganjier Course Look Like? - Max Simon from Green Flower

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Brian Hart. He is a financial and business specialist in the cannabis industry and has a consulting firm called The Hart Group. Brian is also a project manager at Canna Advisors, a cannabis business consulting firm that has been leading the cannabis industry in the US since 2013 and is one of the industry’s most recognised and trusted consultancies. They help guide entrepreneurs and startups trying to enter the cannabis industry, as well as existing companies trying to expand and grow their businesses.

Brian grew up in the states and is half American and half German. He did his masters in Germany and wrote his thesis on how the German cannabis industry might develop in comparison to the US, using different models.

We discuss a whole range of topics regarding the cannabis industry. But, the overarching theme is the comparison between the current cannabis market in the US and the up-and-coming cannabis market in Germany. 

Brian, being both American and German, is in the unique position of understanding the society, the culture, and the situation in both places in regard to cannabis, as well as their pros and cons and what the future of cannabis in Germany might look like.

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com

Canna Advisors - www.thinkcanna.com

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hart-23754914/

Related podcast episodes:

#45 - Will Germany Legalise Cannabis in 2022? - Marguerite Arnold

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Leonid Kotlyar. He is the Managing Director of DéWarrior Unlimited, a seed-to-IPO management consulting firm dedicated to the cannabis (and hemp) industry. He leads a team of strategy and management advisors focusing on creating a sustainable and regenerative cannabis industry.

The main topic of this episode is ESG and how the cannabis industry can benefit from it. ESG (an acronym for Environmental, Social, and Governance) is becoming ever more critical in all types of industries. So why should the cannabis industry be any different? Fortunately, some companies, such as DéWarrior Unlimited, promote sustainable and regenerative business practices. And they are doing great things in the cannabis and hemp space. By being intensely data-driven and using their proprietary methodology, Leonid and his team can drive advanced ESG+ compliance and recognition for all types of engagements.

So if you’re interested in learning how the cannabis industry can benefit from ESG or how to integrate more sustainable practices into your business model to help generate more profit, then give this episode a listen.

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Ben Stevens, the Chief Reporter and Editor at BusinessCann, a European online media news platform providing cannabis business news. BusinessCann is one of the brands of Prohibition Partners, which is a British company providing in-depth reports and statistics on different cannabis markets across the globe, with a strong focus on Europe. They also run a cannabis conference in London called Cannabis Europa.

Ben explains how he got into the cannabis industry and what different topics in the cannabis space BusinessCann covers. However, the main topic of this episode is JuicyFields. Everyone in the industry is talking about it and Ben wrote a whole article on the matter. So we thought it would be great to get him on the show, to let him explain to us what really happened and how the whole thing is still unravelling.

On this episode, Tom shares his thoughts on the ICBC (International Cannabis Business Conference) and HamCan, two b2b cannabis events taking place in Berlin and Hamburg, respectively. Smells Like Business had the pleasure of being a media partner for both. Unfortunately, due to Covid, Tom could not attend HamCan but got feedback from others in the cannabis community who did attend and from Lenny Roots (the founder himself). 

Fortunately, Tom recovered in time for the ICBC in Berlin, the largest b2b cannabis event in Europe and one of the largest in the world. He explains what it’s like to attend such events, what you can expect to get out of them, and (ultimately) if it is worth spending the money to participate. The short answer is, yes, it most certainly is. But, come prepared and try to set up as many meetings beforehand as possible. If you want to hear the long answer, then listen to the episode. 

Other topics discussed:

• What were the conferences like at ICBC?
• How prepared should you be for a cannabis conference?
• Is it worth attending other events and parties that are organised around ICBC?
• Are cannabis events great for networking?
• Is there a big difference between b2b and b2c events?
• Was this the first edition of HamCan?
• Does the ICBC have an expo?
• Who is Ben Dronkers?
• Who is Frenchy Cannoli?
• What is Ispire?
• Who is Marguerite Arnold?

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com
HamCan LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/hamcan/
ICBC LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/internationalcbc/ 

Related podcast episodes:

#58 - ICBC: Bringing Cannabis Businesses Together In Europe - Alex Rogers
#56 - HamCan: The First Cannabis Conference in Hamburg - Lenny Roots
#04 - The Story of Frenchy Cannoli - Frenchy Cannoli

On this episode, Tom is having a chat with Alex Rogers, the CEO and owner of the ICBC - International Cannabis Business Conference. The ICBC produces the largest cannabis B2B event in Europe and is attended by cannabis executives, entrepreneurs and policymakers from over 80 different countries, who are looking for world-class networking and investment opportunities. Alex explains what is on the ICBC agenda and what you can expect to gain as an attendee.

Alex also shares some stories from his colourful cannabis past where he was at the forefront of the cannabis movement in the US, sharing ideas and working with Jack Herer, Denis Peron and many more.

So if you’re in the cannabis industry (or looking to enter it) and want to learn more about how the European cannabis industry is developing, then this episode is definitely for you!

 Other topics discussed:

• Who will be speaking at the ICBC Berlin event?
• What does the ICBC agenda look like?
• What kind of different events does the ICBC organise in Europe?
• Why should cannabis businesses attend the ICBC?
• How many people attend the ICBC?
• What was it like working for the High Times in the 90’s?
• What is the Cannabis Cup?
• How will Germany move forward with full legalisation?
• Why did Alex move to Europe from the USA in the 90’s?
• Why has Alex recently moved all his business to Europe?
• Who is Jack Herer?
• Who is Denis Peron?
• Who is Ben Dronkers?
• Who is Burkhard Blienert?
• What was it like to tour with Cypress Hill as a hemp activist?
• Why is it important to acknowledge the pioneers of the cannabis and hemp movement?
• How important is it to be a cannabis advocate if you want to succeed in the cannabis industry?

Links:

Smells Like Business - www.smellslikebusiness.com

ICBC - www.internationalcbc.com

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/internationalcbc/

Instagram - @internationalcbc