On this episode Tom is having a chat with João Melo, the CEO and Founder of Open Grow. João talks about his 6 year long journey into the entrepreneurial world and his passion for creating agricultural automation systems. João also tells us about the challenges a startup selling physical products faces, shares the lessons he has learned along the way and expresses his views on cannabis legalisation in Portugal and Europe.

Other topics discussed:

• What is Open Grow?
• What is GroLab™?
• What are the benefits of having an automated growing system?
• What was João’s first entrepreneurial project?
• Why did João start his own company?
• What is the biggest challenge when starting a business with a physical product?
• Why is it important to customise a growth system to your specific needs?
• What are the benefits of doing everything in-house instead of outsourcing?
• How to make sure you are accessible to your customers?
• What is Open Grow working on now?
• How is the company different now from when it started?
• How to find places to sell your product?
• What is the role of events in the cannabis industry?
• What is the current attitude towards cannabis in Portugal?
• Why is it so important to decriminalise cannabis?

Links:
Smells Like Business - Copywriting
LinkedIn - Smells Like Business
Instagram - @smellslikebusiness

Open Grow
LinkedIn - Open Grow
Facebook - Open Grow
Instagram - @opengrow

Similar Episodes:
#14 - How I Opened the First CBD Store in the UK - Joe Oliver from LDN CBD
#36 - Hemp and Medical Cannabis in Portugal - Humberto J. Nogueira
#48 - For a Free Cannabis Market in France - Daniel Kaddik from ELF

Cannabis events mentioned:
Spannabis
Cannafest

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Hana Gabrielova, the CEO and Founder of Hempoint. Hana started her life-long hemp journey after reading “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” by Jack Herer. It changed the way she looked at hemp and it’s potential to change the world. Hana created Hempoint with the purpose of producing the highest quality organic hemp and distributing organic hemp seeds to farmers around the world. Coming from a background of activism she is now involved in different initiatives advising multiple organizations and governments on how hemp can help us save the planet.

Other topics discussed:

• How did Hana’s hemp journey start?
• What does Hempoint do?
• Is Europe experiencing a hemp revival? 
• Does the hemp industry need EU standards and guidelines?
• Why did the EU introduce Novel Food regulations for CBD?
• Is the hemp industry responsible enough?
• How should the hemp industry be regulated? 
• What should you do if you want to start growing hemp in Europe?
• How to choose the right seeds for growing hemp?
• Is Hemp the answer to the European Green Deal? 
• What is slowing down the hemp industry in Europe?
• Does the EU free-trade agreement apply to hemp?
• What countries in Europe are leading the hemp industry?
• Where does Europe get its hemp seeds from?
• What is the future of the hemp industry in Europe?
• How can hemp help us  create a better and more sustainable planet?

Links:
Smells Like Business - Copywriting
LinkedIn - Smells Like Business
Instagram - @smellslikebusiness

Hempoint
LinkedIn - Hempoint
Facebook - Hempoint

Hemp The Climate
Hemp Today
Czech Hemp

Similar Episodes:
#16 - Life of a Swedish Hemp Farmer - John Hedström from Hooly Hemp
#23 - Photographing Hemp Projects Around the World - Maren Krings
#39 - Creating Unified Standards for the Cannabis Industry - Brett Puffenbarger from FOCUS
#47 - Is Europe Moving Forward With Cannabis Legalisation? - Marguerite Arnold

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Craig Henderson, the CEO of Extract Labs. After getting fired from his full-time job, Craig decided to take his career into his own hands and opened a CBD extraction company in Colorado. Craig talks about the hardship of starting a company and how his need to help people helped him grow his business from a one-man show in his garage to a multi-million dollar company.

Other topics discussed:

• How did Craig end up working with cannabis?
• What did Craig learn from working with various cbd start-ups?
• How was it to transition from the military, to having a job, to being your own boss?
• How did the business grow so fast?
• Why does Extract Labs keep everything in-house?
• What were the biggest challenges Craig faced when starting a business?
• How important is it to have a mission when starting a company?
• What is white labelling and is it a good way to enter the cannabis industry?
• What is the difference between broad spectrum CBD, full spectrum CBD and CBD isolate?
• Why did Extract Labs enter the European cannabis market?
• Europe vs North America - what are the differences in the CBD market?
• Does it pay off to start a cannabis business during risky times?

Links:
Smells Like Business - Copywriting
LinkedIn - Smells Like Business
Instagram - @smellslikebusiness

Extract Labs
LinkedIn - Extract Labs
Facebook - Extract Labs
Youtube- Extract Labs
Instagram - @extractlabs

Similar Episodes:
#12 - From Polish Pioneer to European Leader - Jacek Kramarz from HemPoland
#14 - How I Opened the First CBD Store in the UK - Joe Oliver from LDN CBD
#20 - Bridging the Gap From Bong to Boardroom - Brett Puffenbarger from Vanguard Scientific | CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
#32 - Should You Start Selling CBD Oil in Europe?

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Frenchy Cannoli, a master hashishin and a cannabis legend who is sadly no longer with us. Frenchy shares his life story and explains how his cannabis experiences have played such an important role in his life. He also gives tips and tricks on what you can do to stay relevant in the cannabis industry, as well as 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 important is appellation 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 legalises?
• How can you make yourself relevant in the cannabis industry?

Links:
Smells Like Business - Copywriting
LinkedIn - Smells Like Business
Instagram - @smellslikebusiness

Frenchy Cannoli
LinkedIn - Frenchy Cannoli Brand
Facebook - Frenchy Cannoli
Instagram - @frenchycannoli

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 Kevin Rebelo Lopes, one of the Hempzon Co-Founders. Kevin updates us on the latest developments on cannabis legalisation in Luxembourg, and shares an insight on what it takes to start and run a large cannabis expo in Europe.

Other topics discussed:

• How did Hempzon manage to convince their government to allow them to have a cannabis expo?
• What is the current state of the CBD market in Luxembourg?
• What are the challenges of working with exhibitors from various European countries?
• What impact does the new  novel food EU regulation have on CBD shops in Luxembourg?
• How is Covid-19 impacting the cannabis expo industry?
• What is the role of networking for new cannabis businesses?
• Is Luxembourg really legalising recreational cannabis?
• What is the cannabis culture in Luxembourg?

Links:
Smells Like Business - Copywriting
LinkedIn - Smells Like Business
Instagram - @smellslikebusiness

Hempzon
Facebook - Hempzon
Instagram - @hempzon_official

Similar Episodes:
#21 - How Was 2020 for Cannabis and CBD in Europe?
#56 - HamCan: The First Cannabis Conference in Hamburg - Lenny Roots from HamCan
#58 - ICBC: Bringing Cannabis Businesses Together In Europe - Alex Rogers from ICBC

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Barbara Novak and Katarina Simonic from Hemptouch, a Slovenian cosmetics company that uses hemp, CBD and other natural ingredients in their products. Barbara (Head of Research and Development) and Katarina (Regional Sales Manager) tell us about the origins of Hemptouch and how they incorporate the WHOLE hemp plant into their skin care products. 

Barbara explains how hemp and other natural ingredients can help treat the skin, as well as what role CBD plays. Katarina talks about how the company grew from the Slovenian market to selling products all over Europe. They also share some tips on how not to get fooled by misleading labels. 

Other topics discussed:

• What is the history of hemp in Slovenia?
• What is the Endocannabinoid System?
• Which skin issues can hemp and CBD help with?
• Can you replace your steroid creams with CBD?
• What is hemp hydrosol (also known as hemp hydrolate)?
• Are all hemp products equal?
• How does Hemptouch conduct R&D?
• What role can CBD play in the future of skin cosmetics?
• Should more natural cosmetics be available on the European market?

Links:

Smells Like Business - Copywriting
LinkedIn - Smells Like Business
Instagram - @smellslikebusiness

Hemptouch
LinkedIn - Hemptouch
Facebook - Hemptouch
Instagram - @hemptouch

Similar Episodes:
#14 - How I Opened the First CBD Store in the UK - Joe Oliver from LDN CBD
#25 - How Important Is It to Be Transparent in the CBD Industry? - Davina Kaonohi from Element Apothec
#32 - Should You Start Selling CBD Oil in Europe?
#34 - A Quick Guide to CBD - Dr. Julie Moltke

On this episode Tom is having a chat with Joe Oliver, one of the Fair Cann Directors. Joe tells us about how he ended up opening the first CBD high street shop in the UK, and why he decided to dedicate his time and energy to fight for sustainability and fair trade practices in the cannabis industry. 

Other topics discussed:

• What is FairCann? 
• What is the secret of a successful CBD retail business?
• What does fair trade mean in the cannabis industry?
• How can we achieve global sustainability standards across the industry?
• Are big companies from North America going to dominate the European cannabis market?
• Can cannabis be patented?
• Is provenance the future of cannabis in Europe?
• What is the future of micro farming in Europe?
• What challenges will the industry in Europe face in the near future?
• Who will legalise next?

Links:
Smells Like Business - Copywriting
LinkedIn - Smells Like Business
Instagram - @smellslikebusiness

Fair Cann
LDN CBD
LinkedIn - LDN CBD
Facebook - LDN CBD
Instagram - @ldncbd

Similar Episodes:
#14 - How I Opened the First CBD Store in the UK - Joe Oliver from LDN CBD
#39 - Creating Unified Standards for the Cannabis Industry - Brett Puffenbarger from FOCUS
#47 - Is Europe Moving Forward With Cannabis Legalisation? - Marguerite Arnold
#48 - For a Free Cannabis Market in France - Daniel Kaddik from ELF
#51 - Transparency and Traceability in the European Cannabis Industry - Luc Richner from Cannavigia