Narbé Alexandrian is the President and CEO of Riv Capital, a venture capital firm in Canada specializing in cannabis. In this episode, Narbé walks us through building capital for sustainable cannabis business and the state of the Canadian cannabis market.
[00:01 – 17:52] Riv Capital’s Background and the Canadian Cannabis Market
[17:53 – 25:09] The Different Cannabinoids and the Vital Role of Research for the Industry
[25:10 – 32:20] Medicinal and Recreational Use, and Vertical Integration in the Industry
[32:21 – 37:08] Accessibility of Licenses in the Canadian Cannabis Market
[37:09 – 43:12] Riv Capital and Canopy Growth News
[43:13 – 50:36] Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Narbé Alexandrian is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Canopy Rivers, a venture capital firm specializing in cannabis. Prior to joining Canopy Rivers, Narbé was a Senior Associate at OMERS Ventures, one of the most prominent technology venture capital funds in Canada. During his tenure, Narbé helped fundraise for two funds ($520M of capital), sourced and lead multiple debt/equity financings, and acted as a Board Observer for a number of portfolio companies. Prior to OMERS Ventures, Narbé was a Senior Strategy Manager in TELUS’ Internet of Things (IoT) group where he helped launch operational go-to-market strategies to TELUS’ executive leadership team. He has also held roles at Firmex Inc., a leading virtual data room company based in Toronto, and Deloitte LLP, where he held roles in Financial Advisory and Consulting (fka Monitor Deloitte). Follow Narbé on Twitter @narbe87 and Canopy Rivers on Instagram @canopyriversinc. You can also visit their website.
Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi
Tweetable Quotes:
“If you’re a business in the US in a limited license state and you got your license, and you’re operating. At the back of your mind, you need to understand that in the long-term, your license doesn’t mean sh*t.” – Narbé Alexandrian
“The difference between strong CPG brands and weak CPG brands really comes down to how management of the company understands the consumer.” – Narbé Alexandrian
Resources Mentioned:
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031 Top North American Cannabis Trends and Talking Canadian Cannabis Investing with Narbé Alexandrian of Riv Capital