CanopyBoulder is the only business accelerator/incubator and investment fund for ancillary cannabis & hemp/CBD companies. Since 2014, we’ve watched our more than 115 alumni companies raise close to $140 million from a wide variety of sources including angel investors, family offices, private equity funds, and hedge funds.
MENTORSHIP
CAPITAL
COMMUNITY
BRAND RECOGNITION
RAPID GROWTH
OUR PROGRAMS
Incubator and Acceleator programs support growth-stage ancillary cannabis and hemp/CBD businesses with capital, strategic guidance and access to networks
Currently not accepting applications
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
We focus on ancillary products and services start-ups with an eye on big ideas with big ramifications for the industry. CanopyBoulder accepts applications from all ancillary cannabis and hemp/CBD businesses, including, but not limited to the following:
TECH
Ground breaking technology that changes the current process
HEMP/CBD
Strong brands that can quickly capture market share
SOFTWARE
Applications and software programs applicable to the cannabis industry
DATA
Consumer and B2B big data will drive future decision-making
MARKETING
Solutions for getting information about, and to, consumers
BUSINESS SERVICES
Services and products to support the growth of the industry
TESTIMONIALS
This is an industry that is just generally speaking, weird. There are a lot of standard industry practices and regulations that not only don't make any sense but that you couldn't see coming from a mile away even if you were looking very closely. Working with Canopy to get a good understanding of the industry from both the regulatory and standard practices procedure sides of things has been really beneficial.
STEVE MARTIN | CEO Redfield Proctor
Being out in VA, not having those connections, I can immediately see the benefit of joining an accelerator to kind of push the business way far ahead of what I could ever have been in Virginia and not being in Colorado. I knew if I was serious about being in the space, I needed to find a network to make it easier for me and Canopy has definitely made it easier for me
EBONY COSTAIN | CEO, BDTNDR
Canopy has helped us connect us with people who can help with [our] weaknesses which has been a really great thing to have
KALI WILDER | Co-Founder, EstroHaze
FAQs
Get your burning questions answered!
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What Programs do you offer?
We offer 2 main programs: a Growth Incubator for growth-stage ancillary cannabis companies generating revenue and actively growing, and an Accelerator Program designed for early-stage Hemp/CBD & Ancillary cannabis companies.
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How much do you invest?
The amount we invest changes. However, we invest anywhere between $100,000 and $250,000, minus 20-30% program fee.
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What equity do you take for your investment?
For the Growth Incubator - in return for capital , services, and other perks, we take a small ownership stake in each company. Fair investment terms will be negotiated between CanopyBoulder and participating companies.
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What types of companies do you fund in the Growth Incubator?
Our Growth incubator is focused on ancillary cannabis product and service companies with strong teams, innovative solutions and sales. The ideal companies for the Growth Incubator are those with growing sales who would like to scale more rapidly and double revenues.
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What types of companies do you fund in the Accelerator Progeam?
Our Accelerator program is focused on ancillary cannabis product and service companies & hemp/CBD businesses with strong teams, innovative solutions and some initial product-market fit or traction.
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What companies specifically has CanopyBoulder invested in?
We've invested in over 115 companies since 2015. Get a complete and searchable list of our portfolio companies.
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Who are your partners and why should I care?
We partner with the Arcview Group, which gives our teams access to over 750 angel investors who are proactively looking to invest in cannabis companies.
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Can I work while in the program?
We are looking for entrepreneurs who are fully dedicated to their business. Which means we expect founders to be working on their business while in the program. However, this also means we don't accept companies where founders are splitting their time between multiple jobs.
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Who are your mentors?
To get a complete list of our mentors, click here
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We've already been working on our company for a while, is the CanopyBoulder for us?
Our goal is to help take you to the next level in your business. Our programs are ideal for businesses with traction that would like to rapidly scale growth and sales.
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We've already taken some funding, can we still apply?
Definitely. Assuming you are pre-series A, we can probably help you.
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We don't need the money, does it make sense for us to apply?
The money is only a small part of what the CanopyBoulder Growth Incubator does. The program also offers support, mentorship and access to a large network of industry leaders.
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How many companies do you accept each session?
This varies depending on which program is open. Traditionally, we take 10 teams for our in-depth Accelerator program and 4 teams for our virtual, 4-week Growth Incubator.
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Do we need to write a business plan?
No. We want to see a short pitch deck/plan that shows the basics of your idea, your founding team, and the vision for the next few years. Show us why and how you can grow this idea into a multi-million dollar business. Team – Traction -- Vision – Product/Service.
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Can we be part of the Growth Incubator without moving to the Boulder area?
Yes! In light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we've moved all programs to 100% virtual, meaning you can participate from anywhere!
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Will you sign an NDA? How can I know you won't steal my idea?
No, we do not sign NDAs. No venture firm would at this stage. We hear so many ideas on a daily basis that it would be impossible to keep who said what in order. We are in the business of helping entrepreneurs, so our reputation is the incentive we have to try our best to protect the ideas you share with us.
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Why does CanopyBoulder want stock in each company?
As an entrepreneur your goal is to see your company succeed, and by having ownership in your company, we make sure that our goals are aligned. This also ensures that our relationship does not end when the program finishes.
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