Gateway Open Office Hours

In this shortened holiday episode, Ben and Carter talk about preparing your business for the California’s adult legal market in 2018. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our festive studio audience—during the live show on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH. Like us on Facebook to get notified when we go live each week, or visit OfficeHours.tv, where you can subscribe to our YouTube channel or podcast.

This week, Ben welcomes industry icon Debby Goldsberry, co-founder of the Berkeley Patients Group, Executive Director of Magnolia Wellness, and author of “The Idiot’s Guide to Starting & Running a Cannabis Business.” We discuss Debby’s 30-year journey as a leader in the cannabis industry and get advice about operating a business in the era of legal, regulated cannabis. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our intrepid studio audience—during the live show on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH. Like us on Facebook to get notified when we go live each week, or visit OfficeHours.tv, where you can subscribe to our YouTube channel or podcast.

This week, Ben and Carter are joined by Jamie Feaster, VP of Marketing at Eaze and the company’s very first employee. We’ll ask Jamie to give cannabis founders some actionable advice when it comes to online marketing, and we’ll pick his brain for insights into the future of California’s cannabis market. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our conveniently delivered studio audience—during the live show on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH. Like us on Facebook to get notified when we go live each week, or visit OfficeHours.tv, where you can subscribe to our YouTube channel or podcast.

This week, Ben and Carter chat with Louis Cirillo and Matt Kummer, co-founders of ARC Innovations. As a serial hardware entrepreneur, Lou will talk about how to go from concept to prototype to mass production. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our injection molded studio audience—during the live show on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH. Like us on Facebook to get notified when we go live each week, or subscribe to our YouTube channel (archive.gtwy.co) or podcast (podcast.gtwy.co).

This week, Ben and Carter welcome back Kieran Ringgenberg from Ringgenberg law. We’ll unpack California’s latest “emergency” cannabis regulations, so listen up if you’re struggling to navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our completely unregulated studio audience—during the live show on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH. Like us on Facebook to get notified when we go live each week, or subscribe to our YouTube channel (archive.gtwy.co) or podcast (podcast.gtwy.co).

Happy Thanksgiving! This week, Ben and Carter discuss the Abundance Mindset, and how focusing on competition can undermine your company’s success in a growing market. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our tryptophan-stuffed studio audience—during the live show on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH. Like us on Facebook to get notified when we go live each week, or subscribe to our YouTube channel (archive.gtwy.co) or podcast (podcast.gtwy.co).

Wanna build the next great cannabis company? You’ll need to attract and engage a loyal fan base that actually buys your product. This week, Ben welcomes Chikodi Chima of MoonshotPR.com and Guillermo Bravo of Foottraffik.co. They’ll demystify marketing and show how mission-driven content and digital strategy can help you find consumers and convert them into sales. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our well marketed studio audience—during the live show on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH. Like us on Facebook to get notified when we go live each week, or subscribe to our YouTube channel (archive.gtwy.co) or podcast (podcast.gtwy.co).

[This episode originally aired 10 November 2017] Happy Veteran’s Day friends! We’re pleased to welcome to the show today Garrett Ruhland of Biomarker.io. As cannabis becomes more respected for its medicinal applications, and with the ever increasing attention from the FDA, understanding the true efficacy of products is of the utmost importance. Join us as we discover how Biomarker is attempting to solve this problem, and see how Ben digs into the nuts and bolts of building a startup trying to solve a BIG problem. Please leave us your questions, comments, and reviews here on Facebook, Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc), or wherever it is you find us.

Boom! This week, Silicon Valley icon Adeo Ressi joins Ben and Carter to talk about founder psychology, and how to make the decision to become a founder in the first place. As founder of The Funded and The Founder Institute, Adeo has worked with countless entrepreneurs at the very earliest stage of their journies and is in a unique position to share guidance with anyone considering starting a company of their own. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our judgmental studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter are joined by Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient Joe Vasquez, co-founder of StartX and The Human Potential, and director of the Runway Incubator and the Michelson Runway Accelerator. We’ll ask him about his experience helping early stage founders to access critical resources needed to build thier companies. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben is joined by Purva Gupta, founder and CEO of Lily. We’ve had the oppotunity to follow Purva’s entrepreneurial journey from the very beginning and she has always impressed us with her hustle, as a first-time, non-technical, female, immigrant founder, you could say the deck was stacked against her. She’s never made any excuses and has never slowed down. Hear her story here. As always, you can reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome Eric Eslao, founder and CEO of Défoncé. We’ll chat with him about building a well-designed CPG brand, as well as the challenges of manufacturing products in the cannabis industry. As always, you can reach out to us—ou à notre public de studio défoncé—here on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome Jim McAlpine, founder of 420 Games, New West Summit, CannAthlete, and SnowBomb. We’ll talk to Jim about his mission to destigmatize cannabis and garner participation from outside the industry. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our destigmatized studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Carter welcomes serial entrepreneur David Hyman to the show. As former CEO of Gracenote, founder and CEO of MOG and CEO of Beats Music, David shares his secrets to success. We also discuss lessons leared from the failure of his most recent project, Blin.gy. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our melodic studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter (@gatewayvc) or Instagram (@gateway.vc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome Nitin Pachisia, Founding Partner at Unshackled Ventures. We’ll talk about common challenges facing early stage founders, as well as difficulties unique to those founders facing immigration issues in the US. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our unrestrained studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, prodigal son Marshall Hayner, founder of Metal (metalpaysme.com) shleps all the way accross the Bay Bridge to come home. Ben and Carter will chat with him about the cryptocurrency bubble, regulations, and his whilrwind journey as a founder. As always, you can HODL, and you reach out to us—or to our cryptographically authenticated studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome back the man with two first names: Brandon David. As a friend, ally, and host of web shows “Infusion” and “Investing in Cannabis,” Brandon will talk about how to build an audience and compelling voice online. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our mildly infused studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

Bad-ass Oakland attorney Kieran Ringgenberg of Ringgenberg Law returns to the show this week to help Carter and Ben make sense of California’s SB-94 and its impact on the emerging industry. As always, you can reach out to us—or to our legally compliant studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben redeems himself by returning to the studio to help Carter grill Bill Kerr, founder of Vertical, on brand strategy. We’ll talk to him about his experience building premium mainstream brands, as well as using brand and packaging to differentiate your product in the increasingly crowded cannabis CPG environment. As always, you can reach out to us—or our trademarked and well-packaged studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

Suffering acutely from Ben’s repeated abandonment, Carter flies solo today, welcoming Claudio Miranda from Guild Enterprises. We’ll explore how partnerships and brand licensing can be used to help navigate the uncertain and barrier-ridden legal landscape for cannabis businesses. As always, you can reach out to us—or our unlicensed studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome Max Savage Levenson, producer and manager of cannabis activism podcast “The Hash.” We’ll explore the how the changing legal and cultural landscape has impacted—and will continue to impact—the existing cannabis ecosystem. As always, you can reach out to us—or our savage studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome Eric Bahn, founder of Hustle Con and Hustle Fund. We’ll chat with them about his experience as a successful founder and angel investor, and how his new venture fund makes investment decisions. As always, you can reach out to us—or the hustlers in our studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome back Madeline Duva from Drop, Fluxx, Tracker, Carbine, and more. Hardware may be hard, but Madeline will make it easier by offering advice to hardware founders and angels looking to fund them. As always, you can reach out to us—or our perpetually difficult studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome Ellen Holland, Senior Editor of CannabisNow, and industry legend and “guru of ganja” Ed Rosenthal. We’ll discuss how the cannbis industry has evolved and what founders and operators need to know to navigate the changing waters. As always, you can reach out to us—or our ever evolving studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome Emily and Morgan Paxhia, Managing Directors of award-winning Poseidon Asset Management, one of the most active investment firms in the cannabis industry. We’ll chat with them about how they make investment decisions, overall strategy, and the future of cannabis. As always, you can reach out to us—or our nautically astute studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter host a truly “Open” Office Hours. They’ll field questions from—and give advice to—founders live from the Gateway studio. As always, if you can’t join us in person, you can reach out to us—or our inquisitive studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

VapeXhale founder, Seibo Shen, joins Gateway Office Hours this week to teach Ben how to elevate his performance at work, in life, and as a dad! Founder, stuntman, cannathlete, cannaDAD, Seibo manages many roles and offers insights on how you can too. As always, you can reach out to us—or our elevated studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

Ben returns! This week, Carter interviews new father and old founder coach Ben Larson. We’ll talk about laying the groundwork for being a founder: what you need to do before you can start. As always, you can whisper to us—or our newly relocated studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Carter interviews Dr. Andrew Kerklaan, aka “Dr. K,” founder of ECS Biomed. We’ll discuss how he approached starting a cannabis-based topical company, the challenges he’s faced, and the difference between the Canadian and US markets. As always, you can reach out to us—or our pain-free studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, while Ben struggles with his uncertain but fulfilling future, Carter interviews JP Martin and Darwin Hunt, co-founders of GrowX. We’ll talk about challenges they faced and lessons learned over the course of their journey from ideation to funding. As always, you can reach out to us—or our pesticide-free studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter interview Justin Lokitz, Managing Director of Business Models Inc. in San Francisco. We’ll talk about his recent book, Design a Better Business, and how he and his co-authors advise early stage companies on business strategy. As always, you can reach out to Carter, Ben—or our carefully designed studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter interview Pamela Hadfield, co-founder of HelloMD. We’ll talk about their recent fundraising strategy and plans for the future. As always, you can reach out to Carter, Ben—or our sporadically dedicated studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter present the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything. Now all you have to do is figure out the question. As always, you can reach out to Carter, Ben—or our increasingly confused studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter discuss how founders can better focus, and what day-to-day habits they can employ to help. As always, you can reach out to Carter, Ben—or our dedicated, focused, studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter welcome Liz Conway from Gide to discuss the recently released draft of California’s upcoming cannabis regulation. Find out how future rules may effect your business, and how to oppose more onerous aspects of the rules before they become set in stone. Reach out to Carter, Ben—or our growing cadre of rebel insurgents led by young Luke—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben (and the disembodied voice of Carter) welcome Isaac Roth and Vu Lam from Anresco Labs to discuss the importance of reliable lab analytics in the cannabis industry. Anresco has been providing reliable and accurate services for the food industry for over 70 years, and now a significant part of their business is analyzing cannabis products. Reach out to Carter, Ben—or our ever expanding studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Carter interviews Ben Larson, who apparently runs an accelerator for cannabis startups when he’s not galavanting around Europe. Ben and Carter discuss the importance of hustle for early stage founders. Reach out to Carter, Ben—or our unusually attractive studio audience—here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben threatens the future of Gateway—and possibly civilzation itself—by remaining absent for the second consecutive show. Meanwhile, on a quest to prove that Ben isn’t necessary after all, Carter chats with Brian Holmes from First Ascent Associates about early stage investing. Plus, we arm the studio audience with microphones. A microphone. Whatever, who’s counting? Reach out to Carter, Brian, or the live studio audience here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

While Ben is off hustling at Valley in Berlin, Carter sits down with Mike and Pete, founders of GOOD Co-op to talk startups, cannabis, and accelerators. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week Ben and Carter discuss what happens after the pitch. Lots of founders put a lot of effort into pitching their company, but do little to manage potential investor relationships after that. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week Ben Grambergu joins us to talk about how startups can work with and get covered by the press. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week Chelsey McKrill from Synchronicity joins us to share her cannabis startup experience and advice. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter talk about builidng your basic online presence as a startup. Find an overview of tools and templates to use here: gtwy.co/templates and reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Alissa Cohan from ACi Licensing joins us to discuss brand and celebrity licensing in the cannabis industry. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Andrea Unsworth, founder of StashTwist and SuperNova joins us to share her experience as a cannabis activist and founder. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH. #iamcannabis

This week, we broadcast live from ICBC in San Francisco! Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, executive and founder coach Iris Charabi-Berggren joins us to share her thoughts about maintining your sanity. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter discuss startup legal issues from a founder’s perspective. We’re not lawyers, but we play ones on TV! Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Ben and Carter discuss naming your startup as well as your “pre-pitch,” or prerequisite knowledge you need to master before you even start building a pitch for your company. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, we talk about sales for startups. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.

This week, Seth Adler from the CannEconomy podcast joins us to share his learnings from over 200 episodes. Reach out to us here on Facebook, or via Twitter or Instagram (@gtwyinc) with questions or comments using the hashtag #GatewayOH.