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The subtle themes of resiliency and readiness in cannabis were woven throughout this year\u2019s Chicago iteration of the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, taking place June 8-10. Most brands in attendance weren\u2019t just the ones that managed to survive the industry amidst economic downturns. Rather, the brands showing up to network were in fact thriving<\/em>.<\/p>\n An apparent shift in business also took place at Benzinga. In the past, most companies attended the invite-only event to shake hands with potential investors and hopefully secure capital commitments to launch a promising cannabis business idea. However, most of the brands in Chicago were already past that phase, having already earned investment and launched their businesses. Instead of seeking investment, they arrived at Benzinga<\/a> looking to learn from all the bright minds in the room and to grow through partnerships and creative collabs.<\/p>\n Cannabis Now met with several reputable brands at Benzinga Chicago to learn how they manage to maintain success, and what advice they have for navigating the complexities of the cannabis industry. Here are some insightful takeaways from just a few of our conversations:<\/p>\n Kristi Palmer, co-founder and president of <\/strong>Kiva Confections<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> Palmer believes Kiva\u2019s continued success comes down to its wide range of products, which includes not just edibles, but also pre-rolls, vapes and flower. Staying firm on payment terms\u2014even when it\u2019s not the easiest path\u2014has also been a big part of keeping the business strong.<\/p>\n \u201cA retailer can stop buying Kiva, but edibles still make up a small percentage of the market and of total sales in a dispensary. But flower, vape, pre-roll\u2014it\u2019s pretty hard for a retailer to say goodbye to all those products,\u201d Palmer explained, speaking to the power of their portfolio, which has helped position Kiva as one of California\u2019s only remaining distributors. And when it comes to payment terms, Palmer is clear that for the health of their business, they \u201chave to draw a hard line in the sand.\u201d<\/p>\n Howard Lee, CEO of <\/strong>S\u014dRSE Technology<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> Lee shared that his team works hard to keep costs low and stay prepared for any potential revenue dips, with the goal of staying profitable\u2014even when the market gets tough. He also discussed how important it is to back up their products and services with real data and science, something he feels really sets them apart from competitors who often lack that level of credibility.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have so many people who copy us, but they don\u2019t copy us enough to make it right,\u201d Lee explains. \u201cSo, what we can show people is real data. Most of the other teams that are competing against us don\u2019t have the data backing up their science.\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin Koby, CEO of <\/strong>Abstrax Tech<\/strong><\/a>: Abstrax Tech is the leading source of botanical terpenes and flavors for the cannabis market. Despite Abstrax\u2019 success within this niche, the brand is continually seeking ways to innovate and evolve to stay relevant. Koby expects the cannabis industry will keep experiencing highs and lows, but the operators who are best positioned will come out on top.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really hard in the cannabis industry, and pressure makes diamonds, so we discovered some technology that we think will be applicable to the broader flavor industry,\u201d Koby says, adding that Abstrax is entering the brewing industry with the new tech to broaden their business model. \u201cThere are lots of ups and downs in the cannabis industry, so we are trying to diversify a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Brand leaders share why they keep coming back to Benzinga\u2014and what stood out in Chicago this month.<\/p>\n Cameron Forni<\/a>, CEO and Founder of Adaptaphoria and Global Can Beverage (GCB), announced the launch of his new fast-acting beverage brand Adaptaphoria<\/a> at Benzinga Chicago, leading to significant sales and positive media attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been two and a half years of development on this brand and beverage and formulation. So that\u2019s kept me from a lot of events,\u201d Forni shares. \u201cSo, this is the first time we\u2019re coming out here, announcing it, and honestly, it\u2019s been reinvigorating. It\u2019s been exciting. We did over $50,000 in sales just yesterday from people trying it, and we got a ton of positive press, positive attention. I couldn\u2019t be happier. The Benzinga Capital Conference went incredibly well for us.<\/p>\n Seth Yakatan<\/a>, co-founder of Katan Associates<\/a>, spoke on a panel called \u201cThe Next Generation: Making a Case for Mid-Market Investability.\u201d With more than 35 years in cannabis, Yakatan helps people buy and sell companies and raise capital. Currently, he says he\u2019s focused on three main areas: \u201cI keep my eye on the pharmaceutical business, the wellness business\u2014broadly speaking\u2014and the cannabis business.\u201d<\/p>\n Yakatan attends as many Benzinga events as possible, finding them highly beneficial for meeting high-level decision-makers and efficiently connecting with people from various markets without having to travel extensively. \u201c[Benzinga] has been a phenomenal supporter of mine and an amazing partner, specifically the annual meeting,\u201d he says. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s the capability to meet with critical, high-level decision makers at 70 or 100 companies and really get a pulse on what\u2019s going on in each market without having to visit each market.\u201d<\/p>\n While Yakatan especially values the efficiency of the Benzinga events, Kiva\u2019s Palmer who spoke on the panel called, \u201cThe Hemp Industry Divide: Quick Cash vs. Sustainable Growth,\u201d commented on how the conference has shifted from being focused on capital investment deals to partnerships, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and out-of-state expansion. \u201cWe come to this conference because of the quality of who shows up. Even if you\u2019re not raising money, there are still so many other opportunities that that group of people can talk about,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Lastly, Lee of S\u014dRSE Technology<\/a>, the leading hemp and terpene emulsion supplier for CPGs and other food, beverage and topical manufacturers, emphasized the importance of showing up consistently at events like Benzinga to build long-term relationships. \u201cJust showing up is 90% of the battle,\u201d he says. \u201cBenzinga is a good place to meet people you\u2019ve met for years, and part of raising money is to be here year in and year out, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The 2025 Benzinga Chicago conference kicked off with a women\u2019s networking event called Canna & Coffee on Monday morning, June 9. Next, the event moved into opening remarks and market analysis before beginning a series of panels spanning a wide range of thought-provoking topics in cannabis and business.<\/p>\n Outside of the conference, affiliate events brought together attendees in a more casual, social setting. The Benzinga Cannabis Pairing Buyers Dinner brought together top CEOs, decision makers and members of the press for an exclusive three-course culinary experience where brands could showcase their products in a mindful, guided consumption setting.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to consumption events, there\u2019s a real art to guiding people through their high\u2014something that I teach through CashoM and something that few truly understand,\u201d says Philp Wolf, CEO of Cultivating Spirits<\/a> and CashoM<\/a>, which produced the event with support from Cloud 9 Studios\u2019 Cannaluxxe Wellness Academy. \u201cIt\u2019s about weaving education into engaging demonstrations that are inspiring while holding space so guests can fully drop into their experience. At the same time, there\u2019s a delicate balance: making sure sponsors feel seen and valued while creating an unforgettable time for everyone attending.\u201d<\/p>\n After another day of speakers, Benzinga Chicago 2025 concluded with an official After Party, \u201cThe Final Spark,\u201d at the Tunnel Treehouse Rooftop. Guests sipped on curated cocktails, continued networking, and celebrated a successful event under the stars.<\/p>\n While there\u2019s no crystal ball, one can still make smart decisions based on trends and market analysis. Despite the volatile nature of the cannabis industry, those in attendance are well-seasoned on how to navigate changes and remain optimistic for a strong future.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all know [cannabis] will be legal federally, someday, sometime in the future,\u201d Lee says. \u201cAnd if you keep that North Star and you just keep your head down and keep working, things will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n The post Benzinga Chicago 2025: Event Recap<\/a> appeared first on Cannabis Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The subtle themes of resiliency and readiness in cannabis were woven throughout this year\u2019s Chicago iteration of the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, taking place June 8-10. Most brands in attendance weren\u2019t just the ones that managed to survive the industry amidst economic downturns. Rather, the brands showing up to networkContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":81827,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18905,18906,18907,17076,4225,50,2544,18908,18909,69,18910,18911,1187,18912,18913,18914,18915],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81826"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81826"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81828,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81826\/revisions\/81828"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Success Tips From Industry Leaders<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Why Benzinga?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Cultivating Minds & Spirits<\/h4>\n
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Predictions<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nRead More: Benzinga Chicago 2025: Event Recap<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"