On December 5, 2017, the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge brought together a spectrum of cannabis cognoscenti across business, academia, and technology to offer a range of views, insights, and opinions for how best to face the brave new world of legalized cannabis to maximize its contribution to the people of Massachusetts and beyond.
3. Innovation Series Team
Co-Chairs
• Chris Carlton
CHEN PR
• Christina Licursi
Wolf Greenfield
MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge Staff
• Katja Wald
Executive Director
• Amy Goggins
Program Director
• Ronnie Deaver
Program & Sponsorship Coordinator
Committee Members
• Dean Adams, Adams Intellex
• Ricky Ashenfelter, Spoiler Alert
• Randy Cronk, greatwriting
• Carolyn d’Agincourt, PretiFlaherty
• Chris Denaro, Digital Guardian
• Chitra Dwarka
• Peter Dwyer
• Keegan Caldwell, Caldwell Intellectual
Property
• Suresh Gopalan, ReSurfX
• Gabriel Itoka, Canopy City
• Susan Kennedy, Marketing Boston
• Juan Necochea, ChileMass
• Rita Sahu, cogniHive
• Chris Sowa, ToonCrier
• Alan Steele, LathropGage
• Jerry Wolosenko, Terrific Corp
4. Upcoming Events
• December 11, 2017
Launch Smart Clinic (EdTech)
• January 10, 2018
Entrepreneur & VC Perspectives On Patents
• January 18, 2018
The Inversion Factor, How to Thrive in the IOT
Economy
• February 26, 2018
Start Smart Class
5. Cannabis Tech
• Vinit Nijhawan, Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Academic
• Aja N. Atwood, CoFounder, Trella Technologies, LLC
• John de la Parra, Department of Chemistry and Chemical
Biology, Northeastern University
• Richard Gibble, Founding Partner, Akras Research & Capital
• Shanel Lindsay, Founder and President, Ardent
• Russel Wilenkin, Senior Manager, Flower Sales, Kiva
Confections
Follow the Convo
@mitefcmb | #InnoSeries
Stick around for networking
@ R&D Pub (4th floor)!
8. 12/6/2017
Source: Cannakorp
States leading the way…
8
• 29 States approved medical
cannabis
• ..of which 7 approving
recreational
• Federal
• Class 1 substance so cannot
ship across state lines
• Cannot deduct business
expenses
• Lack of Capital
• IPO in Canada
10. Cannabinoids are Medicine
Source: Hyasynth Bio
10
• But there are over 100 different cannabinoids and even more terpenes that are found
in cannabis
• Some of these, like THC and CBD are already established as medicines, and others are
being discovered
24. Tissue Culture,
Metabolic Engineering,
and Phenome Analysis
How Plant Biotechnology Techniques
Stand to Change the Cannabis Industry
John de la Parra
Vine Research and Consulting
john@vinerc.com
339-221-1203
Northeastern University
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
25. Bio
Early Life
Raised on a farm in Alabama
Father’s family is from Mexico
Grandmother taught me about medicinal plants
Education
Cooper Union (engineering studies)
Rutgers, University of South Florida (graduate research)
Northeastern (PhD, Chemistry)
Work
Owner, Vine Research and Consulting
Ethnobotanical research and consulting around the country
Cannabis biotech consulting around the country
Visiting Lecturer, Tufts University
29. Why it’s important
Tissue Culture
Scalability
Controllable environment
Allows for engineering
Metabolic Engineering
Genetic manipulation
Maximize potential
Understand the influence of genetics
Phenome Analysis
Analytical rigor
Understand the influence of environment
30. Why it’s novel
Tissue Culture
Standard R&D for large agricultural productions
Not being used widely for cannabis
Metabolic Engineering
At the cutting edge of medicinal plant understanding
Not being used widely for cannabis
Phenome Analysis
New priority for ASPB (and industrial agriculture)
Not being investigated/cataloged rigorously for cannabis
31. How this can shape the industry
Tissue Culture
Leads the way into more advanced biotech
Portability of varieties
Scalability
Metabolic Engineering
Cannabis operation meets state-of-the-art
Contribution to fundamental science leads to unexpected innovation
Phenome Analysis
Pharmacuetical innovation must rely on analytical rigor
Control over specific chemical production profiles
32. Case Examples
Tissue Culture
Currently consulting on efficient cloning for industry
Used first for transporting cloned material
Metabolic Engineering
Many other medicinal plants
Madagascar periwinkle, Taxus spp., Podophyllum spp.
Phenome Analysis
ASPB emphasis
MIT Media Lab
Currently collaborating with Brown U.
34. Disclosure
Information contained in this presentation is strictly confidential. Recipient shall use the confidential information only for
educational purposes. This presentation is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase any
securities.
The contents of this presentation have not been independently verified and they do not purport to be comprehensive, or to
contain all the information that a prospective investor or entrepreneur may need. No representation, warranty or
undertaking, expressed or implied is or will be made or given and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by the
Company or by any of its directors, employees or advisors in relation to the accuracy or completeness of this document or
any other written or oral information made available in connection with the Company.
Akras Research & Capital accepts no liability for the content of this presentation or for the consequences of any actions
taken on the basis of the information provided.
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35. Richard Gibble, CFA
Founding Partner, Akras Research & Capital
Previous:
Portfolio Manager and Investment Analyst
FlowPoint Capital Partners, Longfellow Investment Management
Company, Lake Partners, Rydex Series Trust, Æxpert Advisory
Professor of Finance, Bentley University
Education:
MBA, MS, Bentley University
BA, Saint Anselm College
35
36. The Cannabis Capital Struggles
• No access to federally chartered banks
• Investors still wary of cannabis industry stigmas
• No traditional pathway to go public in the US
• Company valuation is difficult due to lack of transparency
36
37. Conventional Financial Solutions
• Private Capital: Angels/Friends and Family/Crowdfunding/Personal Credit
• Substantial risks: both financial and relational
• Private Equity/Venture Capital
• Expect large ownership stakes, sometimes cede control, onerous terms
• Convertible Vehicles
• Fixed income security with option to convert to equity
37
38. Innovative Financial Solutions
• New Private Equity Structures
• SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity)
• KISS (Keep It Simple Security)
• Loan/Debt Vehicles
• Flexible/favorable term options
• Rarely have to cede equity or control
38
39. Disruptive Investments Drive the Future
• The first winners will be determined by earning large capital allocations
• Provide more funding options for smart entrepreneurs
• Encourage more financial transparency and best practices
• Generate rigorous due diligence
• Industry will truly launch, creating value for all stakeholders
39
40. Case Example
European-based vertically integrated cannabis cultivator
• Distressed financial state
• Classic start-up dilemmas, profitable with negative cash flow
• Convertible note with line of credit and American style purchase option
40
60. Cannabis Tech
• Vinit Nijhawan, Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Academic
• Aja N. Atwood, CoFounder, Trella Technologies, LLC
• John de la Parra, Department of Chemistry and Chemical
Biology, Northeastern University
• Richard Gibble, Founding Partner, Akras Research & Capital
• Shanel Lindsay, Founder and President, Ardent
• Russel Wilenkin, Senior Manager, Flower Sales, Kiva
Confections
Follow the Convo
@mitefcmb | #InnoSeries
Stick around for networking
@ R&D Pub (4th floor)!