Our Academy has been amazing. If it wasn't for Our Academy I don't think we would be as close to opening as soon as we did. OA helped us with educational information and our pro forma. Hilary and Devan have been great so, we'd like to thank OA to help us through this journey.
Our Academy is a network of like-minded Professionals looking to shape the future business leaders of the Cannabis Industry. They are here to help us grow and succeed with tools, knowledge and vision to drive our success further. Here you will find The Dream Team of Mentors well versed in their fields pertaining to Cannabis Regulations, Compliance, Taxation & the MRTA. All State Driven Executive Leadership Building Mentorship Program. Geared toward our Success. Thank You, Our Academy!
"The OA Team has been super helpful to help with my team with understanding tech stacks, vetting contracts, media training, public speaking, community organizing, which is incredibly important for us during an injunction period, fundraising, and building community. We're so appreciative to the Our Academy Team and we hope to see their growth to help the continued success of license holders in NY State."
Our Academy has a space in my heart. The whole organization from the founders to the mentors have been incredibly professional. They've helped me and others with vetting contracts and offers I was getting, predatory deals, and they offered a ton of informational classes. Having it recorded made it digestible and easy to follow. I have worked with them for more than a year and they have helped me so much. I have to thank Cristina, Devan, Hilary, Kimberly, and Sean, They have dedicated so much time and never refused a call from me. So out of all of the groups and companies I've met in this journey, Our Academy represents excellence and they take pride in their work — and above all else, they truly believe in us and want us to succeed, which is the most important part. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for the time and energy they've given to me and my peers.
"Our Academy provided a wealth of knowledge and resources to help take my business, ButACake, to the next level. The Academy is ran by a team of experienced business professionals who are extremely knowledgeable and supportive throughout the entire process. One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the networking opportunities it provided. I had the chance to connect with other business owners and entrepreneurs from all over the country. These connections have proved to be invaluable and have opened up new doors for my businesses. In addition to the support and guidance from the program mentors, I also received access to a range of tools and resources, including training materials, templates, and videos. These resources have been extremely helpful in driving the growth and success of my business. Overall, I would highly recommend Our Academy to anyone looking to take their cannabis business to the next level. It's an incredible opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with like-minded individuals in a supportive environment. Thank you to the program organizers for such an amazing experience!"
"I am part of the 2020 mentee cohort of Our Academy. Our Academy put on an amazing 15-week program that educated Black-owned and equity-owned cannabis businesses about the ins and out of running your own cannabis company. It's been instrumental in helping me realize what I needed to do to be successful in this space and they connected me with vendors and retailers in the space. Today I run my own premium lifestyle cannabis brand called the Good Smoke Company and I'm also a social equity applicant out of the city of Long Beach. I couldn't be anymore pleased with the program and all of the opportunities and connections Our Academy has presented me with. If you're considering on joining, I highly advise that you look into it and check in with Hilary and the other companies that have come out of the program, it'll be well worth your time while creating more diversity in the industry which is absolutely essential. So thank you Our Academy and I'm so excited to see the success that keeps coming from this in the future."
"Being apart of the Our Academy cohort was an amazing opportunity working alongside individuals in similar positions was extremely encouraging. It really debunked the myth that you have to have it all figured out before you start. The tools and resources associated were beyond helpful. The guidance of a mentor was paramount, seeing and hearing a perspective of someone who had done what I’m trying to do was extremely encouraging. A real life example. Lastly, the association to Our Academy gave me a boost to my resume and helped give me an extra nod from potential employers. Shoutout to Hilary and her Team at Our Academy."
“Our Academy was an essential component to getting licensed, executing brands and building a network of trustworthy professionals in the cannabis industry of California. Not only did we learn so much from the workshops, but the opportunities they provided us to advance our business has positioned us to where we are today: a 100% family-owned, social equity verified, woman-led and Latino/a micro-licensed cannabis company."
"Our Academy gave me the ability to work with Ted Lichtenberger from the Flower Company and make a genuine connection with someone from a different walk of life who also taught me a different way of culturally doing business. It showed me that there are people on the other side of the train tracks to bond with and learn from. The program also provided me with a built-in network to flourish nationwide. Since OA, I have worked with another mentee and social equity applicant, Tre Hobbs, and taught him what I learned in California to apply it to his launch in his home state, Michigan. OA also helped us all work together and learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses as a unit, helping us support each other’s ventures in CA and MI. Going into the next stage of my career, Tess Taylor, who’s also an OA alum, has helped me showcase my strengths in other states for consulting contracts. There’s been a positive sorority/fraternity effect where alumni vouch for one another in the real world to create more representation in the cannabis industry."
Through education and mentorship, the program OA leads provides a foundation to launch and operate a successful regulated cannabis biz. This is one of the more difficult parts of business planning and requires finance and accounting skills that most people don't have readily available. It has helped prepare us to raise capital and perform the financial planning required to efficiently operate our store.
I would like to sincerely thank the OCM for making the OUR ACADEMY classes accessible to us CAURD holders. I am a graduate of the CCTM, the CWI, and the FAST TRACK classes. I can honestly say that the OUR ACADEMY classes were magnitudes better for entrepreneurs than the others. The biggest differences were the experience and quality of the teachers, the value of the resources they provide, and the real-world context their courses emulate. The classes related to the CCTM seemed more suited for individuals entering the workforce as budtenders, rather than a space for seasoned professionals honing their skills to compete in New York’s cannabis market. OUR ACADEMY, by contrast, is far more tailored to the needs of business operators in this space.
The training resources have been excellent. The information presented is timely and relevant to my experience as I build out my dispensary. Also, their staff and speakers have been readily available for additional questions I have had along the way. I feel much more knowledgeable and confident as I speak with potential investors and landlords about my dispensary.
Devan Devan Devan! The humble rockstar! This amazing brilliant man saved us in making decisions with certain investors that were super predatory and gave us better information to make us confident to stand up for ourselves!
Your group's commitment to lending a helping hand has not only alleviated immediate challenges but has also inspired unity and camaraderie among our community members. The kindness and empathy demonstrated by each member of your organization have forged a bond that transcends any boundaries of age, race, or background, fostering a sense of belonging and togetherness that is truly commendable. The level of professionalism and efficiency exhibited by your group has been exceptional. Every endeavor undertaken by your team was executed with meticulous planning and a genuine desire to make a positive difference. Your ability to organize events and initiatives seamlessly reflects the tremendous dedication and hard work put in by each member, making it evident that your passion lies in empowering and uplifting others. Moreover, your group's emphasis on sustainability and long-term solutions has been instrumental in nurturing a more self-reliant community. The various educational workshops and skill-building sessions have empowered individuals to take charge of their lives and become self-sufficient, paving the way for a brighter future for everyone involved. It is with profound admiration that I extend my heartfelt thanks to your group for the profound impact you have made on our community. Your generosity has brought hope to those who were disheartened, joy to those in despair, and warmth to those who felt alone. Your group has set an exemplary standard for philanthropy, and I am certain that your efforts will continue to resonate with our community for generations to come. I hope every person from your group reads this and I just want to say thank you again from the bottom of my heart!
Pro Forma Preparation & Consulting was like having a secret weapon in my pocket. It's all about making smart financial projections for my business or project based on past data and assumptions. With that kinda info, I could plan ahead, see where I might hit some bumps, and make informed decisions to keep my venture on track. Twice Weekly Live Workshops. Those were a game-changer! I gotta admit, staying in the loop with the latest trends and best practices in my field was crucial for my future success. Getting to learn from industry experts and other pros in those live sessions were priceless! Especially it being twice a week. So I had plenty of chances to soak in all that knowledge and even network with others in the same boat as me. Office Hours with Our Academy Experts. These sessions were like having a personal tutor at my disposal. If I ever had a tough time grasping a concept or needed some extra help, I could schedule one-on-one time with the experts. They were super approachable and tailored their advice to my specific needs. It made me feel supported!
Our Academy is an extremely resourceful program and was paramount in my process. The whole team is knowledgeable, patient, helpful, transparent, and experienced. Twice Weekly Live Workshops were a game-changer!
This Academy caters to seasoned professionals and brand new business owners alike. As a person who's owned several small businesses, I've found this Academy to be especially helpful in understanding the nuances of opening a retail store specifically in NY. Items like, how to approach a Community Board, and what the TPI restrictions are, are just two items that this academy addresses that make it usable for people like me. However, for new business owners, this Academy provides a crash course on things like: business structure, raising capital, branding/marketing, etc that are invaluable to a small business owner with less experience.
The mentorship and training I received from Our Academy have been exceptional. They covered all the essential topics needed to open and operate my dispensary successfully. I am deeply grateful for the commitment and support shown by everyone at Our Academy. Their extensive knowledge and expertise have provided invaluable insights, giving me the tools and confidence to take on this exciting venture. Thanks to their guidance, I feel significantly more prepared and optimistic about successfully launching my dispensary. Thank you, Our Academy, for making a lasting impact on my journey!
I don’t know where I would be without their guidance. The office hours with Ms. Kim are extremely helpful and productive, and so professional. The weekly live workshops are essential for moving forward. Ms. Hilary and Ash are on point and guide the workshops very well. Ms. Hilary highlights the best points of the conversations and gives needed clarity and supportive facts and links. The mentors helped me build my LLC, kept me from making mistakes, goes to bat for us, and will help me navigate the post-selection application. I cannot express how valuable her kind assistance and patience with all of us.
This program has been incredibly impactful for me and many other licensees. It connected me with mentors who provided valuable guidance and helped me find answers to questions I didn’t know. They also supported me with my proformas, making complex processes much easier to navigate. The course felt like a family-based program, fostering a sense of community and support. I am deeply grateful for everything I’ve gained through this experience.
Teachers are experienced in cannabis and are able to guide us with the tools necessary for launch. Courses are informative and the guests they invite are very helpful as well. I feel like I’m back in school and learning new skills and new information with the courses, and live weekly workshops. They give us confidence and information we can use as standards for the industry so we are not walking into this business blindly.
Devan was extremely helpful and really had an understanding of what we needed to move forward with our next steps. The Pro Forma was extremely helpful because it gave me an idea of the target we need to hit in order to break even or have the business make sense. Also the office hours helped me layout what I needed help with at the current moment.
"Without Our Academy I would not have had half of the experience or knowledge in the cannabis industry had it not been for Hilary, Jess, and the Our Academy team. They spent weeks on weeks preparing us to present and pitch at MJ Unpacked, which was an amazing experience for me to launch my brand, but also to see which facet of the industry would work for me. They also connected me with amazing attorneys and business owners that gave me first-hand experience on how to run a cannabis business. Had it not been for Our Academy, I probably would not have applied for the conditional retail round in New York. I was definitely overwhelmed and in over my head, but they took time week after week to help me game plan and now my application has been submitted and I'm pretty sure I'll be licensed in the next few months. I am so grateful for their help they've given me and so many others. I connected with so many people in our cohort and now we're not just a group of individuals working to get in the cannabis industry, but we're a family."
“Our Academy is one of the best accelerator programs in the Cannabis industry. Their bi-weekly 15-week mentorship workshops taught me how to start-up and run a successful cannabis business. As a social equity recipient there is little guidance and resources out there that can help you start or build a successful business. Most investors are predatory and make you give them control over the day-to-day operations for a pay check. Without the OA program Queen Mary would not be a brand on shelves today. They helped me turn an idea into an actual business. Not only did they help me learn every aspect of what I needed to do from the importance of good partnerships to having an actual business plan and pro forma. I learned the importance of filing a trademark and how to structure my business in terms of different entities. We have workshops with lawyers, consultants and people who work in every aspect of the cannabis industry, we even had a workshop on learning the basics of Metric. As an organization they are changing the policies of Social Equity programs to ensure a clear and accessible path for BIPOC owners in the industry. "
"Our Academy is truly a business accelerator. The classes are top tier and on relevant topics taught by industry specialists. The hand paired mentors provide regular guidance on how to progress forward through the littered minefield of the early industry. Students are supported throughout this process by classmates and a strong alumni network that extends well beyond graduation. The program is fuelled by a passionate and energetic founder whose students' success clearly serves as her guiding star. I highly recommend it to minority entrepreneurs that are serious about having a successful cannabis company."
“Our Academy helped me in so many different ways. I started at ground zero along with a lot of the other mentees and we had ideas and brands that needed extra development. Over the course of 15 weeks, I was able to meet with attorneys in the industry to lock in my trademark and other entrepreneurs to get their insight on what it took for them to get their foot in the door. There’s nothing like this that I’ve seen - to be able to network and successfully give us the insight to run an operational company”
"I am not sure if it is possible to adequately articulate what Our Dream and Our Academy truly means to the mentees who complete the program. Hilary, Devan, and their team’s commitment to the people they lead and support goes beyond what is outlined on a website or in a deck, and they truly are dream weavers. The educational tools that they provide are the most comprehensive out there and come with an ecosystem of trusted operators who genuinely want to help BIPOC founded businesses succeed. They found a virtual silver lining during the pandemic that connected aspiring and legacy business owners all over the country who were all empowered to dream, positively affect change, and achieve in their home states. Myself and my brand, Dose of Saucy, are forever indebted to OA and hope to pay it back by paying it forward whenever I can."
“Before Our Academy I was lost on where to start. I was Googling to find stuff and wasn’t sure if the program was actually going to do anything for me cause I’ve been part of other things that were BS. But the first meeting shared so much info that I kept coming back. I learned a lot about myself and what I want and also about the business world. I got knowledge on branding, compliance, and how to build a company with integrity. It’s easy to get lost without the guidance and it’s created railing bumpers, so when I was getting stuck or felt like I was hitting the gutter like when you go bowling, they’d help me bounce back. I had never seen a legal business and how it operated face-to-face. Our Academy did a great job to keep me focused and provided resources on what it looks like inside a business. I’m from Detroit and I’m blessed to now live part of the time in a safer area and got to travel a lot from when I played football, but every time I come back, even though I didn’t think it could get worse, it does. It’s like a zombie town and it reminds me why programs like this are important to let us know we can find ways to give back to our community and still have the motivation to do something about our situations.”
“Our Academy is a divine blessing on my professional cannabis journey. This program provides a safe space for mentees to ask priceless questions about equity agreements, legal compliance, marketing, cultivation, distribution, and cannabis tax liability issues. Mentees have unprecedented access to training materials and cannabis tastemakers. Weekly calls with my mentor Kimberly (Get Frigg) incentivize accountability. Our Academy is the sea change cannabis needs. I foresee Our Academy mentoring multiple successful cannabis brands.”
Every $5000 covers a seat for a Social Equity Applicant to go through
the Our Academy mentorship program for free.
