JoinME Crowned Winner at the 2023 Cannabis Start-Up Competition
JoinME emerged victorious at the 2023 Cannabis Start-Up Competition, grabbing the grand prize of $10,000. The event unfolded on the evening of November 7, 2023, at The Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences and Engineering in front of a packed house.
Hosted by Innovate@BU and Green Lion Partners, the competition is a hallmark event for ancillary cannabis companies with a BU student or alum at the helm. JoinME, co-founded by Marco Rotella (Questrom’22) and Claudio Bettini (COM’23), distinguished itself among the four finalists with its mission to foster a healthier and more inclusive cannabis consumption culture.
Esteemed judges, including Jaime Lewis, a veteran in medical marijuana dispensary operations; Kim Napoli, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Vicente Sederberg LLP; and Dr. Peter R von Bleyleben, Partner at Converge Venture Partners, provided their expertise. The judging panel, with substantial experience across cannabis industry leadership, consulting, and advisory roles, had the challenging task of selecting a winner among the remarkable pitches of the evening.
The finalists, which also included GreenCloud, IPNPC, and Smoking.com, presented their forward-thinking solutions aimed at optimizing operations, promoting sustainability, and enhancing consumer experiences.
As the event concluded, attendees engaged in a networking reception, reflecting on the innovative ideas that had been shared. The JoinME team now looks forward to utilizing its prize to further its goal of connecting individuals in the cannabis community.
For more information on the advocacy groups featured during the event, visit MPP.org, SSDP.org, and massreccouncil.com.
