this is
our dream

"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!"

"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."

“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."

"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."

"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."