A project by Our Dream

Our Academy is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit workshop, mentorship program, and open education resource for cannabis equity applicants, legacy operators, and others impacted by the War on Drugs.

A project by Our Dream

Our Academy is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit workshop, mentorship program, and open education resource for cannabis equity applicants, operators, and others impacted by the War on Drugs.

testimonials

"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."
Jessica Naissant
NY Cannabis Adult-use Retail Dispensary Applicant
"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."
Nate Bowles
Founder of Good Smoke and Long Beach, CA Social Equity Applicant
"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."
BJ Carson
Founder of 448
"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."
Morris Kelly
Founder of SF Roots — San Francisco, CA
"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!"
Matha Figaro
Founder of ButACake and New Jersey Conditional Manufacturing Licensee
view all testimonials

class of '22

Two girls in letterman jackets standing next to each other. The girl on the left is smoking.

mentor program

Think you have what it takes to help turn dreams into reality? If you've ran a compliant cannabis license, transitioned from the legacy market, or have successfully raised capital within the past 2-3 years, we want to hear from you.

We're also always looking for technical assistance support with cannabis experience. By technical, we mean lawyers, accountants, and compliance aficionados — hit us up in the DMs (*jk*).... fill out this form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!

mentor application

partner program

Our academy champions and partners are the people BTS that help us keep our dream of supporting underrepresented founders alive.

If you’re value-aligned and interested in making a donation — monetarily or with your time (we don’t discriminate) —we’d love to speak with you!

partner application
Two girls in letterman jackets standing next to each other. The girl on the left is smoking.

mentor program

Think you have what it takes to help turn dreams into reality? If you've ran a compliant cannabis license, transitioned from the legacy market, or have successfully raised capital within the past 2-3 years, we want to hear from you.

We're also always looking for technical assistance support with cannabis experience. By technical, we mean lawyers, accountants, and compliance aficionados — hit us up in the DMs (*jk*).... fill out this form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!

mentor application

partner program

Our academy champions and partners are the people BTS that help us keep our dream of supporting underrepresented founders alive.

If you’re value-aligned and interested in making a donation — monetarily or with your time (we don’t discriminate) —we’d love to speak with you!

partner application