- LeafLink announced it raised $100 million. These are the details.
Wholesale cannabis platform LeafLink recently announced it raised $100 million in Series D funding led by CPMG, L2 Ventures, Nosara Capital along with participation from existing investors. This investment will be funded in 2 tranches. LeafLink implemented a series of executive leadership changes to drive the company’s evolution.
Since being founded in 2016, LeafLink has grown to become a significant partner of brands and retailers in the legal cannabis industry, serving about 50% of the U.S. wholesale cannabis industry across 30 markets. The Series D funding enables LeafLink to support its customers’ evolving technology and operational needs through enhanced platform functionality.
LeafLink is evolving its executive leadership team with the following changes effective February 1, 2023:
— Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer Ryan G. Smith will be elevated to Executive Chairman. Smith will focus on long-term strategic initiatives, innovation, customer relationships, and government relations.
— President & Chief Operating Officer Artie Minson has been appointed President & Chief Executive Officer. Minson will oversee day-to-day strategy and execution of the business.
— Karan Gupta has joined LeafLink as Chief Technology Officer. Gupta will lead the Company’s engineering efforts. Prior to joining LeafLink, Gupta served in technical leadership roles for more than a decade, most recently as Chief Technology Officer at Shift Technologies.
— Co-Founder and current Chief Technology Officer Zach Silverman has transitioned into a Senior Advisor role. And Silverman will continue providing counsel and guidance to LeafLink’s management team and Board of Directors.
KEY QUOTES:
“Despite recent headwinds, the cannabis industry is poised for significant growth in the years ahead. Since the Company’s inception, our team has built solutions that solve some of the industry’s most critical problems. The Series D financing provides us with a strong balance sheet that will enable continued innovation alongside our customers. I’m proud to have served as CEO since LeafLink’s founding and am excited to transition into the role of Executive Chairman where I’ll remain deeply committed to LeafLink and the industry as a whole. I look forward to supporting and empowering the team in their roles.”
— Ryan G. Smith, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at LeafLink
“I’m honored to serve as LeafLink’s next CEO and look forward to working with Ryan, our employees, and our Board of Directors as we continue to deliver best-in-class technology solutions for our customers. As states across the U.S. continue to legalize cannabis, we’re looking forward to growing our partnership with the industry. Our continued goal is to help brands and retailers scale their businesses while operating safely, efficiently and in compliance. Since joining the LeafLink team, I’ve been amazed at our team’s commitment and ability to deploy industry-first solutions for our customers. I’m incredibly excited about broadening our platform’s capabilities and deepening our customer relationships in the next phase of the company’s growth.”
— Artie Minson, incoming President and CEO of LeafLink
