NCN Hemp Investor Forum: Co-Located with NBJ Summit

Monday July 15, 2019 | 2:00 - 5:30 PM

Sponsored by

What you need to know if you are contemplating entering the promising and yet ever-crowded hemp product marketplace

While the discovery of novel ingredients and emerging scientific research often converge to yield exciting new functional product territories, little
compares to what is happening right now in the world of Hemp in general and cannabidiol (CBD) in particular.

CBD isolate became an FDA approved drug for the treatment of epilepsy in June of 2018. Since that time, consumer, retailer, manufacturer, and investor interest—both in the particular CBD compound and the much broader range of hemp-derived cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids—has dramatically expanded as new product forms and formulations have proliferated. And yet this bourgeoning new product segment is unfolding in the midst of a state-by-state regulatory patchwork; and FDA oversight and “enforcement discretion” has been limited to warning letters issued only to those companies making egregious disease and health claims.

In this module of the NBJ Summit, we will separate fact from fiction and hear from legal experts, investment professionals, and entrepreneurs on the potential risks and rewards in entering this dynamic market segment.

 

Key Topics the Industry Leaders Need to Know

The NCN Hemp Investor Forum has assembled highly informed professionals from the legal and investment sphere as well as entrepreneurs and supply chain experts to help inform and share insight to drive responsible decision-making in this fast-moving segment.

  • Hemp is a promising emerging segment - but not without regulatory and market risk
  • Risk assessment - a set of additional considerations that are unique to this market
  • A conservative approach - with the realization that the time to act is now
  • Very high growth area - but one where facts and fiction freely interact
  • Supply chain weakness - vulnerabilities to keep in mind from growing to formulation
  • Clarity on regulation - DSHEA, FDA, USDA

 

The NCN Hemp Investor Forum is a  special session on investment in the rapidly evolving hemp CBD market at NBJ Summit.  It aims to add up-to-the-minute clarity to the financial risks and opportunities in what may be the biggest “next big thing” in the history of dietary supplements.

A wave of risk-ready entrepreneurs may have pioneered hemp CBD in dietary supplements, but now more traditional investors look to be skipping the “wait” part of “wait and see.” Looking past a consumer base with open minds and open wallets, a number of questions remain unanswered and a session drawing on the expertise of NBJ and the Nutrition Capital Network promises to give a best-informed update.

 

Agenda

2:00 PM – 2:10 PM Opening Remarks

Speaker: Carlotta Mast, SVP Content, Market Leader, Informa Markets


2:10 – 2:45 PM Executive Summary: State of the Hemp Industry

Speaker: John Grubb, Managing Partner, Summit Venture Management
An immense new market segment is taking form in hemp derived products, with CBD as the first big expression of the potential for non-psychoactive components. This session will focus on the emerging (but far from complete) science and how to safely and responsibly participate in this new dynamic market. The session will include identifying and mitigating risk factors and particular due diligence considerations in evaluating suppliers and/or investment opportunities in hemp and CBD.


2:45 – 3:00 PM NBJ Numbers & Market Overview

Speaker: Claire Morton, Senior Industry Analyst, Nutrition Business Journal
Predictions for the hemp CBD sales have been marked by wild variations of “up,” but NBJ brings its established reputation for market projection to this session with trend data not just on sales of CBD, but also where consumers are finding it, what they know (and don’t know) about it and what money coming into the space could mean.


3:00 – 3:20 PM State of the Regulatory Landscape for CEOs and Investors

Speaker: Joanne Gray, Partner, Goodwin
Are you considering investing in a company that sells products with hemp based ingredients? What are the strategic and compliance issues that you need to consider? What diligence do you need to conduct to help ensure legal compliance? This session examines the strategic and legal issues surrounding these investments with tips to help manage risk.


3:20 – 3:40 PM State of Hemp Science for CEOs and Investors

Speaker: Jennifer Cooper, CSO, Savant Sciences, Inc.
research on hemp extracts, CBD, related phytocannabinoids and other important chemistries. This science update includes vital information on how product development should be influenced by dose, dosage form, specific health conditions, pharmacokinetics and safety. Investors will learn the most important points sourcing, quality and testing concerns.


3:40 – 4:00 PM In’s and Out’s of Investing in Hemp: Investor Checklist

Speaker: Sumit Mehta, CEO, Mazakali
Enthuisasm bordering on evangelism has long been the face the hemp CBD entrepreneur, but smart investors approach the space with eyes open and wallets tight. This session highlights the “must haves” and “red flags” to look for when evaluating a company.

4:00 – 4:20 PM Investee & Investor: Funding Story

Moderator: John Grubb, Managing Partner, Summit Venture Management
Speakers:   John Roulac, Founder & Chief Hemp Officer, RE Botanicals
                     Tracy Miedema, Operating Parter, BIGR Ventures and Vice President, Innovation & Brand                                             Development, Presence Marketing/Dynamic Presence
This Q &A session addresses specific investor considerations in a still-uncertain regulatory environment with quality and product integrity standards still being defined. Both the investor and the entrepreneur will address what they were looking for in a funding partnership, and what they have encountered in this emerging marketplace.


4:20 – 5:30 PM  NCN Hemp Forum: Company Highlights

Hemp Forum Expert Panelists:
John Grubb, Managing Partner, Summit Venture Management

Jennifer Cooper, CSO, Savant Sciences, Inc.

Sumit Mehta, CEO Mazakali

Carole Buyers, Managing Partner, BIGR Ventures

William Nicholson, Co-Founder, Ideasphere, Inc. 

4:20 - 4:35 PM    Company Highlights Opening Remarks

Speakers: Thomas Aarts, Co-Founder & Principal, NCN, Co-Founder, NBJ 
                    Mike Dovbish, Executive Director, Nutrition Capital Network

4:35 - 4:41 PM    Supply ChainChain Company Highlight: Lumen
Speaker: Jacob Freepons, CEO, Lumen

4:41 - 4:49 PM    Hemp Forum Expert Panelists Q&A with Lumen

4:49 - 4:55 PM    Distribution Strategy Company Highlight: Weller Snacks                                                                 Speaker:  John Simmons, Co-Founder, Weller Snacks

4:55 - 5:03 PM    Hemp Forum Expert Panelists Q&A with Weller Snacks

5:03 - 5:09 PM    Differentiation Company Highlight: Sagely Naturals
Speaker: Kerrigan Behrens, Co-Founder & CMO, Sagely Naturals

5:09 - 5:17 PM    Hemp Forum Expert Panelists Q&A with Sagely Naturals

5:17 - 5:30 PM    Closing Remarks