Peter Vogel And The “Need To Knows” In Order To Succeed In The Cannabis Industry

Charles Wu
Aug 31, 2018 · 7 min read

I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter Vogel, CEO of Leafwire — the cutting-edge platform connecting investors and entrepreneurs in the new cannabis economy. Leafwire recently unveiled the first platform dedicated to the cannabis industry to help cannabis companies and investors to succeed in this burgeoning market. This innovative marketplace will also enable the entire cannabis ecosystem to connect, and exchange knowledge and opportunities within this emergent space. Peter is a seasoned entrepreneur who has made the transition from tech to cannabis and now lending his leadership and fundraising expertise to the growing cannabis community.

Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, what’s your background?

I co-founded my first Internet start-up in 1998 focused on digital marketing and haven’t looked back. I have spent two decades building companies, raising money, scaling revenue and learning from mistakes and market challenges. The bubble and bust waves we endured has provided me with a unique skill set to educate other early stage CEO in the fast growing, and changing cannabis space.

How did you get involved with the cannabis industry?
Marion Mariathasan, current CEO of Simplifya, made the transition from tech to cannabis and we’ve known each other for more than a decade. About a year ago we had lunch and he described the growth and potential he saw in the cannabis industry. He convinced me to leave traditional tech world and jump head-first into cannabis.

What exactly do you do in the industry?
Leafwire was built to help connect investors with cannabis companies looking to raise money. Fundraising in cannabis can be challenging due to the nascence of the industry, so we built a platform that would help entrepreneurs connect with investors and also provide resources and education to help entrepreneurs succeed in their raise. We also wanted Leafwire to serve as a hub for cannabis executives to give all cannabis professionals a place to share industry news, announce new products, promote events, post jobs and of course, connect with each other.

So many of our readers and viewers are living in states where medical cannabis is not accessible to them and because of that they are really passionate about seeing cannabis legalized or at least made available for medical access…what was it like for you in the beginning?
I was spoiled, living in Colorado for 10 years, where cannabis was not only completely legal, but the business of cannabis was also already highly respected by the time I got involved. Colorado is unique among all states for the maturity of its cannabis industry.

What keeps you in the industry when so many others were dropping out?
I’m motivated by the promise and potential of growth that happens every six months or so, as states go legal. Every six months, new states go medical or recreational, and thousands of new companies and investors are born, and this will continue for the next five years.

What is your mission in your work? Why do you do what you do? Your higher purpose?
We want people to understand how dynamic the cannabis economy really is — to see all the different types of companies, from traditional plant-touching growers and dispensaries to tech companies using artificial intelligence and blockchain to serve the needs of cannabis companies. We are proud of the the diversity of people, ages, genders, demographics, and social classes involved in cannabis. There is an amazing variety of companies that have emerged and flourished over the last five years as cannabis has slowly become more legitimized. The growth has been amazing.

What do you see the benefits of legalization being for the US or global economy?
Very simply: legalization democratizes the benefits of life saving, pain relieving, life improving medicines, that are only available to certain segments of society right now. Everyone deserves to benefit from these natural, life-saving plants.

You are considered to be one of the leaders in our field, can you share three tips that helped you get here?
I am new to cannabis, less than a year in, and feel privileged to be where I am. My tech start-up industry achievements have been instrumental to my current success in cannabis. I have been very pleasantly surprised by the warmth and open arms that have welcomed me into this industry. Cannabis is a unique, close-knit society that will embrace you if you’re there for the right reasons.

What do you do to stay relevant in the industry when there are so many newbies jumping in?
I go to meetups, conferences, Leads Groups, and multiple lunches to constantly meet new people and learn what they’re doing. In Denver there is a Leads Group that meets weekly at Cultivated Synergy, a really awesome shared cannabis workspace. The group of people stands in a circle, introduce themselves, and then network every week. Events like that keep me fresh!

Tell us about your product or service…what is unique about it? Do you have any testimonial stories to share?

Leafwire is a connection platform that was built to power the business of cannabis — all cannabis businesses. We: connect investors with companies,help companies find staff and service providers. We help professionals share their news and announce events and new products.

Does your product work for everyone or is there someone specific that is created for?

Share your 5 Top Tips to Start a Successful Cannabis Business. Please give an example for each.

  1. Tell everyone you know that you’re starting a cannabis business

Your company’s eventual success relies on contacts and networking, which is tough in the beginning, when you barely know anyone in the industry. You’d be amazed what happens when you start telling everyone you speak with that you’re starting a cannabis company: you’ll find that everyone knows someone in the cannabis industry and they’ll be eager to introduce you. Cannabis is still a small enough industry, and “cool” enough that people are eager to make introductions, but it’s also big enough so that everyone knows someone. Your network will naturally grow exponentially when you share openly with everyone around you.

2. Mix skill sets and expertise from outside cannabis with a cannabis foundation
Bring in co-founders and staff from outside the cannabis industry who have experience in marketing, social media, finance, sales or whatever other skills your company needs. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel in cannabis. Be sure to mix those outsiders with a strong foundation of people who understand the cannabis industry and have years of cannabis expertise. The sum of these total parts is significantly bigger if you combine that outside cannabis experience with a true foundation of cannabis knowledge.

3. Be on time.
Being on time in the cannabis industry, to meetings, to calls, to everything … will set you apart from 90 percent of the industry. Cannabis has a casual attitude that creeps into business, but being late is not OK. Business is business.

4. Be humble.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. People in cannabis are warm, welcoming, and willing to help. Ask questions of your more experienced colleagues. Take them to lunch, and ask them to introduce you to influencers. Be open and transparent, and don’t pretend you know everything.

5. Be willing to collaborate.
Cannabis professionals have had to band together and work to pass laws, then understand, enact and comply with those regulations, and eventually to persevere and build successful businesses. This means that cannabis professionals are willing to work to together in partnerships, to help each other and collaborate on ventures. You don’t always need to re-invent the wheel. Look for someone who has expertise in what you need and partner with them.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I have a personal connection to Special Olympics, having a sister who has participated in Special Olympics for many decades. I have seen how magical it is for those who participate and powerfully moving for those who volunteer or attend the events. I would love to create a contingent of cannabis supporters who work together to help financially and to volunteer at the events. I have a goal of making this happen sooner than later, and I’d love to connect with anyone who wants to join me in this effort.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“How do I know what I think until I see what is written.” Mark Twain
I am constantly amazed by the power of writing and the power of the unique neural pathways created when pen hits paper, or for modern days, fingers hit keys.”

Where can they find you? (do you have a fan page or social media channels you want them to follow?)

You can connect to me by setting up an account on Leafwire, follow our Instagram feed.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/petervogel1/
https://leafwire.com/

Watch the full interview bellow:

Authority Magazine

Leadership Lessons from Authorities in Business, Film, Sports and Tech. Authority Mag is devoted primarily to sharing interesting feature interviews of people who are authorities in their industry. We use interviews to draw out stories that are both empowering and actionable.

Charles Wu

Written by

Authority Magazine

Leadership Lessons from Authorities in Business, Film, Sports and Tech. Authority Mag is devoted primarily to sharing interesting feature interviews of people who are authorities in their industry. We use interviews to draw out stories that are both empowering and actionable.

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