The cannabis industry is expanding globally with startups tackling diverse sectors. These companies range from agricultural technology and B2B software to consumer goods.
Wholesale platform LeafLink has secured $479M in funding, highlighting significant investor confidence. The ecosystem also includes companies developing compliance software and CBD-infused beverages.
Below is our list of 13 Cannabis startups worth keeping an eye on.
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Get the Sheet for $50LeafLink operates a wholesale marketplace built for the regulated cannabis industry. Their platform connects licensed brands and retailers, helping them streamline ordering, payments, and logistics.
| Headquarters | New York, New York, United States |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Ryan Smith, Zach Silverman |
| Funding Amount | $479M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series D |
| Top Investors | Founders Fund, Thrive Capital, Lerer Hippeau, FJ Labs, Muse Capital |
Simplifya develops operational compliance software for the heavily regulated cannabis industry. Their platform provides a suite of tools to help businesses manage audits, track regulations, and maintain necessary documentation.
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Marion Mariathasan, Rick Matsumoto |
| Funding Amount | $9.6M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Blue Zone Wealth Advisors, ITWH, Merida Capital Holdings |
UNITY produces a line of functional beverages infused with CBD and adaptogens like Ashwagandha. Their wellness drinks are crafted to help people manage stress and restore balance.
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida, United States |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Alex Valley, Phene Wardlaw |
| Funding Amount | $2.4M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | — |
Nabis built a licensed wholesale marketplace and logistics platform for the cannabis industry. Their software and distribution network helps brands scale by connecting them with dispensaries across California and New York.
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Jun S. Lee, Vincent Ning |
| Funding Amount | $50M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Undisclosed |
| Top Investors | Gaingels, Y Combinator, Liquid 2 Ventures, FJ Labs, Predictive |
TRIP creates a range of CBD-infused wellness products, including sparkling drinks and oils. Their products are designed to help people find calm by blending CBD with powerful adaptogens.
| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Daniel Khoury, Olivia Ferdi |
| Funding Amount | $22M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Christian Angermayer, Maria Raga |
BioLumic has developed light signal technology that unlocks the genetic potential of seeds and seedlings. Their data-driven light recipes help improve crop yield, quality, and resilience without using genetic modification.
| Headquarters | Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Jason Wargent |
| Funding Amount | $53.3M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | Azolla Ventures, OurCrowd, Icehouse Ventures, iSelect Fund, Virtu Financial |
Daye develops science-backed products and services to raise the standards in gynecological health. Their innovations include a Diagnostic Tampon for at-home screening and CBD-infused products designed to relieve period pain.
| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Valentina Milanova |
| Funding Amount | $17.1M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Khosla Ventures, Index Ventures, Google for Startups, Salica, Kindred Capital |
SOMAÍ develops and distributes a portfolio of cannabis-based pharmaceutical products across Europe and globally. The company manages its own supply chain to ensure its medical formulations meet strict EU-GMP manufacturing standards.
| Headquarters | Dublin, Dublin, Ireland |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | George Bellow, Michael Sassano |
| Funding Amount | $38.2M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Portugal 2020 |
Cansativa Group has built a central distribution platform for Germany's medical cannabis market. They provide a one-stop shop for pharmacies to source medical cannabis, handling the import and wholesale from international producers.
| Headquarters | Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Benedikt Sons, Benedikt Sons, Jakob Sons |
| Funding Amount | €20.7M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | Casa Verde Capital, Greenfield Global, Northern Swan, Argonautic Ventures, Alluti |
AceCann cultivates and processes organic medical cannabis for the pharmaceutical sector. They focus on research and development to produce high-quality cannabis flower and extracts for medical partners.
| Headquarters | Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $15M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | Lince Capital, Casa Verde Capital, Frank Cid, Chris Mayle, Sebastian De La Rosa |
3 Additional Cannabis Startups Worth Following
The top ten are just a small slice of the action in the cannabis industry. Founders are tackling everything from biotech to farming tech, with many still early in their journey. Together, they've raised over $1.5 million to get their ideas off the ground. Here’s a look at the other startups that are part of this growing scene.