September 21, 2018 (Bend, OR) - PRESS RELEASE - Dutchie, an online ordering platform for cannabis pickup and delivery, has announcedthat it closed a $3 million seed round led by Casa Verde Capital with participation from the Durant Company, early DoorDash executives and Sinai Ventures. In addition, Dutchie is working together with Canopy Rivers to accelerate growth and expand its geographic footprint in Canada and other federally legal international markets.
Launched in early 2018, Dutchie is already the leading online ordering and delivery service in Oregon. The platform provides technology that seamlessly connects consumers and local dispensaries. To order, buyers search by location, select a local dispensary and purchase products for pickup or delivery.
For dispensaries, Dutchie is an end-to-end solution for e-commerce. The platform supports order tracking, specials, analytics and the ability to embed a shoppable storefront on stores’ websites. Integrations with dispensaries’ point-of-sale systems enable automatic, real-time menu updates, which Dutchie’s team helps curate with professional photos and descriptions. Along with this technology, Dutchie grants dispensaries access to a new, wider audience that they would otherwise not be able to reach.
"We live in an on-demand economy, so bringing this model to cannabis seemed like a logical progression,” said CEO Ross Lipson. “With Dutchie, we set out to create the easiest way for consumers to shop for cannabis, and the easiest way for dispensaries to sell it, giving them access to tools they've never had and customers they could never reach. We value a process that’s fast, easy and convenient and we’ll continuously deliver on those three fronts."
Ross Lipson has more than a decade of experience in online food delivery, with two successful exits in the U.S. and Canada. He co-founded Dutchie in late 2017 with his brother Zach Lipson, who is Chief Product Officer, and software developer Sam Ellis.
“With proven success in the online ordering space, including the exit of GrubCanada to food delivery giant JustEat in 2011, Ross is clearly a seasoned entrepreneur,” said managing partner of Casa Verde Capital, Karan Wadhera. “We are delighted to partner with Ross and team, as Casa Verde aims to invest in companies and founders who bring strong expertise in related fields to the cannabis space.”
