(Updated Sept. 10, 2014)
It's being billed as "Shark Tank meets The Apprentice" for "ganjapreneurs"–a new web series focusing on entrepreneurs in the legalized marijuana industry. The series, called "The Marijuana Show," is currently signing up entrepreneurs for Sept. 13-14 auditions (12 p.m. to 4 p.m. MT), to be held at The Watering Bowl in Denver.
The idea behind the show is to give entrepreneurs the opportunity for business training and guidance from experienced business moguls, as well as to provide them with capital needed to take their businesses to the next level.
Behind the show are two-time Emmy Award-winning Director Wendy Robbins (pictured at right) and co-creator and marketing guru Karen Paull.
The "winning" ganjapreneurs–four to six entrepreneurs and inventors will be chosen–will go through a four-day, "intense boot camp" at the Taos Dome Home, a Fantasy Monolithic Dome that took 50 people more than 5 years to create and has been featured on HGTV, and in Parade Magazine and Enchanted Living Magazine. There, they will receive mentorship and be coached on pitching to a panel of accredited investors, as well as receive financing.
“We’re looking for the best and the brightest ganjapreneurs,” says Robbins. “I think everyone knows that starting a business is hard, and it’s especially so in a new and rapidly growing field. We want to support people entering the cannabis industry.”
Anyone with a pitch over age 21 is eligible to audition.
Cannabis Business Times Editor Noelle Skodzinski talked with Robbins and Paull about their interest in creating this ground-breaking series, and to find out what they're looking for in applicants, plus their tips to help interested entrepreneurs.
Noelle Skodzinski: How did you two get involved in this? Why did you choose this as your next project?
Wendy Robbins: The Kennedy family made their money from alcohol prohibition– during and after. We see this prohibition ending, and feel like we are the right time and right place to meet brilliant entrepreneurs, mentor them and help get the investment they need, and educate everyone on the benefits of marijuana to legalize it. I co-starred with Kelly Ripa in a TV series that is similar to this show in that we are coaching entrepreneurs and introducing them to the buyers/investors. I called that show "Dolphin Tank" on Bloomberg TV, and that is what this show offers, too.
Karen Paull: For me, it started with a trip to Denver a few months ago–walking into a recreational dispensary and buying marijuana legally for the first time. I recall thinking, “This would be a great reality show,” and then I started obsessively watching reality TV shows online, especially "Shark Tank" and "The Apprentice." I thought, “Its high time we did a reality show about the cannabis industry.” We vetted the idea, and everyone told us we were in the exact right place at the right time. In addition to this, Wendy and I have tons of experience as professional coaches and thought we could totally help budding entrepreneurs learn the skills they need to succeed and potentially become the next marijuana millionaire!
Skodzinski: How many applicants/auditions have you had so far?
Robbins: We start the auditions on Sept. 13th and 14th and have a couple of hundred signed up, and we’re sure more will show up because of the buzz.
Skodzinski: Can you talk a bit about what you're looking for in candidates for the show?
Robbins: We are looking for ideas and businesses that are well thought out. We’d love to see a business plan, bios of the management team, track records of success and failures. We would like them to have their permits, licenses or whatever is needed to be in business. We are looking for unique solutions to the biggest problems. We’ll look at sales numbers if they are in business. Can their business scale? Be licensed? Distributed? Do they have the skills to make it a success? Are they a solid spokesperson and open to be coached? Are they fun, exciting, enthusiastic, dynamic and, most of all, authentic.
Paull: What Wendy said, with the addition of having a passion to learn and be coached, and take their business idea from seed to the bank!
Skodzinski: Will the mentorship at the Taos Dome Home be part of the show as well?
Robbins: The 4-day bootcamp will be key to the success of the show and investment. We will review how to pitch. We’ll work on overcoming doubts, fear, limiting beliefs…. share wisdom on marketing, branding, legal, financing, teamwork, management, etc.
Paull: Yes, our Taos Dome House has been featured on HGTV, Parade, and is the perfect, artistic “Think-Tank” home on 6 acres, with a separate Geodesic Dome for our workshops. We are also utilizing Taos since New Mexico supports local film makers with a tax credit of 30 percent, and we are all for that! The locations are Denver, and Taos, N.M., and we plan on doing our second show in Washington, and following every State that goes legal, recreationally from there!
Skodzinski: Any advice you can offer those interested in auditioning? Things to do and not do?
Robbins: Remember you only have two minutes to pitch. Address the problem, how big is it? What is your unique solution? Do a fast, dramatic demo and let us know who your team is, successful track record. How much are you asking for, and how will you use it? Be ready for us to ask questions. Be prepared. Practice. Get feedback from people you trust and tell them to ask you questions as though they were investing.
Paull: Two minutes can feel like a lifetime when it’s a big chance. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Also, remember, what problem are you solving with your idea, and who is your audience? Who will be your consumer, how will you reach them? What is your market valuation? Now and in 5 years?
Skodzinski: Are you at all concerned about holding the four-day workshops in N.M., where marijuana is not yet legal?
Robbins: New Mexico is legal for medical marijuana however we will not be smoking or tasting here–only Denver, which is why we are going to shoot there, too.
The boot camp is just to prepare them for the pitch: legal, financial, branding, marketing, pitching, etc. We can teach and will always do a disclaimer even on our sites–it is still Federally illegal. We are all taking a risk. Time to sit in the front of the bus.
Skkodzinski: Is there anything I didn't ask you that you think is important to mention and/or to let ganjapreneurs know about this opportunity?
Robbins: We are looking for well-spoken entrepreneurs who are ready to be the next marijuana millionaire. Our message is to help legalize it and to educate the audience about this amazing industry, opportunities, healing, and to remind them you could buy marijuana until the early '40s in a local pharmacy. Marijuana is natural–only the laws against it are unnatural.
Paull: If you don’t make our first series, we are going to start in Denver, then Washington and every state that goes legal, so keep watching our show and plan on auditioning for our next show!
