[PRESS RELEASE] – STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 30, 2026 – Curaleaf Holdings Inc., a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products, announced the graduation of the inaugural class of its New York Incubator Program, a free program designed to bring independent dispensary owners together and help them build sustainable, profitable and compliant businesses through practical education, open dialogue, peer-to-peer learning and continued access to Curaleaf's experts. Developed in partnership with Jeremy Rivera, CEO of Terp Bros, the program reflects Curaleaf's continued commitment to supporting independent retailers and contributing to the long-term strength of New York's cannabis community.
"New York is more than an important market for Curaleaf; it is home. As a born and raised New Yorker, I care deeply about building an industry here that creates lasting opportunities for entrepreneurs, consumers and communities," Curaleaf Chairman and CEO Boris Jordan said. "Independent retailers are essential to the future of this market, and supporting their success is a commitment that requires action.
“Jeremy Rivera has become an influential voice in New York cannabis because he understands the realities facing independent operators and consistently advocates for a stronger, more collaborative industry. When Jeremy approached us with this idea, we saw an opportunity to combine that perspective with Curaleaf's operating experience and resources. We are proud of what this first class accomplished and look forward to continuing this work in New York and beyond."
The first class brought together owners and general managers from 13 independent dispensaries across New York. From April through September 2026, Curaleaf experts led monthly sessions across six areas:
- Compliance: New York regulations, METRC seed-to-sale tracking and OCM reporting
- Assortment, Pricing and Promotions: Balancing premium and value brands and developing promotional strategies
- Retail Operations: Staffing, productivity metrics, store layout and back-of-house controls
- Retail Marketing: Local search visibility, customer communication and loyalty
- Business Performance Reporting: Financial and operating KPIs, inventory health and competitive benchmarking
- Accounting and Tax: Internal controls, cash management, Section 280E and New York cannabis tax
Beyond the curriculum, the program was built on a simple principle: a no-strings-attached environment focused on sharing knowledge and building up New York's independent retail community. Each session created space for operators who often compete for the same customers to compare notes, trade practical solutions and build relationships that extend beyond the classroom.
The program concluded on Sept. 23 with an in-person session at Terp Bros in Ozone Park, Queens. Participants leave the program with a network of peers they can continue to lean on and ongoing access to Curaleaf's experts, who will continue answering questions and serving as a resource as their businesses grow.
"When I brought the idea to Boris, he immediately understood what we were trying to build and was open to finding a meaningful way for Curaleaf to support it," Rivera said. "Curaleaf was willing to step up, put real resources behind the idea and engage with independent operators as partners. Having the largest cannabis company in the world on our side, sharing its knowledge and listening to what smaller operators are experiencing sends an important message. Independent dispensaries do not have to build this market alone, and this program showed what can happen when different parts of the industry come together."
Participants were selected through an open application process available to independent New York retailers. The sessions were structured as open discussions rather than lectures, enabling operators at every stage, from first-time single-store owners to experienced multistore groups, to learn from Curaleaf's experts and, just as importantly, from one another.
The inaugural class represents the latest step in Curaleaf's effort to translate its commitment to independent retailers into practical support. Through education, access to subject-matter experts, and an ongoing forum for collaboration, the program provided participants with tools they could apply directly within their businesses while strengthening connections across New York's independent retail community.
Curaleaf plans to open applications for the next New York class in December of this year and is exploring opportunities to expand the program and its community into additional markets. Retailers interested in joining a future class can contact [email protected] or [email protected].
