StaffMarch 26, 2020
DaVinci has been leading the vaporizer market for almost 10 years (the company launched its original vaporizer in 2012). Founder Cortney Smith (Cort) is known for engineering vaporizer devices that set the industry standard. When Apple banned vaping apps, his team created the first on-device dosage control in just 3 days, to make sure every user has access to their dosage information. Cort has a vision for clean, responsibly built vaporizer devices that can put the cannabis industry at the forefront of mainstream consumer technology.
Executive Spotlight: Cortney Smith, CEO, and founder, DaVinci
Title: Founder, Inventor, and Chief Executive Officer
Company: DaVinci
Years at current company: Nine; I founded DaVinci in 2011.
Education profile: Graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Chinese and International Relations.
Most successful professional accomplishment before cannabis: Before becoming a cannabis entrepreneur, I brought bungee jumping to China in the 1990s. I moved to China as part of my college education, and in 1991 I founded Bungee International, which designed, manufactured and installed large-scale theme park attractions across China. Bungee International became the world’s largest bungee jumping company, with over 2 million jumpers and 70 locations throughout Asia. My passion for extreme sports also led me to produce China’s first X Games event in 1998.
Company Mission: I founded DaVinci with the desire to change the world’s imagination of what is possible for plant-based wellness. Drawing from my history in manufacturing and hardware design, DaVinci’s mission is to innovate cannabis consumer tech while bringing responsible consumption to the forefront.
Company’s most successful achievement: We continue to design and produce new advanced devices that cannabis consumers deserve while tackling the challenges of the vaporizer market. From the 2019 vaping injury outbreak to the Apple App Store ban on vaporizer apps, we’ve weathered quite a few obstacles just in the past year.
Fortunately, our team has built responsibly from the start with clean, medical-grade hardware—and we have the ability to pivot at a moment’s notice. We started 2020 with the launch of the DaVinci IQ2. Our engineers designed an exceptional portable device that works with both flower and concentrates, and has new features that really resonated with cannabis aficionados. To overcome Apple’s app ban, for example, we developed the world’s first Load Your Own & Know Your Dose feature that gives consumers their dosage information right on the device. And the IQ2’s adjustable airflow is another innovation for which we’ve received a lot of positive feedback.
Necessity is the mother of invention. When you’re an inventor, you need to believe that anything is possible with human ingenuity. Without that inventor mindset, you don’t open yourself up to the new solutions that must be created in times of uncertainty. The cannabis companies that will succeed are the companies with a culture of possibility. That’s how you win in a market that faces as many barriers as cannabis does.
Has the company raised any capital (yes or no): No, we have no debt and have always operated as a boot-strapped organization.
Any plans on raising capital in the future? Yes, we will be seeking capital in the future to aid in the expansion of the company.
Most important company 5-year goal: Consumers need quality cannabis brands they can trust. As the leading vaporizer brand, DaVinci has a responsibility to continue our legacy of safety and innovation in everything we do, and that comes from delivering a consistent product experience, whether that’s our debut Classic vaporizer that’s still on the market or a more recent model. Our goal for the next five years is to expand our product offerings while building brand loyalty and trust that we’re already known for. From the IQ2 to other new product categories we have in the works, we’re supporting cannabis consumers and moving the market forward for years to come.
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