
Watching the birth of the adult-use market in Washington state, Rosie recognized an opportunity.
Watching the birth of the adult-use market in Washington state, Rosie recognized an opportunity.
In addition to having a Los Angeles office, New York-based Mattio Communications announced the launch of MATTIO+FIORE Media, a new cannabis-focused paid media and performance marketing agency. The new company will be led by Mattio Communications CEO Rosie Mattio and Madison Fiore, the former Head of Growth at Hawke Media. The new company will be a subsidiary that will focus on growth strategy, media buying, email and SMS marketing, creative and campaign development, including photo, video, animation and design assets, and managing listings on third-party platforms such as Weedmaps, Leafly, I Heart Jane and springbig.
“MATTIO’s ability to consistently drive client success is rooted in our commitment to offering forward-thinking services that meet the evolving needs of cannabis companies,” said Rosie Mattio. “Madison is a true pioneer in cannabis marketing with a demonstrated track record of executing compliant and impactful paid media and performance marketing campaigns. He has a keen understanding of the intricacies of this landscape and his strategic marketing approach will be a tremendous asset to both MATTIO and the wider industry.”
Most people within the cannabis industry know that traditional methods of advertising have been unavailable to them. That has pushed cannabis public relations firms and other media outlets to think outside the box. To help cannabis companies capitalize on the potential paid media opportunities, Rosie Mattio decided to partner with Madison Fiore to create MATTIO+FIORE. As the former Head of Growth at Hawke Media, Fiore helped increase the agency’s annual recurring revenue by 1,300% between 2017 and 2021, executing million-dollar advertising campaigns on behalf of some of the most successful cannabis and CBD brands in the U.S., including Papa & Barkley, Heavy Hitters, EAZE, Miss Grass, Prima, WYLD, Kadenwood Brands and Parallel.
“MATTIO+FIORE’s mission is to eliminate the existing friction points in cannabis marketing by proactively building the infrastructure to execute effective paid media campaigns on mainstream platforms,” said Madison Fiore. “Paid advertising remains an underutilized tool in cannabis, and after developing campaigns for some of the most respected brands over the past five years, I recognized an opportunity to help businesses navigate this uncharted territory on a larger scale. MATTIO+FIORE’s services will be essential to brand growth once cannabis e-commerce hits its stride, and I am thrilled to partner with Rosie to push the needle forward within the realm of cannabis marketing.”
In 2021, U.S. digital ad spending exceeded $183 billion while the value of campaigns increased by 37% year-over-year. As more cannabis markets mature, effective paid media campaigns will provide companies with the competitive edge to drive brand awareness and sales growth. MATTIO+FIORE said in a statement that it will focus on driving clients’ awareness, traffic, and revenue through paid media and performance marketing strategies. “Committed to clients every step of the way, the new agency will develop campaigns and execute creatives while honing in on attribution, full-funnel marketing audits, LTV, CRO and strategic partnerships.”
As the cannabis industry continues to demand respect from the rest of the corporate world, Inc. Magazine has stepped forward to acknowledge growing companies. Inc. just published its list of 5,000 of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.
MATTIO Communications, one of the longest-running and largest cannabis marketing services firms, ranked No. 190 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The company has grown 2,244% helping it to rank so highly. Mattio Communications said it will be featured in the September issue of Inc. when it hits newsstands on August 20th.
“Since MATTIO started, we have grown our client base to over 50 companies in every vertical across the cannabis industry across the U.S. and Canada,” said Rosie Mattio, Founder and CEO of MATTIO Communications. “Our team is especially proud to be recognized as one of the only PR firms ever featured on the Inc. 5000 list, and our tremendous growth over the past three years reflects the abundance of opportunities available in the nascent cannabis industry.”
Mattio Communications is an industry-leading strategic marketing firm focused on cannabis, lifestyle and emerging markets. The company’s roster of clients is a who’s who in the cannabis industry. MATTIO provides end-to-end marketing services, including media and investor relations, crisis communication, content creation, social media, SEO and experiential marketing. We have firms in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto.
“The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we’ve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.”
In addition to Mattio making the list, cannabis online marketplace LeafLink also clocked in at number 204 after growing 2,144%. LeafLink. LeafLink is currently logging $3 Billion of annualized Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). LeafLink’s marketplace makes up an estimated 32% of U.S. wholesale cannabis commerce. Currently, LeafLink serves 27 markets across the U.S. and Canada with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Toronto. In December, LeafLink closed on a $40 million Series C investment round, led by Founders Fund. Additional participants include Thrive Capital, Nosara Capital, and Lerer Hippeau. This company said that this latest round of investment brings its venture funding to over $90 million and marks Founders Fund’s largest technology investment in the cannabis space.
The cannabis industry is one of the most unique and restricted industries in general, but when it comes to advertising, marketing and public relations, it stands alone in its capabilities and the landscape in which to operate.
The keys to any good marketing or PR campaign in cannabis, since advertising is still almost completely illegal to even engage, are creativity, understanding the laws, and relationships. If you have never worked in PR for the cannabis industry, and made the transition into it, you would know there is a learning curve that requires time. No matter how big, long standing or respected a firm may be, it will take 6-12 months to figure out how to navigate the cannabis terrain.
Unfortunately, many brands and companies will go and hire the most expensive PR firm in the world, only to find out 3-6 months in, that they would have received 20 times more coverage if they would have gone with a firm that has a sole, or major, focus on cannabis for no less than a year. Making the mistake leads to a lot of wasted time and money, which in the cannabis industry as well as any other, are too valuable and can be avoided.
For the second year in row, the team at the Green Market Report has evaluated the most effective public relations firms available to the industry that embody the experience, relationships and compliance know-how to garner your company’s desired press coverage and message management better than anyone else.
Each one of these firms have been vetted and yield proven results for their clients. We have carefully selected the teams that we would recommend to any cannabis brand, personality or public company. Some of the firms have specialties with brands, whether it be sustainable farming or extraction, or specifically with luxury positioning, and some specifically specialize in financial markets.
Before selecting any PR firm in any situation, you should always review and interview no less than 3 to 5 thoroughly. Chemistry between your team and theirs is incredibly important. So, take your time and find the right fit.
We hope that this list can help you and your team find the best cannabis focused PR firm that can achieve your goals most effectively.
Here is the 2020 Green Market Report list of the Top 12 Most Effective Cannabis PR Firms:
1.) ICR Strategic Communications & Advisory:
Mission Statement: Provide strategic communications for business leaders to achieve business goals, build awareness and credibility, and enhance long-term enterprise value.
About ICR Strategic Communications & Advisory: Established in 1998, ICR partners with companies to execute strategic communications and advisory programs that achieve business goals, build awareness and credibility, and enhance long-term enterprise value. ICR’s cannabis practice leverages the firm’s highly-differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, bringing deep sector knowledge and relationships to its clients. ICR’s roster of cannabis clients include, Tilray, Aphria, Aurora, Hexo, Hydrofarm, Neptune Wellness Solutions, CV Sciences, Weedmaps, Medicine Man Technologies and Bespoke Capital Acquisition Corp. During the past two years, ICR’s cannabis team has helped its clients navigate several go-public transactions, M&A, capital raises and special situations, while also providing ongoing, integrated investor relations and public relations services to raise awareness, visibility and understanding of their long-term growth strategy.
2.) MATTIO Communications:
Mission Statement: MATTIO creates brand leaders by using our well-honed communication skills, industry knowledge and creative muscle to drive conversations, shape perceptions and help our clients achieve ambitious business goals.
About MATTIO Communications: MATTIO Communications was founded by Rosie Mattio in 2005 and is one of the longest running and largest marketing firms in the cannabis space. The company has supported the industry and grown up alongside it, working to normalize perceptions and remove the stigma surrounding cannabis. In fact, the firm placed the first cannabis article ever to appear in both Vogue and Oprah Magazine! At the core of MATTIO’s success is a simple principle: Rosie and her team prioritize delivering substantial, meaningful results. In 2019 alone, MATTIO secured over 3,000 placements for its clients, translating into over 100 billion UVMs.
MATTIO represents some of the best known brands in every sector of the cannabis industry, including Canndescent, Harborside, Papa & Barkley, Headset, LeafLink, PathogenDx and CannaSafe. Despite doubling its client roster over the past year, MATTIO prides itself on maintaining a close working relationship with clients, modeling itself as an extension of their internal marketing and strategy teams. Over the past year, the company has expanded its capabilities, adding investor relations, SEO, programmatic, social media and influencer marketing to better serve and represent clients.
In 2019, the company was ranked on Green Entrepreneur’s Top 100 Cannabis Companies and awarded MG Magazine’s Best Workplaces. Rosie Mattio was also named one of Forbes Fifteen Powerful And Innovative Women In Cannabis and received a High Times Female 50 award.
3.) CMW Media:
Mission Statement: CMW Media’s mission is to help share meaningful messages worldwide. We aim to catapult industry innovators to become household names and implement innovative public relations campaigns that lead to positive legislative and systematic changes. In addition to servicing our clients to the highest standard and becoming an extension of their marketing teams, we aim to be a leading media resource of cannabis, technology and healthcare information for print, broadcast and online journalists.
Since its inception, CMW Media has expanded its services beyond public and media relations to include digital and email marketing, social media, video production, brand development, web design, PPC campaigns and e-commerce management. Specializing in publicly-traded companies, CMW Media helps companies convey their value to shareholders and investors alike by promoting financial reports, drafting shareholder letters and call scripts, aligning investor relations strategy with media outreach and creating attractive, easy-to-navigate pitch decks. The agency also boasts impressive creative offerings and its own professional photography studio in its downtown San Diego office where expert media training, headshots, promotional video and product photography can all be handled in-house.
From seed to sale, CMW Media represents both ancillary and plant-touching businesses in the cannabis industry in more than 20 countries. The agency’s current cannabis clients include Medical Marijuana, Inc., Tilt Holdings, Bhang, Inc., Sparx Cannabis, Hemp, Inc., Axim Biotechnologies, Kannalife, Inc., Ecogen Laboratories, and Emerald Scientific, among others. In 2020, CMW Media was listed among the top 10 PR agencies in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal.
4.) KCSA Strategic Communications:
KCSA Mission Statement: We Inform, Influence and Inspire.
At KCSA Strategic Communications, we deliver high-impact corporate visibility that supports sales, attracts capital, builds shareholder value and communicates to current and potential employees.
About KCSA Strategic Communications: KCSA Strategic Communications, an integrated strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, investor relations and social media, celebrated its 50th Anniversary in September of 2019. Along with the anniversary celebrations came a “KCSA brand” refresh, updating its acronym to “Knowledge. Creativity. Strategy. Advocacy.” KCSA also experienced exceptional growth with an increase in revenue of 35 percent and more than 25 new executive hires in 2019.
KCSA is one of the only independently-owned communications consultancies and brings these offerings to bear through integrated, business-to-business campaigns. With vertical expertise in financial services, healthcare, tech, and for the last six-plus years, KCSA has become the most well-known integrated corporate cannabis communications firms. KCSA works with its clients – which range from high-growth startups to mid-cap publicly traded companies – to communicate to their most important stakeholders, build their brands and support their sales efforts.
KCSA’s cannabis practice has been representing companies in the cannabis industry for more than five years. Clients span the entire supply chain from companies that grow the plant, process it and dispense it, to companies that provide consulting services, financial services and even ancillary products such as lighting, nutrients and packaging
In 2017, KCSA launched The Green Rush, a podcast about cannabis, the capital markets and culture. On a weekly basis hosts Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe from KCSA Strategic Communications, speak with the CEOs, Regulators, Legislators and Cultural Icons pushing the cannabis industry forward.
In 2018 KCSA acquired leading cannabis and hemp PR firm Salar Media Group. Some of their current and past cannabis clients include public companies such as Acreage Holdings, KushCo Holdings, Terra Tech, iAnthus, Curaleaf, Aurora Cannabis and Akerna as well as industry leaders such as The Emerald Cup, Vangst, and High Times Holdings.
KCSA’s cannabis highlights include:
KCSA was ranked as a top M&A PR Advisory Firm by The Deal
KCSA was named one of the most Powerful PR Firms of 2019 by the Observer
5.) Rosen Group:
Mission Statement: Rosen Group is committed to providing high-quality, strategic public relations services by integrating innovative approaches with tried-and-true methods that translate directly to clients’ objectives for their bottom lines. We understand that the best relationships are seamless. Rosen Group integrates itself as its clients’ full-fledged partner, communicating closely with their internal teams to customize PR programs and to maximize efficiency. Our goal is to achieve results that exceed clients’ expectations. Moving beyond the traditional media relations role, Rosen Group is a consultant and sounding board for its partners, executing insightful and detail-oriented client campaigns.
About Rosen Group: What do you get when you combine old school values, contemporary thinking, New York moxie, deep-rooted cannabis experience and a best-in-class professional team? Meet Rosen Group, a 360-degree public relations agency headquartered in Manhattan, with more than three decades of experience cultivating regional and national awareness for clients through targeted media outreach, innovative programs and a nimbleness to move with the rapidly evolving media landscape. Our focus may be on the green market, but our savvy team is far from green when it comes to our breadth of knowledge and capabilities.
Rosen Group has strong roots in business, advertising, legal, media and entrepreneurial sectors, while our cannabis experience is unparalleled. The firm has worked since the inception of adult-use in Colorado to bring cannabis messaging to the national stage.
The agency has worked with vertically integrated companies, products, consultants and others to expand into emerging markets while educating target audiences and conveying critical narratives. Past and current cannabis clients include NUG, Vertosa, Azuca, Keef Brands, Wana Brands, Nanosphere, Cannabis Business Alliance, TheWeedTube and MMJ Business Academy, among others. In the ever-transforming cannabis market, we foster creativity, innovation and growth to both client and media relations.
Rosen Group clients receive customized, personal service and strategic initiatives specific to their objectives that are executed through broad-spectrum public relations campaigns to maximize coverage. Press placements span print, digital and broadcast, from leading cannabis trades such as Green Entrepreneur and Marijuana Business Magazine, to mainstream general interest, news and business outlets such as Wall Street Journal, Yahoo! Finance, Rolling Stone and Forbes. The firm also highlights each of our clients’ presence and establishes thought-leadership opportunities by “newsjacking” on industry trends, drafting and securing placements for bylined articles, as well as generating speaking opportunities at prominent industry conferences, including NCIA, Engage for Good 2020, Bev Net Events Cannabis Forum, and MJ Biz Con International.
How does Rosen Group move the needle forward in the ever-transformative canna-communications industry? With key accomplishments such as:
6.) GVM Communications:
Mission Statement: Great Visions and Minds Communicating
About GVM Communications: Gia is the Founder and CEO of GVM Communications, Inc. a public relations, brand & business development consulting firm which launched in 2012. GVM Communications Inc. has a core team that consists of Tracey Henry the Lead Public Relations Strategist (aka “Media Pitch Master”), Alicia A. Brown the Director of Client Relations (aka “The Client Whisper”) and N’Dia Dugue the Social Media Maven (aka The Millennial Connect), GVM also engages a team of consultants & freelancers demonstrating talents and skills in an array of industries: Arts, Education, Financial Services, Diversity & Inclusion, Publishing, Sports & Entertainment, Technology, and Wellness. In 2015, the firm expanded its services into the cannabis industry. GVM Communication, Inc. is currently regarded as one of the top 10 firms in the country specializing in cannabis & hemp.
Although, increasingly renowned, within the cannabis & hemp space. GVM Communication, Inc. remains equally vested in diverse markets of business ranging from: (Non-Profits, privately owned to Publicly traded Fortune 500 companies. The firm has a client base ranges from small to mid-sized businesses, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, authors and celebrity clients).
The GVM team has cumulatively with over 60+ years of experience. Gia is also the President of Women Grow and come with extensive experience from Goldman Sachs Group Inc as Media Relations Officer and the Fremantle Corporation as Director of Promotions & Publicity, while her team Tracey Henry is a cannabis media expert CEO of THC Tracey Henry Consulting & Type A Media and has extensive experience in politics, hospitality, health & wellness; Alicia Brown is a master of the 4’P’s (People, Product, Processes & Partners) and has leveraged her superpowers on behalf companies like; General Motors & W. W. Grainger and has an extensive background in Marketing & Business Development in (publishing, entertainment, and food & beverage); N’Dia Dugue has worked with the One/35 Agency which specializes in targeting multicultural consumers and business professionals with clients such as Google, Oprah Winfrey Network, Fox Broadcasting Co. and A’24’s moonlight.
Gia is a board member of the following organization’s Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM, Advisory Board member of Cannabis World Congress Business Expo, Coalition Member of Start-SMART New York and founder of the New York Cannabis & Hemp Trade Association. Equally compelling, Gia mentors enterprising young women entrepreneurs across the country and intercontinental in countries like South Africa. Gia currently resides in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY.
7.) 5W Public Relations:
Mission Statement: Resourceful, innovative, and nimble, 5W works hard, thinks big, and delivers successful results.
About 5W Public Relations: Founded by Ronn Torossian in 2003 in one-room, with one intern, and three clients, 5W Public Relations today employs 175 professionals, taking up two entire floors in the iconic Helmsley Building. In 2019, 5W grew 3.1% and reported record-breaking revenue of $36.4M. The Beauty and Health practices exploded, boasting 19.5% and 28.4% increases in revenue YoY, respectively and the Cannabis division skyrocketed from zero to revenue of $1.7M in just one year onboarding nearly 20 clients in the space.
5W has an expert ability to narrate the stories of emerging brands and launch them into mainstream fame. 5W equips clients with the necessary knowledge, innovation and creativity to achieve top-tier engagement and drive growth-oriented results in an ever-changing world. The firm and its employees understand this is a “defining moment” for cannabis and has maximized its presence while the industry is hot; and for this reason, the Firm’s speed in capitalizing on this moment is coupled by real time analysis of every possible scenario prior to taking action.
5W is dedicated to cannabis, because the Firm believes in the future of the industry and understands that the health and wellness benefits of cannabis have the potential to not only change a life, but the course of history. The passion and focus the Firm has on the industry means that it is up to date with all relevant legislation, trends and new players on the scene.5W drives this awareness and perception by breaking down barriers and ideating impactful stories to an unmatched network of outlets.
5W now services roughly 260 clients at any given time including world-class brands like SAP, L’Oreal, Topps, Sparkling Ice, Santa Margherita, Careerbuilder and SodaStream as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies, six members of the Forbes 400, hedge funds, and four technology unicorns including N26, Payoneer, AvidXchange and ironSouce. The firms notable Cannabis clients include CBDistillery, a Balanced Health Botanicals Brand and the number one online retailer of hemp-derived CBD products; Cannabiniers, leaders in smoke-free cannabis consumption brands with products such as Two Roots, Creative Waters, and Just Society; NABIS Holdings, leading investment company focused on multiple aspects of the cannabis sector; KOI CBD; Bluebird Botanicals; Ionic Brands, national cannabis holding company focused on building consumer brands; and canafarma, a hemp investment company involved in growing, processing and product development including Yooforic, hemp oil infused chewing gum.
8.) Grasslands Agency:
Mission Statement: Grasslands’ seasoned team—well-versed and legit experienced in all sides of the public relations / communications / media paradigm—employs the ethical standards we learned in Pulitzer-winning newsrooms to provide world-class content and media-savvy public relations services that helps our clients grow their businesses. We are proud to work exclusively with businesses and organizations that align with our agency values of inclusivity, compassion and dignity; engage openly with their communities and customers; practice transparency in their business relationships; and respect the important contributions of journalists and the news media. Our communications philosophy is centered on a journalism-minded, Aristotle-modeled approach to content creation, marketing, public relations, branding, social media management, events and more. That means using only vetted information, distributing professionally written copy, getting things right the first time, listening actively to our clients and media partners, and thriving on tough deadlines. At Grasslands, we put our clients’ brands, executives and messaging front and center in broadcast, online, print, podcast and social media.
About Grasslands Agency: Grasslands is a full-service boutique communications agency working with clients in highly regulated industries—including marijuana and hemp—specializing in public relations, content marketing and thought leadership work. Founder and CEO Ricardo Baca, a 25-year newspaper veteran, has built a seasoned team with more than six decades of top-level journalism experience at outlets including Men’s Health, The Denver Post, the Chicago Sun-Times, Seventeen, The Daily Beast and Wonkette—and PR experience with clients including Twitter, Victoria’s Secret, Sports Illustrated, Ulta Beauty, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Whirlpool. Grasslands has a deep bench of experience supporting clients through product launches and rebranding efforts, acquisitions and IPOs, crisis management and capital funding initiatives.
Two Accomplishments to Highlight
Awards & Acknowledgements
Clients to Highlight
Agency Milestones
9.) Nison Co:
Mission Statement: NisonCo is the oldest and largest cannabis, CBD, and hemp-specific PR firm and has worked with over 125 cannabis companies. Established in 2013, our mission is to build trusting relationships with members of the media in order to advance inclusive and sustainable social policies, while ethically monetizing our influence.
About Nison Co: NisonCo is rated as a top cannabis PR company that can get and keep your company in the news through an unmatched network of cannabis industry leaders, reporters, product reviewers, and social media influencers. We have developed over 4,000 active relationships with reporters and reviewers who cover cannabis and related products, including CBD, from nearly every major outlet across the country. Our team of over 20 employees is made up of experts in specific niches of the industry, and are passionate about maintaining a positive image for the industry. Our hyper-attentive approach generates fast results, while our campaigns are backed by strategy and data. In addition to our ability to get you in the news, we have social media experts, bloggers, content writers, marketers, and SEO consultants in-house ready to get you and your brand maximum exposure.
Since 2013, NisonCo has worked with over 125 cannabis companies including Brightfield Group, Cannabis Voter Project, and Verano/Harvest, which helped to establish ourselves as a go-to source for reporters who cover the legal and medical cannabis industries. We use our active relationships with journalists to promote innovation, sustainability, and thought leadership for companies such as covering the front lines of the 2019 vape crisis, leading tech innovation trends and assisting new product rollouts, to normalizing the spread of CBD nationwide. For our work we’ve been recognized in articles such as The Observer’s PR Power List Cannabis Honor Roll of 2019 and Green Market Report’s Top 10 Most Effective Cannabis PR Firms 2019. In recent years we’ve continued to grow to remain the largest cannabis specific public relations firm and at the request of our clients we’ve expanded our service offerings to other things we do really well, like content marketing and SEO.
10.) Coppertop Media Relations:
Mission Statement: Coppertop Media Relations strives to work with good actors that make an impact in their local communities and the greater global cannabis industry. It prides itself on being a leading industry resource for partnering cannabis brands and professionals with opportunities, ranging from national media placements to collaborative ventures.
About Coppertop Media Relations:
Over the last four years, Coppertop has represented some of the most respected and established brands in the industry, including Bloom Farms, CannaCraft (Absolute Extracts, Care by Design, Satori Chocolates), Flowr, iCan CannaTech, Project CBD, Puffco, and Scotts Miracle-Gro.
11.) Lola Red:
Mission Statement: Amplify Greatness
About Lola Red: Lola Red is a dynamic, integrated PR, social and digital agency located in Minneapolis and Denver. Founded by Alexis Walsko in 2002, the agency was rooted on results and service with the spirit and strategy to help clients make an impact on their business. Lola Red serves clients across multiple industries including: consumer electronics, technology, health and wellness, fashion and beauty, CPG, franchise, food and beverage, hospitality and non-profit industries. Lola Red is certified as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). The Denver office opened in the Summer of 2019, marking the first expansion of the firm. Lola Red has received accolades from Ragan’s PR Daily Awards, Shorty Awards, Ad Club Co, Twin Cities Business and the PRSA organization. The agency’s sports marketing division, Lola Pro, amplifies athlete’s time in the spotlight through integrated brand partnerships, media relations, community relations and social/digital strategies. Lola Pro also works with companies and brands across various industries to help them achieve objectives utilizing professional athletes.
12.) Maverick Public Relations:
Mission Statement: Maverick Public Relations provides big agency expertise with outstanding client service by seasoned and knowledgeable communications experts.
About Maverick Public Relations: Maverick PR was established in December 2018 and quickly was recognized as one of the most effective cannabis agencies in the industry. Our cannabis and hemp experience is unparalleled, with most of us working in the sector for 5-10 years to bring cannabis messaging to the national stage and working closely with national and trade reporters as well as infiltrating specific emerging markets to educate and convey critical narratives. We are experts in cannabis, but we also have deep experience representing a multitude of sectors including health & wellness, biotech, agribusiness, sustainable technologies, renewable energy, associations, the regulated cannabis industry and media companies.
Our mission is to provide big agency expertise with outstanding client service by seasoned and knowledgeable communications experts. Maverick PR offerings include public relations, media training, investor relations, content development, thought leadership development, speaking engagements, response strategy/crisis management, event support and consulting. What sets us apart: We are hands-on, sincere, genuine and responsive. We’re ridiculously enthusiastic, hard-working and nimble. We think outside of the box, and we’re good partners to our clients. We root out good story ideas and then help our clients share their narratives.
At our core, we’re passionate about good journalism. We want to see the Fourth Estate not just survive but thrive. Each of us brings such a unique skill set and background. We come from all different ages/levels in our careers. That helps to foster a successful and supportive environment. And while more than half of our team is based in the Denver metro area, we have outposts in California, Florida and Pennsylvania, which we believe lends to a diverse perspective.
Cannabis clients, including Wana, Wana Wellness, Elixinol, Quicksilver Scientific, Mary Jane’s Medicinals, Resource Innovation Intuition, Fortis Law Partners, Capitol Wellness Solutions, L’Eagle, L’eela CBD Body Care and Cannabis Doing Good.
It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for July 29, 2019.
Nextleaf Solutions
Extraction technology company Nextleaf Solutions Ltd. (CSE: OILS) (OTCQB: OILFF) said that its common shares will begin trading today on the OTCQB Market. Nextleaf will trade on the OTCQB under the symbol “OILFF” and the company’s common shares will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol “OILS”. Nextleaf owns a portfolio of issued and pending patents pertaining to the company’s unique, industrial-scale process of extraction and purification of cannabinoids.
CannBioRx
Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) KBL Merger Corp. IV (NASDAQ: KBLM) signed a definitive agreement for the merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of KBLM with CannBioRx Life Sciences Corp., a drug development company focused on treating inflammatory diseases. It began trading last Friday as a NASDAQ-listed cannabis biotech.
Fake CBD
Hundreds of people have been benefited from using Cannabidiol (CBD) – a substance scientifically proven to be safe for human consumption – even for children!
It not only has a wide range of therapeutic benefits but also has been useful for treating numerous serious ailments and disorders. However, not all products touted as “natural CBD oil” are actually as natural they claim to be.
SOL Global Investments Corp. (SOL.CN) (SOLCF) has purchased an additional 16,766,250 common shares in the capital of HeavenlyRx Ltd. at a price of $0.40 for an aggregate subscription amount of CAD$23,909,000.
The subscription is part of a larger private offering by HeavenlyRx of Heavenly Shares. As a result of this subscription, SOL Global now holds 44.53% of the issued and outstanding Heavenly Shares and the other shareholders of Heavenly Rx collectively hold the remaining 55.47%. The Heavenly Shares are subject to an indefinite hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws.
Radient Technologies Inc. (TSX Venture: RTI)(OTCQX: RDDTF) has issued an aggregate of 93,151 common shares to a third-party consultant for services provided during the quarter ended June 30, 2019, pursuant to the shares for service agreement previously approved by the TSX Venture Exchange. The common shares were issued at the TSX Venture Exchange 15 day VWAP share price of CAD $0.87.
Iconic Northern California cannabis company Harborside Inc. (CSE: HBOR) has appointed Mattio Communications as its investor relations advisors. Mattio is a New York-based communications firm which provides public and private cannabis companies with an array of services designed to maximize shareholder value through customized strategic investor relations programs (see https://www.mattio.com/). Harborside has also engaged Mattio to provide media and public relations support in an effort to build awareness of the Harborside brand and to capitalize on the company’s heritage as one of the oldest, largest and most respected cannabis retailers in the world.
One of the fastest growing cannabis-focused public relations firm MATTIO Communications announced that it received a seed round of funding. The investors for the company included Phyto Partners, venture capital titan Alan Patricof, founder of Greycroft, and Green Seed Fund.
“We’ve been thrilled to be growing so rapidly by helping our partners build their brands and footprint,” said Rosie Mattio, Founder & CEO. “We’re excited to add even more services and tools to help our clients expand to the next level.”
Rosie Mattio launched MATTIO Communications, formerly RMPR, in 2004 as a one-woman PR firm, but not one that specialized in cannabis. Mattio was living in Seattle with her family in 2014, at the time when adult-use cannabis was legalized in the state of Washington. Her timing was impeccable because she quickly realized emerging cannabis brands had specific marketing needs – and challenges.
She also took the risk to represent these clients. Many people forget that five years ago when you decided to work in the cannabis industry your peers would suggest you were potentially ruining your career. If you went to work in cannabis you would never be able to return to the traditional work world without being stained by the stigma of cannabis.
Since those early days, MATTIO Communications moved back east and is now based in New York City and serves over 25 marquee cannabis clients, including Headset, Canndescent, Papa & Barkley, LeafLink, Flowhub, Caliva, Green Mile, and Ascend Wellness Holdings. The agency offers a full spectrum of marketing services, including public relations, social media, SEO and investor relations. The company said the funds will be used to expand its array of digital services, including a targeted programmatic ad network, specifically for cannabis clients.
“We invest in companies that are writing the narrative of the cannabis industry,” said Brett Finklestein, Managing Director of Phyto Partners. “We’ve watched Rosie build a powerhouse agency since its infancy. Her expertise in the cannabis space is unparalleled. She represents a number of our portfolio companies, and we’re excited to be part of her growth.”
The global legal marijuana market is expected to reach $146 billion by the end of 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Grand Views noted that the U.S. legal marijuana market size was estimated at $7 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.9% from 2017 to 2025. As the cannabis industry has grown by leaps and bounds, MATTIO Communications has followed that trajectory higher. Mattio is no longer a one-woman firm and has grown 210% over last year. She has built a team including Mitchel Rothschild, Colleen Crawford, Renee Cotsis, Hally Gordon and many more.
The Mattio approach uses outside the box thinking for its clients versus the standard PR tactics. For example, instead of just inviting journalists to meet the client Papa & Barkley, a product known for its stringent cannabis sourcing. Mattio brought the journalists to the client’s home base to see those production standards first hand and even brought them to a farm to see the product and meet the farmer. A real farm to shelf experience. Her creative approach and strong relationship building have opened many publication doors.
Mattio is known for making each client feel like it is the number one most important client in the roster. That level of attention has created a word of mouth drawing numerous cannabis companies through her doors.
“As we expand our portfolio of investments, we look for best- in -class operators with proven track records,” says Kenneth Frisman, a partner in Green Seed Fund. “Mattio and her team have helped build some of the most recognized brands in the Cannabis industry and we are excited to watch as they continue to expand as the preeminent marketing firm in the space.”
1.) Mattio Communications
Launched in 2005 by Rosie Mattio, Mattio Communications (AKA: Rosie Mattio Public Relations or RMPR), is a full -service communications firm specializing in the cannabis industry, with clients spanning every sector of the trade, including, but not limited to, cultivation, manufacturing, finance, technology and ancillary services. Over the past four years, RMPR has represented some of the most recognized and well-respected brands in the cannabis industry, including: Canndescent, Headset, Papa & Barkley, Flowhub, LeafLink, Caliva, Navy Capital, Seed & Smith, Van der Pop and many more.
Since launching their cannabis-specific unit in 2014, Mattio has secured well over 1,000 media placements in print, digital and broadcast outlets for its clients. An industry favorite, Mattio Communications is recognized as the leading PR firm for cannabis brands and is directly responsible for cultivating the image for some of the most dominate names throughout the industry.
2.) ICR
Established in 1998, ICR partners with companies to execute strategic communications and advisory programs that achieve business goals, build awareness and credibility, and enhance long-term enterprise value. The firm’s highly-differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, brings deep sector knowledge and relationships to more than 650 clients in approximately 20 industries. ICR’s healthcare practice operates under the Westwicke brand (www.westwicke.com). Today, ICR is one of the largest and most experienced independent communications and advisory firms in North America, maintaining offices in New York, Norwalk, Boston, Baltimore, San Francisco, San Diego and Beijing. ICR also advises on capital markets transactions through ICR Capital, LLC. Learn more atwww.icrinc.com.
Some of the impressive multi-state operators, manufacturers and distribution companies that ICR stakes claim to are recognized as the largest companies in the industry. These names include Tilray, Aphria, TILT Holdings, CV Sciences, Flowr, Greenlane, Growpacker, and Hydrofarm.
3.) GVM Communications
GVM Communications, Inc. is a woman minority-owned public relations, branding and business development firm. Launched in 2012, led by Founder and CEO, Gia Morón, the company’s client base ranges from small to mid-sized businesses, non-profits, entrepreneurs, authors and celebrity influencers across multi-disciplined industries. GVM Communications expanded into the cannabis space in 2015, and has since worked with clients such as Women Grow, Viridian Capital Advisors, Simply Pure, Tikun Olam, Ilera Healthcare and more. Overseeing the PR efforts for one of the longest running parades in the country the “New York City Cannabis Parade.” Gia and expert team – who have over 60 years of combined experience – have partnered with industry conferences to identify top talent to diversify speaker representation. The firm has been credited by its clients for its first-rate approach for crisis managment and was coined the “client whisper”. In addition, Gia and her team have work with higher education universities to bring cannabis business education events, worked closely with advocacy groups to leading groundbreaking industry events at state buildings to faith based organizations. GVM Communications represents many of the leading voices in the cannabis industry today. Currently the team is working on expanding its communications platform into publishing and multimedia. The team just signed with a small group focused on CBD products and sports fitness.
The powerful list of current leading clients include Women Grow, Ilera Healthcare, National Holistic, Simply Pure/Cannabis Global Initiative and Viola Brands. Clients that GVM has worked with in the past include CWCBE, Yale School of Business on Business of Legal Cannabis 2018, Viridian Capital Advisors, and the Emmanuel Baptist Church, The Business of Cannabis Summit 2019.
4.) KCSA Strategic Communications
KCSA is a fully integrated, partner-owned, communications agency specializing in public relations, shareholder communications and social media, with expertise in cannabis, financial and professional services, technology, healthcare, digital media and energy. Since 1969, the firm has demonstrated strategic thinking and program execution that drives results for its clients in the ever-changing communications and digital landscape. The company was recently included in the “2018 CBE Ancillary Business 155” list by Cannabis Business Executive, an integrated business to business media company serving the cannabis and hemp industries. KCSA’s cannabis practice has been representing companies in the cannabis industry for more than five years. Clients span the entire supply chain from companies that grow the plant, process it and dispense it, to companies that provide consulting services, financial services and even ancillary products such as lighting, nutrients and packaging
In 2017, KCSA launched The Green Rush, a podcast about cannabis, the capital markets and culture. On a weekly basis hosts Lewis Goldberg and Anne Donohoe from KCSA Strategic Communications, speak with the CEOs, Regulators, Legislators and Cultural Icons pushing the cannabis industry forward.
To date we have interviewed some of the most powerful people in the business including:
• Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
• Bruce Linton, CEO of Canopy Growth
• Ziggy Marley, Grammy award winner
• Ricki Lake, actress, activist and documentarian
• George Allen, President of Acreage Holdings
• Tim Seymour, CNBC
• Marvin Washington, former NFL player and cannabis investor
In 2018 KCSA acquired the leading cannabis and hemp PR firm Salar Media Group. KCSA is responsible for one of the largest PR campaign efforts surrounding the 2019 Super Bowl with Acreage Holdings. Some of their clients include KushCo Holdings, Acreage Holdings, Terra Tech, iAnthus, Aurora Cannabis and MJ Freeway. In the past the have represented such brands as The Emerald Cup, Vangst and Curaleaf.
5.) Nison Co
NisonCo has a proven track record of successful political advocacy and policy change supporting the legalization of marijuana and other causes. With over 3,300 active media contacts at over 2,900 outlets, NisonCo is one of the best cannabis industry PR firms, with an unmatched network of relationships with mainstream media, industry specific media, product reviewers, and thought leaders from around the country.
Evan Nison, founder & chief executive officer of Nison Co. He is the youngest member of the board of NORML, and sits on the Board of Directors of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. In 2016 he helped launch Whoopi & Maya, a women-centric medical cannabis company with actress Whoopi Goldberg and edible maker Maya Elisabeth and currently acts as its chief financial officer.
Nison Co. agency has grown to well over 30 clients in cannabis, some of which include Bluebird Botanicals, Ardent, MoneyTrac, Brightfield Group, Headcount, Terra Tech, Nexien BioPharma and Civilized Media.
6.) Grasslands Agency
Grasslands is a full-service boutique agency working with clients in highly regulated industries. A nimble 10-person firm with offices in Denver and Los Angeles, Grasslands specializes in best-in-class Public Relations, Content Marketing, Social Media, Thought Leadership work, Newsletter Campaigns, Book Development and Event Execution for businesses and brands. Founder and CEO Ricardo Baca, a 20-year newspaper veteran, has built a seasoned team with more than six decades of top-level journalism experience at outlets including Men’s Health, The Denver Post, the Chicago Sun-Times, The Daily Beast and Wonkette—and PR experience with clients including IKEA North America, K12 Inc., REI, Dupage Medical Group, Fisher-Price and Emeril Lagasse (bam!). Grasslands has a deep bench of experience supporting clients through product launches, acquisitions and IPOs, crisis management and capital funding initiatives. Grasslands works with businesses in cannabis, hemp, traditional healthcare, technology and other highly regulated industries and is proud to count Willie’s Reserve, Cliintel Capital Management Group, Coda Signature, General Cannabis and others among its roster of clients. Find out more: mygrasslands.com
7.) The Rosen Group
After a stint in Washington, DC handling policy communications, Lori Rosen founded Rosen Group in New York City. For over three decades the agency has had success handling thought leadership campaigns for industry associations in alternative energy; embracing the tech boom with digital and tech launches and more recently establishing a budding cannabis practice, beginning in 2013 when Colorado became a legal market. Headquartered in New York City, with a 16-person team of media savvy professionals, Rosen Group has had offices in Denver, Los Angeles and Washington, DC over the years. Today, Rosen Group represents a number of cannabis clients including Nug in Oakland, CA; Azuca in New York, and HEALTH (Hawaiʻi Educational Association for Therapeutic Healthcare), for a campaign to allow out-of-state patients legal access to medical cannabis dispensaries while visiting the island.
8.) Maverick PR
Maverick Public Relations’ mission is to provide big agency expertise with outstanding client service by a seasoned and knowledgeable communications expert. Maverick PR was established by Shawna Seldon McGregor in 2018 after two decades at communications agencies in New York City and Denver. McGregor’s cannabis and hemp experience are unparalleled, working from the inception of adult-use in Colorado to bring cannabis messaging to the national stage and working closely with national and trade reporters as well as infiltrating specific emerging markets to educate and convey critical narratives. She has represented the biggest brands in the industry, including Wana Brands, L’Eagle Services, ebbu, Good Chemistry, L’eela CBD Body Care, Fortis Law Partners, Elevate Hemp and Verra Wellness, among others.
Maverick PR has deep experience representing a multitude of sectors including the regulated cannabis industry, biotech, agribusiness, sustainable technologies, renewable energy, associations and media companies. Offerings include public relations, media training, investor relations, content development, thought leadership development, speaking engagements and response strategy/crisis management.
9.) Ingrid Marketing
Ingrid is a full service, award winning, PR firm deeply embedded in the cannabis industry. Founded in 2015, Ingrid creates brand recognition, and strategically guides and supports the people building the cannabis industry’s future. Clients include PLUS Products, PHILTER Labs, Kadin Academy and Cannabiz Connection.
Ingrid clients are covered by top-tier, mainstream-media outlets including ABC-TV, Businessweek, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, New York Times, Time Magazine, USAToday and The Wall Street Journal, and in target-right news outlets like Leafly, High Times, DOPE, Civilized, MSNBC.com, and TechCrunch.
10.) Cannabrand
Cannabrand is an award-winning, full-service marketing agency and the first to specialize in the cannabis industry. The team has played an integral role in helping cannabis businesses across the United States develop their brand identities, increase their marketshare, and appeal to emerging markets. They work with companies ranging from B2C dispensaries and mobile applications, to B2B cultivation facility operations and wholesale markets.
The agency has been featured in publications including The New York Times, Bloomberg Business, The Atlantic, Fortune, and Elle Magazine and has been praised by the American Marketing Association. PRWeek named co-founder Olivia Mannix the top 50 Public Relations Innovators of 2015. The agency brings their expertise in cannabis products, cconsumer insights, and the unique cannabis marketing laws and regulations to its clients on a national scale. Cannabrand has helped over 100 cannabis businesses intimately connect with their desired markets, and has been established as a leading voice in the normalization of cannabis. Some of the names that Cannabrand has worked with in the past include Women Grow, Mary Jane’s Medicinals, Caliva, Vangst Talent, Verde, and Gold Flora.
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