The top award at the seventh annual Innovate at BU Cannabis Start-Up Competition was bagged by a new application named JoinME. Designed by Marco Rotella (Questrom'22) and Claudio Bettini (COM'23), the app aims to establish connections between cannabis enthusiasts. The competition was organized by Boston University and sponsored by Green Lion Partners, with the key intent to spur innovation within the growing cannabis sector. A Boston University article notes that Ohio recently became the 24th state to legalize marijuana on November 6, with national surveys indicating support for marijuana legalization is as high as 70% among Americans.
That annually held Cannabis Start-Up Competition was orchestrated and bankrolled by Jeff Zuker and Mike Bologna, founders of Green Lion Partners, and graduates of Questrom'10. The competition primarily offers support to students and alumni in launching cannabis-related startups, none of which involve direct sales or cultivation of the product. In his speech, Zuker not only pointed at the role of those who opposed the War on Drugs in the industry's growth but he also highlighted the importance for persistent efforts in tackling racial disparities in cannabis-related enforcement.
The executive director for Innovate@BU, Siobhan Dullea (CAS'91), underscored the importance of nurturing competences aiding in innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. With the fast-paced evolution of technology and other sectors, students are likely to occupy roles that do yet not exist. As an unprecedentedly expanding domain, the cannabis industry reflects this reality. The Cannabis Start-Up Competition creates a platform to inculcate such essential skills. Marion McNabb (SPH’16), president and cofounder of the Cannabis Center of Excellence, and Carl Palme (Questrom’12), founder and CEO of Boundless Robotics, both past winners of the competition, attended the event.
Throughout the competition, JoinME's founders exhibited their app's functionalities and future development plans. The application facilitates connections based on individuals' preferred cannabis product, meeting time preferences, and other common interests. A survey carried out by the JoinME team uncovered a rising trend for social cannabis consumption among the younger population. From a report in the Boston University article, Rotella noted that social consumers rarely exhibit psychological side effects such as agitation and social anxiety. With such insights in mind, their startup aims to cater to this particular audience group.
