CORE Summit · Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Driving equity
into action
Supporting Sacramento CORE entrepreneurs.
Four things to know today.
- 01About Launch Industries & the presenters
- 02The Launch CORE Technical Assistance Program
- 03Launch CORE Verification Services
- 04The LaunchMyCannabiz™ Entrepreneurship Program Series
Proud partners with the City of Sacramento CORE Program.
Today's session is brought to you in partnership with the Sacramento CORE Program and the City of Sacramento.
The team in front of you today.
Presenter 01
Monica Colgan
Launch TA Program Director
Leads program strategy and government partnerships. Builds the operating model behind every Launch CORE engagement.
Presenter 02
Dr. Dene’ Starks-McGee
CORE TA Program Team Lead
Leads technical assistance team and CORE participant engagement.
Part 01
About
Launch Industries
A cannabis social equity partner, built for the agencies leading this work.
Seven services. One operating system for both agencies and entrepreneurs.
Agency Consultation
Our consultants can advise agencies on program design for equitable outcomes using best practices.
Technical Assistance Program Management
A-Z program design, management, and experienced leadership.
1:1 Technical Assistance Consulting
Over 2 dozen cannabiz specialists on the team, and a large bench of other business specialists.
LaunchMyCannabiz™ Entrepreneur Series Online Group Training
Curriculum that builds operators, not attendees.
Operations systems
Our framework includes SOPs, ongoing team training, and an intentional software stack built to scale.
Audit Services
Partnering with Booth Management Consulting for auditing services with over 30 years of experience.
Grants Management
Partnering with Booth Management Consulting for grants management with over 30 years of experience.
Equity by design.
Every service supports cannabiz entrepreneurship through effective program design.
When TA ends,
we don't have to.
Agencies invest in TA programs to give entrepreneurs a real shot — but the hardest months come after completion. Launch Industries is a full-service business operations firm, so participants can keep us on as their back office and growth team. Your program's investment compounds instead of unraveling.
We do not just advise businesses.
We help entrepreneurs get unstuck and build capacity
…with the goal of helping entrepreneurs operate efficiently, effectively, and independently after services are provided.
Part 02
Why the CORE
Program matters
Sacramento built CORE to address the harm cannabis criminalization caused.
The City's CORE Program was designed to address historic inequities caused by cannabis criminalization — and to help impacted residents enter and succeed in the legal market.
Contracted for 3 Initiatives.
- 01 CORE Verification Services
- 02 Technical Assistance Program delivery
- 03 LaunchMyCannabiz™ online learning program
By the numbers.
Technical assistance providers
Subject-matter consultants delivering one-on-one TA.
CORE Verified
Of 30 total applicants, 8 were determined not eligible.
Active TA participants
Avg. 25.79 hours delivered per participant to date.
Inactive TA participants
Avg. 13.65 hours per participant; 1 hit their cap.
Hours of direct technical assistance delivered.
One-on-one work, in person and remote, between coaches and Sacramento CORE participants.
Top assistance areas, ranked by demand.
- 01Licensing & regulatory navigation
- 02Business formation & structuring
- 03Financial readiness & projections
- 04Marketing & brand development
- 05Real estate readiness
- 06HR & staffing support
- 07Operations systems
- 08Capital readiness
- 09Strategic planning
- 10Compliance risk reduction
A 24-module online learning program.
Built so participants can learn at their own pace — on their schedule, on their device, in their language of business.
Modules available
Modules delivered
Total enrollments
On completion rates — course in progress
Part 03
Participant
Case Study
A participant story, in four parts.
An equity cannabis brand based in Sacramento, CA.
Part 01
The business
An equity cannabis brand built to bring representation to the industry and own brand IP — with active retail accounts across the Sacramento region.
Part 02
The challenge
Limited capital, hard to secure flower for white-label, hard to win retailer visibility — and once orders started, reliable resupply became the next hurdle.
Part 03
TA focus areas
Marketing and brand development with a short-term strategic roadmap to drive retailer recognition and consistent order flow.
Part 04
The outcomes
Polished brand presence, multiple Sacramento dispensary placements, the region's largest delivery service won — foundation for steady reorders.
Building an equity cannabis brand in Sacramento.
Part 01 · The business
Founded by a proud father and respected cannabis industry leader, this Sacramento brand was created to bring representation to cannabis and build generational wealth through brand IP ownership. Multiple active retail accounts in the region establish it as a credible presence in California's competitive cannabis market.
Part 02 · The challenge
Like many equity entrepreneurs, the founder faced significant financial challenges getting the business off the ground. Limited capital meant difficulty securing enough flower and white-label product to meet retailer demand. Building visibility was uphill — and as orders gained traction, reliable resupply became the next hurdle.
Part 03 · TA focus & services
Marketing and brand development paired with short-term strategic roadmapping — to build retailer recognition and drive consistent order flow. One-on-one consulting polished brand presence and positioned the participant as a credible, reliable equity brand in the Sacramento market.
Our approach
Weekly business development sessions with the founder — reviewing progress, refining process, and prioritizing next steps. Collaborative and adaptive: polishing the brand while building a clear roadmap to gain retailer recognition, secure initial orders, and establish the momentum needed for consistent reorders.
Where the participant is now.
- Polished and strengthened brand presence to position the business as a credible equity brand.
- Developed a short-term strategic roadmap focused on retailer acquisition and order flow.
- Established a weekly business development rhythm with prioritized action steps.
- Secured placement in multiple Sacramento-area dispensaries.
- Achieved placement with the largest delivery service in the Sacramento region.
- Built foundation for consistent reorder relationships with retail partners.
In summary
Through targeted marketing, branding, and strategic planning support, the participant has established a stronger foothold in the Sacramento cannabis market. With polished brand presence, a clear roadmap, and active retail accounts including the region's largest delivery service, the founder is well-positioned to continue scaling the equity brand — building generational wealth while keeping cannabis diverse and accessible.
Four reasons Launch Industries gets results.
Real technical expertise.
We understand cannabis business realities — the rules, the math, and the room.
Human-centered support.
Participants are coached, not judged.
Systems and accountability.
Clear milestones, measurable progress, and a check-in next week.
Sponsored hours make this possible.
We would not be able to produce these results without sponsored hours from the City of Sacramento.
When equity is paired
with real execution support, entrepreneurs rise
Launch Industries is honored to help Sacramento lead the way.
CORE Summit · May 6, 2026
Thank you
With gratitude to the Sacramento CORE Program, the City of Sacramento, and every entrepreneur who keeps showing up for the work.