FD Ep. 45 Colby Mckenzie

Ex-Lawyer Turned Cannabis-Tech Entrepreneur Raised $12M and Exited to Weedmaps!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How Much Could You Sell Your Company For?

If a private equity firm or strategic acquirer made an offer to you today, would you take it? Would you know if it's a fair deal? Are you in the position to close a deal?

Getting acquired could transform your life.

Founders don't realize that it usually takes 12-24 months to prepare a company for a successful exit, the sooner you have a plan in place, the greater the potential outcome. 

If you want to get acquired, we can help. Book a free discovery call with our team of experts to explore your options and discuss getting a plan in place that could change your life.

Book a Free Discovery Call

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Courtroom to Cannabis Tech: Colby McKenzie's Entrepreneurial Journey & How He's Helping Founders w/ M&A Now

Spotify_icon                   youtube-circle-logo                   apple

image-3

We got another great story in this episode with Colby McKenzie having worn multiple hats as a successful corporate lawyer, co-founder of a cannabis tech startup that raised over $12 million, exited founder after orchestrating a strategic acquisition, and now an investor and founder of a boutique law firm dedicated to guiding entrepreneurs. Colby talks about the grueling fundraising process, navigating the complexities of a strategic acquisition, and the importance of understanding key legal considerations throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

Here's what you're in for:

00:45 - Colby's transition from corporate law to entrepreneurship

02:25 - Challenges of being a first-time founder and raising capital

05:50 - Navigating the fundraising process and courting investors

10:05 - Raising over $12 million across two rounds for Enlightened

13:22 - Strategic acquisition of Enlightened by Weedmaps

18:06 - Leveraging legal expertise to drive a successful exit

24:19 - Joining Weedmaps and public companies post-exit

28:58 - Launching Transition Point Law to guide other founders

ABOUT COLBY MCKENZIE

Colby Mckenzie is a business-minded attorney and M&A expert. From practicing law at one of the top firms in the world to being a seasoned entrepreneur with numerous successful exits as both a founder/operator and private equity investor, Colby marries his legal and business careers to bring an unrivaled viewpoint to unique and unconventional transactions. McKenzie founded Transition Point Law to give business owners and funds the experience that he was looking for while operating companies himself. Prior to founding Transition Point Law, he was the co-founder of venture-backed startup Enlighten, a leading canntech company, which had a successful exit in 2022 to Weedmaps (Nasdaq: MAPS). And, thereafter, spent two years as part of senior management and the c-suite of multiple public companies. He has helped companies in a wide array of businesses including digital media, ad tech, mobile apps, IoT, health & wellness, cannabis, food/service, financial services, professional services, construction, and commercial real estate.

Connect with Colby on:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-mckenzie-08423372

Website: https://www.transitionpointlaw.com

Watch it Now

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Free Fundraising Resources

🤓 - Free pitch deck reviews - Submit your deck

💸 - Access working capital fast - Explore options for free

😍 - Free list of AI Recommended VCs - Apply for free

👨‍💻 - Free fundraising coaching session - Schedule 15 minutes with us

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Premium Resources

🗓️ - Book a one-hour private capital strategy call - Book Now

💫 - Pitch deck design services for founders by VCs - Decko

💼 - Startup Legal Services - Bowery Legal

📚 - Startup Friendly Accounting Services - Chelsea Capital

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upgrade to Thunder Premium to Unlock:

  • Access to VC firms' team tabs to see active partners of the fund & their LinkedIn
  • Navigate a VC's portfolio to see relevant portcos or competitors, quickly find their founders on LinkedIn to connect with them, and request warm intros 
    A downloadable CSV with the investor emails & LinkedIn URLs
  • Ability to filter your matches and adjust your profile
  • LiteCRM to track your progress
  • Request intros to VCs directly through the platform
  • Get our fundraising guide on how to increase your odds of getting a meeting
  • Upgrade to lifetime access (one-time fee of $497) and get a free coaching session

Upgrade Now

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's Connect:

  • Hosted by Jason Kirby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/
  • Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for market and industry news and tips when it comes to raising capital and growing your business - https://join.thunder.vc
  • Seeking to raise capital? Get your list of target VCs by creating a free profile here - https://web.thunder.vc
  • Looking to raise debt? Explore tailored debt options for free by completing a profile at https://debt.thunder.vc
  • Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support, and we're excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders.