The Venture Codex

Led · Equity · Feb 2022

Phylos is a Portland-based cannabis genetics company that applies modern plant-breeding techniques, large-scale field data, and rapid iteration to create uniform, high-yielding, and disease-resistant F1 hybrid cannabis cultivars. Its core product is a genetics platform that delivers reliable seed lines and a continuously expanding portfolio of genetically and phenotypically distinct hybrids aimed at improving consistency, scale, and quality for cultivators. The company emphasizes data-driven breeding to boost yield, predictability, and production efficiency across markets. Through long-standing collaboration with major producer Organigram, Phylos provides priority access to select genetics while continuing to broaden its offerings to the wider industry. The newly announced funding will accelerate development of new traits and seed lines and advance the company’s broader breeding roadmap. Although no revenue or user figures were disclosed, the press release positions Phylos as a key enabler of the next phase of large-scale, seed-based cannabis production driven by predictable genetics.

Participated · Seed · Jan 2022

Pilgrim Soul is a Los Angeles–based cannabis lifestyle brand led by founder and CEO Shawn Gold that builds products aimed at elevating creative thinking. Since launching in October 2020, the company has released The Creative Thinking Journal and premium Live Resin Vape Pens sold in California retailers including MedMen and Sweet Flower. Its Live Resin Vape Pens use proprietary blends based on analysis of 100+ cannabis strains conducted with scientists at AbstraxLabs. Pilgrim Soul mapped cannabinoid and terpene profiles to create blends targeting Creative Awareness, Imagination, Focus, and Reflection. The company intends to use new funding to accelerate growth, expand operations, and broaden its business reach. Advisors and equity holders include veteran NBA player Al Harrington, Merlin Kauffman, and former Sperry & Club Monaco CMO Ann Watson.

Led · Series A · Oct 2021

Cellibre is a manufacturing technology company that employs an organism-agnostic approach to turn cells into specialized, sustainable factories for the manufacture of globally significant products at scale. Its initial strategic focus is changing how natural, plant-based compounds are manufactured, targeting high-value natural products and bioactives to displace agricultural production. The company highlights industrial uses of natural products—including monomers that can be used to produce thermosetting resins, certain polymers, and energetics—and aims to enable domestic chemical production. Cellibre states its technologies achieve lower cost and higher quality than legacy production methods to improve supply‑chain resilience for customers and government partners. The recent $1.5 million Department of Defense award under the Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program (DBIMP) is intended to prepare commercialization of its manufacturing technologies to bolster domestic supply chains. Cellibre was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Cellibre is a San Diego, CA-based sustainable manufacturing technology company founded in 2017 that employs an organism-agnostic approach to turn cells into specialized, sustainable factories. The company’s platform is designed to manufacture globally significant products at scale, with an initial strategic focus on enabling the production of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids. Cellibre is led by founder and CEO Ben Chiarelli and founder and chief scientific officer Dr. Nicky Caiazza. In October 2021 the company closed an $11.5M Series A financing. The financing was led by Merida Capital Holdings with participation from the founders, Scott Gordon, Flatiron Venture Partners, L2V, Entourage Effect Capital, and Delta Emerald Ventures. Cellibre intends to use the proceeds to expand operations and broaden its business reach. Cellibre develops proprietary cells to enable production of pure, natural, pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids through fermentation. The company uses an organism-agnostic approach to turn cells into specialized, sustainable factories for manufacturing globally significant products at scale. Its initial strategic focus is on deploying that expertise to enable pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid production. Cellibre was founded in 2017 by CEO Ben Chiarelli and is based in San Diego, CA. The company intends to accelerate development of its cell platforms using newly raised funds. No operating metrics or revenue figures were disclosed in the article.

Led · Series C · Sep 2021

Mainstem operates a B2B marketplace and integrated supply purchasing platform for the cannabis industry, led by CEO Alen Nguyen. Its integrated SaaS solution, Purchase Pro™, launched in June to give operators visibility and control over procurement. The company serves roughly 1,000 vertically integrated operators across 26 U.S. states. Mainstem plans to use new funding to continue expanding operations and broaden its business reach. Financially, the company has raised a total of $11M to date following the latest round. The platform aims to centralize procurement for cannabis operators through its marketplace and purchasing tools. MainStem is a technology-based ancillary product distribution company in the regulated cannabis industry, based in Seattle, WA. It operates an e-commerce platform integrated into industry software to simplify procurement and maximize customer reach. The company offers over 10,000 products to select. MainStem intends to use the Series B proceeds to expand its MainStem Affiliate (MAP) and MainStem Vendor (MVP) programs, funding software development, sales and marketing, and enhanced operations. Leadership includes Alen Nguyen (Chairman and CEO) and Craig McCallum (CFO). MainStem recently partnered with Kush Bottles Inc. (OTCQB: KSHB) and has raised a total of more than $3.35M to date following the Series B.

Participated · Series B · Jun 2021

Simplifya is a Denver-based software company offering a cloud-based platform that helps cannabis and hemp operators, financial institutions, insurers, law firms and other stakeholders navigate complex and frequently changing regulations. Its tools cover SOP management, field audits, compliance tracking and, most recently, Hemp Regfinder, which extends coverage to the emerging psychoactive-hemp market. Founded in 2016, the company positions itself as a one-stop solution to reduce compliance risk, lower costs, and streamline operations across a nearly $50 billion cannabis sector and a $3 billion hemp sector. Following its latest financing, Simplifya eliminated all outstanding debt, giving it a clean balance sheet for future growth. Management plans to accelerate product innovation, expand strategic partnerships, and broaden its user base among insurance carriers, brokers, banks and non-bank lenders through a new collaboration with fintech firm In The Weeds (ITW). Although specific revenue or user figures were not disclosed, the company reports nationwide coverage and a decade of service to clients such as multistate operator Jushi.