Congratulations Million-Dollar Pitch Winner, Bella Vista Cannabis!

Negotiations are still underway as Bella Vista Cannabis has the potential to receive up to $1 million dollars in funding from Canopy Rivers, in collaboration with Canadian cannabis and hemp producer Canopy Growth. Bella Vista Cannabis founder Mike Mathews made his pitch to four “Micro Cannabis, Macro Impact” judges in front of a crowded Sheraton Wall Centre conference room filled with Vancouver International Cannabis Business Conference attendees. In addition to capital from Canopy Rivers, Bella Vista also qualified for a marketing and branding package from Civilized worth in excess of $65,000.

Hosted by ICBC MC and a star of Netflix’s “Cooking on High,” Ngaio Bealum, the “Best Pitch” contest was an entertaining and engaging event that was an interesting detour from the usual conference curriculum. Competitors also included a lab, a startup developing tech that controls and improves the cultivation process, and a craft cannabis retail store chain. Judges included Canadian cannabis icon and pioneer Hilary Black, activist attorney Kirk Tousaw, Canopy Rivers COO Olivier Dufourmantelle, and House of the Great Gardner owner Mat Beren.

Ms. Black congratulated all of the pitchers and expressed her admiration for their courage to put themselves out there and urged them all to follow their dreams. Balck told the Vancouver Sun that Mathews, a fifth-generation farmer, edged out the tough competition because of his dedication to the environment and social consciousness, demonstrating important for the cannabis community as legalization in Canada emerges:

“I really believe that the cannabis industry needs to become the most socially responsible industry in the world.”

“We are just on the verge of being one of the first countries in the world to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes. I would say the cannabis industry is about to take off and we have the potential to do a lot of good for the world.”

“There are great economic benefits to the country and communities and we will lead the world in repealing this tremendously harmful prohibition that we have been living under for 100 years,” she said.

Everyone involved with the International Cannabis Business Conference was proud and honored to have produced the first marijuana industry event after the passage of the Cannabis Act. For the last four years, the ICBC has traversed the globe to present the best information available, provide exemplary networking opportunities, and continue the momentum of cannabis legalization by promoting the economic benefits of the industry while maintaining a focus on the foundational principles of keeping people out of prison and taking care of patients. Canopy Rivers “Micro Cannabis, Macro Impact” million-dollar pitch event was a perfect fit for the Vancouver ICBC.

We’ll be following the future endeavours of Bella Vista Cannabis and look forward to future events that help good people do good business. With the historic Vancouver conference now in the rearview mirror (a sincere thanks to everyone that attended the event and helped make it such a success), the ICBC continues playing its part in the global momentum for sensible cannabis laws in beautiful Portland, Oregon, on September 27th-28th to provide a focus on current and future cannabis laws and regulations in the United States.

Secure your tickets to the Portland ICBC by September 12th to save $200.