Ben Larson left his job directing a startup accelerator in 2015 to launch Gateway, one of the first incubators for pot entrepreneurs. The program helps founders develop their business models, find mentors, and learn about raising capital. Since Gateway set up shop in Oakland, California, Larson has been flooded with “‘X’ of pot” pitches. But a catchy tagline isn’t enough. Let’s say you run a payment processor company for marijuana dispensaries. You nickname it the “Stripe of pot.” “You have got to be much, much more,” Larson says. “Because as soon as it becomes legal, after the stigma drops a little bit, what stops PayPal from coming in and kicking your arse?”
by Melia Robinson
Full Article: Business Insider
