The Cannabis industry has exploded as regulations have been lifted and legalization is becoming the norm. According to Grand View Research, Medical marijuana emerged as the largest marijuana type segment in 2016, and is estimated to be valued at USD 100.03 billion by 2025. Ambitious entrepreneurs around the world have been looking for ways to build a business around this industry and not only help people with the medical effects of cannabis, but also emerge with marketshare from a billion dollar sustainable cannabis industry.
Going Green had the chance to sit down with Andrea Krell, the co-founder of YVY, to learn more about their path to building their business.
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Tell us about your background:
Born and raised in Uruguay, shaped in Israel and cured in California, I now find myself back in Uruguay helping develop a new medical cannabis industry.
I’m a passionate entrepreneur with 10 years of international business experience creating innovative products, setting strategic direction, raising funds, building partnerships and managing teams for tech startups and social enterprises.
Together with my husband and business partner, we founded YVY, a medical cannabis company with a purpose. I am passionate about creating sustainable and scalable agricultural practices and making sure patients around the world have access to natural, science backed and chemical free medicine.
What caused you to get into your industry?
While working at a Cannabis farm in Northern California, Andrea and Kevin began exploring a way to create an affordable, natural medicine for Kevin’s autoimmune condition. After months of experimentation, research, and monitoring of Kevin’s health improvement, they began to explore how they could share this experience with other people. This was the seed of the idea, business model and lifestyle: YVY.
What trends are you seeing in your industry?
Less vertical integration. More companies trying to specialize in different parts of the supply chain.
What is one Action Item for our listeners and viewers to take away from this conversation?
More companies should be looking at long term social and environmental impact.
Thank you Andrea for taking the time and sharing your experience working in a billion dollar sustainable cannabis industry.
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Dylan Welch is the CEO and Host of Going Green, a podcast, website, and social media brand that highlights renewable energy, cleantech, and sustainable news.