Jamie Pearson has been a highly respected leader in the cannabis industry for over a decade. Her “in the trenches” operational success and deep, global relationships led her to be coined “Wonder Woman” in the 2023 Women of Influence issue of Cannabis Now Magazine. Fluent in German, Jamie spent decades in the global real estate investment and finance world on three continents. She currently sits on the advisory boards of Dope Drinks, Marley One, Cellotex Dev Ltd, Global Cannabis Network Collective (GCNC), Lift & Co, and Alpen Group AG.
Jamie founded and leads The New Holland Group, a global consulting firm serving clients with international business development & strategy, seed to sale operations, branding & marketing, effective capital raising, executive coaching, cross border IP licensing, celebrity partnerships, buy & sell side M&A, and financial turnarounds. Client referrals have been New Holland Group’s only source of business and business is booming!
Before New Holland Group, Jamie spent seven years, including three as the President & CEO, of Bhang Inc. [CSE:BHNG] one of the world’s most-awarded and recognized cannabis edible brands, famous for its infused chocolate bars. She led the company’s diverse executive team, managed the “expansion through licensing” plan, ran the capital markets division, and was the face of the brand – catapulting Bhang from a California favorite to a multi-state and multi-national phenomenon. When Jamie exited Bhang the brand had been distributed in 7 US states and 10 countries through licensing deals with the likes of Trulieve, [CSE:TRUL], Indiva [TSX:NDVA] and Origin House [CSE:OH] (now Cresco). Jamie served four years as the Vice Chairman of Bhang’s Board and served on the Board’s audit committee.
Jamie is a popular speaker with competence in the areas of global expansion, ESG, IP & brand licensing, real estate acquisition, creative deal structuring, celebrity partnerships, business development, and leadership. Jamie can be reached at jamie@new-holland.group.

01/2024 – Present Co-Founder and General Partner at Blue Forest Ventures
Investments into early-stage, deep-tech startups with focus on Europe and
North America
10/2020 – Present Different positions at Sanity Group GmbH
01/2024 – Present Strategic Advisor
01/2022 – 12/2023 Managing Director and Chief Investment & Strategy Officer at Sanity Group
GmbH
• manage and monitor Sanity Group’s portfolio of assets including all prerevenue daughter companies
• devise and implement strategies for growth
• co-lead in liaison with existing and new investors
• lead in all major transaction (incl. financing and M&A)
o co-lead in raising USD 38m Series B financing round with British
American Tobacco
o Sale of two affiliates with a total deal value of USD >5m
• prepare Sanity Group IPO (2023/2024)
07/2021 – present Managing Director at Endosane Pharmaceuticals GmbH
• Set-up and financing of the company including
o seed financing round of USD 4m
• Negotiation and execution of several licensing agreements for potential
drug candidates as well as preparation technology with total volumes in
milestones alone of USD >20m
• (re-)Start late-stage Phase II clinical trials for Schizophrenia
10/2020 – 12/2021 Director Strategy & M&A at Sanity Group GmbH
• Group responsibility for Strategy and corporate finance
• operative responsibility for set-up and integration of all new companies
(affiliates) and key business ventures into Sanity Group (lead in all key
negotiations)
o set-up and operative management of third Business Unit “Sanity
Science” (Research and Development and Production for all other
Business Units);
o set-up and integration of pharmaceutical joint venture
(development of finished pharmaceuticals on CBD basis)
o commercial supervision for Belfry medical (medical device
development)
• co-lead in raising and lead in negotiating of the Series A financing round
(>USD 35m) and all other financing activities
• lead in negotiations of convertible loan agreements (total volume >7m)
• responsibility for all M&A activities
02/2017 – 10/2020 Different management positions at IBU-tec Group
2
07/2018 – 10/2020 Commercial Director at BNT Chemicals GmbH (authorized signatory “Prokurist”)
• operative responsibility for 25-30 Mio turnover
• responsible for restructuring, post-merger integration and strategy:
o rebuilding structures and defining processes for purchasing,
marketing, business development and sales
o streamlining existing commercial processes
o renegotiating key contracts
o defining mid- and long-term strategy
o EBITDA: 26% increase from 2018 to 2019
o net profit: 59% increase from 2018 to 2019
07/2018 – 10/2020 General Counsel and Head of Investor Relations at IBU-tec advanced materials AG
• overseeing all legal matters (lead in negotiations of key contracts)
• handling the relationship to key investors and the stock exchange
(Deutsche Börse AG)
• market capitalization increase from 68,4m at IPO to >120m in October
2020
02/2017 – 06/2018 Personal Assistant to the CEO at IBU-tec advanced materials AG
• manage the IPO process: handling and coordinating communications and
input of the external advisors, lawyers, issuing bank, internal team and the
stock exchange; reported directly to the board of directors [market
capitalization at IPO: 68,4 Mio €]
• responsible for post-IPO M&A-activities, specifically identifying a suitable
target, overseeing the commercial and legal Due Diligence, leading the
external advisors and negotiating the Share Purchase Agreement; lead to
the acquisition of BNT Chemicals GmbH
10/2013 – 02/2017 Law clerk at Baker & McKenzie (law firm, Munich)
• focus on IP and IT law and related transactions, mainly tech, high-tech,
pharma and biotech
• selected to participate in their Career Mentorship Program (CMP);
mentors: Dr. Constanze Ulmer-Eilfort, Dr. Benjamin Koch
02/2015 – 02/2017 Legal clerkship at Kammergericht Berlin (appellate court)
09/2009 – 01/2014 Law clerk at Becker Büttner Held (law firm, Berlin)
focus on the law of renewable energies, corporate and company law
04/2012 – 10/2012 Scientific assistant to the chair of Prof. Dr. Obergfell
for intellectual property law at Humboldt University of Berlin
Education
02/2017 Graduation from Kammergericht Berlin (appellate court) with the second state law
examination (“Staatsexamen”)
05/2014 Graduation from Humboldt University of Berlin Law School with the first state law
examination (“Staatsexamen”)
10/2009 – 05/2014 Law studies at Humboldt University of Berlin Law School
advanced studies in intellectual Property, corporate and company law, as well as
capital market law
08/2001 – 07/2009 Secondary school education at the Lycée Francais de Berlin
graduation with (German) “Abitur” and (French) “Baccalaureat”
award for extracurricular commitment, school representative

Peter Homberg is a partner in the Dentons Berlin office. He focuses on life sciences, IP, corporate law and M&A transactions in the life sciences and high-tech sector as well as in R&D and cooperation agreements, cross-border IP licensing and IP strategies. Furthermore, he has extensive experience providing legal advice on compliance issues. Additionally, he is the head of the German Life Sciences Practice and European Cannabis sector group. Peter advises inter alia companies in the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, biotechnology, medical device and medical cannabis industries—from startups to large publicly listed companies. Furthermore, he has broad transactional experience in Southeast Asia. Peter is member of the Licensing Executive Society (LES), the German Association for Intellectual Property and Copyright (GRUR), the German Institution for Arbitration (DIS) as well as the Pharma-Lizenz-Club Deutschland e.V. He regularly holds lectures at seminars and conferences. He is the author of numerous professional articles and other publications regarding corporate or IP law in the field of life sciences and medical cannabis.

Kai is characterized by his outstanding expertise and diverse practice in the cannabis industry. With a broad range of expertise in cannabis and business law, he provides comprehensive legal support to companies and individuals.
From contract drafting and company formation to day-to-day legal support, he assists cannabis companies with customized solutions in all legal matters, including white collar criminal law where necessary.
Kai is also the author of the blog canna-biz.legal, where he positions himself as an expert in the thriving cannabis business. Canna-biz.legal not only provides insights into the legal status of cannabis in Germany and Europe today, but also current developments and offers resources for businesses and interested parties.
His work spans all aspects of the cannabis industry, from advising companies on cultivation licenses and production regulations to assisting with regulatory issues in product development. His deep understanding of the complex legal framework in this sector makes him a sought-after contact.
Kai and his law firm KFN+ advise large CBD and medical cannabis companies, as well as companies and associations interested in the emerging recreational cannabis market. He is also advisor to the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), which has submitted a joint application to the EU Commission for authorization as a novel food for various CBD products.
With an international perspective, Kai operates not only nationally, but also across borders. His network in the industry enables him to support companies in their global activities and adapt to the challenges of an ever-changing legal landscape.
Kai regularly speaks at international cannabis conferences on topics related to the German and European legal framework for cannabis, and publishes articles at Krautinvest, BusinessCann and in law journals.
Born in Löhne/Westf. in 1972, studied law at the Universities of Marburg, Adelaide (Australia), Cologne, legal assistant at the press center of the German Bundestag (2000-2002), worked for the Berlin District Court, for the Director of Public Prosecution in Berlin, for the Berlin Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Hong Kong Consulate General.

Will Muecke is a co-founding managing member of Artemis Growth Partners, an ESG and impact-oriented private equity platform dedicated to investing 100% in the cannabis industry on a worldwide basis.

Artemis Growth Partners oversees US $400 million in mission-driven discretionary assets under management (AUM) invested in the global cannabis value chain, including branded products, distributors, value-added service providers, ancillary operators, and science-driven research and development platforms.

Will was co-founding managing partner of CoreCo Private Equity, a 2017 GIIRS-rated “Best for the World” ESG-focused impact fund backed by investors including the IFC/World Bank, and the multilateral/development banks of Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, the IADB, and UHNW individuals and European family offices (CoreCo was fully deployed as of July 2017).

Will was formerly the global co-head of the healthcare services sector in the healthcare investment banking group at Goldman, Sachs & Co. (New York).

Will maintains extensive personal and professional networks in Europe, US, and Latin America.

Will resides in London and is the Chief Investment Officer for Artemis Growth Partners.

Artemis Growth Partners website

Linkedin profile 

Daniel Kruse
CEO SYNBIOTIC SE
Founder:
Hempro International GmbH, Hemp Factory GmbH, MH medical hemp GmbH, Hanf Farm GmbH, HempConsult GmbH
President, European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA)
Vice-Chair, Federation of International Hemp Organizations (FIHO)

Daniel Kruse, a pioneer of the hemp industry since 1995, is CEO of SynBiotic SE and founder of Hempro International GmbH, Hemp Factory GmbH, MH medical hemp GmbH,
Hanf Farm GmbH and HempConsult GmbH, five of Europe`s leading hemp and cannabis companies. Kruse has decades of experience in hemp food production.

Since 2013, Kruse has served as a Board Member of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) and since 2019 he is elected President. Kruse is also Vice-Chair of the newly established Federation of International Hemp Organizations (FIHO).

At the EIHA Kruse is particularly active in his field of knowledge of cannabinoids in foods. Already since 2002 he has been working on the topic of THC in food and on CBD since 2012. His cooperation with international experts and the advisory committee of EIHA combines the profound know-how from practice and science in the hemp and food industry. In course of this cooperation, various position papers and studies on THC and CBD in food have been drawn up and published.

Kruse started his career in the industrial hemp industry to realize his vision: the successful
combination of ecology and economy.

Benedikt Sons is co-founder and CEO of Cansativa Group. Before founding the company Benedikt studied industrial engineering and management at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the University of California San Diego (UCSD). Benedikt is a pioneer in building new business models and in taking them to scale. Benedikt has several years of experience in both strategy consulting and industry. Combined with Jakob’s experience, the brothers decided to start their business in a non-existent market – with success: today, Cansativa is the leading platform for cannabis in Germany: As such Cansativa developed into the leading “One-Stop Shop” with a unique and the most comprehensive multi-brand portfolio in the German market. In addition to that, Cansativa is the exclusive partner of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) on the distribution of cannabis from domestic cultivation.

• Repositioned KD Funds (no. 1 investment management company in this part of Europe with its mutual funds) in this part of Europe.
• Successfully renegotiated all credit contracts with 10 banks together with some additional long-term financing despite very unfavorable market conditions at the time.
• Found a new international investor prepared to invest in and recapitalize the group, brought EBRD into the negotiations, ensuring existing owners retained a majority shareholding.
• Saved, leading his excellent team, the whole financial group of the worst in those very hectic and very troublesome times.

2008-2009         NOVA LJUBLJANSKA BANKA Inc.

Assets E28bn. 51% state owned, the largest systemic Slovenian bank with operations via daughter banks, leasing and factoring groupings representation offices and some other trading companies in 17 countries across Central and Eastern Europe with almost 10,000 employees.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Recruited to reorganize the bank which had been severely affected by the financial crisis after successfully achieved substantial restructuring and reorganization of Dezelna banka Slovenije Inc.

• Reduced costs by 3% by cancelling agreements with the Unions and renegotiated staff salaries.
• Restructured the bank’s assets and liabilities across the region selling leasing operations in Bulgaria, put the emphasis on retail banking and renegotiated higher interest rates with largest creditors.
• Maintained bank’s credit rating during restructuring.
• Nominated and awarded best financial manager in Slovenia by the Capital Magazine.
• Negotiated an agreement with the EBRD for joint participation in increasing the capital for the bank’s satellite operations across the region.
• In very difficult and unsecure times led EUR1.5bn 3-year Eurobond issue with two major UK and many other international banks, the first such floating Eurobond issue by any Slovenian bank.
• Negotiated and signed a special infrastructure financial arrangement with the EIB.
• Cooperated a lot with the Slovenian central bank on tough surveillance and other important crisis issues.
• Tackled right issues in the middle of severe crisis.

2004-2008         DEZELNA BANKA SLOVENIJE Inc.

 Assets $1bn. Medium sized universal Slovenian commercial bank with 450 employees, specialised in small  to medium sized   businesses especially co-operatives and agro-products companies. Very strong in retail.

President and Chief Executive Officer

As widely acclaimed respectable manager and expert in financial sector he was recruited to restructure and turn around the bank which was not profitable and very problematic. The bank was already almost written off by the Slovenian central bank, but …

• Introduced newly built bespoke software and introduced new risk management systems together with all the necessary ALM functions.
• Significantly reduced costs through 20% staff reduction and overhaul of branch network, reducing number of branches by over 35% and ensuring all remaining branches were profitable.
• Cleaned up the balance sheet and reorganized the funding of the bank, including the introduction of a strategic Italian partner.
• Led bank to become sole distributor of EU agricultural subsidies in Slovenia and the only official seller of memorable coins issued by the Central Bank of Slovenia.
• Led the changeover from Slovenian Tolar to the Euro when Slovenia joined the single currency in 2007 (=EMU).
• Introduced an investment banking function to support local M&A activity and introduced securities trading for the bank’s customers and bank itself.
• Increased total assets from 0.8bn to E1bn over 4 years enabling the bank to survive the financial crisis.

1991-2004         LJUBLJANA STOCK EXCHANGE Inc.

T/o £2.5bn. The first stock exchange in in any former socialist country in the world after the collapse of the Berlin wall.

Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer

As already internationally acclaimed financial markets’ expert and manager continued development of the Yugoslav Stock Exchange as the Ljubljana Stock Exchange followed Slovenian independence.

• Pioneered regulated stock trading, clearing and settlement for the region founding the Central Slovenian Clearing, Settlement and Depository House.
• Obtained the assistance of the International Finance Corporation to achieve a proper regulatory framework to enable privatization of state assets and organized stock market operations.
• Organized financial assistance from the Canadian Government to the Stock Exchange enabling it to commence trading electronically and remotely as one of the first in the world.
• Liaised with and obtained support from the USA and German governments and with the Frankfurt, Paris, Vienna, Zurich and London Stock Exchanges.
• Advised, as a consultant, the UK Know How Fund in Albania and other Balkan countries on capital markets, financial sector restructuring and the development of their respective Stock Exchanges.
• Obtained full membership of the Stock Exchange with the World (WFE) and European (FESE) Association of Stock Exchanges.
• From zero the exchange’s market capitalization peaked at E20bn with trading in over 250 listed companies and government bonds.
• Solving all current complex systemic and other operational issues of the development of local and international financial markets and cooperating with the national and international regulators and ministries of finance.

1989-1991         Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, YUGOSLAV STOCK EXCHANGE Inc.

The first stock exchange in a socialist country worldwide starting from nothing.

Headhunted to establish from scratch a stock exchange for Yugoslavia through the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1990 and its subsequent establishment as the Ljubljana Stock Exchange. Pioneering all the stages of financial markets’ developments and achieving wide undisputable documented international recognition.

1983-1989         Assistant (and later adviser to) Gen. Manager, International Division, LJUBLJANSKA BANKA Inc.

1981-1982         Analyst, RESEARCH CENTRE FOR COOPERATION AMONG THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Dr. Cornelius Maurer founded DEMECAN in 2017 together with his two former fellow students, Dr. Adrian Fischer and Dr. Constantin von der Groeben. The trio has built the Berlin-based start-up into one of Germany’s most successful cannabis producers and cannabis wholesalers.
DEMECAN is the only independent German cannabis producer that supplies patients in Germany with cannabis flowers from its EU-GMP-certified facility near Dresden. As a wholesaler, DEMECAN also imports medical cannabis flowers and extracts from abroad. DEMECAN not only ensures reliable and continuous supply at the highest quality level to thousands of patients but is already preparing for the opportunity of legalization of cannabis on the recreational market in Germany, the largest cannabis market in Europe.

Dr. Cornelius Maurer holds a doctorate in economic psychology (EHESS/École Normale Supérieure) and is a trained economist (University of Cologne). Before founding DEMECAN, he conducted research at the Max Plack Institute in Berlin, among others, and taught economics at universities in Germany and France. Prior to that, he lived and worked in various countries in Europe, Central America and Brazil and speaks five languages fluently.

As Founder and Board Member of DEMECAN, Dr. Cornelius Maurer is responsible for the strategic topics of the company, in particular the legalization of cannabis for consumption purposes, association work and capital acquisition. As an expert in strategic cooperation and business development, Dr. Maurer has promoted the foundation of the Bundesverband pharmazeutischer Cannabinoidunternehmen e.V. (BPC) together with nine market participants and thus promotes the exchange within the newly created industry.

Dr. Cornelius Maurer is an expert and speaker on the following topics:

• Development of the national and international cannabis market.
• Start-up foundation (economic view) and fundraising
• Regulatory and practical challenges of international sourcing of cannabis products
• Distribution and marketing of cannabis in Germany
• Business development

Giadha A. DeCarcer is the Founder of New Frontier Data, the premier data and analytics technology firm specializing in the global cannabis industry. Founding New Frontier Data in 2014, DeCarcer grew the company from a $25,000 one-person-based startup to an over $150 Million Dollars-valued enterprise, with more than 100 employees across three continents. DeCarcer currently sits on several Boards in the U.S., Europe and Asia, providing strategic guidance and coaching both within and outside of the cannabis industry, with special emphasis on how to effectively construct a new value proposition to raise money and how to strategically position to successfully go to market.