Social Equity Ventures

Mission

To provide Black and underrepresented minorities with foundation to success in the legal cannabis industry through education, advocacy and access to capital.

About SEV

The Parent Company’s social equity ventures fund was established to give Black and other minority entrepreneurs an equal opportunity for participation in the legal cannabis industry. Minority communities have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs, facing socio-economic disadvantages over generations as well as barriers to entering the multi-billion legal cannabis industry. 

With an initial funding of $10 million, plus 2% of all future net income, this fund seeks to discover the industry’s future entrepreneurs of color, offering them the capital and mentorship necessary to build generational wealth as part of a more equitable and diverse cannabis industry. Led by Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter and Desiree Perez, this fund will identify and invest in the next generation of cannabis business leaders who are building value for their communities and diversity for our industry. Social Equity Ventures will also leverage the operational leadership of The Parent Company to help drive the success of these portfolio companies.

Learn More ⮫

Brand Success Program

Launched in January 2023, The Brand Success Program (BSP) is a 12 week program implemented to provide minority owned brands with guaranteed shelf space, and individualized mentorship by The Parent Company’s leadership team. The goal of the program is to empower each brand to create a sustainable and scalable business. 

Pillars of Our Foundation

Advocacy for Change: Activism, Reform, Education

Access to Capital: Investments, Mentorship, Brand Success Program

If you are a Black or underrepresented minority business owner who is eager to take your project to the next level, click below for more information about the program and how to apply. 

Apply Now ⮫

Our Partners

Advisory Commitee

George Atallah

Assistant Director of External Affairs, NFL Players Association

George Atallah is the Assistant Executive Director of External Affairs for the NFL Players Association and has served in his role since May of 2009. Atallah manages the NFLPA’s strategic communications, including media relations, crisis management, digital content and social media. Atallah’s extensive professional experience constitutes financial services, non-profit organizations, international affairs, government and politics. Through his career, Atallah has developed media relations and crisis communications strategies, and implemented corporate communications plans across various sectors. Atallah was born in Lebanon and immigrated to New York City. He grew up in Queens, NY, went to Archbishop Molloy High School and attended Boston College receiving a B.A. in English and Philosophy. He later received an M.B.A. from the George Washington University.

Marcia Dyson

CEO, Women’s Global Initiative

Marcia L. Dyson is one of America's most respected civic-social activists and communication specialists. She is an exclusive national and international consultant in matters of business development, marketing, political strategy and social responsibility. Dyson is the founder of Women’s Global Initiative (WGI), a for-profit entity to enhance the lives of women via “profitable and purposeful social engagement.” WGI services include exclusive event planning, strategic partnerships and a speaker’s bureau. Dyson has been championing for women's rights globally for over 20 years. She was selected to be on the Women’s Global Summit Leadership board by former Secretary of State Madeline Albright. Dyson is a member of many women's organizations, including the Black Women's Round Table, which performs as a liaison to the White House on gender equality, social justice, voting rights and presidential appointments.

Jeff Gray

Co-Founder, Owner & CEO of SC Labs

Jeff Gray is co-founder, owner, and CEO of SC Labs, one of the first independent analytical laboratories for cannabis and hemp in the United States. Serving the cannabis community in Oregon since 2017 and California since 2010, SC Labs' vision is to inform and evolve people’s understanding of and experience with cannabis, and cannabis therapeutics, using science and data by partnering with organizations that address diversity in STEM, progressive testing standards, compassionate relief for patients, and social equity in the cannabis industry. As one of the few African American owner-operators in the California cannabis industry, Gray has served as a mentor to countless entrepreneurs and professionals from marginalized communities who seek to enter the cannabis industry. He has also been an outspoken thought leader on issues of racial equity in ownership, employment and economic participation.

Faith Leach

Deputy Mayor for Equity, Health and Human Services, City of Baltimore

Faith Leach has spent more than a decade working to address key drivers of economic inequality experienced by vulnerable populations in cities across the country. She was recently appointed Deputy Mayor for Equity, Health and Human Services for the Baltimore City, responsible for overseeing city agencies dealing primarily with quality of life issues such as recreation and parks, library services and the city's Covid-19 public health response. In her previous role, she served as Chief of Staff for the JP Morgan Chase Foundation, where she oversaw a five-year, $2 billion global investment to create inclusive economic growth in vulnerable communities. She also helped to develop and deploy $200 million to address economic and public health problems resulting from the pandemic, as well as the development of JPMorgan’s $30 billion commitment to advance racial equity.

Carmen Perez

President & CEO, The Gathering for Justice

Carmen Perez is an award-winning, internationally-known civil and human rights leader and Chicana feminist. She is the co-founder of Justice League NYC and Justice League CA, two state-based task forces for advancing a juvenile and criminal justice reform agenda, where she spearheaded campaigns to Free Meek Mill and Take a Knee with Colin Kaepernick, among many others. She was one of the National Co-Chairs of the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, which drew over 5 million people from across the globe. In addition to being named one of Fortune’s Top 50 World Leaders, one of TIME’s 100 most influential people, a Glamour Woman of the Year and Forbes’ 100 Mujeres Mas Poderosas, Carmen has also been a featured speaker at Harvard University, Columbia University, the University of California - Santa Cruz. She has been featured in numerous media outlets including Forbes, TIME, Newsweek, MSNBC, Univision, ELLE, Glamour, Bustle, Common Dreams and more.

Mary Pryor

Co-Founder, Cannaclusive

Mary Pryor is an expert in marketing, media, journalism, technology, wellness and entrepreneurship. Born in Detroit, MI, she focuses on helping people (and corporate entities) feel connected in the digital world, benefiting the social good of the general public, and creating safe spaces for African American minds in traditionally white spaces. She co-founded Cannaclusive, a company created to facilitate the fair representation of minority cannabis consumers in the cannabis industry, and Cannabis for Black Lives, a coalition of cannabis companies galvanizing the cannabis industry to support Black lives. Named as a Marketing and Advertising Committee Member for the National Cannabis Industry Association and Innovator of the Year in 2014 at South by SouthWest, her vast experience has led to her being featured on global platforms such as NBC News, Refinery29, Vogue, Complex, Marie Claire, Essence, AdAge, Blavity, and Bustle.

Angela Rye

CEO, Impact Strategies & Political Commentator, CNN & NPR

Angela Rye is an award-winning host, social justice advocate, lawyer, commentator, and self-described empowermenteur, embodies what it means to be a “bringer of truth”. Named and raised accordingly, the attorney’s no holds barred commentary has resonated with demographics all over the world. Her thoughtful yet incisive commentary and real talk about social justice, politics, culture, and history sparks much-needed conversation about the state of America. She is the host of the weekly podcast “On One with Angela Rye” and a politics and culture commentator. Recognized for her honest, refreshing commentary and social justice advocacy by our nation’s most prominent civil rights organizations such as National Urban League, NAACP, and National Action Network she has also been featured in publications including the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Essence, Washington Post, Glamour, Ebony, and The Undefeated.

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