New York — The Blinc Group, Inc., the regulatory-focused designer, and provider of premium, customized, and bespoke vaporizer technologies, is pleased to announce that cannabis industry veteran Pete Sahani has joined the company’s executive team as their new Chief Operating Officer.

“Pete is joining the Blinc Group family at a time when we’ve had 134% growth in revenue and 77% growth in new clients this past year. Our business has come out of the darkness of the recent pandemic in great form and we needed someone with his passion and foresight to help keep up this tremendous momentum,” said Arnaud Dumas de Rauly, CEO and co-founder of the Blinc Group. 

“This is an organization that focuses on true innovation supported by a robust IP portfolio and its own technical and operations team with Blinc Group China. They have a tremendous opportunity to make a meaningful impact within the cannabis industry. Many in our space talk about innovation but very few actually demonstrate this on a daily basis. Through this endeavor I hope to leave my mark on this industry while building a sustainable legacy,” said Pete Sahani, new COO of the Blinc Group.

Sahani’s experience in the cannabis industry is deep and varied, beginning with his exposure to the industry while attending college in Humboldt, CA. He has held leadership positions in operations infrastructure and supply chain functions at leading companies including: VP of Global Sourcing at Greenlane; Director of Operations at a vertically integrated Multi-state Operator (MSO) interim COO at a manufacturer of premium vaporization hardware; and, most recently, Senior Director of Operations & Supply Chain at Calyx Containers. 

As Blinc’s Chief Operating Officer, Sahani brings more than 25 years of global operations management, global supply chain and sourcing expertise, honed while living and working in diverse cultural environments including Japan, China and India.

About the Blinc Group
Headquartered in New York City, The Blinc Group designs, develops, supplies, and supports premium cannabis vaping hardware. The company offers a curated collection of proven cartridges, batteries, ready to use vaporizers, and complete bespoke device development to major multi-state operators, licensed producers, and brands. Blinc completes the value chain by providing its clients access to a suite of support services ranging from research and development, production, testing, standard operating procedures, training and all the way to go-to-market strategy and brand communications consulting. With full control of the supply chain, the company’s unique “Powered by Blinc” process enables clients to provide innovative, safe, and quality-controlled products to cannabis consumers worldwide.

Media Contact:
Gretchen Gaileypr@theblincgroup.com
202-489-3821

Las Vegas, aka Sin City will be adding a new “sin” to their repertoire this year and be at the leading edge of the cannabis industry with consumption lounges, but coming off the recent pandemic, patrons are ready to rethink puff, puff, pass and looking for new ways to celebrate this time-honored ritual. 

For years cannabis consumers have been sitting or standing in the proverbial social circle puff, puff, passing their wonderful bud to their closest friends and often newly found friends. Americans across the country have come together over the years due to the long federal prohibition of the plant. People would join in circles of solidarity because they were breaking the law and in turn created a cultural ritual. 

While the camaraderie they are building with each other is a wonderful thing, it’s time to use this communal smoke to educate and elevate the industry.  This is where Las Vegas can lead the way with their consumption lounges scheduled to open this year and give its patrons an educational experience, instead of just a spot to smoke weed. 

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic Las Vegas averaged 46 million tourists a year and those numbers are starting to come back. In other cities, it has been found that cannabis-minded tourists tend to go places where they feel welcome and many are looking for the next Amsterdam where they will be able to sit, enjoy and partake. Vegas could be that New Amsterdam for cannabis.

Napa Valley is well known for its wine tastings at its vast vineyards and there is no reason that Las Vegas can’t take on that same concept for cannabis with a bit of technology, it’s quite possible to easily offer that elevated service through vape products.

Vape products seem more accessible and less daunting to novice cannabis users and can provide the consumer with a less harsh experience on one’s throat if they are looking to smoke the product. Vape pens are also easier for novice consumers to use who might not be adept at rolling a joint or packing a bowl and a bong. They also allow for consumers to try several different products in one sitting if the lounges are willing to invest in the technology.

Small dose, vape products, simplify and diversify the experience for the tourists who are looking to purchase product, but not a large amount because they are unable to consume a great amount during their short stays. It also allows a consumption lounge to serve up a flight of strains or a flight of terpenes and gives its patrons an experience to find the perfect product that benefits them best. It also allows the lounge a better opportunity to sell more products to its customers.

The Oh!Snap from the Blinc Group is one of those small dose products that provide the consumer with a 0.1 to 0.3g cartridge with and screw onto any system that fits a standard 510 battery, making it universally adaptable to any battery, essentially a one hitter for the vape industry. This allows the budtenders to guide the canna curious through their products, through different strains, through distillate or live resin, through various flavor profiles terpenes, allowing their customers to find their perfect fit and an enjoyable experience.

This also helps to inform the consumer of what they might want to get when they get home and helps to grow the industry with educated cannabis consumers. Las Vegas can expose visitors from around the world with the latest and greatest strains, leading genetics and leading technology, finally allowing the U.S to take its place as a true industry leader.

Las Vegas truly can take a business that is looked upon as a purely recreational venue and turn it into and educational cannabis oasis for the weary cannabis tourist.  This is the time to disregard the mantra, “What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas.” We want people to recognize that Las Vegas as the New Amsterdam of cannabis and the place to turn for an elevated cannabis experience.

#notjustvapor

Press Release

 

New York, April 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Blinc Group Inc., the regulatory-focused designer and provider of premium, customized and bespoke vaporizer technologies, is proud to announce it is one of the Arcview Collective Fund’s best performing portfolio companies for 2021.

“As a result of this investment, in 2021 the Blinc Group has more than doubled its revenue and proven why we are the leading provider of vape technology. Our team puts quality and safety at the forefront of everything we do. The ‘Powered by Blinc’ trademark is more than just a slogan – it’s a promise to our customers that they are receiving the highest quality vape technology, guaranteed,” said Arnaud Dumas de Rauly, co-founder and CEO of the Blinc Group.

In late 2020, the Blinc Group closed on a convertible note round, including the investment from the Arcview Collective Fund, and saw a 134% increase in revenue, a 77% increase in the number of clients, and a 32% increase in revenue per client in 2021 as compared to 2020. Blinc expanded its sales team, opened an office in Toronto, expanded its team in Shenzhen, China, and invested in the research and development of new innovative materials and vape technologies a number of which launched in early 2022.

“The Blinc Group has been a great investment for the Arcview Collective Fund. We look for companies that are raising the bar in the cannabis industry and true market leaders, the Blinc Group is just such a company,” said Jeffrey Finkle, CEO of the Arcview Group.

The Arcview Collective Fund is a member-managed venture fund whose members range from experienced angel investors and partners in venture capital funds to executives who make decisions on how the fund is run and in which companies to invest funds.

“This past year we finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel with the Covid-19 pandemic and are so thankful for our team and all our investors who worked everyday to make the Blinc Group successful during that difficult time. The dedication of our team demonstrated to our clients that we are more than just a hardware supplier, but a trusted partner,” added Dumas de Rauly.

The convertible note round, which closed in late 2020 was led by 7thirty Capital, Equitas Partners Fund and WGD Capital, LP, with The Arcview Collective Fund and the Panther Opportunity Fund both participated as well.

About the Blinc Group
Headquartered in New York City, The Blinc Group designs, develops, supplies, and supports premium cannabis vaping hardware. The company offers a curated collection of proven cartridges, batteries, ready to use vaporizers and complete bespoke device development to multi-state operators, licensed producers, and brands. Blinc completes the value chain by providing its clients access to a suite of support services ranging from research and development, production, testing, standard operating procedures, training and all the way to go-to-market strategy and brand communications consulting. With full control of the supply chain, the company’s unique “Powered by Blinc” process enables clients to provide innovative, safe, and quality-controlled products to cannabis consumers worldwide.

Media Contact:
Gretchen Gaileypr@theblincgroup.com
202-489-3821

Link to the original release

PRESS RELEASE

 

New York — The Blinc Group, Inc., the regulatory-focused designer, and provider of premium, customized and bespoke vaporizer technologies, has been issued a patent 11116251 by the U.S. Patent and Trademarks Office for its vape technology designed to save brands thousands in lost inventory and give consumers peace of mind and clarity in their vape product experience – The RingSystem.

“Cannabis businesses have been struggling to maintain the proper amount of inventory in the vape space while also keeping their customers informed of what’s in their product. Companies shell out thousands of dollars for packaging and fill their cartridges with a specific cultivar to shortly find out that it’s not selling as expected.  They are left with huge losses in branded hardware, but our RingSystem allows the Brands and Licensed Producers to label their products on demand during production, and, if they have to – pivot and relabel for pennies, not dollars,” said Sasha Aksenov, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of The Blinc Group.

“A significant amount of vape products have no strain, no experience markings on the device and once the box is trashed, the consumers are left in the dark as to what they are vaping on.  It boggles the mind that with such onerous packaging labeling standards that this industry incurs, clearly labeling the product itself is not part of the regulations. Those types of standards are expected with any other type of consumer product, why not cannabis?  Now our patented technology is meeting that standard head-on, and we could not be prouder,” added Aksenov.

The RingSystem consists of two bands one at the base of the mouthpiece or “top” and the other at the base of the cartridge – TopRing and BaseRing. Before capping your compatible “Powered by Blinc” cartridge or disposable, you simply snap the TopRing onto the mouthpiece of the cartridge with the strain name.  The ring is also easily removed if you decide that the strain you’ve invested in is not “moving” and you need to pivot on the formulation or experience. 

“At the Blinc Group we strive every day to promote innovation, quality, safety, and integrity in every one of our products, the RingSystem is no different. It is imperative that the entire industry take those goals to heart. Consumers need to know what’s in their cartridge at all times and for this industry to thrive companies need to be able to increase their productivity and flexibility, without spending huge amounts of working capital on an unsold inventory. There are enough hurdles in the cannabis space, what’s in your vape cartridge shouldn’t be one of them,” said Arnaud Dumas de Rauly, Co-Founder & CEO of the Blinc Group.

About the Blinc Group
Headquartered in New York City, The Blinc Group designs, develops, supplies, and supports premium cannabis vaping hardware. The company offers a curated collection of proven cartridges, batteries, ready to use vaporizers, and complete bespoke device development to major multi-state operators, licensed producers, and brands. Blinc completes the value chain by providing its clients access to a suite of support services ranging from research and development, production, testing, standard operating procedures, training and all the way to go-to-market strategy and brand communications consulting. With full control of the supply chain, the company’s unique “Powered by Blinc” process enables clients to provide innovative, safe, and quality-controlled products to cannabis consumers worldwide.

Media Contact:
Gretchen Gaileypr@theblincgroup.com
202-489-3821

LINK TO THE ORIGINAL RELEASE

If you were to ask what the main problem facing the largest cannabis market in the country is, there would be one resounding answer – TAXES.

Cannabis taxes on the state and local levels are choking the life of businesses across the state of California and cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers are looking for relief anywhere. Currently, businesses are subject to a $161 a pound state cultivation tax for flower, then a 15% state excise tax (which is really 27%, but we’ll get into that later), a 10% state sales tax in most areas, not to mention the varying local cultivation, processing, manufacturing, distribution, and retail tax, effectively making the tax rate on the average cannabis purchase about 50%.

At first glance, these taxes might seem reasonable, but when examined more closely they are not what they seem.  For example, the 15% excise tax is defined by an arm’s length transaction, with a 15% rate based on 80% of the retail price and not the wholesale price, effectively truly making the rate 27%. These onerous taxes aren’t levied on any other industry except for cannabis and business owners are crying out for mercy.  Legislators on the state and local levels are looking to provide band-aids to the situation, but so far only Senate Bill 1281 is offering long-term solutions.

The legislation introduced by Senator Steven Bradford (D-35) amends the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) would eliminate the cultivation tax altogether and lower the “15%” excise tax to 5%. It would also have the excise tax paid by the retailers, not the distributers. Currently, retailers are paying the excise tax to distributors for products that have yet to sell. This new provision would have retailers pay the tax directly to the state after the product has been sold and when they have the money to pay it. SB 1281 just makes sense.

There are other pieces of legislation that have been introduced to help alleviate the tax burden, Assembly Bill 2792 and AB 2506, but all they do is suspend the cultivation tax until 2028.  While businesses could benefit from these suspensions right now, what happens in 5 years? They are all back in the same place where they started, struggling to stay afloat under the crushing tax burdens.

California brought in nearly $1 billion in tax revenue last year for the first three quarters, but the illicit market is rampant, and legal businesses can’t compete.  A group of cannabis executives banned together and wrote to Governor Gavin Newsom about the situation, “The opportunity to create a robust legal market has been squandered due to excessive taxation,” they added. “75% of cannabis in California is consumed in the illicit market and is untested and unsafe.”

Newsom needs to address this massive problem that paralyzes the growth and stability of the California market. He has promised tax relief, but has been vague in how he would actually accomplish it. Eliminating the cultivation tax and vastly reducing the excise tax would be a good start. SB 1281 is the legislation that needs to cross his desk that is chocked-full of long-term solutions and common sense. No other industry is burdened with these kinds of taxes, and cannabis shouldn’t be either. Support SB 1281.

original article on GreenMarketReport

#notjustvapor