“[We] can’t talk about cannabis entrepreneurship without touching the social equity side. It has to be that way because of the damage that has been done for decades,” shared Carol Ortega, the founder and managing director for Muisca Capital Firm, the first Latin American Investment Management Firm. She is helping to drive financial investment for Cannabis ventures in Colombia and Latin America and believes that Cannabis has the power to mitigate the levels of poverty within the Latino Community in the US and abroad.
Hailing from Bogotá, Colombia, Ortega knows first hand how the war on drugs continues to negatively impact minorities across the Americas, and she has been working fearlessly to create opportunities for Latinos who want to join “the party,” as she calls it. Her focus is on providing Latin Americans with access to the cannabis industry through science-backed education and venture capital resources.
On September 12th and 13th in Bogotá, Muisca Capital Group along with The Arcview Group will be hosting the Cannabiz Latino Hub, the first-ever Latin American cannabis investment conference, which will be an opportunity for entrepreneurs to do business, engage with investors, and meet asset allocators from across the world. Key Speakers include Steve DeAngelo and Troy Dayton of the Arcview Group, and Jason Ortiz of the Minority Cannabis Business Association.
In 2014 Oregon legalized recreational marijuana, creating a fresh market for entrepreneurship. While working as the Director of Finance and Operations for Adelante Mujeres, which is now the biggest accelerator for entrepreneurs in the state of Oregon, Ortega saw a huge lack of Latino ownership in the cannabis industry, and she wanted to provide her services to help those interested in starting businesses.
“[When I started], I only found seven Latino entrepreneurs in Oregon. I acted as a CFO, consultant, and fundraiser for …
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Author: Lyneisha Watson / High Times
