The Cannabis Learning Center
1) Transform thecannabislearningcener.com into a SaaS platform with all associated features (subscription management, member communications, etc.). 2) Identify, track and report site KPIs to demonstrate its effectiveness. 3) Allow students to develop their project management and software development skills. 4) Allow students to interact with a client in a real-world situation to gain valuable experience to prepare them for the workplace.
The Cannabis Learning Center – Phase III (Commercialization)
The Cannabis Learning Center (thecannabislearningcenter.com) is an educational platform covering 70+ topics regarding cannabis. It is also a marketing channel for the companies that post cannabis-related educational content. The full project consists of three phases (each is a separate Riipen Project). The objective of Phase III (Commercialization) is to demonstrate the value of the site to member companies as an effective a marketing channel via metrics, then explore various commercialization alternatives, and implement the selected approach. NOTES: 1) Ancillary companies provide products and services to cannabis companies. Typical examples are business consultants, attorneys, architects, etc. 2) Phase I (Content Building) of this project solicited additional ancillary companies to join the platform and contribute educational content (typically videos, articles and/or literature). Once accepted for membership, we develop a page on the site with their company name, short description, logo, URL and the content they have provided. 3) Phase II of this project is intended to develop and execute a marketing plan aimed at target segments to promote The Cannabis Learning Center to the industry, inviting people to visit the site to learn more about various aspects of the industry via the content provided by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
The Cannabis Learning Center – Phase II (Marketing)
The Cannabis Learning Center (thecannabislearningcenter.com) is an educational platform covering 70+ topics regarding cannabis. It is also a marketing channel for the companies that post cannabis-related educational content. The full project consists of three phases (each is a separate Riipen Project). The objective of Part II (Marketing) is to develop and execute a marketing plan aimed at target segments to promote The Cannabis Learning Center to the industry, inviting people to visit the site to learn more about various aspects of the industry via the content provided by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). NOTES: 1) Ancillary companies provide products and services to cannabis companies. Typical examples are business consultants, attorneys, architects, etc. 2) Phase I (Content Building) of this project solicited additional ancillary companies to join the platform and contribute educational content (typically videos, articles and/or literature). Once accepted for membership, we develop a page on the site with their company name, short description, logo, URL and the content they have provided. 3) Part III of this project (Commercialization) is intended to demonstrate the value of the site to member companies as an effective a marketing channel via metrics, then explore various commercialization alternatives, and implement the selected approach.
The Cannabis Learning Center – Phase I (Content Building)
The Cannabis Learning Center (thecannabislearningcenter.com) is an educational platform covering 70+ topics regarding cannabis. It is also a marketing channel for the companies that post cannabis-related educational content. The full project consists of three phases (each is a separate Riipen Project). The objective of Phase I (Content Building) is to solicit additional ancillary companies to join the platform and contribute educational content (typically videos, articles and/or literature). Once accepted for membership, we develop a page on the site with their company name, short description, logo, URL and the content they have provided. NOTES: 1) Ancillary companies provide products and services to cannabis companies. Typical examples are business consultants, attorneys, architects, etc. 2) Part II of this project involves developing and executing a marketing plan aimed at target segments to promote The Cannabis Learning Center to the industry, inviting people to visit the site to learn more about various aspects of the industry and the product. 3) Part III of this project is intended to demonstrate the value of the site to member companies as an effective a marketing channel via metrics, then explore various commercialization alternatives, and implement the selected approach.
Marketing Plan for Educational Platform
We are in need of a marketing program for our learning center to most effectively reach our target audience and communicate messages that best resonate with their educational needs. Additional information regarding our business is available thecannabislearningcenter.com
Marketing Plan for a SaaS-based Cannabis Revenue Forecasting Service
Introduction This project is one part of a larger undertaking involving the the development, hosting and marketing of an analytic model to help prospective cannabusinesses (and consultants) create develop a revenue forecast to support cannabis license applications and business plans. Background As cannabis becomes legal throughout the United States (both medical and adult use) programs, it is necessary for license applicants to develop and provide business plans to regulating entities as part of the application process. Part of that business plan is a pro-forma statement identifying all anticipated revenue streams and expense line items. These financials are an important part of the application in that they demonstrate the viability of the business plan, ensuring that the entity will become a commercial success. Project Description Develop a professional marketing plan to guide the development and commercial success of the service. Of particular interest are identification of target segments, competition, pricing and recommended promotion to each target segment – to include key messages, recommended media and pricing for each target segment. Also, public relations plans for each target segment (e.g., placement of articles in specific media by name, etc.) Company Information NJ Cannabis Consulting (njcannabisconsulting.com) was incorporated in 2018 to provide professional services to businesses pursing the legal cannabis market in New Jersey. The company’s services include business plan development, marketing plan development and execution. Nick Scalera NJ Cannabis Consulting nick.scalera@njcannabisconsulting.com njcannabisconsulting.com (609) 772-4024 1 Powderhorn Way, Allentown, NJ 08501
Online School Marketing Plan
We are in need of a marketing program for our learning center to most effectively reach our target audience and communicate messages that best resonate with their educational needs. Additional information regarding our business is available njcannabisconsulting.com.
Marketing Plan for a SaaS-based Cannabis Financial Model
Introduction This project is one part of a larger undertaking involving the the development, hosting and marketing of an analytic model to help prospective cannabusinesses (and consultants) create the financials required for cannabis license applications and business plans. The entire scope of this undertaking is provided here to provide background context for instructors and students. Please note that specifics for this part of the project is described below under the "Marketing" section. Background As cannabis becomes legal throughout the United States (both medical and recreational – also known as adult use) programs, it is necessary for license applicants to develop and provide business plans to regulating entities as part of the application process. Part of that business plan is a pro-forma statement identifying all anticipated revenue streams and expense line items. These financials are an important part of the application in that they demonstrate the viability of the business plan, ensuring that the entity will become a commercial success. The model should be able to accommodate three types of cannabis businesses: 1) cultivation, 2) processing, and 3) retail (cannabis dispensaries). Project Description It is envisioned that the project would consist of three parts: Model development – medical versus recreational, grower versus processor versus retailer. Build an Excel spreadsheet-based tool encompassing this data and incorporating the relationships uncovered via the research, yielding demand and cost data for each geographic area identified. NOTES: - The spreadsheet would contain an “assumptions” area where the various default factors would be listed, and clearly labeled for the user to modify as necessary. - Since it is anticipated that many of the factors (and relationships) on which the model is based will change over time, the model should be constructed in such a way as to make updating easy and simple. 2) Software Platform The intent of this part of the project is to make the model available via a commercial Software as a Service (Saas) platform, allowing individuals and companies to employ it in the development of financial models for their specific endeavor. To that extent, the site must be secure, maintain various levels of subscription, accept payment, etc. It should provide all the features of competitive SaaS platforms as discovered during the research phase of the project. Again, the platform should be constructed in a manner to be able to accommodate changes being made quickly and easily. Documentation – a users manual. NOTE: Various design elements (e.g., the spreadsheet to be hosted, subscription levels, pricing, etc. will be provided.) 3) Marketing Develop a professional marketing plan to guide the development and commercial success of the deliverable. Of particular interest are identification of target segments (at least individual and enterprise clients (especially the identification of target customers in the enterprise space), competition, pricing and recommended promotion to each target segment – to include key messages, recommended media and pricing for each target segment. Also, public relations plans for each target segment (e.g., placement of articles in specific media by name, etc.) Company Information NJ Cannabis Consulting (njcannabisconsulting.com) was incorporated in 2018 to provide professional services to businesses pursing the legal cannabis market in New Jersey. The company’s services include business plan development, marketing plan development and execution. Nick Scalera NJ Cannabis Consulting nick.scalera@njcannabisconsulting.com njcannabisconsulting.com (609) 772-4024 1 Powderhorn Way, Allentown, NJ 08501
SaaS Platform to Host a Financial Model
Introduction This project is one part of a larger undertaking involving the the development, hosting and marketing of an analytic model to help prospective cannabusinesses (and consultants) create the financials required for cannabis license applications and business plans. The entire scope of this undertaking is provided here to provide background context for instructors and students. Please note that specifics for this part of the project is described below under the "Software Platform" section. Background As cannabis becomes legal throughout the United States (both medical and recreational – also known as adult use) programs, it is necessary for license applicants to develop and provide business plans to regulating entities as part of the application process. Part of that business plan is a pro-forma statement identifying all anticipated revenue streams and expense line items. These financials are an important part of the application in that they demonstrate the viability of the business plan, ensuring that the entity will become a commercial success. The model should be able to accommodate three types of cannabis businesses: 1) cultivation, 2) processing, and 3) retail (cannabis dispensaries). Project Description It is envisioned that the project would consist of three parts: Model development – medical versus recreational, grower versus processor versus retailer. Build an Excel spreadsheet-based tool encompassing this data and incorporating the relationships uncovered via the research, yielding demand and cost data for each geographic area identified. NOTES: - The spreadsheet would contain an “assumptions” area where the various default factors would be listed, and clearly labeled for the user to modify as necessary. - Since it is anticipated that many of the factors (and relationships) on which the model is based will change over time, the model should be constructed in such a way as to make updating easy and simple. 2) Software Platform The intent of this part of the project is to make the model available via a commercial Software as a Service (Saas) platform, allowing individuals and companies to employ it in the development of financial models for their specific endeavor. To that extent, the site must be secure, maintain various levels of subscription, accept payment, etc. It should provide all the features of competitive SaaS platforms as discovered during the research phase of the project. Again, the platform should be constructed in a manner to be able to accommodate changes being made quickly and easily. Documentation – a users manual. NOTE: Various design elements (e.g., the spreadsheet to be hosted, subscription levels, pricing, etc. will be provided.) 3) Marketing Develop a professional marketing plan to guide the development and commercial success of the deliverable. Of particular interest are identification of target segments (at least individual and enterprise clients (especially the identification of target customers in the enterprise space), competition, pricing and recommended promotion to each target segment – to include key messages, recommended media and pricing for each target segment. Also, public relations plans for each target segment (e.g., placement of articles in specific media by name, etc.) Company Information NJ Cannabis Consulting (njcannabisconsulting.com) was incorporated in 2018 to provide professional services to businesses pursing the legal cannabis market in New Jersey. The company’s services include business plan development, marketing plan development and execution. Nick Scalera NJ Cannabis Consulting nick.scalera@njcannabisconsulting.com njcannabisconsulting.com (609) 772-4024 1 Powderhorn Way, Allentown, NJ 08501
Financial Modeling for CannaBusinesses
Positions available: 1 Introduction This project involves the development, commercialization and marketing of an analytic model to help prospective cannabusinesses (and consultants) enabling them to create the financials required for cannabis license applications and business plans. Background As cannabis becomes legal throughout the United States, it is necessary for license applicants to develop and provide business plans to regulating entities as part of the application process. Part of that business plan is a pro-forma statement identifying all anticipated revenue streams and expense line items. These financials are an important part of the application in that they demonstrate the viability of the business plan, ensuring that the entity will become a commercial success. The model should be able to accommodate three types of cannabis businesses: 1) cultivation, 2) processing, and 3) retail (cannabis dispensaries). Project Description It is envisioned that the project would consist of three parts: 1) Model development – medical versus recreational, grower versus processor versus retailer. a. Market research – conduct secondary (and to the extent possible primary) market research to gather statistics and information required for the development of the model(s). Although the methodology of the project is not entirely complete (and would be developed with the assistance of the professor and students), an initial assessment is that it would encompass the following factors: i. Demographic data necessary to build the models (e.g., for the recreational program: age, marital status, political affiliation, etc.) for specific geographic areas of the US (e.g., zip code, area code, micropolitan, county, MSA, CBSA, etc.). For the medical program – the number of current and forecast medical patients within the selected geographic area. NOTE : Selection of the appropriate geographic area for the model will be based on research results (e.g., the geographic area from which a recreational cannabis dispensary can be expected to draw its customers). ii. The percentage of medical and recreational cannabis users by age, and other demographic characteristics (e.g., marital status, family status, political affiliation, likeliness to use different cannabis products based on age, etc.). iii. The percentage of current cannabis users who would change their source from illegal suppliers when it became legal in New Jersey. iv. Purchase patterns – average visits per month, amount spent, products purchased, etc. v. Business costs, for example, rents, inventory, equipment, labor, training, etc. b. Analysis i. Build an Excel spreadsheet-based tool encompassing this data and incorporating the relationships uncovered via the research, yielding demand and cost data for each geographic area identified. NOTE: The spreadsheet would contain an “assumptions” area where the various default factors would be listed, and clearly labeled for the user to modify as necessary. c. Documentation i. Develop a Research Report and PPT presentation describing the work. It would include topics such as research methodology, construction of the model, results and an example of the model in use. ii. User’s Manual – a description of how the model is constructed, how it operates, how to make changes and how they will affect the results. NOTE: Since it is anticipated that many of the factors (and relationships) on which the model is based will change over time, the model should be constructed in such a way as to make updating easy and simple. 2) Commercialization - The intent of this part of the project is to make the model available via a commercial Software as a Service (Saas) platform, allowing individuals and companies to employ it in the development of financial models for their specific endeavor. (additional details available). 3) Marketing - Develop a professional marketing plan to guide the development and commercial success of the deliverable. (additional details available).