Benzinga Chicago 2025: Event Recap

The subtle themes of resiliency and readiness in cannabis were woven
throughout this year’s Chicago iteration of the Benzinga Cannabis Capital
Conference, taking place June 8-10. Most brands in attendance weren’t just
the ones that managed to survive the industry amidst economic downturns.
Rather, the brands showing up to network were in fact *thriving*.

An apparent shift in business also took place at Benzinga. In the past,
most companies attended the invite-only event to shake hands with potential
investors and hopefully secure capital commitments to launch a promising
cannabis business idea. However, most of the brands in Chicago were already
past that phase, having already earned investment and launched their
businesses. Instead of seeking investment, they arrived at Benzinga looking
to learn from all the bright minds in the room and to grow through
partnerships and creative collabs.
*Success Tips From Industry Leaders*

Cannabis Now met with several reputable brands at Benzinga Chicago to learn
how they manage to maintain success, and what advice they have for
navigating the complexities of the cannabis industry. Here are some
insightful takeaways from just a few of our conversations:

*Kristi Palmer, co-founder and president of **Kiva Confections**:* Palmer
believes Kiva’s continued success comes down to its wide range of products,
which includes not just edibles, but also pre-rolls, vapes and flower.
Staying firm on payment terms—even when it’s not the easiest path—has also
been a big part of keeping the business strong.

“A retailer can stop buying Kiva, but edibles still make up a small
percentage of the market and of total sales in a dispensary. But flower,
vape, pre-roll—it’s pretty hard for a retailer to say goodbye to all those
products,” Palmer explained, speaking to the power of their portfolio,
which has helped position Kiva as one of California’s only remaining
distributors. And when it comes to payment terms, Palmer is clear that for
the health of their business, they “have to draw a hard line in the sand.”

*Howard Lee, CEO of **SōRSE Technology**:* Lee shared that his team works
hard to keep costs low and stay prepared for any potential revenue dips,
with the goal of staying profitable—even when the market gets tough. He
also discussed how important it is to back up their products and services
with real data and science, something he feels really sets them apart from
competitors who often lack that level of credibility.

“We have so many people who copy us, but they don’t copy us enough to make
it right,” Lee explains. “So, what we can show people is real data. Most of
the other teams that are competing against us don’t have the data backing
up their science.”

*Kevin Cohen, CEO of **Abstrax Tech*: Abstrax Tech is the leading source of
botanical terpenes and flavors for the cannabis market. Despite Abstrax’
success within this niche, the brand is continually seeking ways to
innovate and evolve to stay relevant. Cohen expects the cannabis industry
will keep experiencing highs and lows, but the operators who are best
positioned will come out on top.

“It’s really hard in the cannabis industry, and pressure makes diamonds, so
we discovered some technology that we think will be applicable to the
broader flavor industry,” Cohen says, adding that Abstrax is entering the
brewing industry with the new tech to broaden their business model. “There
are lots of ups and downs in the cannabis industry, so we are trying to
diversify a bit.”
*Why Benzinga?* [image: Benzinga Chicago 2025]

Brand leaders share why they keep coming back to Benzinga—and what stood
out in Chicago this month.

Cameron Forni, CEO and Founder of Adaptaphoria and Global Can Beverage
(GCB), announced the launch of his new fast-acting beverage brand
Adaptaphoria at Benzinga Chicago, leading to significant sales and positive
media attention.

“It’s been two and a half years of development on this brand and beverage
and formulation. So that’s kept me from a lot of events,” Forni shares.
“So, this is the first time we’re coming out here, announcing it, and
honestly, it’s been reinvigorating. It’s been exciting. We did over $50,000
in sales just yesterday from people trying it, and we got a ton of positive
press, positive attention. I couldn’t be happier. The Benzinga Capital
Conference went incredibly well for us.

Seth Yakatan, co-founder of Katan Associates, spoke on a panel called “The
Next Generation: Making a Case for Mid-Market Investability.” With more
than 35 years in cannabis, Yakatan helps people buy and sell companies and
raise capital. Currently, he says he’s focused on three main areas: “I keep
my eye on the pharmaceutical business, the wellness business—broadly
speaking—and the cannabis business.”

Yakatan attends as many Benzinga events as possible, finding them highly
beneficial for meeting high-level decision-makers and efficiently
connecting with people from various markets without having to travel
extensively. “[Benzinga] has been a phenomenal supporter of mine and an
amazing partner, specifically the annual meeting,” he says. “For me, it’s
the capability to meet with critical, high-level decision makers at 70 or
100 companies and really get a pulse on what’s going on in each market
without having to visit each market.”

While Yakatan especially values the efficiency of the Benzinga events,
Kiva’s Palmer who spoke on the panel called, “The Hemp Industry Divide:
Quick Cash vs. Sustainable Growth,” commented on how the conference has
shifted from being focused on capital investment deals to partnerships,
mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and out-of-state expansion. “We come to
this conference because of the quality of who shows up. Even if you’re not
raising money, there are still so many other opportunities that that group
of people can talk about,” she says.

Lastly, Lee of SōRSE Technology, the leading hemp and terpene emulsion
supplier for CPGs and other food, beverage and topical manufacturers,
emphasized the importance of showing up consistently at events like
Benzinga to build long-term relationships. “Just showing up is 90% of the
battle,” he says. “Benzinga is a good place to meet people you’ve met for
years, and part of raising money is to be here year in and year out, right?”
Cultivating Minds & Spirits

The 2025 Benzinga Chicago conference kicked off with a women’s networking
event called Canna & Coffee on Monday morning, June 9. Next, the event
moved into opening remarks and market analysis before beginning a series of
panels spanning a wide range of thought-provoking topics in cannabis and
business.

Outside of the conference, affiliate events brought together attendees in a
more casual, social setting. The Benzinga Cannabis Pairing Buyers Dinner
brought together top CEOs, decision makers and members of the press for an
exclusive three-course culinary experience where brands could showcase
their products in a mindful, guided consumption setting.

“When it comes to consumption events, there’s a real art to guiding people
through their high—something that I teach through CashoM and something that
few truly understand,” says Philp Wolf, CEO of Cultivating Spirits, which
produced the event with support from Cloud 9 Studios’ Cannaluxxe Wellness
Academy. “It’s about weaving education into engaging demonstrations that
are inspiring while holding space so guests can fully drop into their
experience. At the same time, there’s a delicate balance: making sure
sponsors feel seen and valued while creating an unforgettable time for
everyone attending.”

After another day of speakers, Benzinga Chicago 2025 concluded with an
official After Party, “The Final Spark,” at the Tunnel Treehouse Rooftop.
Guests sipped on curated cocktails, continued networking, and celebrated a
successful event under the stars.
*Predictions*

While there’s no crystal ball, one can still make smart decisions based on
trends and market analysis. Despite the volatile nature of the cannabis
industry, those in attendance are well-seasoned on how to navigate changes
and remain optimistic for a strong future.

“We all know [cannabis] will be legal federally, someday, sometime in the
future,” Lee says. “And if you keep that North Star and you just keep your
head down and keep working, things will happen.”

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