Flower Power: BIPOCANN Is Expanding Access and Investing in People
Celebrate the Champions of the Cannabis Community
Flower Power is LeafLink’s weekly series celebrating customers and organizations making a positive impact in cannabis. Every week, we’re spotlighting the change makers building a stronger, more inclusive industry.
To kick off our Flower Power campaign, we’re spotlighting an organization doing the real work of building equity in cannabis from the ground up. BIPOCANN, founded by Ernest Toney and based in Denver, Colorado, exists to expand access to business opportunities for minority and social equity entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry.
Since launching in 2020, BIPOCANN has worked with businesses and partners in 24 states. At any given time, the organization is actively supporting between 50 to 80 businesses, offering resources, guidance, and connections that help early-stage operators grow.
Mentorship that Goes Beyond Advice
One of BIPOCANN’s most impactful efforts is its mentorship program for social equity entrepreneurs. The initiative began as a pilot in 2022 when Colorado’s Cannabis Business Office began offering grants to social equity operators. BIPOCANN saw a gap — many entrepreneurs needed more than capital; they needed guidance. So, the organization stepped in with a program that helped grant dollars go further through targeted business support.
The program started with six businesses. In the following years, it expanded to 13, then 17. In 2025, a dozen revenue-producing businesses are participating. Each one receives tailored support based on their biggest challenges, covering topics like finance, accounting, marketing, and partnership building.
A Structured Program with Personalized Support
Participants in the mentorship program attend structured webinars and in-person workshops while also working one-on-one with BIPOCANN staff or mentors. Ernest describes the approach as responsive and personalized: “We survey and figure out people’s biggest pain points, and then plan the program around that.”
Built for the Industry, Open to Everyone
BIPOCANN isn’t just a resource for operators. It’s a network that invites collaboration. Service providers who offer support in areas like accounting, banking, marketing, or legal guidance are encouraged to join. Ernest emphasized that the value goes both ways. “If you’re able to get one customer over the course of the year working with us, you’ve met your return on investment.”
Want to hear more from Ernest? Watch the Full Interview
BIPOCANN is helping social equity businesses not just enter the market but succeed in it. From structured mentorship to one-on-one coaching and long-term partnership building, this is how progress is made.
Watch our Flower Power conversation with Ernest Toney to learn more about how BIPOCANN is creating pathways for the next generation of cannabis entrepreneurs.