Canopy | News & Articles

Meet The Founders: 420Klean

Written by Meghan Grabow | Sep 22, 2017 4:08:06 PM
Meet The Founders is a series of interviews with our Fall 2017 class founders. Each team is working to bring a product or service to the cannabis industry through the Canopy accelerator (and in some cases, are currently operating in the space), helping to alleviate the pain points in this growing industry. Want to know more about how to launch a cannabis business? Canopy's JumpStart Conference for Entrepreneurs & Startups is on October 19th in Denver, CO. This FREE half-day conference is packed with panels on brand trends, the regulatory environment, cultivation best practices, dispensary operations and more. Space is limited - register now!
 
 
Team: 420Klean
 
John Kelly, Co-founder and CEO (Steamboat Springs, CO)
Trever Boothby, Co-founder and Chief Production Officer (Oak Creek, CO) 
Colin Wells, Co-founder and CRO (Steamboat Springs, CO)
Greg Pace, COO (Steamboat Springs, CO)
 
What is 420Klean?
 
420Klean is the premier provider of cleaning products, services and solutions to the cannabis industry. We developed these products for both consumer use and for cannabis cultivation and extraction facilities. Coming from a background of working in grow facilities, we realized that this is an area of the cannabis industry that had not yet been targeted, and one in which we have deep knowledge. One of our motivations in launching this business - addition to building a profitable and successful company - is to fight for federal legalization using proceeds from 420Klean.
Facility cleanliness and compliance is a major problem facing cultivators. Marijuana is messy and sticky! We provide all the products and training needed to keep a dispensary, cultivation and extraction facility compliant with product quality standards; as well, these facilities must be cleaned on a daily basis in order to produce yields of high-quality product that will command top-shelf pricing, which requires significant resources. Of course, staying compliant and hygenic leads to increased sales, customer satisfaction and retention. 420Klean consumer kits are being sold now through the 420Klean website, as well as in dispensaries and smokeshops. We're also implementing B2B sales for cannabis dispensaries, cultivators and extractors - including edibles manufacturers - and any company in need of general cleaning and janitorial supplies for their business. 420Klean is currently working with five customers, with plans to onboard more in the near future. We're committed to keeping the cannabis industry 420Klean!
 
What is the team's background?
 
I (John Kelly) was raised in Annapolis, MD, and received my degree in Cognitive Psychology. Later, I became a  senior photographer for publications under the Surfer Magazine umbrella. I founded a dotcom start-up called All About Content, Inc., which was an action sports and general content aggregation platform that included interactive action sports DVDs and print media for events, which I sold to Universal Broadband Communications. For the past five years I've been the owner of Home Mortgage and a business consultant to the cannabis industry. As far as cannabis experience goes, I spent a lot of time on cannabis farms in northern California in the 90's.
 
Trever Boothby: I was raised in an Air Force family; we lived in Iceland, Nevada and Idaho, to name a few. I have 20 years of experience in systems management in fiber optics, and am currently a master grower at Honest Marijuana in Oak Creek, CO.
 
Colin Wells: I was raised in Boulder, CO, and attended Princeton University. I founded Freshies, a company that makes all-natural cocktail mixes; I also founded a boutique wine and spirits distributorship. I have 20 years of experience in beverage and liquor distribution, and recently joined the 420Klean team.
 
Greg Pace: I'm from Arlington, VA, and attended the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business. I'm a longtime restaurateur, and also started a business operating a textile and commercial laundry operation.
 
How did you find about the Canopy Accelerator, and why did you decide to apply?
 
I (John) have followed the cannabis industry closely since California launched its medical program in the early 2000's, where I lived at the time. Steve DeAngelo is a hero of ours! I've been watching the Canopy Accelerator since its first class in 2015, and have followed many of the Canopy companies as they have grown. We applied because we felt Canopy offered the acceleration and networking resources we need to develop the 420Klean B2B model. We want to launch as a real business in the cannabis industry, as well as network with the trend setters shaping the industry. Canopy offers true hands-on assistance with building a sound and sustainable business.
 
When you're not drilling down on 420Klean business, what do you do in your free time?
 
John - My family (wife, kids and dog), skiing and snowboarding, ski biking, wakeboarding, longboard surfing. Trever - My family, skiing, ski biking, hiking, concerts, my dogs.
Colin - Family time, my dogs, skiing, mountain biking, hiking and golf.
Greg - Dogs, skiing, mountain biking, hiking.
 
What are the team's predictions for the future of the cannabis industry?
 
We foresee federal legalization in the next 5-7 years and will assist in the fight any way we can at 420Klean. We support cannabis legalization groups, both on a federal and state level. Too many of our friends and family members have been adversely affected by outdated and failed drug policy. We also support women and minorities being major players in this industry. Cannabis is medicine! And it's here to stay. With 60% of Americans voicing approval for recreational marijuana use and 90% for medical marijuana use, it is only a matter a time until the people are finally heard, and with California coming online in 2018, (state) legal recreational consumption will be off the charts. State's rights will lead to federal cannabis legalization - the train keeps on rolling!
 
Indica or sativa?
 
Both!