Sean Kelly

Founder & Investor. Building companies at the intersection of health, media & founder performance.

Hey there, I’m Sean. I play at the intersection of investing, media and human performance.

I’m a three-time INC 500 founder & entrepreneur with businesses in eCommerce, SaaS, media and B2B services that have collectively generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

Right now, I serve as a General Partner at The Family Fund and am the CEO of Significant Publications, a B2B digital media holding company.

I'm particularly passionate about our brand FounderIV in support of today's founder-athletes. We help today's top entrepreneurs achieve breakout performance in their personal and professional lives.

I co-founded and led multiple other companies, including SnackNation, a health-centric foodservice and brand discovery platform that served 20,000 businesses across the US. 

Under my leadership, SnackNation was honored as one of the country’s Best Workplaces by Inc. Magazine, recognized for Top Company Culture by Entrepreneur Magazine, and certified as a Great Workplace by Great Place to Work®.

Forbes listed me as one of the top 30 leaders under 30 and one of America’s most promising CEOs under 35. Comparably also ranked me among the country’s top 50 small-to-medium sized business CEOs multiple years in a row. 

Outside of the business world, I’m a two-time national medalist in freestyle snowboarding, hold an advisory role at the growth capital firm, Meaningful Partners, have a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University and am an avid sports fan of all Michigan sports teams (especially the Wolverines).

I currently live in Venice, CA with my wife and college sweetheart, Shannon, and our goldendoodle, Jameson.

Chairman

We built the first Founderland in 10 weeks.

And almost died.

This past year we gave ourselves 6 months and built an external team to do it and it still wasn’t enough time.

So for next year’s event we decided to make the build a year-round affair…

And are focused on making Founderland a brand that lives throughout the year, not just as once-every-October event.

It’s funny to see how random ideas become full-time jobs lol

Took a quick trip to NYC this week to discuss Founderland ‘26 with one of our top partners J.P. Morgan  

The verdict?

It’s going to be big. 

Perhaps not as big as JPM’s new $3B global HQ at 270 Park Ave (most spectacular office I’ve been in w/ a Warhol or Jasper Johns around every corner)…

But still pretty big and lots of fun with a yuge amount of deals commenced (misspelling intentional)

Thanks for the tour Michael Conte you’re a legend and friend.

And glad to see you’re carrying Ancient Crunch Inc. MASA chips in all of your shops!

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Current health travel stack:

Zoomed off to NYC, Philly and Austin this week.

Back to back meetings all day, late dinners and sports games at night, and planes trains and automobiles like we all know.

Seems like 1/2 of the people I’ve met have a cold.

Here’s what I take on the road to feel good while away…

and do my best to arrive home feeling not-dead to the fam. Works most of the time ;)

 - Sinus rinse bottle filled with filtered water, betadine and salt/baking soda (use after every flight, likely illness prevention tactic #1)

- Zinc acetate lozenges if I’m feeling worn down or fatigued

- KetoneIQ every morning when I wake up to get that cognitive boost

- Momentous whey protein, plant protein, and creatine (10g) + Supergut fiber blended 1-2x per day to supplement diet

- Momentous Sleep pack + medical mouth tape + sleep mask every night

- Metal shaker bottle that doesn’t get gross

- Some type of hydration packets 2x/day minimum (right now using Dry Water)

- WIP 100mg energy pouches for a little boost early in the day usually before workout

- Another ~20 or so supplements in my vitamin case that I pre-fill for each day prior to the week

Sure, sleep/nutrition/exercise are essential and the most  important…but it’s near impossible to not sacrifice them a bit while playing the part of road warrior…so at least for me, travel supplementation is key.

Momentous Ketone-IQ DryWater Supergut

Cannabiz Credit Association

Let’s elevate the cannabis industry toward better business. 

The Cannabiz Credit Association is the primary, member-based organization that advocates for better business practices and credit standards for cannabis creditors nationwide. The CCA believes that through the sharing of data, we can empower cannabis businesses to make better business decisions and raise the bar for extending trade credit. 

Trust. Transparency. Transformation.

www.cannabizcredit.com

Founder

CannaBIZ Collects

As Founder and Managing Partner at CannaBIZ Collects, Brett Gelfand operates the nation’s first and leading cannabis-focused collection agency. He is passionate about advancing the industry forward to protect good actors from the bad in the cannabis industry. 

While helping clients recoup their outstanding accounts receivables is his core mission, Gelfand takes great pride in his leadership role towards improving credit and collection practices in the cannabis industry.

CannaBIZ Collects has worked with over 1,000 companies and processed over $100M debt to date. 

CannaBIZ Collects is a no collect, no fee agency. 

"Grow Your Green. We'll Collect It."

www.cannabizcollects.com

Managing Partner

PAQCASE

As Co-Founder and CEO of PAQcase, Brett Gelfand is responsible for articulating and steering the vision of the company that created the world’s first gasket-sealed, child-resistant case for rolled smoking material. 

His responsibilities at PAQcase including high-level stewardship for partnerships with industry leading brands including Canopy Growth, ZigZag, Alien Labs, Justin Bieber’s Peaches, Seth Rogan’s House Plant, and Snoop Dogg’s LBS.

Brett sold his equity in PAQcase in April of 2022 to focus on other ventures. 

Premium. Preroll. Packaging. 

www.paqcase.com

CEO, Co-Founder

Colorado Product Services

Oversight of 60+ employees and 5 brands, including Jimi Hendrix edibles, Mountain Flower and Double Black Extracts. Maintained investor relations, built sales team, managed payroll/expenses, established financial budget/projections, led overall strategy, and helped grow the business from $0 to $500,000 in sales in less than 1 year.

Chief Executive Officer

Executive Vice President

Assistant to the CEO of a start-up cannabis wholesale company in the Western Slope of Colorado. Colorado Product Services owns a newly built 43,000 sq ft high-tech indoor grow warehouse, a 7,000 sq ft marijuana infused product facility, as well as a retail dispensary located in Carbondale, CO. Direct involvement includes: new product development, financial forecasting, budgeting, accounting,  social media marketing, web design, marketing campaigns, branding, equipment/packaging decisions, HR/ recruitment, management and oversight, investor relations, and sales strategies.

Executive Assistant

Protiviti

•Created risk analysis survey to identify key risk areas impacting client

•Automized team’s project log dashboard 

•Drafted planning and scoping memos for multiple audits

•Reviewed and tested over 12 controls for interim SOX testing

Strategy Consultant

Caterpillar Financial

•Initiated and designed the first market intelligence report for Cat Power group

•Organized and segmented industry research 

•Actively participated in various client and deal facilitation meetings

•Presented market intelligence report to Cat Financial executives and employees

Business Development

Student Managed Investment Fund

•One of twenty students selected in the 2014 graduating class to manage the $200K portfolio for the University of Georgia Foundation

•Prepared and presented buy/sell recommendations through fundamental analysis of equities 

•Actively watched and managed six securities in the technology sector

Technology Sector Associate

Leech Gary Asset Management

•Assisted in allocation and management of portfolios ranging from $500K to $50 million 

•Analyzed client portfolios, researched stocks, and pitched potential buy and sell opportunities

•Participated in weekly meetings to understand short and long-term strategy goals 

•Compiled reports comparing performance of ETFs and REITs

•Promoted new business by cold call sales

Intern

Campus Protein

•Expanded Campus Protein to the University of Georgia campus

•Supervised the distribution, inventory, and sales of workout supplements

•Managed three college representatives to sell and distribute products

UGA Division Manager

Craze Entertainment

•Entertained small to large social events including mitzvahs, concerts, fraternity and corporate parties

•Avg event cost ranged from $1,000 - $5,000 

•Responsible for the marketing, production, and management of the company

Owner

Managing Partner @ CannaBIZ Collects & CCA | 🌎 Travel | Innovative Disrupter | Helping companies collect their 💰

I’m driven by the challenge to build great businesses with great people to solve real problems. 

My career began in 2015 after being promoted to CEO of a vertically integrated cannabis company in Colorado, where I gained hands-on experience and deep insights into the industry.

Later, I co-founded a specialty child-resistant cannabis packaging business, where I served as CEO. In 2022, I sold my shares in the company, achieving a personal exit while the business continued operating independently.

Currently I’m the Founder & Managing Partner of CannaBIZ Collects, the nation’s first and leading cannabis-focused collection agency started in 2017. In this role, I work to support cannabis businesses in navigating the unique legal and financial challenges related to A/R and collections.

I’m also the founder of the Cannabiz Credit Association, the first trade credit group in the cannabis industry, where we provide tools for risk monitoring and credit assessments to help businesses make better financial decisions and manage risk effectively.

I earned a BBA in Finance from The University of Georgia, and today, I’m based in St. Petersburg, FL. I’m committed to exploring new opportunities, improving business practices in the industry, and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to make an impact.

Brett Gelfand

Pumped to be holding a panel with this amazing group of industry leaders on Thursday at 10:50am at #MJBizCon 2025. Let's catch up in Las Vegas this December 2 -5. Will be posted up at CannaBIZ Collects booth #7112.

See you at MJBizCon and use my 15% off discount code to attend: SPR25 Link to Registration: https://lnkd.in/djfR2YdB

Recovering unpaid 💰 and reducing credit risk for cannabis companies | Founder @ CannaBIZ Collects & Cannabiz Credit Association (CCA)

The NJ market is starting to feel the same collection pressures that operators in CA, MI, CO, MA, etc have been battling for years.

Glad to see leading brands in the state working with us to get ahead of the problem, and not wait for it to blow up. 

A proactive credit and collections strategy beats the reactive scramble that has become far too common in cannabis today.

View company: Cannabiz Credit Association

We’re excited to announce that Jersey Smooth has officially joined the Cannabiz Credit Association community!

Jersey Smooth is a science-driven, research-focused cannabis brand rooted in New Jersey, committed to producing premium, flavorful extracts and vape products with precision and care. Their “gold in = gold out” philosophy ensures they source top-tier flower and extracts, delivering outstanding quality in every product. 

Their portfolio includes disposable vapes, cartridges, and pre-rolls, all crafted for a smooth, richly flavored experience — whether you're chasing potency, purity, or terpene complexity. 

As a family-owned business deeply rooted in its local community, Jersey Smooth brings not just innovation but also warmth, dedication, and a commitment to wellness.

We’re proud to welcome their leadership, craftsmanship, and passion for elevating the cannabis experience.

#WelcomeJerseySmooth #CannabisExtracts #VapeInnovation #CannabisCommunity #CannabisQuality #CannabisIndustry #CCAMembers

It's been harder than ever not to lean on AI for writing content or emails.. 

It's almost like needing your big bro/sis to proofread everything you write, before you ship it. 

I kinda hate it...

But at the same time, I know the power of AI "polishing" up us humans. Esp in business. 

Making our ideas more clear. More concise. And potentially more impactful.

So if technology starts doing all the heavy lifting for us

Where not only do we not need to check our own grammar, we technically don't even need to write without a few bullets of an idea. 

It's evident our brains are starting to atrophy. 

For me, I notice my previous confidence of writing a badass email or proposal has dwindled. 

One of my strongest attributes to close a deal or mediate a situation in business.

And now, its like ehhh this could probably be written better. Or I don't feel like putting in the energy to look for a word or phrase. 

I'm already seeing more and more AI created profile pics on LinkedIn. 

And can guess that 90%+ of posts are AI generated or at least re-worked.

So not only are the faces "nonhuman" now the content is too. 

As exciting as the AI technology is.... 

I am least trying to write on my own. Once in a while..

Who else is trying to resist the new ultra comfort of AI dependency at work or in their writing?

Or are most just leaning in... and accepting their brains are being replaced by tech.  Cause I go back and forth on this one.

Getting stronger every day to help push our industry forward. 

CCA provides the first and only way to check real-time credit scores and risk in the cannabis industry.

We’re excited to announce that Order.co has officially joined the Cannabiz Credit Association community!

Order.co is a modern, AI-powered procurement and finance automation platform that helps cannabis businesses streamline their purchasing lifecycle — from requisition to payment — with full visibility, compliance, and control. 

With Order.co, operators can:
- Eliminate manual ordering and invoice tasks with automated procurement and AP workflows 
- Gain real-time spend insights and enforce approval workflows to prevent out-of-policy purchases 
- Unlock flexible net-terms (30/45/60 days) for all purchases, improving working capital and cash flow 

Leverage AI sourcing to optimize supplier selection. The platform’s AI recommends cost-effective suppliers based on price, availability, and vendor reliability.

We’re proud to welcome Order.co’s innovation and strategic sourcing leadership to our association. They’re empowering cannabis businesses to scale smarter, save more, and operate with greater financial clarity.

#WelcomeOrderCo #CannabisProcurement #FinTech #CannabisFinance #CannabisOperations #SpendManagement #CannabisIndustry

Proud of the work our team is doing to uncover the gaps that rescheduling won’t fix. Tax relief is great, but without true credit visibility, cannabis operators are still playing with one hand tied behind their back.

Schedule III may remove 280E, but it won’t fix one of the cannabis industry’s biggest financial barriers — credit invisibility.

Even with potentially massive tax relief, most cannabis operators will still struggle to be seen by the traditional credit system. The major credit bureaus remain cautious about onboarding cannabis-related data as long as federal law hasn’t resolved the gap between state-legal markets and federal compliance frameworks.

And without credit reporting, improved cash flow doesn’t translate into better lending terms, lower interest rates, or stronger credit profiles.

In short:
 ✅ Better financials
 ❌ Still invisible to the U.S. credit system
Until federal banking reform addresses this gap, rescheduling alone won’t unlock true financial access for the industry.

📘 Read the complete analysis here - https://lnkd.in/gDH5pm2m

#CannabisIndustry #CannabisBanking #CreditReporting #ScheduleIII #CannabisFinance #CannabisBusiness #BankingReform

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The Battle

Sean Kelly

Brett Gelfand

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Sean Kelly's LinkedIn Performance

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