Brendan Kennedy Speaking Fee: $30,000 to $50,000

Brendan Kennedy is an American entrepreneur and investor known for his pivotal role in shaping the legal cannabis industry. He co-founded Privateer Holdings in 2011, the world's first private equity firm dedicated exclusively to cannabis investments. Under his leadership, Privateer raised over $200 million to build a portfolio of globally recognized brands, including Tilray, Leafly, Marley Natural, and The Goodship. These ventures have significantly contributed to the normalization and professionalization of the cannabis sector. Kennedy's journey into the cannabis industry began in 2010 when a personal encounter with a child suffering from epilepsy led him to reconsider his skepticism about medical cannabis. This experience motivated him to travel worldwide, engaging with patients, growers, and policymakers to understand the industry's complexities and potential. In 2013, he co-founded Tilray, which became one of Canada's first licensed medical cannabis producers. Tilray achieved several industry milestones, including being the first North American company to legally export medical cannabis to the U.S. for a clinical trial. Before venturing into the cannabis industry, Kennedy had a successful career in business and finance. He served as the Chief Operating Officer at SVB Analytics, a subsidiary of Silicon Valley Bank, where he managed over 350 client valuations and helped grow the company from zero to more than $8 million in annual revenue. He also founded Mindability, Inc., a software company focused on customer experience measurement, which served clients like Amazon, Microsoft, and The Walt Disney Company. Kennedy holds a BA in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, an MS in Engineering from the University of Washington, and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. He resides in Seattle with his wife and two children. An accomplished athlete, Kennedy has completed six Ironman triathlons, demonstrating his commitment to discipline and endurance.