The Queen Of Marijuana Investing Used Psychology To Launch Her Successful Cannabis Investment Fund

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." Benjamin Franklin

When it comes to the cannabis industry, one of the best ways to get involved is to join the Benzinga Cannabis Market Spotlight: California event on February 22 in Culver City, California, where you’ll not only hear from the most influential and experienced people in the space but you’ll have a chance to connect with them. Get involved. Learn. 

One such person is Emily Paxhia, the woman behind one of the longest-running dedicated cannabis investment funds, Poseidon Investment Management. Paxhia co-founded Poseidon with her brother Morgan Paxhia in 2013. Fast forward nine years and Poseidon has three running funds that are closed to new investors.

Psychology At The Foundation 

Paxhia, who graduated from New York University with an M.A. in Psychology in 2008, used the knowledge of mind and behavior to analyze thousands of marijuana businesses and start-ups.

Before she took a chance in this nascent industry, she honed her professional acumen working as a brand consultant for influential companies like Comedy Central, American Express AXP, Pepsi Co PEP, Time Warner, HBO, Viacom, Rainbow Media and McKinsey among others. She was always keenly interested in how people make decisions and how that impacts buying behaviors, brand and product development. As such, she is uniquely skilled in consulting, focusing on helping companies understand their customers better, increasing their market share, developing new products and repositioning brands. According to her, markets are very much a psychological phenomenon, because people and markets react to things. 

Recognizing The Potential 

Paxhia’s vast experience and investment skills guided Poseidon to be the first to recognize the potential of some of the largest companies in the industry. For example, Poseidon invested in cannabis operator Aphria, which was later bought by Tilray Brands TLRY. Then there's cannabinoid drug company GW Pharmaceuticals, which developed and produced Epidiolex, the only FDA-approved prescription CBD treatment for severe forms of epilepsy. GW Pharma was acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals JAZZ. Other big marijuana players include Headset, FlowHub and Ascend Wellness AAWH. 

Paxhia, who has often said cannabis is a recession-resistant product and that the operators who’ve been more prudent with their capital have the best chance for survival, will share her expertise in the thought-provoking panel, "The Innovators: Insights on Brand Building" along with other professionals like Seth Yakatan, Luke Anderson of Cann and her brother Morgan Paxhia.

Paxhia previously served on the Board of Directors of the Marijuana Policy Project and is now on the board of Athletes for CARE and The Initiative.

Come, get involved and meet Emily Paxhia and many others who are making positive and essential changes in the cannabis industry at Benzinga Cannabis Market Spotlight: California. 

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Photo: Benzinga edit with courtesy photo and image by PedroLastra via Unsplash