This report was born out of necessity during a stalled investor round in mid-2024. After failing to raise capital through traditional pitches alone, we knew we had to prove not just promise, but that our team could execute. So we built something better than a pitch deck! We created a full-scale cultivation business plan grounded in real numbers, real vendor quotes, and hard-earned insight from years in the trenches.

The 2024 financial viability analysis for Michigan cannabis cultivation breaks down every major cost center across a scalable, semi-vertically integrated grow and processing operation. It features architectural consulting from Sam Andras, a published author and former CEO turned Urban-Gro consultant, whose words still ring in my ears: “This is the first job I’ve woken up excited for in years.”

Every cost, from fertigation systems to wall insulation, was selected and justified, not just for function but for long-term ROI and operational edge. We leaned on data provided by the State’s regulatory body (CRA), vendor insights, and our own experience running small-scale throughput processing labs to model something that could survive the math of Michigan’s evolving market.

Eventually, we had to pivot. The capital wasn’t there, but the story didn’t end. When the LinkedIn discourse around Michigan profitability was in question, I decided to open source our document. It is now a pinned post on my LinkedIn profile, shared as proof that operators can still win in this game; if you play it right!

A comprehensive deep dive into the real-world economics of building a cannabis cultivation business in Michigan’s post-boom market. Born out of a venture capital funding push in mid-2024, this document was crafted to demonstrate operational expertise, investor readiness, and strategic foresight. It has since been open-sourced to support founders, educators, and industry voices pushing for smarter conversations around viability and value creation in the cannabis industry.