
Merida Capital Holdings
Description
Merida Capital Holdings is a prominent private equity firm headquartered in New York City, dedicated to responsible investing across the rapidly evolving cannabis ecosystem. Established in 2016, the firm has positioned itself as a leading institutional investor in the legal cannabis industry, focusing on companies that demonstrate strong fundamentals, innovative technologies, and sustainable growth potential. Merida's investment philosophy emphasizes long-term value creation by partnering with experienced management teams and providing strategic capital to scale operations and expand market reach.
The firm's investment strategy is comprehensive, targeting various segments of the cannabis supply chain. This includes investments in cultivation, processing, manufacturing, distribution, retail, and ancillary technology and service providers. Merida typically invests in growth-stage companies, seeking businesses with defensible competitive advantages and a clear path to profitability. Their approach involves active portfolio management, leveraging their deep industry expertise and extensive network to support their portfolio companies' operational and strategic development.
Merida Capital Holdings has demonstrated significant fundraising success, underscoring investor confidence in their specialized focus and investment acumen. Their Merida Capital Partners IV fund closed in 2021 with $150 million in commitments, further solidifying their capacity to deploy substantial capital. Building on this momentum, Merida Capital Partners V successfully closed in 2023, securing $225 million in commitments. Cumulatively, the firm has raised over $500 million across its various funds, enabling them to make meaningful investments and drive consolidation and innovation within the cannabis sector.
With a robust capital base and a clear vision, Merida Capital Holdings continues to be a pivotal player in shaping the future of the legal cannabis market. Their commitment to responsible investing, combined with their strategic deployment of capital, positions them to capitalize on the industry's significant growth trajectory and support the development of a mature and sustainable cannabis economy.
Investor Profile
Merida Capital Holdings has backed more than 45 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 22 rounds, about 49% of its total and boasts 12 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series Unknown, Post Ipo Equity, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Canada, Italy.
- Strong thematic focus on Cannabis, Biotechnology, E-Commerce.
- Led 1 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $5M – $25M.
Stage Focus
- Series Unknown (18%)
- Post Ipo Equity (18%)
- Series A (16%)
- Seed (13%)
- Series B (11%)
- Undisclosed (11%)
- Convertible Note (7%)
- Series C (4%)
- Pre Seed (2%)
Country Focus
- United States (87%)
- Canada (9%)
- Italy (2%)
- United Kingdom (2%)
Industry Focus
- Cannabis
- Biotechnology
- E-commerce
- Agriculture
- Software
- Information Technology
- Medical
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Consumer Goods
Frequently Asked Questions
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