HISTORY
IGNITE’s founder and CEO, Dan Bilzerian initially founded the brand as Ignite Cannabis Co. in 2017 to be a catalyst of change in the cannabis industry, and gain legitimacy as the first premium global cannabis brand. The IGNITE brand direction quickly evolved with it’s sights set on being the world’s leading global lifestyle brand. Dan’s involvement with IGNITE is much deeper than just the initial launch of the brand, he’s personally involved with the selection and sourcing of every IGNITE product that goes to market. IGNITE together with Dan have always and will continue to disrupt the market by illuminating the ability to be authentically and unapologetically yourself.
IGNITE was founded as a premium brand for discerning people who are most concerned with substance over promise. That promise is still true and apparent in all that we do. We're committed to delivering the world's best products, period.
By selectively partnering with the most experienced cultivators, manufacturers and processors, we deliver products as potent as they are consistent, and as industry-leading as they are reliably clean and premium. We take pride in our operations, and hold our partners to the same enduring standards. Plain and simple, if it’s not exceptional, you won’t see the IGNITE name on it.
CANADA
Dan has assembled a team of experienced, industry-leading professionals focused on leveraging strategic partnerships and building the IGNITE brand in Canada and the rest of the world. This team is dedicated to establishing IGNITE as an industry leader in the fast-growing global cannabis marketplace.
UNITED STATES
IGNITE’s US leadership team is responsible for spearheading the expansion of the IGNITE brand. This team is focused on continuing to develop consumer brand awareness and ensuring IGNITE products are expertly represented in select retailers and directly to consumers across the country. IGNITE’s US marketing team serves as the primary resource for brand strategy across all global operations.
GLOBAL
In a short period of time, IGNITE has had great success leveraging its brand to consumers through expansion around the world. This includes Mexico, UK, Middle East, Australia, South Africa and Canada with more global locations on the horizon.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
A combined 43M social audience following paired together with best-in-class engagement provides IGNITE with an unparalleled competitive advantage in marketing and advertising. With Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Google and YouTube representing a vast majority of digital content, IGNITE leverages this platform to promote its brand and products through creative content marketing. IGNITE is uniquely positioned to market to an engaged audience which we built, from scratch.
@DANBILZERIAN
43+ MILLION FOLLOWERS
400+ MILLION WEEKLY IMPRESSIONS
@IGNITE
3 MILLION FOLLOWERS
9.4+ MILLION WEEKLY IMPRESSIONS
@IGNITECBD
269 THOUSAND FOLLOWERS
CONVERSION
1.4 MILLION MILLENNIALS (Average)
Directly engage with each post Dan Bilzerian publishes on instagram
BRAND VERTICALS
CBD : Drops - Vape - More
APPAREL : Mens - Womens - Accessories
HEMP: Drops - Gummies - More
THC: Flower - Cartridges - Sauce
BEVERAGE: Water - Performance - Spirits
CEO, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN
An internationally recognized and respected social media celebrity, Dan Bilzerian has amassed a following of over 40 million followers across 5 of the most prominent social media platforms.
After serving four years and being honorably discharged from the Navy, Bilzerian attended the University of Florida where he majored in Business and Criminology. Soon after college, Mr. Bilzerian became one of the world’s most successful professional poker players, earning upwards of $50 million per year. Bilzerian has also successfully launched and maintained several businesses in the e-commerce space as well as developed a soon-to-be-launched, online multi-media channel consisting of premium video content promoting current and future personal and professional ventures.
Often profiled in the tabloids and mainstream media publications, Bilzerian has stated that IGNITE is his biggest and most anticipated project yet.
Chief Operating Officer
John Schaefer has more than 25 years of experience leading operations for Manufacturing, BioScience/Agriculture, and Retail organizations. This experience, in combination with his engineering background, has enabled John to create and implement efficient, state of the art operations and supply chains for start-up and multi-billion-dollar businesses.
Prior to joining IGNITE, John worked in leadership roles. As Vice President of Operations for MedMen, he created their network of cultivation, extraction, and manufacturing facilities across the US. In the Agricultural/Bio Science industry, John served as Vice President, North America Supply Chain at Bayer (previously Monsanto) where he led an organization of 38 sites in five countries overseeing 10,000+ employees and $7.8 billion in annual revenue.
Chief Financial Officer
Paul Dowdall is a CPA with extensive experience across a diverse group of industries in companies ranging from small cap to fortune 500, and privately held to publicly traded. Paul joined Ignite International Brands LTD in June 2020 in the role of CFO as well as General Manager for IGNITE’s Canadian Operations.
As CFO, Paul leads IGNITE’s global financial and information systems strategy including accounting, audit, business development, investor relations, tax and treasury functions. As General Manager for the Canadian operations, Paul’s focus is on growing existing lines of business while introducing the expanding portfolio of IGNITE products to the Canadian consumers.
Prior to joining the IGNITE team, Paul most recently held positions in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry as a CFO in the Beverage Alcohol sector with a manufacturer and distributor, as well as CFO in the non-alcoholic beverage sector with a manufacturer serving the North American bottled water market.
Chief Marketing Officer
Dawn Blackstone has over 25 years of senior marketing and general management leadership experience with consumer products companies, including Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Neutrogena, RJR Nabisco, Herbalife, and Dermalogica. Well versed in all aspects of marketing, she has a successful track record of driving sales and profit growth at Fortune 100, mid-sized and fast-growth entrepreneurial companies. Ms. Blackstone holds an MBA in Marketing, as well as a JD degree, and serves on the Board of Directors for UCI’s Customer Experience Management Program.
General Counsel
Linda Menzel is General Counsel of Ignite International, Ltd. where she oversees all legal matters, including managing compliance and risk management functions, as well as advising on major contracts and transactions and regulatory, HR, litigation and IP matters. Ms. Menzel’s experience spans the vast legal and operational aspects of retail, marketing, distribution, HR, IP, production and logistics for tech, consumer product and media companies.
Prior to joining IGNITE, Ms. Menzel served as General Counsel of Loot Crate, Inc., a subscription box startup company where she managed all legal matters and helped spearhead the company’s Series A financing. Before that she served as Associate General Counsel – Licensing Business Affairs, providing legal and operational support for all licensing business affairs of Playboy Enterprises, Inc., including consumer products and retail, gaming and land-based entertainment establishments. She holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School.
Thanks for getting to know us a little better. Use the contact form for general inquiries or send an email to the linked addresses below.
Investors
ir@ignite.co
Press
press@ignite.co
Legal Counsel
linda.menzel@ignite.co
Careers
LinkedIn
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