Rich and Rick Batenburg

Meet the father-son cannabis investment firm guiding cannabis businesses

The only firm licensed to invest in Colorado cannabis companies is a father-son team with roots in finance, yes, but also comedy and cable television. Cliintel Capital Management Group is the one investment fund that’s been blessed by the state with the “Qualified Institutional Investor” designation, a classification and term created by state Senate Bill 16-040 that became law in 2017. It allows “qualified institutional investors” to own as much as 30 percent of a retail or medical cannabis business.

The Clear vape product

‘The Clear’ Launches Vaping Products In Nevada, Its Eighth State With An Eye On Global Sales

After 10 years launching and finding exits for three other companies, serial entrepreneur Justin Pentelute was drawn to cannabis because he could “appreciate the multitude of business opportunities that exist in this relatively young space.” He is chief executive of The Clear which was founded in California in 2013 as a medical marijuana maker, and now employs 50 people and sells cannabis products in eight states.