


Many other funds rely on a model that utilizes minority entrepreneurs as a vehicle to achieve licenses: The Curio approach flips this model by empowering diverse entrepreneurs and supporting them along the way. "Our fund is unlike any other in the industry," Registre said, "as eligible entrepreneurs will have a clear path to 100% ownership in as little as three years. He likens the franchise model to McDonald's, where the national corporation gives operators a proven standard operating procedure and ongoing support. "Let's bottle the success we have," Registre added.

"The Fund provides qualifying entrepreneurs with the investment capital they need to become a Curio Wellness Center franchisee while ensuring their success through our best in class business operations." "In looking at the systemic barriers that women, minorities and disabled veterans face in accessing capital, we decided to develop a solution that directly addresses this massive economic disparity," said Michael Bronfein, CEO of Curio Wellness. While a legally separate but affiliated entity from Curio Wellness, the Curio WMBE Fund aims to give franchisees access to Curio's secret sauce. Founded in 2014, the family-owned business operates dispensaries rooted in a patient-centric approach. Curio made a name for itself in Maryland, where it's the largest cannabis cultivator by market share.
