Jake Bullock

PROGRESSIVE HORIZONS. Jake Bullock’s journey from growing up in conservative, suburban Denver to co-founding Cann, a groundbreaking THC-infused beverage company, is nothing short of remarkable.

Cann is reshaping social drinking with microdosed, non-alcoholic beverages that deliver a perfect, uplifting feeling. The drinks offer a strength similar to a beer or a glass of wine without artificial sweeteners, flavors, or the taste of cannabis.

Jake’s conservative upbringing instilled in him a strong focus on education. He was a dedicated student and a policy debater in high school, a skill he credits with equipping him with the tools to start a company. “It’s a great skill for running a business, where you’re constantly selling your vision, whether to investors, partners, or customers.”

After high school, Jake attended Duke University, where he studied political science and economics. Although he enjoyed the academic environment, he found Duke to be another conservative space that was not particularly welcoming to him as someone grappling with their LGBTQIA+ identity. “It was a different time, and being in a conservative environment had a significant impact on my experience.”

Post-graduation, Jake entered the demanding world of investment banking in New York. “It was like going into the army,” he jokes. “You wouldn’t want to do it again, but you learn so much from it.” The grueling work hours and high pressure taught him valuable business skills, but it was far from fulfilling. “I wouldn’t change it, but it wasn’t a thrilling, fun time,” he admits.

Jake’s next move was to San Francisco to work for Bain & Company, where he met his future co-founder, Luke Anderson. The work-hard, play-hard culture at Bain was eye-opening. “We worked really hard during the week and then went out on Friday nights, often drinking heavily,” Jake says. This experience, coupled with his observations of the LGBTQIA+ community’s reliance on alcohol for socializing, planted the seeds for what would become Cann.

REIMAGINGING SOCIAL DRINKING. After a stint at Bain Capital in Boston, Jake went to Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. “I was obsessed with the idea of starting a consumer brand,” he says. It was during a run on Stanford’s campus that he conceived the name Cann. “I was thinking about beer and wine, and then it hit me—Cann for cannabis in a can. Once I had the name, I knew I had to pursue it.”

Jake and Luke launched Cann in Los Angeles, choosing the location for its cultural fit and the burgeoning cannabis market. Building the company was challenging, but their complementary skills—Jake’s analytical mindset and Luke’s emotional intelligence—made them a strong team. “We were able to be both halves of a full operator,” Jake explains.

The journey was not without its anxieties. He draws parallels between coming out as gay and starting a company, noting that both require overcoming significant emotional hurdles. “There’s an entire corporate structure designed to keep you from taking risks, but queer people are often more comfortable with that uncertainty.”

Jake is focused on growing Cann and getting their products displayed alongside alcohol. “We want people to have options,” he says. “Our products should be next to alcohol wherever it’s sold because they are safer and help people drink less alcohol.”

Looking ahead, Jake encourages aspiring LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs to take the leap. “Don’t let the need for a perfect idea or co-founder hold you back,” he advises. “Write down ten ideas, pick one, and start. The process will teach you so much, and you’ll be better prepared for the next step.”