About
Sam Barber is a founder and executive with deep experience in the cannabis and regulated consumer sectors, known for building Cultivate Holdings into one of Massachusetts’ most prominent vertically integrated cannabis companies. Under his leadership, Cultivate expanded its operations to include licensed cultivation, processing, and retail — launching one of the first recreational dispensaries in Massachusetts and scaling to a portfolio of three stores and a leading wholesale presence in the state.
Sam’s vision, regulatory acumen, and operational execution positioned Cultivate as an attractive acquisition target in an industry where regulatory barriers and scale matter deeply. Today, he shares that experience with founders of regulated and frontier-tech businesses — helping them design defensible moats, navigate compliance, and build toward valuable exits.
Schedule a call with an Exitwise advisor to learn more about engaging Sam to Maximize Your Exit™.
Previous Exits
Cultivate Holdings to Cresco Labs
Valuation: ~$158 million
In late 2021, Cresco Labs acquired Cultivate Holdings, paying approximately $15 million in cash, $75 million in Cresco shares, and up to $68 million in contingent payments tied to future performance. The deal brought Cultivate’s Massachusetts cultivation, processing, retail, and wholesale operations under Cresco’s national platform, while rewarding Sam’s team and investors with a high-value exit at a time when consolidation in the cannabis industry was accelerating.
Media & Education
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Hire an Exited Founder to serve as an advisor on your M&A team to enhance market credibility, open doors to more buyers, and create an industry insider’s advantage when selling your business.
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Every Exited Founder engagement is designed around your unique goals and the needs of your company. Fees can vary, but most often include either an hourly rate, a success-based fee, or a blend of both—depending on how involved your Exited Founder will be in your process.
After your initial discovery call with an Exitwise M&A advisor, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of the Exited Founder engagement options. We’ll talk through each option to make sure everything feels fair, transparent, and aligned before you decide to move forward.
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This Exited Founder offers personal M&A experience and deep professional networks in their respective industries to help you Maximize Your Exit.™
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