Forbes Names Cannabis CEO to Prominent List

In another sign that the cannabis industry is advancing towards mainstream acceptance and respectability, Forbes magazine has included a marijuana executive in one of its annual “30 Under 30” lists.

Ryan Smith, CEO and co-founder of software developer LeafLink, is named as one of the top 30 executives under the age of 30 in the enterprise technology industry.

Each year, Forbes releases a list of hundreds of young executives who are making or could make waves in various industries. This year, the list includes 600 individuals across 20 different sectors.

Smith’s company plans to release an online wholesale management platform for cannabis companies in the first quarter of this year. The software will help retailers manage their inventory and track orders and also help producers promote their product, according to the Forbes story.

In November, Manhattan-based LeafLink closed a $1 million seed round led by a group of angel investors in New York City. Most of LeafLink’s investors are in real estate, Smith told Crain’s New York Business in November.

The company is the third startup founded by Smith, 25, who launched his first two businesses while still an undergrad at Colgate University.