Gotham, the city’s first cannabis concept store, announced on Feb. 11, 2026, the launch of the Gotham Growth Project (GGP), an accelerator designed to help growth-stage cannabis brands from underserved communities scale their businesses.

The inaugural cohort will focus on Black-owned companies in New York City, providing founders with guidance, industry connections and tools to grow sustainably. Future programs will expand to other underrepresented groups.

The six-session program is open to founders across the five boroughs, Westchester and Long Island who already sell products through licensed dispensaries, retail partners, or regulated marketplaces.

“The idea for the Gotham Growth Project was born out of feedback we received from our store teams,” said Joanne Wilson, founder and CEO of Gotham. “They consistently shared a desire to see more diverse brands represented on our shelves. GGP is our response and also our responsibility to the people who make Gotham what it is. This is a tangible, intentional way to support Black founders who are already building strong products and deserve greater visibility, resources and pathways to scale.”

GGP combines expert instruction, peer collaboration, and practical assignments to address challenges including retail readiness, operations, financial planning and expansion strategy.

The curriculum covers six core areas: brand foundation and positioning, product development and regulatory alignment, operations and sales strategy, retail readiness and partnerships, financial planning and capital preparedness,  storytelling, pitching and executive presence.

Following the program, Gotham will continue supporting participating businesses through a series of Masterclasses. The accelerator was developed in response to feedback from store teams who wanted to see more diverse brands represented on shelves, providing visibility, resources and pathways for Black founders already creating strong products.

Eligible applicants must be at least 51% Black-owned, have been in business for at least one year and have at least one product on the market. Qualified product categories include THC and CBD offerings such as flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, gummies, concentrates, tinctures and topicals.

The program will conclude with a live pitch showcase at The Highrise, Gotham’s semi-annual leadership salon, in Oct. 2026. Applications are open through Mar. 11 at 5:00 PM ET. Full program details and submissions are available at gotham.nyc/gotham-growth-project.