High School Dropout Builds a $419M Hemp Empire: The Mike Fata Story

"The only thing harder than starting a hemp food business in 1998 was doing it as a guy with a ponytail," jokes Mike Fata, who turned his personal health transformation into a revolutionary business that would forever change the hemp food industry. Starting Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods with just $50,000 in first-year sales, Mike persevered through a decade of unprofitability, regulatory battles with the DEA, and countless skeptics who laughed at his vision. His determination paid off when he sold the company for $419 million to Tilray in 2019. Now wearing his signature "GROW" hat, Mike shares raw insights about building a $100M company while reaching only 2% of his target market, proving that success often comes to those who simply stay in the game longer than everyone else. This episode is packed with practical wisdom about raising capital (turning his mom's $5,000 investment into an $80,000 return), finding your authentic story, and why he chooses to keep working despite his massive exit. For entrepreneurs wondering if they have what it takes, Mike's journey shows that success often comes down to one thing: Stick-to-itiveness.

Connect with Mike: 

LinkedIn: Mike Fata 

Book: "Grow: 12 Unconventional Lessons for Becoming an Unstoppable Entrepreneur"