eLab alum Hunter Friedland ‘19, founder and CEO of cannabinoid ingredient manufacturer Cirona Labs, was recently profiled by the Cornell SC Johnson School of Business.
Cirona Labs creates nano-emulsion cannabinoid ingredients for food, beverage, and cosmetic companies — addressing the issues that arise when cannabinoids, oils by nature, are introduced to water-based products.
Friedland participated in eLab in 2018 and explored a different startup concept, Rewardzz. While he’s changed industries over the subsequent years, he still credits eLab and the Cornell entrepreneurial ecosystem for the skills that have propelled Cirona Labs to success.
“We would not be where we are today without the enormous support of the Cornell ecosystem. We have been working closely with Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Food Science program and a variety of Cornell’s entrepreneurial resources, including Entrepreneurship at Cornell, the Nolan School’s Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship, the Entrepreneur in Residence at the Pillsbury Institute (then Marco Benvenuti, MMH ’05), eLab, and eHub, among others,” he told Cornell.
Friedland also mentioned the faculty members who have supported him along the way, namely Ken Rother, lecturer at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, director of Rev: Ithaca Startup Works, and eLab program director.
Read the full profile and learn more about Friedland’s journey from startup to success here.