What Embarc does

Embarc, LLC is a privately held California cannabis retail chain operating 17+ owned-and-operated dispensary locations across the Bay Area, Central Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Southern California, with two additional Riverside storefronts scheduled to open in March and May 2026. The company sells a curated catalog of 952+ third-party-branded cannabis SKUs spanning flower, prerolls, vapes, concentrates, edibles, beverages, topicals, tinctures, pills, and accessories, sourced from brands including STIIIZY, Claybourne, Wyld, Camino, Raw Garden, Papa & Barkley, and Kanha. The legal entity is domiciled in California as an LLC and holds 17 C10 retail cannabis licenses (C10-0000695-LIC through C10-0001666-LIC), reflecting the regulatory regime that gates new market entry.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct in-store retail sales at unit prices ranging from approximately $5 for low-dose single edibles to over $90 for premium vape cartridges and concentrates, supplemented by a non-refundable service fee on all online pickup orders, optional delivery fees, and ancillary merchandise. The company runs a direct-to-consumer go-to-market motion combining physical storefronts, an e-commerce ordering site, a native iOS/Android mobile application (rebuilt in 2026 to offer 5% cash back rewards and 15-minute pickup), and a points-based Passport Club loyalty program operated in partnership with Passport Club LLC. Customer segments are split between adult recreational consumers (21+) and medical patients (18+ with valid recommendation or MMIC), served primarily through walk-in traffic, online ordering with pickup, and delivery in select markets, with secondary marketing channels including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, a content blog, email, and community events.

The company was founded in 2019, employs 101-250 people, is led by co-founder and CEO Lauren Carpenter with COO Terri Gilles and SVP of Finance and Corporate Development Leonard Schlemm, and is headquartered in Alameda, California. There is no disclosed institutional funding of material size; the firm maintains WCAG 2.2 accessibility and CCPA compliance postures, and donates 1% of sales to the local communities in which its stores operate.

Name

Embarc

Legal name

Embarc, LLC.

Website

https://goembarc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Embarc, LLC is a privately held California cannabis retail chain operating 17+ dispensaries across the Bay Area, Central Valley, Tahoe, and Southern California, selling 952+ curated SKUs to adult recreational and medical consumers through stores, online ordering, a mobile app, and a loyalty program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cannabis Retail

akta.pro primary industry

Cannabis Online Ordering for Dispensary Pickup (Click-and-Collect) (CRANAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tobacco, Alcohol & Cannabis Omnichannel (CRAFAEAM)

Keywords

• Cannabis retail dispensary
• Cannabis online ordering
• Cannabis pickup delivery
• Cannabis loyalty program
• Cannabis mobile app

Headquarters

HQ city

Alameda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Cannabis Sales: Direct retail sales of cannabis products including flower, vapes, edibles, concentrates, beverages, and wellness products through physical dispensary locations and online ordering with pickup. Revenue generated from product margins across 952+ SKUs.
2. Online Ordering Service Fees: Non-refundable service fees charged on all pickup orders placed through the Online Ordering Service to cover in-store picking and preparation processes as well as online platform operations.
3. Delivery Services: Delivery and fulfillment services in select locations, potentially provided through third-party fulfillment partners, with associated delivery fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Embarc operates a chain of licensed cannabis retail dispensaries across California, selling a curated menu of 952+ cannabis products (flower, prerolls, vapes, concentrates, edibles, beverages, wellness, accessories) from 100+ brands through owned-and-operated physical storefronts, a website with online ordering and 15-minute pickup, a native mobile app with 5% cash back, and select delivery. The Passport Club loyalty program rewards repeat purchases and the company donates 1% of sales to local communities.

Product overview

Embarc is a California-based cannabis retail chain operating under a unified dispensary model with integrated digital services. The core offering is physical retail dispensary locations selling curated cannabis products across multiple categories: Flower, Prerolls, Vapes, Concentrates, Edibles, Beverages, and Wellness (Topicals, Tinctures, Pills). This retail operation is enhanced by an online ordering and pickup platform (supporting 952+ products), a native mobile application (offering 5% cash back and easy ordering), and the Passport Club loyalty program (operated by Passport Club LLC). The company carries third-party brand products across all categories and also sells Embarc-branded merchandise. Customers can shop in-store or online with 15-minute pickup, participate in the loyalty rewards program, and access daily deals and promotions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Embarc Cannabis Dispensary (Retail) Retail cannabis dispensary chain offering a curated selection of flower, prerolls, vape cartridges, concentrates, edibles, beverages, wellness products, and accessories across 17+ owned-and-operated California storefronts, with knowledgeable in-store Guides assisting adult consumers and medical patients.
• Online Ordering & Pickup Website-based online ordering service allowing customers to browse the full 952+ product catalog and place pickup orders at a selected Embarc dispensary, with 15-minute pickup turnaround and a non-refundable service fee.
• Passport Club Loyalty Program Free loyalty rewards program operated in partnership with Passport Club LLC, allowing members to earn 1 point per dollar spent, redeem points for cannabis discounts (e.g., 100 points = $5 off, 1,500 points = $75 off), receive birthday discounts, and participate in giveaways and sweepstakes.
• Embarc Mobile Application Native iOS and Android mobile application rebuilt from the ground up, offering 5% cash back on purchases, streamlined online ordering, push notifications for deals, and GPS-based store locator with pickup location selection.
• Getaway Bag Curated, gift-ready bundle of Embarc-selected cannabis products offered as a packaged offering for customers.
• Flower Cannabis flower product line sold at Embarc dispensaries featuring iconic brands such as STIIIZY, Claybourne, Traditional, American Weed Co, Yada Yada, Pure Beauty, plus a full lineup of CBD flower.
• Prerolls Pre-rolled cannabis joints offered at Embarc dispensaries from brands like Zombi and LoLo, with strains including Watermelon OG and Mr. Yum Yum.
• Vape Cannabis vape cartridges and devices sold at Embarc dispensaries from brands including Almora Farms, West Coast Cure, Raw Garden, Kurvana, and STIIIZY.
• Concentrates Cannabis concentrates and extracts offered at Embarc dispensaries from brands such as Papa & Barkley, Proof, High Power, and King's Garden.
• Edibles Cannabis-infused edible products including gummies, chocolates, and confectionery from brands like Wyld, Space Gem, Camino, Level Protabs, and Kanha, featuring various THC:CBD ratios and formulations.
• Beverages (Drinks) Cannabis-infused drinkable products including teas, sodas, and shots offered at Embarc dispensaries from brands like St Ides and Uncle Arnie's.
• Wellness Products Cannabis wellness products including topicals, tinctures, and pills/capsules sold at Embarc dispensaries for targeted and precise dosing.
• Accessories Cannabis-related merchandise and accessories sold at Embarc dispensary locations.
• Delivery Service Delivery fulfillment service available in select Embarc locations, potentially fulfilled via third-party delivery partners, with associated delivery fees and delivery/pickup options presented at checkout.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ verified 5-star reviews demonstrate high customer satisfaction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Passport Club LLCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPassport Club LLC operates the loyalty rewards program for Embarc stores. The program allows members to earn 1 point per dollar spent, redeem points for discounts on cannabis products, receive birthday discounts, and participate in giveaways and sweepstakes. Embarc states 'All giveaways are in partnership with Passport Club, LLC, no purchase necessary.' The partnership provides a gamified loyalty experience driving customer retention.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AYR Wellness: Multi-state cannabis operator with significant retail dispensary footprint including California; broader portfolio operator that benchmarks against Embarc on comparable retail unit economics and California expansion strategy.

Direct peers

• MedMen: Multi-store California and U.S. cannabis dispensary operator with a comparable omnichannel retail model; directly competes with Embarc on adult-use dispensary footprint, branded customer experience, and online ordering/pickup.
• Sweet Flower: California-focused multi-store cannabis dispensary chain with design-forward stores and curated menus; closely comparable to Embarc on geography, customer demographic, and premium neighborhood-shop positioning.
• CULTA (formerly Caliva): California-based vertically integrated cannabis company with retail dispensaries serving Bay Area and Central Valley consumers; direct competitor to Embarc's Bay Area and Sacramento locations with overlapping brand curation and pick-up positioning.
• Cookies: California-originated cannabis retail brand with dispensary locations across multiple states; competes with Embarc on premium brand curation, store experience, and merchandising of top-tier flower/edible brands.
• Harborside: Long-standing California cannabis retailer with multiple dispensary locations and a similar focus on adult-use and medical customers; comparable retail format, curation strategy, and loyalty/online ordering investment.

Others

• Weedmaps: Leading cannabis marketplace connecting consumers to dispensaries and brands; functions as both a customer acquisition channel for Embarc and an indirect competitor via its own retail/ordering features.
• Flowhub: Cannabis retail POS and seed-to-sale software platform that powers dispensary operations comparable to Embarc's in-store and online infrastructure; adjacent tech vendor serving similar dispensary customers.
• Leafly: Cannabis discovery and e-commerce marketplace that drives demand for dispensaries like Embarc; relevant as a channel partner and ecosystem comparator for online ordering and brand merchandising.

Emerging players

• Stiiizy (Retail): Brand-owned retail stores for one of Embarc's largest third-party suppliers; competes in the California dispensary market with verticalized brand experience, representing both a partner and competitive threat to Embarc's curation model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/embarcsupply
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3tYMA-d3A55Tj4lzkSo5yA
• Instagraminstagram.com/embarcsupply
• TikToktiktok.com/@embarcsupply

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Embarc