Hanway Associates
Hanway Associates is a London-based strategy and M&A advisory firm founded in 2017 that helps startups, FMCG companies, governments and investors navigate the European cannabis sector, operating alongside the First Wednesdays network, The Hanway Company venture studio and the CROP17 facility solutions JV.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hanway Associates does
Hanway Associates is a London-based strategy and corporate advisory firm focused exclusively on the European cannabis sector. Founded in 2017 and operating as Hanway Associates Limited (incorporated in England & Wales), the firm serves startups, FMCG companies, governments and investors with services spanning corporate strategy, M&A advisory, regulatory licensing support, and market intelligence. The firm employs between 11 and 50 people and has no public revenue disclosure.
The company's offering is structured as an interconnected ecosystem across four main entities: Hanway Associates (the core advisory practice); First Wednesdays, a 4,500+-member investor and entrepreneur network launched in 2018 that also publishes proprietary market reports; The Hanway Company, a venture studio housing regulated cannabis-adjacent startups; and CROP17, a joint venture with Savills, CambridgeHOK and Subrosa providing turnkey planning, build and operations services for cannabis facilities. Revenue is generated through professional services fees (strategy retainers, M&A success fees, licensing mandates), report-related revenue and venture studio economics. Distribution is sales-led and community-led, supported by content marketing (research reports, a newsletter), a strategic PR partnership with Pagefield, and monthly First Wednesdays events across London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Underlying delivery is human-capital-intensive: the firm has no proprietary technology platform and no AI/ML capability disclosed. Competitive advantage is built on cross-jurisdictional regulatory expertise (e.g., facilitating the first British Isles commercial cannabis supply licence since GW Pharmaceuticals for Northern Leaf), the scale of its First Wednesdays network, and partnerships with institutional backers including DLA Piper, Crunchbase, Hannam & Partners, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Pagefield. The firm is privately held, founder-led, and headquartered at 120 Aldersgate Street, London.
Hanway Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hanway Associates
- Legal name
- Hanway Associates Limited
- Website
- https://hanwayassociates.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hanway Associates is a London-based strategy and M&A advisory firm founded in 2017 that helps startups, FMCG companies, governments and investors navigate the European cannabis sector, operating alongside the First Wednesdays network, The Hanway Company venture studio and the CROP17 facility solutions JV.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Hanway Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hanway Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Strategy Advisory: Strategy consulting services helping companies launch, build and grow in new cannabis markets. Includes market entry support, corporate strategy, and regulatory guidance.
- M&A Advisory: Deal advisory and transaction support for mergers and acquisitions in the cannabis sector.
- Research Reports: Market research reports including Recreational Europe, European Investment Ecosystem, and European Medical Ecosystem. Reports are available for download and provide market intelligence for investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers.
- Licensing Support: Structured and strategic licensing support for companies navigating the Home Office controlled drugs licensing process for research purposes or production of cannabis-based medicinal products.
- Venture Operations: The Hanway Company venture studio with portfolio of complex and highly regulated startups and service businesses. CROP17 provides end-to-end service for those looking to enter cannabis markets.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hanway Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hanway Associates provides strategy consulting and M&A advisory services for the European cannabis sector, helping startups, FMCG companies, governments, and investors launch, build, and grow in new cannabis markets. Offerings include corporate strategy, deal advisory, regulatory licensing support (including UK Home Office controlled drugs licensing), and proprietary market research reports covering recreational, medical, and investment ecosystem topics. The firm also operates the First Wednesdays investor/entrepreneur network (4,500+ members) and The Hanway Company venture studio with the CROP17 turnkey facility subsidiary.
Product overview
Hanway Associates is Europe's leading cannabis advisory firm offering a portfolio of interconnected services. The core offering comprises strategic advisory and M&A consulting for the cannabis sector (Hanway Associates), a membership network with market intelligence reports (First Wednesdays with 4,500+ members), and a venture studio (The Hanway Company) managing a portfolio of regulated startups. Key sub-brands include CROP17 (turnkey cannabis facility development solution) and a series of market research reports covering recreational, medical, and investment ecosystem topics. Services span strategy, deal advisory, licensing assistance, market research, and regulatory compliance for startups, FMCG companies, governments, and investors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hanway Associates Advisory Services Strategy consulting and M&A advisory services for the cannabis sector, helping startups, FMCG companies, governments, and investors launch, build, and grow in new European markets. Includes corporate strategy, deal advisory, and regulatory guidance.
- Licensing Support Services Structured and strategic licensing support for companies navigating the UK Home Office controlled drugs licensing process for cannabis research or production of cannabis-based medicinal products.
- First Wednesdays Network Network of 4,500+ members across Europe providing market reports and commercial connections for the cannabis sector. Publishes first-of-a-kind reports backed by interviews, new data, and public polling on cannabis market catalysts.
- The Hanway Company (Venture Studio) Venture studio with a portfolio of complex and highly regulated startups and service businesses operating in the cannabis and emerging sectors.
- CROP17 Turnkey Facility Solution Turnkey solution for planning, building, and operating cannabis facilities. Provides end-to-end services including cultivation design, construction, licensing support, and operational expertise through partnerships with Savills, CambridgeHOK, and Subrosa.
- Recreational Europe Report Report exploring cannabis legalisation across Europe, comparing the trajectory to US legalisation in 2012, examining lessons from North American markets, and forecasting where reform might happen next.
- European Cannabis Investment Ecosystem (ECIE) Report Report examining EU-wide venture capital and retail investments in cannabis, documenting major corporates and institutional investors entering the sector. Produced in partnership with DLA Piper, Enexis, Hannam & Partners, Crunchbase, and Seedrs.
- European Medical Ecosystem Report Report highlighting key players and emerging trends in Europe's medical cannabis ecosystem, with insights into market formation and evolution. Produced in collaboration with Invest in Denmark (Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
Quantifiable outcome
- First cannabis licence in British Isles in 20 years facilitated for Northern Leaf
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hanway Associates
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Hanway Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hanway Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- QNTM LabsminorCollaboration with advanced analytical laboratory based in Denmark to produce technical briefing on transparency in non-transparent cannabis markets and pharmaceutical standards.
- Tantalus LabsminorCollaboration on 'Failure to Launch' report examining Canadian excise tax reform with #Stand For Craft campaign.
- PagefieldcoreStrategic partnership with independent PR and public affairs consultancy to create full-service consultancy offer for businesses looking to operate in the emerging European cannabis sector. Partnership offers services from traditional PR and public affairs through to business consultancy and M&A support.
- InceminorInternational law and business services firm collaborated on Considerations for Legalisation blog series exploring legal, political, financial and public safety perspectives.
- CrunchbaseminorPartnership for European Investment Ecosystem report providing investment data and market intelligence on cannabis sector investments.
- DLA PiperminorPartnership with global law firm for European Cannabis Investment Ecosystem (ECIE) report examining scope and scale of major EU-wide investments.
- EnexisminorSwedish cannabis fund partner for European Investment Ecosystem report providing data and analysis on European cannabis investment landscape.
- Hannam & PartnersminorLondon-based investment bank partner for European Investment Ecosystem report providing investment analysis.
- Northern LeafminorLicensing assistance provided to Jersey's first medical cannabis cultivator for navigating controlled drugs licensing process.
- Brightfield GroupminorCo-authored report on medical cannabis market across Europe producing new market sizing figures and identifying winning strategies for operators.
- Invest in DenmarkminorPart of Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborated on European Medical Ecosystem report with deep dive into country's commercial model.
- SavillscoreCROP17 joint venture bringing together Savills, Cambridge HOK, Subrosa and Hanway to provide end-to-end service for those looking to enter cannabis markets including cultivation opportunities.
- CambridgeHOKcoreCROP17 joint venture partner providing greenhouse and cultivation expertise for cannabis market entry services.
- SubrosacoreCROP17 joint venture partner for cannabis market entry and cultivation services.
- VoltefaceminorPartnership with think tank for weekly video blog 'All Good Points' providing cannabis insights and analysis.
- BlumeminorPartnership for Dutch regulated cannabis cultivation experiment tender application.
- SeedrsminorUK crowdfunding platform partner providing data for European Investment Ecosystem report on retail investor participation in cannabis sector.
- Tantalus LabsminorWhite paper 'Into The Light' on Greenhouse Cannabis Cultivation in British Columbia examining market opportunity, greenhouse advantages and policy guidance.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hanway Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Viridian Capital Advisors: US-based cannabis-focused investment bank and advisory firm providing M&A, capital raising, and strategic advisory to cannabis companies. Directly comparable to Hanway's M&A and strategy advisory services within the cannabis sector.
- Prohibition Partners: UK-based cannabis-focused research and advisory firm publishing market intelligence reports and industry events. Directly comparable to Hanway as a European cannabis advisory/research specialist serving investors and operators with similar research products and consulting services.
- New Frontier Data: Cannabis-focused data analytics and market intelligence firm providing reports, datasets, and consulting to operators and investors. Comparable to Hanway's research report products and investor advisory.
- Brightfield Group: US-based cannabis market research and consulting firm that co-authored the European Medical Ecosystem report with Hanway. Comparable as a cannabis-specialist research/consulting firm with similar product-market fit and customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Canopy Growth Corporation: Major global cannabis operator with interests in European medical cannabis and cannabinoid products. Comparable as a significant European cannabis market participant, though operating as an operator/investor rather than advisory firm.
- ATB Capital Markets: Canadian investment bank with a dedicated cannabis research coverage and capital markets advisory practice. Comparable to Hanway's M&A advisory services for cannabis, but operating at a larger scale with broader financial services activities.
- Curaleaf International: Large multi-state cannabis operator with European presence that Hanway reportedly partners with. Comparable as a major European cannabis market participant, though operating as a vertically integrated operator rather than an advisor.
Others
- DLA Piper: Global law firm that partnered with Hanway on the European Investment Ecosystem report. Adjacent comparator as a global professional services firm with overlapping cannabis client base and regulatory expertise, though much broader in scope.
- Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) / European policy orgs: Cannabis policy reform organizations operating in Europe and the US. Related comparator as ecosystem participants addressing the same regulatory and reform issues Hanway advises on, though operating as advocacy rather than commercial advisory.
Emerging players
- Volteface: UK cannabis policy think tank that partners with Hanway on the 'All Good Points' video blog. Adjacent comparator as a cannabis-focused policy/advocacy organization with overlapping ecosystem positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hanway Associates social profiles
Digital presenceHanway Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hanway Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Hanway Associates subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Hanway Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hanway Associates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hanway Associates
What does Hanway Associates do?
Hanway Associates provides strategy consulting and M&A advisory services for the European cannabis sector, helping startups, FMCG companies, governments, and investors launch, build, and grow in new cannabis markets. Offerings include corporate strategy, deal advisory, regulatory licensing support (including UK Home Office controlled drugs licensing), and proprietary market research reports covering recreational, medical, and investment ecosystem topics. The firm also operates the First Wednesdays investor/entrepreneur network (4,500+ members) and The Hanway Company venture studio with the CROP17 turnkey facility subsidiary.
Is Hanway Associates a public or private company?
Hanway Associates is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hanway Associates founded?
Hanway Associates was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hanway Associates based?
Hanway Associates is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Hanway Associates make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Strategy Advisory is the primary driver. The others are M&A Advisory, research Reports, licensing Support and venture Operations.
Who are Hanway Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Viridian Capital Advisors, Prohibition Partners, New Frontier Data and Brightfield Group. Broad incumbents are Canopy Growth Corporation, ATB Capital Markets and Curaleaf International. Others are DLA Piper and Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) / European policy orgs. Volteface is listed as an emerging player.
Does Hanway Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hanway Associates.