Supernova Women
Supernova Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 in Oakland that empowers Black and Brown communities to enter the legal cannabis economy through advocacy, paid workforce training, emergency grants, and policy research.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Supernova Women does
Supernova Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Oakland, California. The organization is dedicated to cannabis social equity for Black and Brown communities historically harmed by the War on Drugs, working to lower barriers of entry into the legal cannabis economy through three primary pillars: advocacy, education and training, and network building.
Its core service portfolio includes the Social Equity Workforce Development Program (the first paid cannabis workforce development program in the nation, with Manufacturing and METRC/Compliance tracks), the CERF (Cannabis Equity Relief Fund) grant program for BIPOC operators victimized by burglary and vandalism, and the Social Equity Impact Report, an annual SROI-based research publication produced with Ecotone. The organization also runs recurring educational and networking programs including the Herban Mixer, Gravitate, Grow & Scale workshops, and the Mastermind Group. Supernova Women does not sell products or services and generates no commercial revenue; it relies on charitable donations, grants (notably a $1M California Bureau of Cannabis Control grant administered through the City of Oakland for the Workforce Development Program), and corporate partnerships such as the Dr. Bronner's checkout-donation program.
The organization has no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities; all programs are human-delivered. Supernova Women played a direct role in developing California's Cannabis Social Equity Act of 2018 (SB1294) with Senator Steven Bradford and partnered with Oakland and San Francisco on the nation's first municipal social equity programs. It is governed by a board chaired by Executive Director Amber E. Senter and operates with a 1-10 employee staff, reaching beneficiaries primarily in California with growing federal and national advocacy presence.
Supernova Women firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Supernova Women
- Legal name
- Supernova Women
- Website
- https://supernovawomen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Supernova Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 in Oakland that empowers Black and Brown communities to enter the legal cannabis economy through advocacy, paid workforce training, emergency grants, and policy research.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Supernova Women industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cannabis Social Equity Advocacy
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)
Keywords
Where Supernova Women is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Supernova Women business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Supernova Women product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Supernova Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers Black and Brown people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the cannabis and natural plant medicine space. It delivers advocacy, education and workforce training, networking events, and direct financial relief grants to social equity cannabis operators and community members.
Product overview
Supernova Women is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of advocacy, education, and network-building programs focused on empowering Black and Brown people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the cannabis economy. The core offerings include the Workforce Development Program (the nation's first paid social equity cannabis training program with Manufacturing and METRC/Compliance tracks), CERF Grants (emergency financial relief for BIPOC cannabis operators), the Social Equity Impact Report (annual research publication), educational workshops and events, and networking events like Herban Mixer, Gravitate, and Shades of Green.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CERF (Cannabis Equity Relief Fund): A grant fund created to provide financial assistance to Black and Brown licensed cannabis operators who have been victims of burglary and vandalism.
- Social Equity Workforce Development Program
Products and services
- Workforce Development Program The first paid Social Equity Workforce Development Program in the nation that trains members of communities affected by the Drug War to enter the cannabis industry, offering two career tracks: Manufacturing and METRC/Compliance.
- CERF (Cannabis Equity Relief Fund) Grants Financial grant program providing emergency assistance to Black and Brown licensed cannabis operators in California who have been victims of burglary and vandalism.
- Social Equity Impact Report Annual report commissioned by Supernova Women providing hard numbers and Social Return on Investment (SROI) data on what a healthy Social Equity Program could do for a community and economy, aimed at informing decision-makers.
- Educational Events and Workshops Programs including the Grow & Scale Workshop series (sales strategies, banking solutions, business licensing), Mastermind Group (6-month peer accountability program), Sacramento Cannabis Equity Loan Application Readiness Workshop, and Oakland Tax Workshop.
- Networking Events Industry mixers and events including Herban Mixer (B2B seed-to-sale focused mixer for Black and Brown Operators), Gravitate (mixers for Black and Brown women across the country), and Shades of Green (discussion series about cannabis climate for community).
Quantifiable outcome
- Social Return on Investment of $1.20 per $1 invested in social equity programs when basic support is provided
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Supernova Women
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Supernova Women technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Supernova Women partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Hood IncubatorcorePartnership for the Herban Mixer B2B industry event; collaborated on social equity advocacy and tax reform efforts in Oakland; both organizations work to lower barriers for BIPOC cannabis entrepreneurs
- Beyond EquitycoreCoalition partner in advocacy work; collaborated on tax reduction efforts for small cannabis businesses and social equity operators in San Francisco
- Origins CouncilcoreStatewide advocacy organization representing historic cannabis farming regions; co-organized the #NoDrugWarV2 rally and press conference at California State Capitol on January 13, 2022
- Senator Steven BradfordcoreAuthor of SB1281 and SB1293 cannabis tax reform bills; collaborated on California Cannabis Social Equity Act of 2018 (SB1294); key legislative ally at California State Senate
- EcotonecoreLeading impact analysis and social value communication consultancy; collaborated to create the Social Equity Impact Report 2022 using Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology
- EquityWorks! IncubatorcoreShared social equity manufacturing facility; co-founded by Supernova Women Executive Director Amber Senter; provides hands-on training for workforce development program participants in Manufacturing track
- Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA)corePartnership for Herban Mixer event; collaborated on social equity reports; released joint social equity impact reports to gauge ROI and opportunities
- The Cannabis Chamber of CommerceminorCo-organized Bay Area Cannabis Mixer + Expo event on August 25, 2022 in Alameda
- Marijuana MattersminorCo-hosted Pre-National Cannabis Festival Party on April 22, 2022 in Washington D.C.
- SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)minorCo-hosted Pre-National Cannabis Festival Party on April 22, 2022 in Washington D.C.
- Sacred Community GardenminorCo-hosted Supernova Spring Social event on April 29, 2022 in Berkeley, CA
- WOCCannaminorPartnership for Sacramento Cannabis Equity Loan Application Readiness Workshop to provide guidance around Sacramento's loan program for local operators
- Oakland Elevate ImpactminorPartnership for Sacramento Cannabis Equity Loan Application Readiness Workshop to provide guidance around Sacramento's loan program
- Gift of DojaminorCo-organized Womxn, Weed and Wellness event on August 28, 2022 in San Francisco; founder Nina Parks serves on Supernova Women board
- Oakland City GovernmentcoreWorked in partnership with Oakland to develop the country's first Social Equity Program; received Cannabis Workforce Development Grant funding ($1M) dispersed through the city
- San Francisco City GovernmentcoreWorked in partnership with San Francisco to establish a social equity program; collaborated on reducing taxes for small cannabis businesses
- California State Senate Subcommittee #4coreParticipated in Informational Hearing on February 23 to advocate for cannabis tax reform; testified on experience as operator and importance of tax reform
- Rep. Barbara LeecoreInvited Executive Director Amber Senter to speak at House Democratic Issues Conference 2022 panel on federal cannabis equity; key national-level ally
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Supernova Women competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Drug Policy Alliance: National advocacy organization working to end the War on Drugs and promote drug policy reform. Direct peer in cannabis reform advocacy addressing the systemic inequities Supernova Women targets, with overlapping policy and racial justice goals.
- Origins Council: California statewide advocacy organization representing historic cannabis farming regions and equity. Direct peer that co-organized the #NoDrugWarV2 rally with Supernova Women at the California State Capitol, with aligned tax reform and equity agenda.
- Marijuana Matters: Cannabis education and advocacy organization with a focus on social equity. Direct peer that co-hosted the Pre-National Cannabis Festival Party with Supernova Women in 2022, sharing BIPOC community engagement priorities.
- Equity Trade Network: Bay Area cannabis equity trade network founded by Supernova board member Nina Parks. Direct peer focused on building economic opportunity for communities impacted by the War on Drugs through the cannabis supply chain.
- NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws): Foundational cannabis policy reform organization advocating legalization and individual rights. Direct peer in cannabis advocacy with shared legislative engagement, though Supernova focuses specifically on racial equity within the industry.
- Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA): National membership organization advocating for minority inclusion in the cannabis industry. Direct peer in BIPOC cannabis equity, joint social equity impact reports with Supernova Women, and aligned mission of equitable participation.
- Last Prisoner Project: Cannabis criminal justice nonprofit focused on release and expungement for those incarcerated for cannabis. Direct peer in cannabis justice advocacy, addressing the downstream human impact of the War on Drugs that drives Supernova's mission.
- Hood Incubator: Oakland-based nonprofit that supports BIPOC cannabis entrepreneurs through education, advocacy, and capital access. Direct peer in cannabis social equity with documented partnership (Herban Mixer event co-host) and overlapping advocacy for Oakland tax reform.
Regional players
- Cannabis Equity Illinois: Illinois state social equity program supporting communities impacted by the War on Drugs. Regional peer in cannabis equity with parallel state-level framework and similar operator-support objectives in a different geography than Supernova's California focus.
Emerging players
- Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP): International youth-led drug policy reform organization. Adjacent peer in cannabis justice advocacy that co-hosted events with Supernova Women; focused on student mobilization rather than operator equity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Supernova Women social profiles
Digital presenceSupernova Women financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Supernova Women leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Supernova Women funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Supernova Women 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 Supernova Women
What does Supernova Women do?
Supernova Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers Black and Brown people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the cannabis and natural plant medicine space. It delivers advocacy, education and workforce training, networking events, and direct financial relief grants to social equity cannabis operators and community members.
Is Supernova Women a public or private company?
Supernova Women is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Supernova Women founded?
Supernova Women was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Supernova Women based?
Supernova Women is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Supernova Women's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Drug Policy Alliance, Origins Council, Marijuana Matters, Equity Trade Network, NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), Last Prisoner Project and Hood Incubator. Cannabis Equity Illinois is listed as a regional player. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Supernova Women have an API?
No public API is recorded for Supernova Women.
What industry is Supernova Women in?
Supernova Women's product category is Cannabis Social Equity Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAD, Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy. Its NAICS code is 813311.