Vangst is a technology company.
Vangst has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round.
Vangst has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Vangst is a technology platform specializing in recruitment and staffing for the cannabis industry, connecting job seekers with employers through direct hires, on-demand gig work, and full-time roles.[1][2][6] It serves cannabis businesses across the US and Canada—such as Green Thumb Industries, Dutchie, and Holistic Industries—by providing vetted, W-2 compliant workers, AI-powered matching, payroll, and compliance tools to address talent shortages in a regulated sector.[2][6][7] The platform solves hiring challenges like regulatory hurdles, rapid industry growth, and the need for flexible staffing, having filled over 150,000 gigs since 2018 and partnering with 1,800+ customers.[2][6] Backed by $31.5M in funding, including a $19M Series B in 2022, Vangst demonstrates strong growth momentum amid projections of cannabis jobs tripling in the coming years.[2][3]
Vangst was founded in 2015 by Karson Humiston, who serves as CEO, with headquarters in Denver, CO, and additional offices in Santa Monica, CA, and Oakland, CA.[1][3] Humiston, described as a "force of nature" by investors, launched the platform in 2016 to build the cannabis workforce amid the industry's explosive growth, drawing on decades of recruiting expertise from the team.[1][2] Early traction came from its pioneering gig product, Vangst GIGS, introduced in 2018, which has since connected thousands to jobs; the company raised capital from prominent investors like Lerer Hippeau and Casa Verde Capital, culminating in a $19M Series B led by Level One Fund to fuel expansion.[1][2][3]
Vangst rides the cannabis industry's legalization wave, where employment is projected to grow over 100% by 2025 and create 400,000+ jobs expected to triple soon, positioning it as essential infrastructure for the fastest-growing US job sector.[2][4] Timing aligns with state-level expansions and federal reform pressures, amplifying demand for compliant HR tech amid talent wars and regulatory complexity that general platforms can't address.[1][3][6] It influences the ecosystem by powering 1,200+ leading businesses, fostering workforce development through training and partnerships, and bridging cannabis with mainstream HR tech—evident in its HR Tech expert collection inclusion—while mitigating banking/compliance risks for partners.[2][3][4]
Vangst is primed to dominate cannabis HR as legalization accelerates, leveraging its Series B momentum for new markets, training tools, and payment solutions amid tripling job growth.[2][4] Trends like AI staffing, gig economy normalization, and potential federal rescheduling will expand its total addressable market, evolving it from niche recruiter to full workforce platform with deeper enterprise integrations. Its influence could grow by standardizing compliant hiring, much like it has connected thousands to dream jobs since 2016—solidifying its role in building the industry's human capital foundation.[1][8]
Vangst has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Vangst's investors include Dig Ventures, Kearny Jackson.
Vangst has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series A in January 2019.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2019 | $10.0M Series A | Dig Ventures, Kearny Jackson |