EquiRate AI by Cannas Capital

In this episode, Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and EquiRate AI, argues that NIL, collectives, and college revenue sharing should be understood as generational wealth pathways—not as threats to college sports. For decades, universities, coaches, conferences, networks, merchandise companies, and athletic departments generated enormous value from student-athletes while limiti...

In this episode, Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and lead on the EquiRate AI initiative, discusses why EquiRate AI opens a common-sense door to more inclusive lending. The conversation focuses on how traditional underwriting often misses important indicators of stability, discipline, and long-term business potential. Eric explains why factors such as continuing education, fi...

In this episode, Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and lead on the EquiRate AI initiative, discusses why social and economic lending metrics represent such an important advance in the underwriting process. The conversation focuses on how EquiRate AI expands beyond traditional lending criteria by incorporating factors such as continuing education, housing stability, neighborhoo...

In this episode, Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and lead on the EquiRate AI initiative, discusses why understanding the reason behind a lending denial can be just as important as the lending decision itself. The conversation highlights a major challenge in the business finance space: too many applicants are denied without meaningful feedback about what held them back or wha...

In this episode, Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and lead on the EquiRate AI initiative, discusses why businesses need more than a denial when they apply for funding. The conversation focuses on a major gap in the lending process: too many applicants are told they do not qualify, but they are not given meaningful feedback about what held them back or what they need to improv...

In this episode, Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and lead on the EquiRate AI initiative, discusses the constant turbulence facing the cannabis industry and the need for practical solutions. The conversation focuses on how federal and state-level developments continue to create uncertainty for cannabis businesses, and why capital access remains one of the most important struc...

EquiRate AI and the Need for Real Solutions for Minority Businesses In this episode, Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and lead on the EquiRate AI initiative, discusses the need for real, proactive solutions to help minority-owned businesses grow and sustain themselves. The conversation focuses on persistent barriers facing businesses of color, including limited access to capi...

EquiRate AI is building an inclusive lending and social capital lending model that is on the ballot for ASTM International approval as a potential global standard for finance. I’m Eric Foster, Board Chair of Cannas Capital Holdings and EquiRate AI. This video is a direct invitation to join our EquiRate AI Advisory Board . Why this matters If a model is intended to support financial inclusion at sc...

Inclusive lending can’t be built in a room with only one type of expertise. I’m Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and EquiRate AI (formerly Bank Black). I’m inviting leaders from across sectors to join our EquiRate AI Advisory Board . Why we’re building an Advisory Board EquiRate AI is focused on modernizing how access to capital works—especially for communities that have hist...

In today’s economy, a lot of young adults, small business owners, and minority entrepreneurs feel the same pressure: the system doesn’t seem designed to include them —especially when it comes to capital. I’m Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and EquiRate AI (formerly Bank Black). This video explains why we built EquiRate AI and what problem we’re solving. The problem: underwri...

Inclusive lending is how we change outcomes at scale—because capital access determines who gets to build, hire, and grow. EquiRate AI (formerly Bank Black) is Cannas Capital’s platform and framework designed to bridge capital access gaps for cannabis businesses, small businesses, minority-owned and social equity/justice-impacted entrepreneurs , and other disadvantaged business owners. We’re formin...

Equitable lending won’t scale on vision alone—it scales on expert guidance . That’s why we’re expanding the EquiRate AI Advisory Board at Cannas Capital Holdings (EquiRate AI, formerly Bank Black). We’re inviting a broad coalition of leaders and practitioners: impact fund lenders, CDFIs, banks and credit unions (including managers), regulators and policy leaders, civil rights and economic leaders,...

I’ve been a business owner twice, and I learned something the hard way: for many small businesses, capital access isn’t based on consistent measurement —it’s often based on subjective assumptions. EquiRate AI (formerly Bank Black) exists to change that. Under Cannas Capital, we’re building a system for fair, measurable, standardized access to capital —so risk is evaluated transparently and respons...

Inclusive lending doesn’t scale on good intentions—it scales on systems, standards, and accountability . At Cannas Capital, we’re building the EquiRate AI Advisory Board to guide the next phase of our solution (formerly Bank Black): inclusive lending infrastructure built for cannabis banking and cannabis-related business lending , with a roadmap to expand into other markets. We’re inviting leaders...

Cannabis Industry: Nurturing the Next Titans Several states have begun exploring or implementing state-backed cannabis lending programs, which function similarly to the Small Business Administration (SBA) but are tailored specifically for the cannabis industry within their jurisdictions. However, these initiatives are still in their early stages and have yet to establish defined, scalable structur...

Shifting the Paradigm for Economic Opportunity We are at a pivotal moment to change the trajectory for future generations. Cimone Casson, our CEO and a fellow child of the 1970s, recognized this need and developed the bank black initiative. Like many of us, she understands the importance of helping people not just achieve their dreams, but also build sustainable opportunities that enable them to g...

Polls show young Americans struggling financially and losing faith in institutions. In the cannabis sector, too many minority and social-equity founders still face outdated underwriting that can’t see their value. Bank Black is a standards-aligned answer:• Michigan All Star Program (Foster + Casson): A nationally recognized social-equity procurement blueprint, adopted by other states.• ASTM Global...

The New Economic Reality asks a blunt question: How do we turn youth pessimism into real pathways for ownership? The Bank Black Initiative answers with standards-aligned compliance, a state-adopted supplier diversity and community reinvestment blueprint (Michigan All Star Program), and a patent-pending AI underwriting engine that uses alternative data—community impact, tax compliance, and business...

This is Eric Foster, board chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings and lead on the Cannas Capital Bank Black program. Today, I want to talk about building a foundation of economic sustainability —a challenge that has shaped American history and still defines realities for African American, Indigenous/Native American, Arab American, Chaldean, Hispanic/Latino and other communities of color. A Century of...

When state governments step up to support lending for cannabis businesses, it’s a win. But it’s not enough. There’s still a massive capital chasm—especially for minority-owned, social equity, and criminal justice-impacted cannabis licensees. That’s where impact investors must come in. I’m Eric Foster, Board Chairman of Cannas Capital Holdings , and our team is leading one of the most important eff...

In today’s cannabis industry, access to capital isn’t just a hurdle — it’s a wall. And for minority-owned, social equity, and justice-involved businesses, the wall is even higher. The federal government has failed to create a viable cannabis banking and lending framework. So, it’s up to states and local governments to act. That’s where the Bank Black Cannabis Compliance Banking & Capital Solution...