Darren Gleeman

Managing Director

MBO Ventures

See Darren speak on this panel

Darren Gleeman is the financial architect behind the only way for cannabis companies to operate 100% income tax-free.

As Managing Partner of MBO Ventures, Darren created the first ESOP structure that neutralizes Section 280E—converting one of the industry’s biggest tax burdens into a competitive advantage.

His model also allows owners to sell their business and defer capital gains taxes—often permanently—making it the most tax-advantaged exit strategy in the industry.

Since 2022, Darren has led every completed Cannabis ESOP transaction in the U.S. In 2025, 5–7 more cannabis companies are on track to convert under his leadership. Darren’s model eliminates federal and state income taxes, doubles cash flow, and offers owners a path to defer capital gains taxes on the sale of their firm - sometimes forever.

Darren graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1988. In 2001, he launched one of the world’s first high-frequency trading quant hedge funds, which at its peak traded over 1% of all U.S. equities daily.