On June 19, 9.8 Group, TNV Ventures and Wingle Group announced the formation of Calumet Advisors, a strategic consulting company dedicated to the fast-growing e-cigarette and vapor segment. The new company was formed in response to an increasing demand for business advisory services, technology guidance and strategic thinking.
Calumet Advisors is a partnership of respected and widely recognized industry veterans who have years of experience working with clients ranging from Big Tobacco and Big Pharma to small and medium enterprises and financial services.
Included in the partnership are 9.8 Group, a holding company with a portfolio of consulting companies in various verticals, represented by founder and president Givi Topchishvili; TNV Ventures, an international expert advisory group in tobacco and vapor regulatory affairs, as well as public policy issues, represented by Ron Tully; and Wingle Group, a China-based consulting service and authority on e-cigarette technologies, accessories and e-liquid manufacturers, represented by founder and CEO Dmitri Churakov.
“The complexity of the regulatory landscape and the dynamic nature of the industry makes managing the technology curve, cohesive business planning and brand development challenging for both established players and new market entrants to the U.S. market,” says Tully. “We believe Calumet Advisers, with its strengths in policy issues, market analysis and evaluation of emerging technologies, will provide Calumet’s clients with a solid platform from which they can make informed decisions about the U.S. vape market.”