Meet David Kooi

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Kooi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.

Hi David, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Personally, I prefer peace to resilience. When I focus on what I can control, accept what I cannot, I discover I don’t need to ‘resist’ life or muster resilience as often. By grounding myself in the present moment, without letting my mind wander unproductively into the future or the past, I find peace – and with peace comes a natural resilience. This approach is rooted in my own experiences, as well as the wisdom I’ve gained from others, especially from Stoic philosophy and the Dao.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the CEO and co-founder of Jointly, a cannabis technology platform that’s grounded in the belief that cannabis, when used purposefully, can be a powerful tool for enhancing life. Jointly was built to provide consumers with data-backed insights that help them achieve their specific goals with cannabis, whether those are better sleep, stress relief, increased focus, creativity, or something else altogether.

What sets Jointly apart is our commitment to evidence-based, goal-specific consumption. We empower users to think about their unique goals and the factors that impact their experience – like dose, setting, hydration, and sleep quality. We do this with the help of our proprietary data platform, which combines insights from hundreds of thousands of real-world cannabis experiences. This data enables us to give personalized recommendations that allow people to truly enjoy and optimize their cannabis experiences.

Jointly has launched AI-powered tools to bring this same insight to retailers, who often struggle to provide effective recommendations to consumers due to the vast array of products and variations. Our Virtual Budtender provides a personalized, data-driven shopping experience, enabling retailers to guide their customers in finding the best products for their unique needs, whether in-store or online. For consumers, this means greater confidence in their purchases and better outcomes, enhancing satisfaction and promoting a responsible and rewarding relationship with cannabis.

For us, Jointly is more than just a platform. We’re working to shift the conversation around cannabis to one that values purpose and experience. Our mission is to help people discover that cannabis, when used intentionally and thoughtfully, is not about escape, but about achieving a better version of themselves.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Curiosity and Lifelong Learning – A genuine curiosity about the world has been invaluable to me. It’s helped me stay adaptable, creative, and open to new ideas – qualities that are essential in any industry, especially in something as dynamic as cannabis. For those early in their journey, I recommend diving deep into subjects that interest you, even those outside of your main focus. This could mean taking courses, reading extensively, or finding mentors who can provide insights that challenge and expand your thinking. Cultivating curiosity will fuel your drive to continuously improve and innovate, regardless of your field. Adaptability is the most important skill for the future.

2. Data-Driven Decision Making – My experience in various industries taught me that data, when used thoughtfully, can unlock unique solutions and drive meaningful change. At Jointly, we use data to create a more personalized cannabis experience, empowering consumers and retailers alike. For anyone starting out, developing data literacy is key – learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data to inform your decisions. If you’re not naturally analytical, start by exploring courses or using accessible tools that can help you become comfortable with data. This skill will not only set you apart but will also allow you to make choices grounded in evidence rather than intuition alone.

3. Resilience and Mindful Acceptance – Entrepreneurship comes with highs and lows, and resilience has been critical in navigating both. Over the years, I’ve also learned the importance of mindful acceptance – focusing energy on things I can control and accepting what I cannot. For anyone early in their journey, I recommend practices that build both resilience and mindfulness, like meditation or journaling. These practices can help you cultivate clarity, stay grounded, and respond to challenges with equanimity. Resilience isn’t about pushing harder but about learning to adapt and find peace within the process.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

One of the most influential books for me has been “Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking” by philosopher Daniel Dennett. Dennett’s work is valuable because it provides practical mental tools – essentially, techniques for more rigorous, systematic thinking. In an age where information is vast and truth is elusive, the ability to think critically and rigorously is becoming rare but immensely valuable. Dennett’s book emphasizes methods for questioning assumptions, simplifying complex issues, and dissecting arguments without falling into traps of misinterpretation or bias.

One of the book’s most impactful concepts is the idea of “intuition pumps” – mental exercises designed to clarify complex ideas or test our assumptions. These pumps aren’t about finding quick answers; instead, they are tools to challenge our automatic responses and allow us to examine our assumptions with a more refined lens. It’s a process of thinking that prizes precision, self-reflection, and honesty, all of which are essential in problem-solving and innovation.

Intuition Pumps also promotes intellectual humility. Dennett encourages readers to question their own biases, to seek out potential gaps in their logic, and to avoid relying solely on intuition or “gut feelings” without examining the reasoning behind them. It’s a mindset that requires us to slow down and work through issues rigorously – a valuable skill in life, where complexity is common but true critical thinking can be lacking.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jointlybetter.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jointlybetter/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-d-kooi/
• Other: https://cannabisuncaged.substack.com/