KayaPush is Back in the Spotlight at The Emjays: Nominated Again for 2025
Each year, the cannabis industry gathers in Las Vegas for MJBizCon, one of the largest and most influential conferences in the sector. But beyond the packed expo floor and endless networking events, there’s a night that many consider the highlight of the week: The Emjays International Cannabis Awards.
The Emjays are where innovation, creativity, and excellence are celebrated on a global scale. They shine a spotlight on the companies, brands, content creators, service providers, and innovators pushing the cannabis space forward. For KayaPush, this night carries a special meaning.
In 2024, we were thrilled to take home the Emjays Award for Business Software of the Year, a recognition that underscored our commitment to helping cannabis businesses run smoother, stay compliant, and put their people first. That win reinforced our belief that cannabis-industry software should be powerful, compliant, people-centric, and built for those who do the work.
This year, we are honored and thrilled to share that KayaPush has once again earned nominations at the Emjays for two categories:
- Business Service of the Year
- Content Creator of the Year (for the Kaya Cast Podcast hosted by our CEO, Tommy Truong)
These nominations honor not just our software, but the broader ways KayaPush supports and connects the cannabis community. But before diving into why these categories matter, let’s take a moment to explore what the Emjays are all about and the range of categories recognizing excellence across the board.
What are The Emjays?
The Emjays International Cannabis Awards, co-hosted by Farechild Events and MJBizCon, were created to honor the global cannabis community across all its many facets. While other award shows often focus exclusively on consumer products like flower, edibles, or vapes, the Emjays take a much broader approach.
They spotlight the often unsung heroes: business service providers, law firms, financial partners, marketing agencies, journalists, podcasters, packaging investors, testing labs, and more. In short, they recognize that cannabis is about the ecosystem that allows the plant to thrive.
That’s why categories range from Financial Services of the Year to Best Packaging Design and from Cannabis Journalist of the Year to Cultivation Technology of the Year. It's a reminder that behind every product on a dispensary shelf lies a complex web of services, technology, compliance, and creativity.
KayaPush’s 2025 Nominations
Business Service of the Year
This category recognizes companies that provide vital operational support to cannabis businesses. Think HR, payroll, compliance, consulting, insurance, staffing, and more. These services don’t always make headlines, but are absolutely critical for success.
KayaPush is honored to be a finalist here for the third year in a row. Our platform helps cannabis businesses manage employees, scheduling, time tracking, and compliance while staying flexible and people-focused. Winning last year in Business Software of the Year showed that our technology is trusted; this year’s nomination proves that our service model and impact are equally respected.
Other standout nominees include: Temeka Group, Paragon Payroll, AlphaRoot, Sapphire Risk Advisory Group, and Abstrax Academy.
Content Creator of the Year
Beyond operations, KayaPush is also recognized for its role in shaping conversation through media. The Kaya Cast Podcast, hosted by our CEO, Tommy Truong, is dedicated to bringing cannabis operators, advocates, and innovators to the mic. Through thoughtful conversations, we’ve highlighted the stories and challenges that define the industry.
This nomination for Content Creator of the Year is a testament not only to our production team but also to the amazing guests who have shared their journeys. We’re in excellent company here, with fellow nominees including Seth Yakatan, Sara Payan, Rachel Wright, Chelsea Green, and Will Read.
Other 2025 Emjays Categories to Watch
While we’re excited about our own nominations, the Emjays are much bigger than any one company or category. Here are some of the other categories and what they represent:
- Financial Services of the Year
Cannabis businesses have long faced hurdles with banking and payments. This award honors the fintech leaders, payment processors, and financial partners creating secure, compliant, and innovative solutions for operators navigating a tricky landscape.
- Law Firm of the Year
Legal expertise is a backbone of the industry, where businesses constantly deal with an ever-changing landscape of state, local, and federal laws. From licensing to compliance to mergers and acquisitions, cannabis law firms play a critical role in helping businesses stay afloat in a sea of regulations.
- Retail Excellence Awards
These awards include categories like Retail Brand of the Year, Retail Services of the Year, and Retail Software/Tech of the Year. Retail is often the face of cannabis consumers, and these awards highlight companies creating unforgettable shopping experiences while staying compliant.
- Marketing & PR Awards
Cannabis brands face unique restrictions when it comes to advertising due to differences in state and federal prohibitions. The nominees in categories like Marketing Agency of the Year and PR Agency of the Year are those breaking through barriers with creativity, strategy, and impact.
- Media & Journalism
Beyond content creators, categories like Cannabis Journalist of the Year celebrate the individuals bringing credibility and insight to cannabis coverage. These storytellers help shift public perception and keep the industry accountable.
- Cultivation & Technology
Awards like Cultivation Company of the Year, Cultivation Technology (Hardware), and Cultivation Software highlight the innovations driving plant science, sustainability, and production efficiency.
- Product & Brand Innovation
From Edible Brand of the Year to Vaporizer Product of the Year, these awards celebrate the consumer-facing side of cannabis. Other standouts include Best Packaging Design, Best Marketing Campaign, and Best Newcomer Brand.
- Advocacy & Community Impact
The Emjays also recognize advocacy groups, nonprofits, and initiatives fighting for equity, access, and reform. These categories remind us that cannabis is not just a business, but a movement tied to social justice and community progress.
Why These Awards Matter
The Emjays do more than hand out trophies. They shape the narrative of what excellence looks like in cannabis. For businesses, a nomination is validation in front of peers, investors, and customers. For content creators, it’s an opportunity to expand reach and credibility. For advocates, it’s a platform to amplify their causes.
For KayaPush, being nominated in two categories this year emphasizes our dual commitment: building tools that make cannabis businesses thrive, and creating content that informs, educates, and uplifts the industry.
How You Can Support KayaPush
We’d love your support to bring these awards home. Here’s how you can help:
- Visit the Emjays 2025 voting page.
- Vote for KayaPush in Business Service of the Year.
- Vote for Tommy Truong in Content Creator of the Year.
- Share the nominations on social media or in your networks. Every repost, mention, and shout-out helps amplify awareness.
- Reference KayaPush as an award-winning and award-nominated company in your own content. Whether you’re writing, podcasting, or networking, it strengthens our collective story.
Looking Ahead
The Emjays remind us that cannabis is not a siloed industry — it’s a collaboration between growers, retailers, innovators, service providers, advocates, and storytellers. Every category represents a piece of the puzzle, and every nominee contributes to a stronger, more sustainable future.
For KayaPush, these nominations are both an honor and a motivator. They remind us why we do what we do: to serve, to simplify, to connect, and to amplify. We’re grateful to our clients, partners, and listeners who make this recognition possible.
As we look toward Las Vegas and the Emjays stage, we’re proud to stand alongside so many peers and partners. Here’s to celebrating progress, innovation, and the incredible people shaping the cannabis industry in 2025 and beyond.
