Startup Circle: How is Healthtech Hemp Horizons changing the perception around "cannabis"?

Hemp Horizons is dedicated to bringing natural Sativa (Hemp) products to the Indian market. Their team has set up a state of the art and first of its kind manufacturing facility in India. They have introduced world-class Sativa (Hemp) products to the Indian market. Further, they are dedicated to creating awareness among the people on the tremendous benefits of this plant; and also make them readily available in different varieties of superfoods. Sativa (Hemp) is one of the five sacred plants mentioned in Vedas. Their products are natural, easy to use and are a delicious addition to your diet.

Rohit Shah is the Co-founder and CEO of Hemp Horizons. He oversees every task in the company, including business development, strategy, and new product development. The idea to create Hemp Horizons came to him when he discovered hemp and learned about the plant’s incredible health benefits. He decided to move back to India to bring knowledge about hemp that was widely known in Ancient India to modern Indians.

1. What is your company all about? Tell us about your products and services.

Hemp Horizons is the first and largest Ayurvedic products Direct to Retail company. We are also the largest white labelling company supplying products to over 90% of the Indian hemp brands. Further, we own our manufacturing facility with a capacity to process over 15 tons of hemp which no one in the industry currently has. We have contracts with manufactures of hemp products. We also own a brand, Health Horizons. Under its Health Horizons brand, Hemp Horizons sells top of the line hemp products. The company also achieved its goal by researching machines that can make hemp products. Hemp Horizons manufactured its first such machine in India after eight months of extensive research. The company is also procuring raw materials needed to produce hemp goods.

Hemp Horizons began researching Ayurveda to convince authorities about hemp benefits. Subsequently, the company received its first license in May 2018 from the Ministry of Ayush in UP. Under the permit, Hemp Horizons could process hemp seed. The company also launched three products including the Sativa Hemp Nubs (Hemp Hearts), Sativa Hemp Powder, and Sativa Hemp Oil. Today, Hemp Horizons is a contract manufacturer for 90% of Indian brands. The company's leadership, further, envisions Hemp Horizons becoming the most significant hemp contract manufacturing company in India and also an enterprise that helps new brands flourish.

2. How are you dealing with the stigma of Hemp in Indian society?

When we came to the picture this stigma was much more intense and larger. In 2018 we were the first brand to manufacture and retail hemp seed products in India. Now there are over 15 brands selling hemp seed products in the market. The slow effort of building not just a company but industry is how we are bringing the awareness. We wanted more companies to flow in and bring in their flair of creativity to educate the masses. Happy to say we manufacture for 13 out of those approx 15 brands. Apart from that, we provide and share a lot of Free Educational credible content and also create awareness campaigns on how to use these products.

3. Tell us about the wonderful benefits and uses of hemp?

Hemp is an ancient sacred plant that has a long history of use throughout the world. It is revered for its numerous health benefits and is well-known for its therapeutic and medicinal properties. A popular myth that we bust is that hemp and marijuana are the same. They are not! Although both belong to the Cannabis family, hemp does not contain the psychoactive effects like its sibling marijuana. If you apply or consume hemp, or products, you cannot get high. This is because, hemp seeds have only 0.3% THC, which is a very less amount.

In fact, hemp seeds are proven to be a superfood that can boost our immunity and do wonders for our health. Hemp gives us two-fold benefits. It strengthens our immune system and helps fight immunity-related diseases or conditions. Hemp seed extracts have compounds like DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and healthy fatty acids. These are widely known for their anti-inflammatory, anti-damage and anti-oxidant properties. As per a study conducted in 2018, mothers who used hemp oil regularly during their pregnancies had kids with sharp eye-sight and better cognitive abilities. The reason for this is that hemp oil is a good source of DHA, which is very important for the development of the retina and the brain. It even helps combat certain neurological conditions, like seizures, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.

4. What is your business/market growth?

The global industrial hemp market size is expected to reach USD 15.26 billion by 2027, exhibiting a revenue-based CAGR of 15.8% over the forecast period, according to a new report published by Grand View Research, Inc. When looking at the growth we are seeing in India we expect the India market to reach over a billion USD by 2024. Our business has seen a 4x growth in the past six months.

5. What are your plans?

As a company, we are constantly researching new products that give real benefits. Further, we are working on 12 new products that we anticipate to launch in Q1 2021.

6. Tell us about the funding and your team?

The company has been bootstrapped so far. We are working raising our first capital investment. We expect to grow at least 10x from what we are today in the next 3 years.

7. What are your Post-Covid plans?

We have seen people become more aware of their eating habits due to COVID. Back in April, we saw a surge in online sales. Our goal is to provide people with natural alternatives to boost their immunity, add to their daily nutrition and treat specific ailments like arthritis pain, skin health etc.

8. What are your expectations from the Government about rules and regulations for hemp?

The socio-economic impact that hemp has not only of the farmer who’s growing but the whole supply chain is significant. Adding to this is the positive environmental impact hemp cultivation brings to global warming issues. We would like the government to take concrete steps in making hemp a mainstream crop. Create a government organization in the country which encourages farmers, entrepreneurs and others to enter the industry, regulates and puts forward recommendations on the new policy, amendments etc.

Almost every developed nation in the world now has a working cannabis/hemp policy in place or coming into effect soon, not to mention the less progressive neighbouring countries like Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand. We as a country are lagging as hardly anyone in the higher-ups is talking about Cannabis/Hemp.