South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Hydro CBD Cultivators primary focus is the production of high-quality industrial hemp and medical cannabis flowers. Once our initial operations are successful, we plan to diversify our product offerings by agroprocessing our waste into CBD oils and brick

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Our cultivation and processing facility is located on a four-hectare property in Shannon, Plot number 1, situated 25 km from Bloemfontein. The facility will include a 5000-square-meter CBD Certified Greenhouse, three hectares of outdoor growing space, and a 1000-square- meter Drying/Processing/Storage Facility. We estimate a three-month timeframe for full operational readiness, including pre and post-construction requirements, such as land surveys, engaging with architects and engineers, acquiring a master grower, and hiring staff for various roles.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Waste management and using hemp and cannabis from the flower to the root and the stem.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Advantages of using hemp and cannabis byproducts is that they are rooted in quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction. As the cannabis industry evolves, we will adapt our product offerings to serve both medical and recreational markets, while always maintaining a focus on delivering high-quality, safe, and compliant cannabis products. We are aware of the challenges facing the cannabis industry and are committed to addressing them head-on. Our dedication to compliance, accessibility, and quality, along with our readiness to adapt, ensures that HYDRO CBD CULTIVATORS is well- positioned to overcome industry issues and thrive in the evolving cannabis landscape.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Targeted beneficiaries are local dispensaries around the region and international export in terms of cultivating with a valid offtake agreement

01.05 When was your company established?

2021-05-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Na

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Farming

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

We aim to tackle poverty by employing our community and helping them acquire skills to sustain themselves even long after our company has existed

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

We aim to make sure that no one goes hungry. We aim to have programmes that promote hemp as a superfood and will assist people in the community to battle hunger with more long term than seasonal jobs

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Good health is promoted in the cannabis industry. The well-being of plants and humans coexist.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We aim to have a skills development programme for the disadvantaged. This helps aid cultivation knowledge and the opens many opportunities to learn with little to no educational background

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Both males and females are capable of cultivating and agroprocessing. Its a non-binary institution

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

We use JoJo tanks and water reversible osmosis to keep plants healthy. Our workers also enjoy the primary benefits of clean water and sanitation at our facility

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Hemp cultivation is an affordable way of giving back to nature.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Decent work and economic growth is what Hydro CBD is about. Hemp and cannabis cultivation is a tool Hydro CBD cultivators uses to participate to local and global economic growth by running a sustainable farming business.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

The hemp industry contributes slot to industry innovation. As we agroprocess our waste to other raw material, we greatly contribute to an efficient process of primary farming and 4IR

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

The less advantages will have an opportunity to be part of this project as it has intended

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

We want to introduce sustainable living in cities and communities contributing g to that. Hydro CBD would love to also implement a biodiverse brick for construction companies to promote better building material.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Hemp and cannabis that is cultivated in our grounds is not for casual consumptiion. Our product has its own offtake agreements to regulate quantity and quality

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

We grow indoor hemp and cannabis to avoid any negative affection to our environment. Our style of growing and agroprocessing aims to improve and help us adapt to current environmental issues

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

Hemp does not require a lot of water and promotes crop rotation.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Life on land. Hydro CBD cultivators is just as pleased with growing lands and contributing to healthy and sustainable agriculture.

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

The hemp and cannabis community is able to form partnership and coexist with each. From emerging brands to well established companies, Hydro CBD cultivators wants to create healthy relationships with other firms

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

4

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

5

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

3

06.08 Justification for my startup

The growing market for industrial hemp opens up economic opportunities for developing countries. Because of its versatility and its functional characteristics, the industrial hemp market holds vast potential in agriculture, textiles, recycling, automotive, furniture, food and beverages, paper, construction materials and personal care. Hemp can grow in a wide variety of climates in most parts of the world, can be planted on land not suitable for other crops and helps to replenish the soil by removing heavy metals and other contaminants. It’s also beneficial when included in crop rotation. Since all parts of the plant – roots, flowers, fruit, stems and leaves – can be used, growing hemp will lead to much less waste and pollution than other crops, whose discarded parts can have a huge ecological footprint.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

As a startup hemp cultivator, I may face competition from established companies and emerging brands such as large scale hemp farms, vertically integrated farms and speciality farms that agroprocess. What makes HYDRO CBD CULTIVATORS stand out as we plan to make use of all biomass of hemp. The plant itself can be agroprocessed into many different types of products and the aim of HYDRO CBD CULTIVATORS is to do just that. Utilise all parts of the plant for not only cultivation, propagation but also biomass

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes. Female cultivators are the future. We've opened conversations with local females that share an interest in hemp cultivation. This has allowed us to have our own database of candidates that'll receive kills development training from us in the comfort of our own farm with qualified facilitators. Food security and employment rates in my community are very much subjects that need to be attacked in a good and efficient manner