WH Farms Co. is a 4-year-old biotech startup that grows hemp on a USDA licensed North Carolina farm and processes it for use in topical beauty and wellness products. The company offers white label services for brands offering hemp-infused product lines.
Active in Winston-Salem’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, WH Farms Co. currently operates out of Winston Starts, a downtown startup incubator. The company is a recipient of both the NC IDEA SEED Grant and the Center for Creative Economy’s Velocity Award.
As the company grows, it is planning to purchase a 12,000 sf building in Winston-Salem to formulate and manufacture its products, which are currently manufactured through a contractor based in Maryland. The project would generate $2.9 million in capital investment and 41 jobs with an average wage of $79,354.
“This is an exciting stage of the company’s growth as we look to bring product development and manufacturing within our vertically integrated model and our entire supply chain within the state of NC” says Nicole Vanderhorst, CEO of WH Farms Co. “Having experienced the support and resources offered to me as a local entrepreneur scaling an early stage company, I am confident that my company will continue to be supported through all stages of growth here in Winston-Salem. Our alignment with Winston-Salem’s research and biotechnology sector is also a location advantage for us.”
“WH Farms is a prime example of our mission to help startups and early stage companies scale up,” says Stan Parker, President of Winston Starts. “When we can support entrepreneurs and innovators as they nurture their ideas from seed to scalable growth, their success generates a real impact in our community through the creation of jobs and investment.”
WH Farms Co. has both domestic and international business operations, with a goal to expand its clientele both within the United States and abroad. In addition to white label services, WH Farms sells its own hemp-infused products. The company is also advancing its investment in the research and development of plant-derived wellness solutions, in alignment with the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) focus on regenerative medicine and plant-based therapeutics.
“This is a full-circle homegrown project and we are excited to support WH Farms’ growth in Winston-Salem. This project exemplifies the strength of our robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and our ideal conditions for retaining growing companies locally – particularly within the manufacturing and biotech, medical and wellness industries,” says Ellis Keifer, Vice President of Economic Development for Greater Winston-Salem Inc. WH Farms has already engaged the Triad small business community as it expands into the region.
“This expansion reflects Forsyth County’s commitment to supporting job creation and economic growth,” says Forsyth County Commissioner Don Martin. “We’re proud to see a locally grown early-stage company scale into advanced manufacturing and contribute to the county’s long-term economic success.”
WH Farms Co. is GMP- and ISO-certified and USDA-licensed. It is certified under the ICH Q7 guideline for active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing. The company does not use animal testing in its processes or psychoactive THC in its formulations. Its products are considered medical wellness items as classified by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
WH Farms Co. was supported by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Forsyth County, the City of Winston-Salem, Center for Creative Economy, Winston Starts, and Greater Winston-Salem Inc. to facilitate this project.