Cannabus Company (Pty) Ltd, founded in 2019 in Cape Town, develops and manufactures premium cannabis-infused skincare and haircare that blends African-sourced botanicals with scientific rigour. Cannabus partners with CSIR for product development and aims to operate a GMP-certified extraction and manufacturing facility to supply domestic and export markets.
Market opportunity & problem statement
South Africa’s cosmetics market (estimated at $193.7M in 2022, CAGR 5.6%) shows rising demand for natural, multifunctional skincare. Current pain points include ineffective topical remedies for growing natural hair, skin inflammation and muscle pain, limited locally manufactured cannabis-infused products, and fragmented supply chains. Cannabus addresses this white space with plant-based, clinically informed formulations and a roadmap to domestic extraction capacity, offering a differentiated South African brand in an under‑served segment.
Startup solution & differentiation
Cannabus’s flagship Cannabus Hempseed Body Butter (250ml) and Cannabus CBD Hair Butter (250ml) blends hempseed, rosehip, lavender and chamomile oils in a shea butter base to target skin and hair problems such as muscle pain, skin inflammation, stunted hair growth and scalp conditioning while delivering premium benefits. Developed with CSIR, the products are market-ready, priced competitively at $12, and benefits from certifications and supplier COAs. Proprietary formulation IP, planned GMP production, and an omnichannel retail strategy (pharmacies, e‑commerce, spas) create defensible positioning against mass-market incumbents. The company’s website is: https://cannabusapp.com/
FasterCapital partnership value
Through Equitypilot, Cannabus will access FasterCapital’s global investor network, technical mentorship, fundraising support and business acceleration services, including go-to-market playbooks and connections for GMP certifiers and extraction equipment suppliers. FasterCapital applies rigorous selection and acceleration criteria; Cannabus was chosen for its traction, science-backed formulation and scalable manufacturing plan. Expected outcomes include a completed seed round, facility construction kick-off and first-party extraction by 2026.
Executive quotes
“FasterCapital invests where technical innovation meets clear market demand. Cannabus combines rigorous R&D with an executable manufacturing roadmap a precise fit for Equitypilot,” said Hesham Zreik, reflecting FasterCapital’s investment thesis.
Prestige Mbito, CEO of Cannabus Company, said: “This partnership turbocharges our plan to build a GMP cannabis agro‑processing hub and bring clinically credible, locally made cannabis-infused products to consumers across South Africa and beyond. FasterCapital’s capital and mentorship will shorten our path to scale.”
CEO’s LinkedIn Profile: Prestige Mbito | LinkedIn
Growth trajectory & next steps
Near-term milestones: close seed funding, secure OR Tambo SEZ lease, begin GMP build with Pharmout, install CO2 extraction and manufacturing lines, and expand product range (hair butter launch in Year 2). Cannabus targets 50,000 units in year one and a $33M revenue run‑rate by year five; the seed raise will primarily fund construction and working capital.
About FasterCapital:
FasterCapital is a global venture builder and online incubator dedicated to co-funding and co-founding innovative startups. Established in 2014, we are now #1 venture builder in terms of number of startups that we have helped, money invested and money raised. It supports startups worldwide through various programs, including funding assistance, business development, and technical support. The Equitypilot program is designed to help early-stage startups build scalable solutions with mentorship, strategic guidance, and network support.
