How Bankful helped Hi-Snaps launch with confidence in a high-risk category

Key highlights

Industry focus: Hemp-derived THC and CBD beverage enhancers
Product: Pocket-sized liquid drink boosters with 5mg THC + 5mg CBD
Stage: Early-stage startup in a compliance-heavy category
Challenge: Navigating high-risk payments with no prior processing setup
Solution: Bankful’s hands-on onboarding, human support, and hemp-ready infrastructure
Result: A compliant, scalable payment foundation from launch day

Overview

Hi-Snaps was created to solve a simple but unmet need: a portable, discreet, and approachable way to add THC to any beverage—hot or cold, sparkling or flat—without changing how people move through their day.

The founders come from two very different but complementary worlds: beverage alcohol and beauty. When they couldn’t find a hemp beverage product that fit seamlessly into their own lives, they decided to build it themselves. The result is a credit-card-sized packet made with natural, hemp-derived delta-9 THC grown in the U.S., designed to deliver a light, enjoyable shift that enhances laughter and supports deeper sleep.

From product formulation to branding, Hi-Snaps was built for a sophisticated, design-forward consumer who values quality, discretion, and trust—especially in a category that often feels overwhelming or inaccessible.

Challenges

Like many hemp startups, Hi-Snaps entered the market facing a steep learning curve around payments.

“We were honestly lost and overwhelmed trying to figure out how to navigate payment processors vs merchant processing and everything in between. Having a real human (at Bankful) we can get on the phone with feels like a secret weapon.”

Because their product contains hemp-derived THC, standard payment options like Shopify Payments were immediately off the table. The founders were suddenly navigating a world of high-risk classifications, compliance requirements, and fragmented payment solutions—before they had even officially launched.

For a small team, this complexity wasn’t just frustrating; it was a potential blocker to getting to market at all.

Solution

Hi-Snaps chose Bankful for one key reason: people.

“Bankful’s dedicated sales team made everything so personal and helped the lengthy onboarding process required in a compliance-heavy industry less painful.

When you have a small team, it’s important to partner with companies who can match your needs and also provide you with a path forward as you’re able to scale.”

From the start, Bankful acted as a guide—not just a processor. The team helped Hi-Snaps:

Understand the difference between gateways, merchant processors, and compliance requirements
Find the right backend processor for their specific hemp use case
Navigate onboarding step-by-step with real human support

In an era where many companies default to chatbots and auto-responses, Hi-Snaps found Bankful’s human-first approach to be a competitive advantage.

Results

Because Hi-Snaps launched with Bankful, they didn’t have to undo broken systems or recover from shutdowns. Instead, they started with a compliant, scalable payment foundation from day one.

“Bankful has been able to meet us where we were on Day 1 and also grow with us over time—and all with a human touch. This feels invaluable.”

While they are just getting started in what we know will be incredible growth, the real win is confidence: knowing their payments are handled by a partner that understands their industry and is invested in their long-term success.

Looking ahead

Hi-Snaps is just getting started—and with a strong payment partner in place, the team can stay focused on product innovation, brand building, and customer trust instead of backend roadblocks. Be sure to grab your own drink booster from Hi-Snaps and them on Instagram.

At Bankful, we’re proud to support startups at the very beginning of their journey—especially in industries where getting started is often the hardest part.

If you’re building something new in a high-risk or regulated category, we would love to be a part of the journey. Connect with a payments expert today to get started.