What Root Sciences does

Root Sciences, founded in 2015 and headquartered in the Seattle/Belfair, Washington area, is a privately held global distributor of end-to-end cannabis and hemp extraction and processing equipment. The company distributes and supports a portfolio spanning four extraction modalities (hydrocarbon, ethanol, CO2, solventless), short-path and wiped-film distillation systems sourced from German OEM VTA (VKL and VKS series), post-processing equipment (membrane nanofiltration, nanoemulsification, THC remediation, isolate/crystallization, winterization, solvent recovery and decarboxylation), rosin presses via Sasquash, and analytical/potency instruments via the LightLab3 platform. Its competitive positioning centers on exclusive distribution rights for premium German distillation technology and complementary OEM brands (Ecodyst, GEA, Huber, IKA, Julabo, Leybold, UIC) accessible through an online parts and consumables portal.

The business model combines one-time capital equipment sales with a consultation-driven enterprise field sales motion, free pre-sale consulting (business planning, facility design, license applications, GMP compliance), installation and on-site training, 24/7 technical support, and equipment financing partnerships offering up to $10 million per transaction. Revenue streams include hardware sales (extraction, distillation, post-processing, analytical), professional services (consulting and lab design), parts and consumables through the online client portal, and referred financing revenue. Customers are commercial cannabis and hemp processors, ranging from new market entrants to scaled multi-state operators; named enterprise references include Planet 13, Copperstate Farms, JustSnakes, and Firefly Extracts, with the company citing an installed base of over 400 processors globally.

Operationally, Root Sciences serves customers across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East (14 countries), with no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, or funding rounds beyond a 2016 entry. Recent strategic activity is concentrated in product line expansion: 2024 introductions of the WT solventless extraction line and Sasquash rosin presses, and 2025 launches of the LightLab3 High Sensitivity Cannabis Analyzer and the LightLab3 PsyCanna Analyzer (the latter marking an explicit move into psychedelic mushroom potency testing). The company is privately held, employs 11-50 people, and is currently operating.

Name

Root Sciences

Legal name

Root Sciences

Website

https://rootsciences.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Root Sciences is a privately held global distributor of end-to-end cannabis and hemp extraction, distillation, post-processing, and analytical equipment — including VTA short-path distillation systems and LightLab3 analyzers — serving more than 400 processing facilities worldwide with consulting, installation, and financing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cannabis Processing Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210)

SIC

Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Cannabis Accessories & Ancillary Products Wholesale (Vapes, Packaging, Hardware) (CRAOAIAH)

Keywords

• Cannabis extraction equipment
• Hemp processing machinery
• Short-path distillation
• Solventless extraction
• Cannabis GMP consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfair

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Extraction and Processing Equipment Sales: Sale of cannabis and hemp extraction equipment including hydrocarbon, ethanol, CO2, and solventless extraction systems, as well as distillation equipment, post-processing equipment, and ancillary products. Equipment ranges from laboratory scale to industrial-scale commercial operations.
2. Consulting and Professional Services: Business planning, facility design, license application preparation, lab setup consulting, and GMP consulting services for cannabis and hemp processing facilities.
3. Parts and Consumables: Replacement parts, consumables, and maintenance supplies sold through the online client portal. Includes parts for branded equipment such as VKL, VKS, and other distillation models.
4. Equipment Financing: Financing partnerships offering up to $10 million for equipment leasing and financing to qualified buyers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Root Sciences distributes end-to-end cannabis and hemp extraction and processing equipment—including hydrocarbon, ethanol, CO2, and solventless extraction systems, VTA wiped-film/short-path distillation systems, and a full line of post-processing equipment (membrane nanofiltration, nanoemulsification, THC remediation, isolation/crystallization, winterization, solvent recovery/decarboxylation, rosin presses, and analytical instruments). The company complements hardware sales with business planning, extraction lab design, and GMP consulting services, an online parts store, equipment financing up to $10 million through partners, and installation, training, and 24/7 technical support for commercial cannabis and hemp processors.

Product overview

Root Sciences is a worldwide leader in the distribution of end-to-end cannabis and hemp extraction equipment and support services. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized into extraction equipment (hydrocarbon, ethanol, CO2, and solventless extraction systems), post-processing equipment (distillation, nanoemulsification, nanofiltration membranes, THC remediation, crystallization, winterization, decarboxylation, rosin presses, and analytical/potency testing equipment), and consulting services (business/facility planning, extraction lab setup, and GMP consulting). The portfolio includes VTA short-path and wiped-film distillation systems, LightLab3 Cannabis Analyzers, and Sasquash Rosin Presses. Additional offerings include equipment financing (up to $10 million), an online parts store, and 24/7 technical support. The company serves over 400 processors globally with installation, training, and maintenance services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hydrocarbon Extraction Equipment Closed-loop hydrocarbon systems engineered for high-purity extraction of cannabis concentrates with terpene-rich profiles, targeted at commercial cannabis processors.
• Ethanol Extraction Equipment Efficient, scalable ethanol extraction systems designed for high-throughput cannabis and hemp processing, targeted at commercial processors.
• CO2 Extraction Equipment CO2 extraction systems designed for efficient, high-quality cannabis oil production with customizable performance, targeted at commercial processors.
• Solventless Extraction Equipment Solventless extraction solutions delivering high-quality, terpene-rich concentrates without the use of chemicals; includes WT-MICRO, WT-CRAFT, and WT-2000 models, targeted at processors seeking chemical-free extraction.
• Cannabis Distillation Equipment (VTA VKL/VKS/VK Series) Distillation equipment featuring continuous feed, short residence time, high evaporation rate, and automated controls for cannabinoid distillation; includes VTA short-path and wiped-film distillation systems (VKL, VKS, VK series), distributed exclusively by Root Sciences.
• Nanoemulsification Equipment Nanoemulsification equipment for cannabis, hemp, and THC processing to create nanoemulsified products for improved bioavailability and product formulation.
• Organic Solvent Nanofiltration Membrane Membrane nanofiltration system using organic solvent nanofiltration membrane technology to enhance cannabis/hemp processing efficiency and purity.
• THC Remediation Equipment Equipment designed to meet increased demand for low-THC products through innovative remediation technologies.
• Cannabis Isolation and Crystallization Equipment Equipment for cannabis isolate and crystallization processing for production of high-purity cannabinoid isolates.
• Solvent Recovery and Decarboxylation Equipment Combined system designed to accelerate solvent recovery and decarboxylation in a single integrated setup.
• Winterization Equipment Equipment for winterization processing of cannabis extracts.
• Sasquash Rosin Presses Curated selection of Sasquash Rosin Presses for solventless extraction, known for reliability, performance, and innovation.
• LightLab3 Cannabis Analyzer Fast and reliable compact system for measuring cannabinoid content in flower, extracts, and infused products; built for both lab and production environments with immediate quality control insights.
• LightLab3 High Sensitivity Cannabis Analyzer Enhanced LightLab3 built for testing high-potency products like distillates and isolates where accuracy and consistency are critical.
• LightLab3 PsyCanna Analyzer Dual-purpose compact in-house testing system for measuring potency of both cannabinoids (THC, CBD) and psychedelic compounds (psilocybin, psilocin) for cannabis and psychedelic mushroom products.
• Equipment Financing and Leasing Equipment financing and leasing services offering up to $10 million through partner relationships for cannabis and hemp processing equipment, helping qualified buyers acquire equipment without full upfront capital outlay.
• Business and Facility Planning Consulting End-to-end consulting services including business plan development, license application preparation, and complete facility design for cannabis and hemp processing entrants.
• Extraction Lab Setup Consulting Expert guidance for setting up extraction laboratories with equipment selection, lab design, and process optimization for new cannabis and hemp processing facilities.
• GMP Consulting Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) consulting services for cannabis industry compliance and certification, helping processors achieve broader market access.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 cannabis and hemp processors globally trust Root Sciences for equipment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EcodystcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 April 2021Root Sciences and Ecodyst signed an agreement to provide cannabis processing and solvent recovery solutions worldwide. This partnership enhances Root Sciences' offerings with Ecodyst's cooling technology for rotovaps, providing comprehensive solvent recovery solutions to clients globally.
• VTA (Brinkmann & Therm鄂)coreTechnology or IntegrationVTA (Vertrieb für Thermische Applikationen) is a German manufacturer of wiped-film and short-path distillation plants designed explicitly for processing cannabis and hemp crude oil. Root Sciences serves as a key distribution partner for VTA equipment globally, offering models including VKL 70-S, VKL 75, VKL 85, VKS 95, VK 100, and VK 200 distillation systems.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Precision Extraction Solutions: One of the most recognized cannabis extraction equipment manufacturers and solution providers in North America, offering closed-loop hydrocarbon and ethanol systems. Directly comparable to Root Sciences across extraction categories, target customer (cannabis processors), and enterprise sales motion.
• Apeks Supercritical: US-based manufacturer of CO2 supercritical extraction systems for cannabis and hemp. Sells comparable extraction hardware into the same cannabis processor customer base and competes head-to-head in the CO2 category.
• Capna Systems: Manufacturer of ethanol extraction and distillation equipment tailored to cannabis processors. Competes with Root Sciences' ethanol extraction and post-processing portfolio for the same enterprise processor segment.
• Cascade Sciences: Manufacturer of hydrocarbon, ethanol, and terpene extraction equipment serving cannabis and botanical processors. Direct overlap in target customer and product category with Root Sciences' core extraction line.
• Maratek Environmental: Cannabis and hemp processing equipment OEM with focus on ethanol extraction, solvent recovery, and post-processing systems. Comparable end-to-end offering and customer overlap with Root Sciences.

Emerging players

• Lab Society: Cannabis and botanical extraction equipment supplier serving craft and mid-sized processors with extraction, distillation, and ancillary systems. Competes with Root Sciences more on the small-to-mid end of the spectrum while overlapping in product categories.
• ExtractCraft: Ethanol and alcohol-based extraction equipment vendor for cannabis, herbal, and botanical processors. Overlaps with Root Sciences in ethanol extraction systems but skews smaller and more craft-focused.
• Rosin Tech Products: Solventless extraction and rosin press manufacturer serving cannabis processors. Overlaps with Root Sciences' solventless and rosin press lines (e.g., Sasquash line), competing for the same craft and boutique customers.

Others

• Ecodyst: Manufacturer of advanced rotovap and solvent recovery systems that Root Sciences itself partners with (2021 worldwide agreement). Comparable post-processing technology and shared cannabis processor customer base, making it a partial competitor in solvent recovery and a partner.

Broad incumbents

• Cannabis Equipment News / Agrify (vendor ecosystem): Agrify offers vertically integrated extraction and processing hardware plus cultivation/ERP software to cannabis operators. As a broader incumbent in cannabis processing equipment, it competes and aligns with the same enterprise processor customer base as Root Sciences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rootsciences

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Root Sciences