NPC Ventures focuses on early-stage Canadian companies addressing the growing demand for alternatives to synthetic products

Natural Products Canada announced today the launch of a new $50 million investment fund. Natural Products Canada Ventures (NPC Ventures) will invest in early-stage Canadian companies developing naturally-derived alternatives to synthetic products. 

“Our unique investment thesis focuses on the tremendous demand for sustainable replacements for synthetic products coming from nearly every segment of industry,” says Shelley King, CEO, Natural Products Canada (NPC), a not-for-profit that provides advice, financial support, connections and investment around Canadian natural product innovation.  “Canadian entrepreneurs are developing exceptional products and technologies in health, food security and environmental sustainability, and NPC Ventures will be there to optimize their growth.” 

The fund is being led by Kristi Miller, founder and former national managing director of First West Capital. Under Miller’s watch, the firm raised and invested more than $250 million in over 100 businesses. 

NPC Ventures has secured a non-binding term sheet with a significant anchor investor and is actively fundraising toward a first close in the fall. 

“NPC Ventures has tapped into something very compelling,” says Kristi Miller, Managing Director, NPC Ventures. “There is tremendous opportunity for Canadian companies to meet this exponential demand for ‘natural’. I’m honoured to bring my experience and network to an area with such meaningful potential for growth.”

NPC Ventures fills a gap in the investment landscape with its exclusive emphasis on early-stage Canadian companies developing innovative natural products that are biologically-based. It is targeting 16–20 investments ranging from $500,000 to $2.5M in start-ups in the cleantech, ag-tech, biotech, human and animal health, and water tech sectors.

The new fund is a natural progression of the work NPC has done to identify, develop and support high-potential companies. In the past four years, NPC has invested in 13 companies, leveraging 6.3X additional capital from private domestic and international investors. The NPC portfolio illustrates the type of opportunities NPC Ventures will target such as Chinova Bioworks, a company developing natural preservatives for food, beverage and cosmetics; Bast Fibre Tech, which is creating biodegradable disinfecting wipes from hemp; and CanBiocin, which is producing probiotics to improve immunity in companion and production animals.

Natural Products Canada (NPC) is the driving force behind Canada’s Natural Product Innovation Cluster–a strategic community of SMEs, research institutes, corporations, investors, government departments, and service providers who support the development and commercialization of naturally-derived products and technologies. These innovations can be applied to a range of industries, including: food production and value-added agriculture; bioproducts and sustainability; human nutrition, health and wellness; animal health and nutrition; and water and waste management. In its role in the Cluster, NPC has helped advance over 800 opportunities through its strategic Advisory Services and  Commercialization Programs; and provided valuable connections and innovation scouting services to industry and investors through its Innovation Hub. NPC has also leveraged its Investment Fund to help develop and de-risk promising Canadian opportunities, with 13 investments and two exits. Established in 2016, NPC is funded by a range of public and private investors, including the Government of Canada’s Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research (CECR) program, administered by the Networks of Centres of Excellence. Visit www.naturalproductscanada.com

Natural Products Canada (NPC) is the driving force behind Canada’s Natural Product Innovation Cluster–a strategic community of SMEs, research institutes, corporations, investors, government departments, and service providers who support the development and commercialization of naturally-derived products and technologies. These innovations can be applied to a range of industries, including: food production and value-added agriculture; bioproducts and sustainability; human nutrition, health and wellness; animal health and nutrition; and water and waste management. In its role in the Cluster, NPC has helped advance over 800 opportunities through its strategic Advisory Services and  Commercialization Programs; and provided valuable connections and innovation scouting services to industry and investors through its Innovation Hub. NPC has also leveraged its Investment Fund to help develop and de-risk promising Canadian opportunities, with 13 investments and two exits. Established in 2016, NPC is funded by a range of public and private investors, including the Government of Canada’s Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research (CECR) program, administered by the Networks of Centres of Excellence. Visit www.naturalproductscanada.com

Natural Products Canada Ventures (NPC Ventures) is focused on naturally-derived solutions that benefit people, animals and the planet. Working closely with its founding body, Natural Products Canada, this new fund provides a powerful platform and process for investment in Canadian early-stage companies developing biologically-based innovations that can be applied to a range of industries, including: food production and value-added agriculture; bioproducts and sustainability; human nutrition, health and wellness; animal health and nutrition; and water and waste management. NPC Ventures has a non-binding term sheet with a significant anchor investor, and is currently seeking additional LPs to round out the $50M fund. Interested investors should contact the Managing Partner, Kristi Miller.