[:en]commercialization programs[:] - Natural Products Canada

Innovative companies address sustainable proteins, food security, and ‘green’ chemicals
Natural Products Canada (NPC) has announced the ten most recent recipients of its Commercialization Programs, enabling $2.8 million in projects to complete key milestones needed for commercial success. PRESS RELEASE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO

“We are so encouraged by the incredible potential of these Canadian companies,” says Shelley King, CEO of Natural Products Canada. “They are tackling some of the most important issues of our time with truly ground-breaking, sustainable innovations.”
The diverse array of program recipients reflects NPC’s broad mandate to support Canadian innovation that uses biologically-based solutions to improve the health of people, animals, and the planet. The ten companies are developing a range of products that meet the growing global demand for sustainable solutions to food production and security, human and animal health, and eco-friendly manufacturing.
“Our government recognizes the importance of supporting innovation in the natural product ecosystem and the essential role it will play in our sustainable economy and our health. The solutions developed by Natural Products Canada’s Commercialization Programs’ recipients are bringing innovators together to share their knowledge and expertise, leading the way to new ideas and technologies that will benefit Canadians for years to come.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
NPC’s Commercialization Programs are designed to address three critical areas that often prohibit start-ups from achieving commercial success. The Proof of Concept Program is focused on validating a natural product or technology through testing such as clinical or field trials. The Access to Talent Program helps recipients round out their research, development and commercialization teams. The Fast Track to Finance Program targets key data gaps in the commercialization strategy.
The Commercialization Programs recipients are:
- CanBiocin (Proof of Concept Program): Supporting animal wellness with species-specific probiotics
- Chickapea (Fast Track to Financing): Protein-dense pasta made with only organic chickpeas and lentils
- Folium (Fast Track to Financing): Delivery technology to enhance bioavailability, absorption, and targeted delivery of active ingredients
- GrainFrac (Access to Talent): A unique and disruptive technology to enable sustainable, affordable, and superior plant-protein ingredients
- Impactful Health R&D (Proof of Concept): Tackling the global food waste challenge using sustainable active packaging solutions
- Lucky Iron Fish (Proof of Concept): Combatting iron deficiency through natural, cost-effective solutions
- Näak (Access to Talent): A sports nutrition company focused on sustainable fuel for outdoor enthusiasts
- Seed To Surf (Fast Track to Financing): Plant-based seafood that uses premium whole vegetables to recreate the seafood experience
- Smallfood (Access to Talent): Unearthing the potential of microbial ingredients to develop sustainable proteins
- Zila Works Canada (Proof of Concept): A new industrial bio-plastic from hemp to help product manufacturers lower their carbon footprint
NPC’s Commercialization Programs are part of their comprehensive approach to supporting and connecting the natural product innovation ecosystem in Canada. In addition to providing valuable technical and business advice, NPC works with an extensive network of corporations, investors, industry experts, incubators, accelerators and others to help advance the world-class natural product innovation arising from Canada’s start-up and research communities. NPC is supported by a $20-million investment from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund.
For more information:
Sue Coueslan, VP Strategy and Partnerships
[email protected]
Natural Products Canada
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 in health and life sciences, natural resources, agriculture and agri-food, and sustainable bioproducts. As part of its role in the Cluster, NPC offers a suite of Commercialization Programs to help companies and researchers advance high-potential products and technologies; provides connection and innovation scouting services to industry and investors through its Innovation Hub; and leverages its Investment Fund to help develop and de-risk promising Canadian opportunities. NPC has over 1000 opportunities in its pipeline, has completed 13 investments, experienced two exits, and is in the process of raising another $50M dedicated to Canadian natural product innovation. Established in 2015, NPC has received financial support from a range of public and private entities, including the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund and the Networks of Centres of Excellence. Visit www.naturalproductscanada.com.
Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
SIF supports national innovation ecosystems, pan-Canadian network-led projects that involve a high degree of collaboration to stimulate innovation and commercialization in areas of Canadian advantage and enhance linkages between businesses and academia/research bodies.
Chickapea is one of the latest recipients of NPC’s Executive Talent Program, a unique source of funding that fills critical gaps in the leadership teams of high-potential Canadian companies.
A series of fortunate events
Shelby Taylor, founder and CEO, Chickapea
Shelby Taylor of Chickapea, the chickpea pasta company from Collingwood, Ontario, had been thinking about the need for a senior salesperson for a while. Like most entrepreneurs, a lot of Taylor’s time was focused on sales, which meant less time for other parts of the business. And vice versa, when other parts of the business needed her attention, sales would drop.
“I took an inventory of my time,” says Taylor. “And I knew we needed someone else.”
So it was a bit fortuitous when she received an NPC newsletter mentioning the Executive Talent Program that supports salaries for new senior level hires.
“I asked my CFO to look into it and see if there were other programs available,” says Taylor. “There was nothing else like it.”
But then things really came together when she received a resume just days later from a perfect candidate, John Durkin, formerly of Manitoba Harvest, where he helped grow sales from $36M to $99M.
“I knew someone with his background and experience and relationships was exactly what we needed,” says Taylor. “And I knew he wasn’t going to be available for long.”
Fast forward a few weeks and Chickapea had a signed contract with NPC, and a new VP of Sales on board to build their US presence. The company is already feeling the impact with new accounts, and some introductions to big retailers.
Big, scary decisions
“I’m super appreciative to NPC,” says Taylor. “Hiring a senior level person is expensive and scary, but we knew it was what we needed to get to the next level. Having this program gave us the financial ability to do it.”
Chickapea pasta’s 2-ingredient formula (chickpeas and lentils) meets today’s demand for plant-based protein and clean, natural ingredients.
Chickapea launched in the US in 2017, just seven months after launching in Canada. And while they’ve done well in the US, it’s still ripe with growth opportunity due to its massive size.
“The food business in the US is very different from Canada,” says Taylor. “It varies by region, and the systems and process of working with distributors and brokers is very nuanced. It takes a lot of time on the ground to understand those differences and use them to your advantage.”
Taylor advises companies who are thinking about entering the US market to take a regional approach so they can test products and marketing approaches region by region. She gets a lot of that advice herself from other entrepreneurs, including her Board, which boasts none other than Arlene Dickinson from District Ventures (famous figure on the Dragon’s Den), Alex Chamberlain from InvestEco and Jerome Briere from EDC.
“I feel like they’ve done a lot to really help me develop as a CEO,” says Taylor. “People have been really generous with their time.”
Doing well. Doing good.
Aside from the business potential (they had 3-year growth of 800% in December 2020), one of the reasons people are eager to help might be due to Chickapea’s commitment to having a social impact with their work. They give two percent of revenues (not profit) to charities each year – three cents from every package to programs focused on feeding nutritious meals to children in need, as well as thousands of pounds of product donations to food banks.
Chickapea’s dedication to the social values of their business has placed them in the top 10% of all B Corps worldwide.
This dedication to something beyond the bottom line has not gone unnoticed. Chickapea was named one of KeHe’s five CARETrade partners for 2021, placed 96 on the 2021 Real Leaders Impact Awards, and in 2019 ranked in the top 10% of all B Corps worldwide.
“It’s one of my favourite things to talk about,” says Taylor. “It feels great that so many people are making this a priority in their purchasing and business decisions now.”
Businesses create natural products to address a range of challenges including health and animal health and bioplastics
Natural Products Canada (NPC) is pleased to announce the latest recipients of its Commercialization Programs designed to help Canadian companies overcome key challenges on their path to success.
“We’re proud to be able to support these innovative companies in their growth initiatives,” says Shelley King, CEO, Natural Products Canada. “We are particularly happy to help companies maintain and increase their teams during a time of so much economic uncertainty.”
The Commercialization Programs address common obstacles for emerging innovation companies, including executive leadership, product/technology validation, and access to capital. Details and application guidelines can be found online.
“The successful applicants are using these funds to pursue strategic developments including new facilities and e-commerce platforms to help them compete during the pandemic and in the future,” says King.
The latest Commercialization Program recipients represent naturally-derived products from diverse industries including human health and wellness, animal health, and bioplastics.
- Genecis produces biodegradable plastic from organic waste. They received funds through the Executive Talent Program to hire a Director of Engineering to oversee the design and commissioning of their new demonstration facility.
- Healthy Cow has developed a probiotic product, ProPreg, to promote reproductive health in dairy cows. They received funds through the Fast Track to Financing Program to complete strategies for their IP, marketing, and financing.
- Maskwiomin is a start-up founded by two researchers from Cape Breton University to leverage the traditional medicinal properties of birch bark-oil in a cosmetic and natural health product. They received funds from the Fast Track to Financing Program to develop a regulatory strategy and business plan.
- Novagevity has developed an organic, plant-based meal replacement beverage, Sperri, targeting the medical nutrition market. They received funds through the Fast Track to Financing Program to develop their e-commerce platform.
- Staterra has developed a nootropic, Mindgain, to enhance brain function and cognitive health. They received funds through the Fast Track to Financing Program to complete their digital media plan and platform.
The five companies join previous recipients, Partake Brewing, DoseBiome, Entomo Farms, Oberland Agriscience, Crazy D’s All Natural Lab and Bosk Bioproducts.

A series of fortunate events

Big, scary decisions

Doing well. Doing good.