Montreal-based cleantech startup Dispersa has secured $5.8 million CAD in seed funding to scale its food waste conversion technology. The company transforms waste oils and sugars from food processing into sustainable biosurfactants, providing an alternative to petroleum and palm-derived chemicals used in household and industrial products.
The all-Canadian investment round was led by Nàdarra Ventures, with participation from BDC Thrive Lab, Cycle Momentum, The51 Food & AgTech Fund, and several other investors. The funding will support the commercial scaling of PuraSurf M, which the company describes as the world’s first fully waste-derived biosurfactant.
Dispersa’s technology represents an emerging approach to food waste management through circular economy principles. Rather than allowing waste oils and sugars to enter landfills or require energy-intensive processing, the company’s BioEterna technology converts these materials into ingredients for everyday products including surface cleaners, laundry detergents, and personal care items.
This approach addresses two significant environmental challenges: reducing food waste and decreasing dependence on petroleum and palm oil for chemical production. Currently, over 90% of surfactants are derived from these sources, which are associated with deforestation, habitat destruction, and carbon emissions.
Dispersa: Scaling waste-to-value operations
The new funding will enable Dispersa to increase production capacity, potentially diverting larger quantities of food waste from disposal streams while creating commercial-grade ingredients. The company reports that its process delivers cost advantages while improving overall product sustainability.
“Product manufacturers globally are facing mounting pressure to shift away from conventional surfactants due to increased regulatory and consumer demands,” stated Nivatha Balendra, founder and CEO of Dispersa, highlighting the market drivers behind the company’s expansion.
Mary Dimou, general partner at lead investor Nàdarra Ventures, emphasized the importance of circularity in production systems: “Circularity is central to Nàdarra’s thesis – revolutionizing the way we produce and use materials derived from nature.”
Dispersa’s funding round reflects increasing investor interest in technologies addressing food waste, which accounts for approximately 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The Montreal-based company also contributes to Canada’s domestic production of sustainable ingredients, potentially reducing reliance on imported chemicals while supporting local waste conversion operations.
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