NanaShake

Head Office: Ontario

Sector: Food & Beverage

NanaShake is committed to turning ice cream into a healthy and nutritious treat. With significant levels of obesity and diabetes in Canada, NanaShake is addressing a key culprit: added sugar. They are the first and only manufacturer in Canada to develop a healthy and nutritious ice cream alternative that is naturally sweetened with a whole food source – organic bananas. Their flagship product NanaPops has grown from 20 store listings in Ontario to almost 150 in six provinces across Canada, including Sobeys, Longo’s, Healthy Planet, Wholefoods, and Nature’s Emporium. They have also established partnership with Skip the Dishes and have plans to increase their capacity in 2023 by over 800%.

NONA Vegan Foods Ltd.

Head Office: Ontario

Sector: Food & Beverage

NONA Vegan Foods Ltd. (NONA) is a plant-based sauce company meeting the needs of pasta eaters who are seeking plant-based options. Their products are also free from gluten, dairy, and preservatives, with some soy and nut-free options as well. They are also Kosher-certified, non-GMO, and keto-friendly, while offering a full range of ‘traditional’ flavours such as Alfredo-Style, Cheesy-Style, Carbonara-Style, Rosée and Bolognese (with Beyond Meat®). NONA currently sells at over 400 stores in Canada, including Whole Foods and Sobeys, and increased its US presence to 300 stores in 2022. They are focused on further expanding into the US in 2023.

Nothing Cleaner by AquaNaka

Head Office: Nova Scotia

Sector: Household, Beauty & Personal Care

Nothing Cleaner is revolutionizing the cleaning industry with a series of all natural and organic household cleaners that are safe enough to spray into your mouth, but powerful enough to clean your oven. Made with no chemicals, allergens or fragrances, their simple formula of water combined with calcium and minerals from the Atlantic Ocean has produced an effective product that can be used anywhere. Their products have been tested and proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria. Still in its early stages, Nothing Cleaner has plans for more testing and increased retail distribution in 2023, as well as applications in the healthcare and long term care industries.

Novagevity Incorporated

Head Office: Nova Scotia

Sector: Supplement & Natural Health Product

Novagevity’s team of medical and nutritional experts has created Sperri – Canada’s first organic plant-based meal replacement drink. Originally developed to meet the urgent need for a non-dairy meal replacement in hospitals, the team quickly saw a gap in the market for a grab-and-go nutritional boost among healthy populations as well. Primarily sourced in Canada, every ingredient – from maple syrup to hemp protein – has been chosen to assure low irritancy, high digestibility, and support a healthy microbiome for optimal nutrition. Sperri won the CHFA best new product in 2021 and the Metro Foods New Product of the Year award in 2022. Currently in development, Novagevity will launch a low sugar, high fiber formulation in 2023.

NutraEx Food Inc.

Head Office: British Columbia

Sector: Agri/Food Tech & Ingredients

NutraEx has developed a patented, embedded technology that makes natural sweeteners look and taste like real sugar, without the off-taste often associated with stevia and monkfruit. They use only natural, plant-based ingredients, and their proprietary process uses lower energy, and generates zero emissions, effluence and waste. They have seen success in selling their sweeteners in North America, securing some of the largest food and beverage manufacturers in the world. In past 24 months, they developed another proprietary technology to make low-sugar binding syrup, continued R&D on another new product and purchased a new facility, including a purpose built new R&D lab and sensory evaluation studio.

Nutrienvisus Technologies Inc

Head Office: British Columbia

Sector: Agri/Food Tech & Ingredients

Nutrienvisus is making good out of the beer Canadians love. By applying their proprietary, nutrient-recovery technology and formulation, Nutrienvisus turns byproducts from Canadian breweries into highly effective soil inputs. Nutrienvisus’ Enviotin® offers a certified organic plant nutrient that provides a full spectrum of macro and micronutrients, helping growers avoid potential crop and profit loss due to soil infertility, plant nutrient disorder, disease, and extreme weather. Unlike standard fertilizers, the nutritional components of Enviotin® are precision-formulated and bioavailable for all plants, improve soil fertility and soil microbiome, boost plant immune systems to fight disease naturally, and are eco-friendly for plants, humans, and the environment. In 2022 the startup increased capacity and gained new distribution and retail partners.

Nuts For Cheese™

Head Office: Ontario

Sector: Food & Beverage

Nuts For Cheese™ believes that choosing dairy-free shouldn’t mean missing out on creamy indulgence. Their mouthwatering, organic plant-based cheeses use fermentation and aging techniques that emulate the complex flavours and textures of traditional dairy-based products and are free of starches, gums, and fillers. Nuts For CheeseTM uses 100% recyclable or compostable packaging materials and sources ingredients like cashews and coconut oil from ethical supply chains. The last 24 months have been a whirlwind for the company, expanding into 2000+ stores across the US to become the fastest growing and #3 selling plant-based cheese in the US natural channel while maintaining its position as market leader in Canada.

Om Noms, by Yumasoy

Head Office: British Columbia

Sector: Food & Beverage

Yumasoy, the parent company of Om Noms, is meeting the trifecta of plant-based demand: taste, convenience and nutrition. They offer high-protein, plant-based strips in tempting flavours like Thai Yellow Curry, Teriyaki, and Mediterranean Herb, that busy cooks can quickly incorporate into a satisfying meal. Om Noms are made with whole non-GMO soybeans to provide a complete protein with all essential amino acids, healthy fats, fiber, iron and other nutrients. A very recent addition (April 2022) to the plant-based market, Om Noms has already grown a loyal fan base and can be found in 50 stores across Canada, and in restaurants in BC. The company plans to grow its retail presence and expand into the national restaurant market in 2023.

Origen Air

Head Office: British Columbia

Sector: Bioproducts

Origen Air is providing a comprehensive and sustainable solution to indoor air purification. By enhancing the natural ability of plants to improve air quality, Origen Air’s Pinnacle™ system uses live plants to effectively supply fresh clean air to indoor spaces. It incorporates genetically engineered plants that remove Volatile Organic Compounds from the air, and HEPA filters to ensure a premium level of air purification. Origen Air’s multi-barrier approach to effective indoor air purification delivers measurable increases in human performance, health, wellness, and energy efficiency. Made for both commercial and residential spaces alike, Origen Air launched in 2022 and was well received across Canada. The next stage of growth for this startup is manufacturing scale-up and international expansion.

OzoneBio

Head Office: Alberta

Sector: Bioproducts

OzoneBio uses innovative technology to create high-value materials like nylon66 and vanillin through an emission-negative process. Their unique “Zombie Cells” bio-catalysis can create these high-value products from wood-derived waste feedstocks while reducing the environmental footprint at the early stages of the supply chain. Their first product is adipic acid, the main building block of Nylon 6,6 and a high-performance polymer used extensively in manufacturing. Traditional oil-based adipic acid production produces 60 million tons of toxic greenhouse gasses (GHG) annually. OzoneBio’s bio-based replacement could reduce GHGs by up to 95%. In 2021-2022 Ozonebio produced first in the world wood-derived adipic acid at the bench scale, the early stage startup tripled its team, transitioned to mid-scale production and optimization, raised both pre-Seed and Seed capital, and engaged with key buyers of Nylon66 across the chemical and fashion industries.

PIP International Inc.

Head Office: Alberta

Sector: Agri/Food Tech & Ingredients

PIP International is an ag-tech company on a mission to create the most sustainable and affordable plant protein. Using industry-disrupting extraction technology, PIP offers a great-tasting, high-functioning, and affordable plant protein processed sustainably from yellow peas. Yellow peas are a natural environmental steward as they are nitrogen fixing and regenerate the soil. PIP’s sustainable process uses less water, power, natural gas and electricity to bring a great tasting pea protein to the market. PIP currently focuses on the B2B industry as a premium food ingredient at an affordable price. As they continue to expand their resources and infrastructure, they are planning on expanding product offerings, and are considering entering the B2C market.

Prairie Fava

Head Office: Manitoba

Sector: Agri/Food Tech & Ingredients

Prairie Fava provides fava bean growers, food processors and manufacturers with whole fava bean ingredients. Fava beans are high in protein and dietary fiber, and as a nitrogen-fixing pulse, they help to restore the healthy balance of the soil. Prairie Fava is the only toll manufacturer in the world that is focused solely on fava as a whole food ingredient. Through their grower network and proprietary dehulling technology, they are committed to value-added development of fava, from seed to fork. They company continues to be recognized as an up and coming agri-food processor. They were awarded the Start-up of the Year award in 2022 by the Bioscience Association Manitoba.

Quannessence Holistic Skincare

Head Office: Prince Edward Island

Sector: Household, Beauty & Personal Care

BioSpa and their Quannessence Holistic Skincare are on a mission to deliver local, naturally sourced, healthy, and effective skincare products. They use locally sourced (Prince Edward Island), sustainably grown and harvested ingredients, including powerful compounds from both land and sea.Their holistic formulas are available in professional spa/salons, naturally addressing specific skin types and conditions including rosacea, acne, chronically dry, sensitive, environmentally stressed, and mature skin types. The customer results have led to repeat business and expansion to spa/salons across the country. The company has several new products ready to hit the market, contributing to their ongoing expansion across Canada and internationally.

Rainfed Foods

Head Office: Ontario

Sector: Food & Beverage

Rainfed is a food-tech startup focused on climate resilient crops like millets in shaping the future of food through an innovative extraction process. Millets are highly nutritious rainfed crops that are drought tolerant and naturally organic to grow, (with multiple varieties providing unique taste, flavor, texture and nutritional profile). Rainfed’s unique, first of its kind proprietary technology platform creates nutritionally dense ingredients and clean label solutions for alternative proteins. Their flagship product – planet-positive Rainfed Milk has high protein and calcium and performs just like dairy in many applications – launches in Canada in June 2023 with multiple varieties providing unique taste, flavor, texture and nutritional profile.

Reform Foods inc (Seva™)

Head Office: Québec

Sector: Food & Beverage

Reform Foods inc. is a foodtech startup that develops tasty, plant-based, dairy alternatives. Their first product Séva™ is an innovative plant-based soft-serve ice cream mix sold to the foodservice industry. The company has received several innovation awards, including the Initia Award “Coup de cœur Aliments du Québec”, the CTAQ Award “Innovative Company Desjardins 2022”, the CTAQ Award “Innovative Product 2022, Dessert Category” and also recognized as the best product for taste at the Grand Prix Dux 2023. Their products are currently available in four major Canadian restaurant chains. They look forward to expanding their product lines and distribution to retail stores in 2023.