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S03|06: From Science Fair to Clean Tech: Nivatha Balendra on Building Dispersa
In this episode of The Founder Mindset, host Leah Sarich sits down with Nivatha Balendra, Founder and CEO of Dispersa. What started as a high school science fair project exploring ways to clean oil spills grew into a clean tech company transforming food waste into sustainable biosurfactants. Today, Dispersa is pioneering alternatives to petroleum and palm-derived ingredients found in everyday products like cleaners, detergents, and even cosmetics.
Nivatha shares how her personal journey as a cancer survivor fueled her commitment to healthier, non-toxic solutions, and what it took to pivot her company during the pandemic from oil and gas to cleaning products. She also reflects on raising more than $14 million in funding, scaling from lab experiments to commercial production, and cultivating a strong company culture focused on impact, values, and wellbeing.
This inspiring conversation highlights the resilience, vision, and passion it takes to turn a spark of an idea into a business making real environmental and social impact.
About Nivatha Balendra
Nivatha Balendra is the Founder and CEO of Dispersa, a Canadian clean tech startup that converts food waste into natural, biodegradable biosurfactants. Her journey began as a 17-year-old student investigating sustainable ways to clean up oil spills after the Lac-Mégantic disaster.
Her work has earned her recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and the Governor General’s Innovation Award. As a cancer survivor, she is deeply motivated to create healthier, more sustainable alternatives for everyday products. Today, she leads a growing team at Dispersa dedicated to advancing clean tech innovation and building sustainable impact at scale.
The Founder Mindset is Sponsored By:
- ATB
- API
- Artemis
- OCIF
—
Contact Thin Air Labs:
- Website: ThinAirLabs.ca
- LinkedIn: Thin Air Labs
- X: Thin Air Labs
- YouTube: Thin Air Labs
Contact Nivatha Balendra:
- Website: Dispersa
- Linkedin: Nivatha Balendra
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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By Leah SarichIn this episode of The Founder Mindset, host Leah Sarich sits down with Nivatha Balendra, Founder and CEO of Dispersa. What started as a high school science fair project exploring ways to clean oil spills grew into a clean tech company transforming food waste into sustainable biosurfactants. Today, Dispersa is pioneering alternatives to petroleum and palm-derived ingredients found in everyday products like cleaners, detergents, and even cosmetics.
Nivatha shares how her personal journey as a cancer survivor fueled her commitment to healthier, non-toxic solutions, and what it took to pivot her company during the pandemic from oil and gas to cleaning products. She also reflects on raising more than $14 million in funding, scaling from lab experiments to commercial production, and cultivating a strong company culture focused on impact, values, and wellbeing.
This inspiring conversation highlights the resilience, vision, and passion it takes to turn a spark of an idea into a business making real environmental and social impact.
About Nivatha Balendra
Nivatha Balendra is the Founder and CEO of Dispersa, a Canadian clean tech startup that converts food waste into natural, biodegradable biosurfactants. Her journey began as a 17-year-old student investigating sustainable ways to clean up oil spills after the Lac-Mégantic disaster.
Her work has earned her recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and the Governor General’s Innovation Award. As a cancer survivor, she is deeply motivated to create healthier, more sustainable alternatives for everyday products. Today, she leads a growing team at Dispersa dedicated to advancing clean tech innovation and building sustainable impact at scale.
The Founder Mindset is Sponsored By:
- ATB
- API
- Artemis
- OCIF
—
Contact Thin Air Labs:
- Website: ThinAirLabs.ca
- LinkedIn: Thin Air Labs
- X: Thin Air Labs
- YouTube: Thin Air Labs
Contact Nivatha Balendra:
- Website: Dispersa
- Linkedin: Nivatha Balendra
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.