Nivatha Balendra

Nivatha Balendra is the CEO and founder of Dispersa, a cleantech startup that provides natural microbe-derived cleaning compounds, known as biosurfactants, as a sustainable alternative to synthetic surfactants. Nivatha’s research in environmental science, which began when she was 17, is the foundation of her startup. As a cancer survivor, Nivatha has a personal mission to make natural ingredients more accessible. She has won several prestigious competitions, including the World Economic Forum Young Scientists Prize, Quebec’s Young Entrepreneur for ARISTA 2020, and Corporate Knight’s 30 Under 30 for her efforts in environmental sustainability. Recently, she was selected as one of the top six women Canadian cleantech founders for the Women in Cleantech Challenge by Natural Resources Canada and MaRS Discovery District.