Port Williams, NS-based Scotiaderm, which produces a natural skin barrier formulation that protects against skin damage caused by exposure to urine, feces, sweat and chaffing, is one of five Canadian companies to receive funding from Natural Products Canada.

The company, led by CEO Johanna Mercer and CMO Dr. Ann Gordon, is launching early adopter marketing trials while conducting Class III studies. Scotiaderm will receive $139,000 from NPC for a total project budget of $347,000, NPC said in a statement.

The NPC contribution is part of a broader investment of around $1 million in five early-stage Canadian companies to help the companies address challenges in their go-to-market journeys.

"NPC's strategic investments aren't just funding companies—they're actively building Canada's competitive edge in the global bioeconomy," said Shelley King, CEO, Natural Products Canada.

Scotiaderm earlier received $30,000 through Invest Nova Scotia’s GreenShoots program. And in  November last year, Scotiaderm won $20,000 in the second Innovation Den contest.

NPC said the latest round of investment brings the group’s total investment to $11 million into 92 Canadian startups.

Dispersa, which has operations in Cape Breton, also received $96,000 through the program. Dispersa’s biosurfactants are natural replacements for key ingredients in many everyday products like detergents and personal care products.  NPC said its funding would support a new hire to lead the commercial scale-up operations and supply chain management.

NPC’s Commercialization Programs are designed to accelerate the path to market, which can be more time-consuming and resource-intensive for deep tech, high-innovation companies within the bioeconomy, the group said. NPC focuses on three areas that are conducive to companies attracting the partners and investors required for growth: product validation and scaling, talent, and competitive strategy.