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Meet The Finalists of Net Zero Challenge 2023

Published Wed, Nov 1st 2023 04:57 AM GMT+0
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This year marked the inaugural launch of the Net Zero Challenge, co-organized by Touchstone Partners and Temasek Foundation. It has been an amazing journey so far with over 300 applications from 45 countries flooding in.

We’ve worked hard to handpick 9 finalists working on exciting solutions in carbon capture, energy storage, smart farming, agriculture bio-tech and more. All our applicants were carefully reviewed by Touchstone Partners, Temasek Foundation, and other shortlisting committees consist of experts and leading investors in the field:

  • Angela Tay, Senior Investment Associate, AgFunder
  • Jeremy Sim, Director of Innovation, Mistletoe
  • Minh Phan, Former Head, Department of Environmental Biotechnology - University of Agriculture & Forestry (Dai hoc Nong Lam)
  • Nam Nguyen, Founder & CEO, KLINOVA
  • Thao Tran, Country Director (Vietnam), New Energy Nexus
  • Trang Tran, Agri-tech Expert, Loc Troi Group

Here are our finalists:

Track 1: Renewables & Carbon Renewal

  1. Alternō (Vietnam) – Low-cost thermal energy storage using sand-based battery
  2. Sierra Energy & NSEC (US/Vietnam) – Producing green fuels from unsorted mixed waste via gasification
  3. VOX Cool (UK) – Cold batteries with smart control for decarbonising the cold chain

Track 2: Food Systems & Sustainable Agriculture

  1. Forte Biotech (Singapore/Vietnam) – Onsite RAPID diagnostic tests for early detection of prawn diseases
  2. NEORICE (Vietnam) – Low cost and sustainable rice cultivation techniques to reduce methane emissions by up to 50%
  3. Tepbac (Vietnam) – Precision aquaculture and smart farm management for smallholder farmers

Track 3: Circular Economy & Waste Management

  1. AirX Carbon (Vietnam) – Cost comparable fossil-based plastic replacement from biowaste
  2. GreenPod Labs (India) – Bioactive solution packaged in sachets to increase shelf life of fruits and vegetables
  3. Origo Eco (Malaysia) – Wood-free shipping pallet using rice husk and agri-waste

Our upcoming Grand Finale is happening on December 8, 2023 in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Stay tuned.

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For any questions and communications about Net Zero Challenge 2023, please reach us at n0c@touchstone.vc.