Asia Pacific 2025
Algal Bio
algalbio.co.jp
Amane Kimura CEO
Algal Bio is a biotechnology company developing sustainable microalgae-based solutions. Built on over 20 years of research, its platform identifies, screens, and optimizes algae strains for use in nutraceuticals, cosmetics, bioplastics, and carbon capture. Headquartered in Japan with operations in four countries, the company is advancing 35 projects and forging strategic partnerships to scale algae innovations that address environmental, food, and health challenges globally.
Key Achievements
• Commercialized two products and launched 30+ pipeline projects in 2024.
• Received a CES Innovation Award for its sleep health product.
• Expanding operations across Singapore , Taiwan , Thailand , and other ASEAN countries .
Aquaconnect
aquaconnect.blue
Rajamanohar Somasundaram Founder & CEO
Sector Agricultural Technologies
Founded in 2017
Aquaconnect is an integrated seafood company offering tech-enabled solutions across global aquaculture value chains. It provides farm care tools, post-harvest market linkages, and sourcing support to ensure transparency, efficiency, and predictability. Aquaconnect serves producers and buyers worldwide and is backed by investors including S2G, LDC Ventures, Lok Capital, AgFunder, Hatch, Omnivore, Flourish Ventures, and Rebright Partners. The company operates in 11 countries and continues to expand globally.
Key Achievements
• Raised $21 million in funding from investors including Omnivore and S2G.
• Transacted over 17 million pounds of seafood in 12 months.
• Enabled $15 million in credit access for stakeholders.
Archireef
archireef.co
Vriko Yu Co-Founder & CEO
Archireef is a nature tech company restoring marine ecosystems through Nature-based Solutions.
Sector Environmental Technology
Founded in 2020
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and rooted in Hong Kong, it developed the world’s first 3D-printed terracotta Reef Tiles, achieving 95% coral survivorship. Archireef offers eco-engineering solutions, data analytics, and biodiversity enhancement, and is partnering with governments and corporations to restore 125 hectares of reefs by 2030 and drive marine climate resilience globally.
Key Achievements
• Bootstrapped to $3.4M revenue , with a projected growth to >$10M in 2025.
• Achieved 95% coral survivorship using 3D-printed Reef Tiles.
• CEO recognized by World Economic Forum , Bloomberg, and Forbes.
Armored Fresh
Rudy Yoo Founder & CEO
Armored Fresh is a food tech company developing zero-dairy cheese products. In the past 18 months, the company launched its cheese slices into major national retailers, gained strong consumer traction, and positioned itself as a category leader. With operations in South Korea and the U.S., Armored Fresh is expanding product lines, retail partnerships, and national distribution.
Key Achievements
• Raised $24M Series B from KDB, Collaborative Fund, and others leading investors.
• Nationwide U.S. distribution via KeHE and UNFI; regional through Sysco and US Foods.
• Named a top dairy alternative by major media outlets.
ecobricks.asia
Shervin Sharghy Founder & CEO
EcoBricks produces sustainable concrete materials by replacing virgin materials with upcycled plastic and construction waste. Using a 100% cold, low-energy and pollutant-free process, the company delivers certified, high-performing bricks for construction projects. Operating from Hong Kong, EcoBricks recently scaled to industrial production and has completed multiple commercial projects. It aims to expand internationally, drive circular economy adoption, and diversify its product offerings to reduce global plastic waste and carbon emissions.
Key Achievements
• Awarded the prestigious Community Citation by the American Institute of Architects.
• Won Sustainable Innovation Award from the Construction Industry Council.
• COO/CFO named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and Tatler Gen.T lists.
Vaibhav Lodha Co-Founder
ftcash is a digital lending platform providing small, unsecured loans to India’s underserved micromerchants, particularly women entrepreneurs. Merchants receive rapid, paperless approvals and repay daily via integrated payment systems, reducing risk. Operating as an RBI-licensed NBFC across India, ftcash has served over 55,000 customers. Long-term, it aims to scale its inclusive financial solutions, targeting a $1 billion loan portfolio within five years.
Key Achievements
• Disbursed $180M+ to over 55K micromerchants, reaching 275K+ lives —55% are women entrepreneurs.
• Won $250K MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge Grand Prize for ‘Most Innovative Future of Work’.
• Raised $12.7M from investors including FMO, Accion, and other marquee global backers.
Ankit Agarwal Founder & CEO
Sector
Environmental Technology
Founded in 2017
Financing to date
$12M Employees
201-500
HQ Uttar Pradesh, India
Phool is an innovative social enterprise that repurposes 32 tons of temple flower waste daily into eco-friendly products like incense, Florofoam (biodegradable packaging), and flower-based leather. It employs over 200 women, many of whom are former manual scavengers, providing dignified livelihoods. Operating across six Indian cities, Phool aims to scale globally, targeting $100 million and expanding its social and environmental impact.
Key Achievements
• Pioneered flower-waste recycling into incense, leather, and biodegradable packaging.
• Provided dignified jobs to 200+ women, including former manual scavengers.
• Served over 1 million customers with sustainable, circular products.
shandiglobal.com
Reena Sharma Founder & CEO
Sector Food Technology
Founded in 2020 Financing to date
$13M Employees
6-20
HQ Singapore
Shandi is redefining protein by creating plant-based alternatives that deliver more protein than meat, at lower cost. Its proprietary protein, Canatein, removes the natural bean taste and offers a complete amino acid profile. Canatein is designed to work across a wide range of foods, including cookies, snacks, and staples like bread. It enables scalable, protein-rich, and sustainable food production without the need for meat.
Key Achievements
• Commercialized core protein product within two years of founding.
• Partnered with Sodexo, Novotel, and other major foodservice providers.
• Expanded product range through R&D and scaled manufacturing operations.
Shravan Verma Co-Founder & CEO
in
Speedoc provides hospital-level care at home through its virtual hospital platform, which includes IV treatments, remote monitoring, and home nursing. Based in Singapore and operating in Malaysia as well, Speedoc partners with hospitals and insurers to improve access and lower costs. With government-supported virtual beds and proven clinical traction, the company is expanding into India, Thailand, and Australia to address healthcare access and hospital bed shortages globally.
Key Achievements
• Raised $20 million from Vertex, Bertelsmann, and Shinhan Ventures.
• Working with 10+ hospitals in Singapore and two major insurers in Malaysia.
• Delivered at-home childhood vaccinations and assessments to nearly 10,000 babies .
Rishita Changede Founder & CEO
in
Teora is a biotechnology company improving animal health and food system resilience through sustainable disease prevention. Its SOLAQ platform combines a bioinformatics engine, precision fermentation, and oral delivery to replace chemical and injection-based treatments in aquaculture. Initially focused on shrimp and fish, Teora operates in India and Singapore and has made sales in five countries. It plans to expand into agriculture and livestock to support global food security.
Key Achievements
• Winner of the 2023 Liveability Challenge by Temasek.
• Working with world-leading aquaculture firms , including the largest pangasius farm.
• Raised $1.5 million from global investors.
Ujala Cygnus
ujalacygnus.com
Shuchin Bajaj Founder Director
Ujala Cygnus operates 28 hospitals across six Indian states, delivering affordable, high-quality healthcare in underserved Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The company provides advanced care in cardiology, oncology, and neurosurgery, and runs preventive outreach programs like Sehat Chaupal. Having treated over 3 million patients, Ujala Cygnus aims to expand to 50 hospitals and deepen its services in cancer care, education, and rural health access.
Key Achievements
• Operates 23 hospitals providing care in underserved regions across North India.
• Treated over 3 million patients in rural and small-town communities.
• Founder and Director named Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 by WEF and Schwab Foundation. Sector Medical Technology
Notes
Unravel Carbon
Grace Sai Co-Founder & CEO
Unravel Carbon is the 1st AI Agents + SaaS climate tech company helping enterprises measure, track, reduce, and report carbon emissions across their operations, products, and supply chains. The platform supports ESG and climate risk reporting and compliance. With customers in more than 50 countries, Unravel Carbon has expanded into the United States and Japan in 2025. Its mission is to reduce one gigaton of global carbon emissions through enterprise decarbonization.
Key Achievements
• Raised Asia’s largest ClimateTech software seed round of $9.4 million .
• Selected for YC and AWS GenAI Accelerators with under 2% acceptance rate.
• Built a world-class AI engine for emissions tracking and climate risk reporting.
WearOptimo
Mark Kendall Founder & CEO
Sector Medical Devices and Equipment
Founded in
WearOptimo is an Australian-based health technology company developing next-generation wearable sensors that use AI to transform how hydration and biomarkers are monitored. Its minimally invasive, sticker-like Microwearable Hydration sensor uses microelectrodes to detect key biosignals and translate them into real-time health and wellness insights. The technology is being applied across elite sports, defence, and industrial sectors where maintaining hydration is essential. WearOptimo is now scaling operations through its pilot manufacturing facility.
Key Achievements
• Raised $15M in equity, alongside over $10M in nondilutive funding.
• Clinically validated hydration sensors outperform needle-based benchmarks.
• Commissioned pilot manufacturing facility and developed scalable, low-cost subscription model.
