Initiated on March 1st, 2023, the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge saw an impressive turnout with over 330 applicants spanning sectors such as Renewable Energy, Food & Agriculture, Mobility, and Ocean.
JAKARTA — The ASEAN region’s spotlight centered on The Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place in Jakarta on September 2nd, 2023, where four burgeoning startups achieved an impressive milestone. AfterOil, Qarbotech, BANIQL, and Waste4Change clinched a combined IDR 10 billion in grant funding during the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge (CIIC) 2023 Grand Finale.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
The Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2023 Grande Finale
Hosted by the eminent East Ventures and Temasek Foundation, CIIC 2023 coincided with Indonesia’s pivotal role in the ASEAN Chairmanship. Aligning with Indonesia’s vision for the ASEAN’s energy transition, this Finale served as a distinguished sidebar to the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2023.
Arsjad Rasjid, the chair of both the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council 2023, praised the Challenge in his opening address to an audience of over 150 esteemed guests. “This collaboration between East Ventures and Temasek Foundation sets a benchmark, catalyzing tech startups to develop and exhibit their climate innovations. Their endeavors are a clarion call in our global fight against climate change,” he emphasized.
From its inception on March 1st, 2023, the CIIC has been a centrifugal force, spurring innovations. It magnetized over 330 applications from sectors as diverse as Renewable Energy to Ocean conservation. These avant-garde concepts not only have the propensity to reshape Indonesia but also resonate globally.
Amidst the challenges our world faces, the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2023 stands as a beacon of hope, showcasing real action in driving positive development of climate solutions towards a sustainable future. We are impressed to receive the enthusiasm and witness the promising innovations and solutions received through this program. As we approach the end of this program, we believe there is so much more we can do to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Therefore, we remain committed to supporting all climate innovators in Indonesia and the region,
Out of this competitive milieu, twelve finalists were selected, each demonstrating their groundbreaking solutions to a jury of esteemed investors and experts. The reward? A handsome IDR 10 billion prize pool split among the top four, while two finalists walked away with a US$70,000 investment each from industry giants, Rumah Group and Telkomsel Mitra Inovasi (TMI).
Willson Cuaca, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at East Ventures, articulated the broader vision behind the CIIC: “Amidst the challenges our world faces, the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2023 stands as a beacon of hope, showcasing real action in driving positive development of climate solutions towards a sustainable future. We are impressed to receive the enthusiasm and witness the promising innovations and solutions received through this program. As we approach the end of this program, we believe there is so much more we can do to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Therefore, we remain committed to supporting all climate innovators in Indonesia and the region,”
Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Lim Hock Chuan, Head of Programmes at Temasek Foundation, lauded the winners.”The four winners each offer promising ways of addressing pressing climate issues with potential worldwide impact when scaled up. We are excited about the prospects of green mobility from sustainable battery production through use of nickel waste ore; renewable energy through synthetic gas production from biomass waste; increasing crop yields and nutrition through enhanced photosynthesis with spray-on solution; and circular business model to upcycle plastic waste,”
“As a champion of sustainability, we hope that the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge can continue to harness more such creative energies and improve the lives, liveability and livelihoods of communities in Indonesia and beyond,” Mr. Lim added.
The four triumphant startups shared their visions and gratitude:
- Rifo Romelio V, CEO of AfterOil, accentuated their mission to champion inclusive energy economic growth propelled by Advanced Biofuels.
- Chor Chee Hoe, CEO of Qarbotech, emphasized their aspiration to support paddy farmers in Indonesia towards more productive and profitable endeavors.
- Eric C. Januar, COO of BANIQL, noted that their participation marked a stepping stone in their pledge to make a positive environmental impact.
- Bagas Mukti Wibowo, Senior Business Development Executive of Waste4Change, conveyed anticipation for future collaborations and a zeal to magnify their impact.
For those seeking a recap or simply a dose of inspiration, the CIIC 2023 Grand Finale is available for replay at www.climateimpactinnovations.com, or through the embedded video link below :
Lead image courtesy of East Ventures.
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