Startups from 12 different countries pitched at the P4G Entrepreneurs and SMEs Challenge that took place May 31st from 6 pm to 8:10 pm (KST). The startups pitched to a panel of prominent investors from around the world. 12 countries were represented at the IR Pitching event including South Korea, Mexico, Columbia, Chile, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Netherlands, and Denmark. It was established to provide opportunities to companies from P4G entrepreneur’s country partners.

P4G Entrepreneurs and SMEs Challenge

The P4G Entrepreneurs and SMEs Challenge gave attendees an opportunity to not only see pitches from up-and-coming startups that are making our environment more sustainable through the development of eco-friendly technologies and business activities. Throughout this event, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea (MSS) and ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation Center (ASEIC) provided networking opportunities among innovative startups, SMEs, and investors. Furthermore, attendees were able to schedule business meetings for networking through the website.

Moreover, there were online exhibitions of over 60 startups/SMEs that are related to the 5 focus areas of P4G which include Food and Agriculture, Water, Energy, CIties, and Circular Economy. The event was sponsored by Korea Venture Investment Corp. (KVIC), an exclusive government-backed fund of funds management institution in Korea.

The IR Pitching event during the second session of the P4G Entrepreneurs and SMEs Challenge website can now be viewed on YouTube here. There was a complete exhibitor list and an investor list so visitors were able to plan their business meetings through the site. Therefore, attendees were able to easily schedule a business meeting with a company or investor of their interest. In addition, full information on the 12 startups pitching can be viewed through the Virtual Exhibition Venue. Users were able to find the company information, brochure, IR Deck, and Videos.

Each startup pitched for 5 minutes followed by 3 minutes of feedback/Q&A from the judges.

12 Startups that Pitched at the P4G Entrepreneurs and SMEs Challenge

Mexico – Cplantae

CPlantae is a social company committed to sustainable development from Mexico. They have been recognized for their design and implementation of innovative natural water treatment systems that integrate various high-efficiency biotechnologies. Therefore, they aim to generate sustainable and high-quality biotechnologies for sanitation and free access to water, helping to fulfill several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Cplantae works with aquatic plants and earthworms to develop greener technologies to treat wastewater.

Their latest product is WormPod. It is a wastewater treatment filter system where thousands of worms consume contaminants of sewage and transform them into compost. For more advanced treatments CPlantae offers aquatic plants. Both these solutions can work for both small and large-scale projects. In addition, Cplantae offers engineering consulting services for wastewater treatment plant construction.

Republic of Chile – Legagreen

Legagreen is the creator of a blockchain-based renewable energy transactional stock system that helps small-scale power developers. It is an eco-friendly energy investment system that uses blockchain technology which simplifies transactions between investors. In addition, it develops algorithms for tokens as well as for seamless investments and transactions. Their token is called Lega, it aims to reduce due diligence processes through security token offerings that guarantee transparency and incorruptible information worldwide.

The aim of Legagreen is to promote equal investment in energy. They use security token offers instead of cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, they capitalize projects in places where they are not usually built. Legagreen is not an investment fund, instead, they give project life monitoring for their final users. They are in the final stage of their MVP test and in July will open their white paper and launch their system.

Republic of Korea – RE:harvest Co., LTD

RE:harvest Co., LTD aims to cut down on beer grain waste which causes 1.1 million tons of carbon emissions per year. They aim to turn this beer grain waste into eco-friendly and healthy alternative food products via food-byproducts upcycling. They have created alternative flour called REnergy flour. This alternative flour will not just replace white flour but be a healthier alternative. It will offer 30% fewer calories, no sugar, twice as much protein, and 21 times more fiber.

“I am impressed with RE:Harvest’s approach and solution in upcycling beer by-products into flour. Their ability to produce quality flour-based food with higher nutrition value, lower cholesterol, and cheaper raw material costs is exceptional. Besides having very good market potential, their consideration of the positive impact to the environment is something which is most encouraging.” – shares Edmas Neo, Founder of Accrete Innovation

 

Currently, they are focusing on beers but in the future, they plan to expand their horizon to soju and makgeolli. They even make energy bars which have generated over $20,000 in sales in just 3 days. They are also working with restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory to make Beer Cakes, Beer Bread, Beer Pasta, Beer Noodles, and even Beer Chicken. By 2022, the startup is targeting $20 million in revenue and go global in 2023 by working closely with ABinBev.

Indonesia – IBEKA

Indonesian social business entity IBEKA provides energy access from local resources for disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life and generate productive activities so the community can sustain itself. More than 5 million Indonesians still do not have access to electricity. IBEKA builds electricity for Indonesia, the Asian Pacific, and Africa using renewable and sustainable solutions.

Over the last 28 years, IBEKA has helped to deliver electricity to 86 communities through micro-hydro, solar, and wind. They were able to directly asset over a million people by providing clean water and income-generating tools and processes. In addition, they build wastewater treatment facilities and contaminated water restoration gardens.

 

Vietnam – 1516 Energy

1516 Green Energy focuses on developing wind turbine and solar panel systems for the poor and low-income people in areas without electricity or being not enough electricity to serve their basic life. Currently, 600,000 Vietnamese households are without electricity. Moreover, the national electricity gridline has not reached many remote and disadvantaged areas.

Therefore, 1516 Green Energy aims to provide basic products and services to people living in remote and rural areas in Vietnam. To date, they have installed over a thousand wind turbine and solar systems in 15 provinces in Vietnam. They have over 200 partners and social organizations within their community.

Bangladesh – HIFS AGRO FOOD INDUSTRIES

Hifs Agro Food Industries is recognized as the preferred business partner worldwide that focuses on future sustainable growth. They focus on quality at every step from procurement of raw material to marketing Last year their sales reached a little over $3 million. In addition, Hifs arrange training and orientation at regular intervals. Therefore, they are able to produce high-quality safe, and healthy foods. Some of their products include juices, soft drinks, oils, dairy products, pasta noodles, halal products, health wellness products, gluten-free products, and more.

In order to make their brand and products popular, they participate in local and international exhibitions. They also have a strong presence in print and social media.

Kenya – DiscoverBrands Systems Limited

DiscoverBrands Systems Limited is a social enterprise that reduces plastic waste by local production. They manufacture and produce filaments by recycling plastic collected in Kenya and using 3D printing. DB3D uses a 3D printing farm model approach. This means instead of having one machine, they have a number of machines that produce their end products.

They aim to reduce plastic waste by locally producing affordable 3D printing filament, 3D printed merchandise, and E-waste 3D printers. This will help promote a plastics and E-waste circular economy in Kenya. Furthermore, they have partnered with Qtron Industries and TechForTrade who are their OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) for their DB3D 3D Printers and 3D Printing filament respectively.

Ethiopia – MicoTech Engineering PLC

Based on the Experience MicoTech Engineering PLC accumulated in different manufacturing companies, they are interested to fabricate, install,ing and commissioning machinery in different hospitals based on the “Green Earth Goal”. For example, they manufacture eco-friendly waste incinerators. Their latest product is called Smokeless Hospital Waste Incinerator. Utilizing the Smokeless Incinerator has the following major advantages:

• Secure health of workers and patients around hospitals and clinics
• Decrease Environmental pollution
• Create proper and secure working and living environments
• Replace similar imported machines and minimize currency problems

South Africa – AET AFRICA

AET AFRICA innovates, manufactures, and supplies energy efficiency products for water heating and cooling systems including manufacturing reusable products. In addition, they also conduct research on innovating those technologies. AET AFRICA designs innovative products that would reuse wasted heat, provide accessibility and affordable hot water to all households and commercial users and further pasteurizes the water. Moreover, AET AFRICA developed a technology to decrease electricity costs of water preparation with hotspots, without replacing conventional geysers. The hotspot compliments geyser timers, geyser blankets, and high-pressure solar geysers.

The Netherlands – Upp! UpCycling Plastic

Upp! UpCycling Plastic is a social enterprise aiming to save plastic waste from incineration, landfilling, and nature. They support companies, communities, and governments to become plastic-waste-free. Their aim is to save over 250,000 tons of plastic waste from incineration, landfills, and oceans in over 5 countries and more than 10 plastic-waste-free cities. Therefore, they ensure products and applications are designed, developed, and manufactured to fit the local need.

The products Upp! makes are designed for circular use. They collect plastics in local communities and provide them to various sectors to be upcycled. Their goal is to save 250,000 tons of plastic waste per year, five years from now.

Denmark – AquaGreen

From pilot scale to mass commercialization AquaGreen’s Integrated Steam Dryer and Pyrolysis plant is a game-changer in sludge management. Their new groundbreaking technology can dry sewage sludge and wet biomass using the calorific value in the biomass. This is done by their patent-pending integrated steam drying and pyrolysis solution. Therefore, the pyrolysis process eliminates all microplastic, medicine residues, and other harmful organic compounds turning the dried sludge into a hygienic, odor-free, storage stable biochar and thermal energy.

AquaGreen has received $8 million in funding from 15 different public/private projects over the last 6 years. The investment was used on R&D and equipment costs for developing prototypes. Their main customers are mostly municipal wastewater treatment companies but are also in talks with industrial wastewater companies and farming associations in Denmark. In addition, AquaGreen is in talks with Jeju free international development center in Korea thanks to its participation in the P4G Enterepeurs and SMEs Challenge.

Republic of Colombia – GLASST INNOVATION COMPANY

GLASST Innovation Company is a new materials tech company based in Medellin Colombia. They have created a portfolio of solutions to tackle issues related to sustainability. Some of these solutions include a product that replaces single-use plastic films, a product that replaces concrete release agents that has no effect on human health, and the aim to be the first company worldwide in creating an architectural paint that is removable. Therefore, this biodegradable and oxo-degradable paint has the potential to replace disposable paint.

Those interested in joining the next P4G Entrepreneurs and SMEs Challenge, check back often to stay updated.