I had the privilege of giving a talk on Green Innovation to students from the National University of Singapore, where I summed up some thoughts that my team and I have had over the years we have had in this space.

1. NUS Enterprise-BOP Hub JISSI x N-House
Irsyad Ramthan | COO, Interseed
Feb 2021
Enabling Green Innovation

2. 01
02
03
04
40 Minutes is Pretty Long!
Green Innovation: What Does It Entail?
Sustainability: An Overview
Key Playing Fields
Getting Started as an Individual
What are we gonna cover today?

3. A bit about me
Co-founded Interseed, and prior to that, Young Sustainable Impact Southeast Asia
Fellow, Ashoka’s ChangemakerXChange 2019 in Hangzhou, China
NUS B.Eng, Biomedical Engineering ‘17
NUS M.Eng, Biomedical Engineering
(discontinued to pursue Green Innovation full-time)
Part-time Tutor, NUS Institute for Engineering Leadership
(MT5912: Frugal Innovation)
Bronze Medalist, UNLEASH Innovation Labs for the SDGs 2018

4. I Always Assumed Healthcare Would Be My Calling

5. And I Wanted to Innovate for Healthcare Access

6. Clearly, something
changed
Let’s find out why I dove
into sustainability

7. Sustainability: An Overview
SDG, ESG, ABC, XYZ, 123

8. Three Paradigms of Sustainability
8
UN SDGs from UNDP

9. Metrics for a Sustainable Company
9
https://medium.com/carbonclick/what-is-esg-and-why-is-it-important-f9036bb96d66
https://www.ecogood.org/apply-ecg/common-good-matrix/

10. Metrics for a Sustainable Company
10
Environmental Sustainability is a substantial challenge in itself

11. Greenhouse Gases: A Pressing Challenge That We Need To Address
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/1/19/16908402/global-warming-2-degrees-climate-change

12. I Started to Realise that Environmental Challenges are Pressing!

13. The Economist’s Hot Take
https://www.economist.com/business/2020/04/25/the-pandemic-is-liberating-firms-to-experiment-with-radical-new-ideas

14. Pollution and Resource Depletion Are Huge Challenges Too
Multiple Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6

15. We Have a Tool to Navigate Profit and Purpose in the Early Stage
Matching value to customers, expanding value beyond customers, building an organization
Degrowth
Contracting the global economy
to operate within the planet’s
bio-physical limits
“Do Less”
Techno-Optimism
Innovating to allow for sustained
growth with the help of
technological breakthroughs
“Innovate More”

16. Degrowth: Do Less
16
“Degrowth would liberate us from the burden of pursuing
material excess.
We simply don’t need so much stuff – certainly not if it comes
at the cost of planetary health, social justice, and personal
well-being.”
Misha Ketchell (The Conversation), Oct 2 2014
“

17. Degrowth: Do Less
17

18. Degrowth: Do Less
18
https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/bj9yjq/the-radical-plan-to-save-the-planet-by-working-less

19. Techno Optimism: Innovate More
19
“We need innovations that will provide a real alternative for
people. Innovations in every sphere of life will reduce that
trade-off between sustainability and growth”
Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 8 May 2019
“

20. Techno Optimism: Innovate More
20

21. Techno Optimism: Innovate More
21

22. We think that there is a
need to innovate more.
How exactly do we do
that?

23. Green Innovation
What does it entail? Why are we optimistic?

24. Three Paradigms of Sustainability
24
https://medium.com/carbonclick/what-is-esg-and-why-is-it-important-f9036bb96d66

25. Reporting Standards
Can sustainability be more than compliance or a cost to doing business?
25

26. Sustainability is All-Encompassing By Design
26
Can we narrow the scope to provide focus?
Can we distinguish compliance from innovation?
Can we provide a path for people to focus on environmental
outcomes?

27. Two Main Innovation Lenses
27
Product Innovation
Finding technical breakthroughs previously
thought impossible.
Generally entails significant R&D
Business Model Innovation
Finding markets to address, and ways to capture
and distribute value
Generally entails understanding industries and
stakeholders

28. Defining Green Innovation
28
Green Innovation:
Any novel technological development or implementation
OR
A novel commercial mechanism of sustaining positive
environmental outcomes
“

29. Three (Plus One) Main Metrics Green Innovation
29
Reduce greenhouse emissions
(so temperatures don’t increase)
Eliminate pollution
(so our health is preserved)
Prevent resource depletion
(so we can continue to survive)
Drive social good
(to equalize access to opportunity)

30. A product or service may
be effective
But it’s only as effective
as those who use it

31. Key Playing Fields
What does it entail? Why are we optimistic?

32. Three Opportunity Areas
Reduce greenhouse emissions
(so temperatures don’t increase)
Eliminate pollution
(so our health is preserved)
Prevent resource depletion
(so we can continue to survive)
Drive social good
(to equalize access to opportunity)

33. We Ran Innovation Programmes in the Past
As part of an organization called YSI SEA
We ran 3 annual 5-month online and offline innovation process to create
sustainability start-ups with 24 Southeast Asian youth yearly from 2018 - 2020

34. Observations from 2018 Applications
(we asked Southeast Asian youth under-25 years old to suggest a problem and solution)
Food & Agriculture
Circular Economy
Energy
Education
Environment
Animals
Health
Water & Sanitation
Economic Opportunities
Marginalised community
People with Disabilities
Areas of focus (from a total of 75 solutions):

35. Food & Agriculture
Provide job opportunities to farmers using website/app, train farmers with IT &
organic farming skills
Organic Farming
Inefficient food
system
Solution:
Problem:
Build a platform (website/app) to connect farmers, use insects to product
energy
Build a digital community platform for everyone to source for foods, ensure
farmers produce according to demand
Agro-waste
Online platform for farmers to sell rejected produce
Food Waste
Online platform for farmers to sell their produce and connect them to producers
Cotton farming
industry
All suggested using some platform

36. Circular Economy
Set up trash exchange system
Trash Exchange
Plastic Waste
Solution:
Area of focus:
Build sensors, cameras in recycling bins to sort objects
Use compostable packaging, set up plastic waste facility, extract hydrocarbon
from plastic waste and convert into plastic oil
Recycling Bins
Using recycled materials to make shoes
Upcycling
Use plastic waste to make planters
Downcycling
Resell uniform
Recycling
Always involved converting plastic/plastic waste into
other products or resource, or recycling.

37. Energy
Place solar panels on roof, using electric vehicles, set up online platform to
trade surplus electricity, using aircon with no CFC
Clean Energy
Lack electricity in
slums
Solution:
Area of focus:
Portable solar generator
Always suggest using solar panels to solve problems.

38. Youth Ideas Are Generally Stuck At The Core
38
Food & Agri:
All suggested using some platform
Circular Economy:
Always involved converting plastic/plastic waste
into other products, or recycling.
Clean Energy:
Always suggest using solar panels to solve
problems.

39. There is Nothing Wrong With These Approaches
But it is indicative of where aspiring entrepreneurs with an understanding gap tend to gravitate
Food & Agri: All suggested using some platform
Circular Economy: Always involved converting plastic/plastic waste into other products, or
recycling.
Clean Energy: Always suggest using solar panels to solve problems.
There are a lot of other
opportunities for
innovation in other
parts of the value
chain
There is a lack of
understanding of how
solutions work on a
technical level
(e.g. solar isn’t magic)
If everyone tries the
same solution,
available resources to
support them would
deplete

40. Grand Challenges
Uncommon Problems...
Food Waste & Hunger
Soil Depletion
Water Scarcity
Carbon Emissions
Air Pollution
Energy Access
Inequity
Fuel Source Depletion
Carbon Emissions
Soil Depletion
Pricing Power of
Farmers
Soil Depletion
Carbon Emissions

41. Some Potential Solution Paradigms
...inspire unique solutions
Regenerative
Agriculture
Farm-to-Table
Lab-Grown Meat
Equitable Food
Distribution
Renewable Energy
Generation
Energy Storage
Carbon Capture
Storage and Utilization
Energy Efficiency
Products-as-a-Service
Right-to-Repair
Sustainable Supply
Chains
Recycling

42. Other Start-Ups Driving Green Innovation: Singapore
Our entrepreneurs range from 18-35 years old, and do work hard to understand and execute
Urban Farming
Direct-to-Consumer
Refurbished Electronics
Marketplace
Insects for Food Waste
Management
Biopolymer Straws Upcycling Studio &
Consultancy
AI for Recycling
Lab-Grown Milk
Rewards App for
Sustainable Purchases

43. Other Start-Ups Driving Green Innovation: Global
Our entrepreneurs range from 18-35 years old, and do work hard to understand and execute
P2P Solar Energy
Marketplace (Bangladesh)
Tools E-Commerce +
Repair Community (USA)
Waste to Off-Grid
Energy (Israel)
Sustainable Cosmetics
(UK)
Sustainable Clothing +
Advocacy (USA)
Plant-Based Meat (USA)
Carbon Direct Air Capture
(USA)
Food Loss Reduction
Coating (USA)

44. Some of Our Start-Ups Back In 2020
Our entrepreneurs range from 18-35 years old, and do work hard to understand and execute
Precision Vertical
Farming (Malaysia)
Organic Waste
Upcycling (Indonesia)
Rural Electrification
(Philippines)
Healthy Locally Sourced
Food (Malaysia)
Construction Materials
(Singapore)
Increasing Recycling
Success (Singapore)
Alternative Materials
(Philippines)
Food Loss Reduction
(Philippines)

45. However, Problems and Solutions Do Not Exist In Isolation
One intervention is not enough to reinforce or change the system
Food System Overview Circular Economy Overview
Energy Trilemma
Clean Energy Overview
Life-Cycle Analysis
Food-Water-Energy Nexus

46. The scope of impact
opportunity is vast
How do we even make a
meaningful difference?

47. Getting Started as an Individual
How can I play a part?
And further down, how do we work together?

48. There Are Many Different Organizations
Chances are, you’re already in one, or will be in one
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/klaus-schwab-on-what-is-stakeholder-capitalism-history-relevance/

49. There’s A Place For Everyone
Analysts and Writers: People who
understand, map, and provide insights into
specific aspects of Green Innovation
Innovator and Builders: Technical people who
are able to understand specific aspects and/or
build solutions
Organizational Representatives: People
working in larger organizations who know the
intricacies of (and have relationships with)
different stakeholders that either drive or hinder
Green Innovation
As sustainability goes more mainstream, different roles need to be played
Analysts
& Writers
Innovators
& Builders
Org Reps

50. Founders Can Be Found In Many Places
Founders can take many forms, and can
either initiate, launch, or take the helm of:
● Independent Businesses
● SMEs
● Startups
● Intrapreneurial Projects
● Intrapreneurial Ventures
● Joint Ventures
● 3P-initiatives
● Movements & Non-Profits
Analysts
& Writers
Innovators
& Builders
Org Reps

51. Traditional For-Profits vs Green Innovations/Social Enterprises
Adopted from the University of Michigan Sustainability Assessment [Rodriguez et al., 2002]
Social Enterprise
Traditional for-profits
51
Green Innovation

52. Features of a Start-Up
Focus on growing and capturing value
Emphasis on value capture
52
Single North-Star Metric

53. The Key to Driving Green Innovations is Balance
With the mission as the centre of gravity
But balance is easier said than done!
And there are a bunch of other challenges that could be talks in themselves:
● The Pioneer Gap
● Difficulty in Singapore for Social Enterprises and Green Innovators to Sell to Business
● Challenging to Attract Staff and Make a Living
● How and When to Exit

54. a) Understand the system more deeply
b) Identify opportunities from non-obvious challenges
3 Phases of Your Impact Journey
Not everyone should be a founder, and not everyone should found right from the get-go
c) Find a mission and work hard to drive it
d) Sustain yourself to grow your impact on the side
e) Make a bet on yourself to make a direct impact full-time
f) Be the one others take a bet on to drive systemic impact
Phase 1
Understanding and Scoping
Phase 2
Doing
Phase 3
Launching and Scaling

55. That’s Why We Started Interseed
Accelerating the pace of green innovations in Southeast Asia
/ˌɪntəˈsiːd/ : Intercede + Seed (verb)
Intercede: To make an intervention (an active choice to take action)
Seed: Planting knowledge and ideas to grow into insights and companies (a progressive journey)
Be the first to make your mark:
tinyurl.com/seedlandscape
Platform
Make your mark in Green Innovation
Subscribe now:
insight.interseed.co
Publication
Discover Green Innovation building blocks

56. Platform: Community of Green Innovation Founders and Talent
We built features that help founders save time, engage with different talent, and seek funding
Co-Founder/Talent Connecting Matching
Networking & Knowledge Huddles
Existing Companies, Projects, and Landscapes
Opportunities & Funds Database
Community
Phase 1
Understanding and Scoping
Phase 2
Doing
Phase 3
Launching and Scaling

57. You can map specifics, and build up your expertise on details vital to driving Green Innovation
Platform: Understanding and Mapping Problems and Solutions
We want to create a knowledge base from the ground up, with people from around the region mapping:
Government Policies | Business Decisions | Technological Developments | Social Movements
tinyurl.com/seedlandscape

58. Publication: We Create Building Blocks for Sustainable Innovation
Our publication gives you knowledge, insights, and actionable ideas for you along your journey
Impact Start-Up Toolbox
How exactly can I make a living out of
driving impact?
Sustainability Dives
What are technicalities I do not know
about industry?
Sustainable Business
Breakdowns
How do existing businesses balance
impact and profit?
insight.interseed.co

59. No one person can do it
alone.
Find your place, and
grow (y)our impact.

60. Closing Thoughts
60
Sustainability takes forever.
And that’s the point.
William McDonough, 2014
“

61. That’s Why We Started Interseed
Accelerating the pace of green innovations in Southeast Asia
Be the first to make your mark:
tinyurl.com/seedlandscape
Platform
Make your mark in Green Innovation
Subscribe now:
Insight.interseed.co
(and consider getting a premium subscription for $60/year!)
Publication
Discover Green Innovation building blocks
interseed.co | hello@interseed.co

62. Q&A
From the audience