Adesh is passionate about creating solutions that reduce environmental impact, blending creativity and strategic thinking to promote sustainable change. With a strong focus on innovation and teamwork, he drives projects that challenge norms and support eco-friendly practices, always aiming to make waste a thing of the past.

Arkaprava Das has expertise in Marine Engineering and aquaculture. With experience in safety and operational efficiency, he transitioned into aquaculture, identifying key challenges in the sector. His work focuses on providing sustainable, tech-driven solutions to empower farmers and improve productivity and resilience.

Nandan has combined a decade of corporate experience with eight years of entrepreneurship to drive environmental conservation and rural livelihood initiatives. His organization upcycles waste plastic—such as single-use polybags, multilayered plastic, and food wrappers—using traditional Charkha and Handloom techniques. Through this, they create handcrafted accessories, bags, office utilities, and home décor while empowering youth and women from underprivileged backgrounds. He also collaborates with corporates, customizing sustainable products to align with their needs. His mission integrates traditional craftsmanship with modern sustainability, creating economic opportunities while reducing plastic waste.

Nitu Joseph is passionate about environmental sustainability, with a focus on waste management, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience. Her research has explored innovative approaches to slaughterhouse waste management and rural water quality, contributing to UNICEF WASH projects in collaboration with CSIR-NEERI. She is dedicated to developing low-cost, high-impact solutions that bridge the gap between policy and grassroots implementation, ensuring that sustainable practices benefit communities across India.

Piyush Jha, founder of Vasudeva Innovations, is tackling industrial wastewater pollution with his BioElectro Cell (BEC) technology—treating wastewater while generating green hydrogen and electricity. Driven by lived experiences in Mumbai’s slums, he combines grassroots action and innovation to advance environmental justice and sustainable development.

Shrijan Praveen Tayde leads innovative water conservation efforts, including CataClean 2.0, India’s first indigenous water trash skimmer. With a background in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, he combines technical expertise with strategic leadership, focusing on pollution management, marine waste mapping, and sustainability. His work emphasizes transforming ecosystems while fostering community empowerment and environmental stewardship.

Venkata Ramana Mattaparthi’s journey into social entrepreneurship was shaped by a life-changing storm that devastated his coastal village, exposing him to the harsh realities of climate change. Initially aspiring to be a space researcher, he shifted his focus to sustainability, working on projects like floating trash collectors and mangrove afforestation. His breakthrough came with the Elon Musk XPRIZE Carbon Removal Competition, which solidified his mission to drive large-scale carbon dioxide removal. Understanding the monumental challenge of removing over a trillion tons of CO₂ to stabilize the climate, he is committed to pioneering scalable carbon removal solutions that can transform the industry and secure a sustainable future.