The winners of the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2025
(from left) Heng Li Lang (Head, Climate & Liveability, Temasek Foundation), David Fernando Audy (Director, Sinar Mas Agribusiness & Food), Ng Boon Heong (Executive Director and CEO, Temasek Foundation), Teo Ming Kian (Board Director, Temasek Foundation), Rachmat Kaimuddin (Chair of ISF Organising Committee & Deputy Coordinating Minister for Basic Infrastructure, Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Indonesia), Diaz Hendropriyono (Vice Minister of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia), Shelly Xu (Founder and CEO, SXD AI), Nicole Mah (Policy Lead and Projects, Arukah Capital), Andrew Murray (Founder and CEO, Aslan Renewables), Avina Sugiarto (Partner, East Ventures), HE Kwok Fook Seng (Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Republic of Indonesia), Dharsono Hartono (Vice Chairman of Environment, Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Ferro Ferizka Aryananda (Special Advisor for Coordinating Ministry of Human Development & Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia), Bernard Tan (Chairman of Sustainability Committee, APP Sinar Mas), Abraham Hidayat (Managing Partner, Skystar Capital), and Melisa Irene (Partner, East Ventures)

East Ventures and Temasek Foundation are pleased to announce the conclusion of the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge (CIIC) 2025, Indonesia’s largest competition for climate tech innovations. This programme officially began its inspiring journey on 5 March 2025 and culminated in the Grand Finale on 11 October 2025. This event was featured as a thematic session of the prestigious Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF) 2025 at the Jakarta International Convention Center.

The CIIC was launched with the mission to identify and support groundbreaking climate innovations ready to be piloted and scaled up in Indonesia. The challenge focused on three tracks: Energy Transition, Sustainable Agriculture, and Circular Economy. Each of these tracks plays a critical role, essential for the global shift towards sustainability and climate resilience.

This year's edition of the CIIC 2025 garnered overwhelming global interest, attracting about 500 global applicants from more than 50 countries. From this highly competitive pool, nine finalists were selected. Over the past several months, these innovators have benefited from intensive mentorship by industry leaders, working to refine their projects and maximise their potential to create lasting, positive environmental impact.

“The return of the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2025 marks an important milestone in empowering the next wave of climate innovators. Sustainability and positive impact have always been embedded in East Ventures’ DNA, and this year, we are excited to witness even more groundbreaking solutions – many of which harness AI to drive productivity and accelerate climate action. We are grateful to continue this mission with Temasek Foundation and our supporting partners, and deeply inspired by all participants who have gone above and beyond to present their best ideas in building a more resilient and sustainable Southeast Asia – for today, tomorrow, and generations to come,” said Avina Sugiarto, Partner at East Ventures.

Following an intense and careful deliberation, a panel of four judges, comprising prominent investors and industry leaders, selected three winners who were awarded a total prize pool of Rp10 billion and exclusive strategic support.

The three winners of the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2025 are:

• Aslan Renewables, winner of the Energy Transition track, who is developing modular hydropower without dams or large reservoirs, generating low-cost electricity with up to 86 per cent efficiency.
• Arukah Capital, winner of the Sustainable Agriculture track, who is generating clean energy and bioproducts from agriculture waste, while committing 50 per cent of carbon revenue to smallholder farmers.
• SXD AI, winner of the Circular Economy track, who is co-designing and scaling zero material waste garments, delivering 10x material savings, 80 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions, and up to 55 per cent cost savings.

Additionally, Sinar Mas Agribusiness & Food also awarded Arukah Capital a grant of US$50,000.

“As a robust sustainability launchpad, CIIC can help Aslan Renewables, Arukah Capital, and SXD AI and other stakeholders de-risk, move from pitch to pilot, and scale their solutions for impact across Indonesia and beyond. We look forward to working with East Ventures and other like-minded partners to build CIIC up with even stronger applicant quality, broader partner commitment, and clearer adoption pathways for a more climate resilient net-zero future,” said Heng Li Lang, Head, Climate & Liveability at Temasek Foundation.

“It is an absolute honour to participate in the journey and meet everyone involved, from Temasek Foundation as well as East Ventures. CIIC has been a great partner since the beginning. We are really excited to announce that we will be deploying a pilot in Indonesia within the next six months. We have been working with local partners through CIIC's process, and we cannot wait to start breaking ground and creating new scalable sources of baseload power right here in the country,” said Andrew Murray, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aslan Renewables.

“We are thrilled and humbled to win the Sustainable Agriculture track at CIIC, an event that spotlights Indonesia's resources and world-class talent for global-scale climate innovation. Arukah’s model is built on our conviction that decarbonisation and poverty alleviation can be powerful complements. Many thanks again for the catalytic support of East Ventures and Temasek Foundation, Sinar Mas Agribusiness’s generous grant, and all partners we have met through CIIC,” said Joanna Yeo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arukah Capital.

“SXD is honoured to win the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2025. Our thanks to East Ventures and Temasek Foundation for championing zero waste. Indonesia is special to us: while among the most climate-exposed geographies, it is also a manufacturing powerhouse capable of leading us into a better future. With CIIC’s support, we are excited to partner with supplier leaders across the region – from apparel to automotive – to make zero waste design the new standard,” said Shelly Xu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SXD AI.

Climate Impact Innovations Challenge 2025 is supported by several partners, including Strategic Partners: PLN, Triputra Agro Persada; Investor Partner: Sinar Mas Agribusiness & Food; and many others.