Nine out of the ten shortlisted teams at Pitch Day comprised members from different countries.

New Delhi, Delhi, India & Singapore – Business Wire India Three cross-border teams emerged as winners at the Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF) Climate Hack 2024 Pitch Day recently, marking the finale of the five-month programme which began in September 2024. First launched in 2021, Climate Hack aims to equip individuals in Asia with digital skills to develop and accelerate tech-driven solutions for climate change.

The winning teams were represented by 13 youths from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The winning ideas included strategic cross-sector partnerships to ensure scalability, personalised user experiences to address unique needs, and more cost-effective alternatives to existing solutions.

More than 300 youths from 27 countries participated in the programme to develop climate solutions. They received training from leading industry experts in areas such as digital proficiencies, problem-solving skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and best practices in presenting and marketing their ideas. Nine out of the ten shortlisted teams comprised youths from different countries, reflecting the criticality of collaboration in addressing climate challenges.

Ms. Manvitha Yalamanchili, a member of Sustainloop and a Climate Hack 2024 winner from India said: “When I first connected with my teammates from Malaysia and the Philippines, we found that we shared the same dream of creating meaningful impact in the climate space despite coming from different countries. That is what brought us together to form Sustainloop. Our team’s diverse backgrounds allowed us to gain insights from different industries, and I am thrilled to have found inspiring mentors in my teammates.” Mr Jaryll Chan, SIF Executive Director, Programmes Division, said: “Climate change affects every single one of us as we live in an interconnected world. At the SIF, we believe in driving collaborations to develop solutions for a better world.” Winning Teams Announced at Pitch Day of Climate Hack 2024 At Pitch Day, 10 shortlisted teams presented their tech-driven solutions to a panel of judges. They addressed environmental challenges in areas such as natural resource management, land use, transport, waste management, and ecological economics.

Three winning teams were chosen based on their creativity, persuasiveness, teamwork, and the impact and feasibility of their solution. They are: 1. E-Connect (Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Philippines) 2. SustainIQ (Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Philippines) 3. Sustainloop (India, Malaysia, and the Philippines) Additionally, Ecovolve (Cambodia, Indonesia, and Singapore), received the People’s Choice Award. The award was based on voting on social media leading up to Pitch Day and by the live audience during the event.

All four teams will visit Singapore in March this year to learn more about the Singapore Green Plan 2030 – a whole-of-nation movement to advance Singapore’s national agenda on sustainable development.

Ms Carla Gomez Briones, Climate and Sustainability Specialist, United Nations Development Program Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (Singapore) was one of the judges at Pitch Day. She shared: “The ingenuity and depth of thought demonstrated by the teams have been truly inspiring. From tackling diverse challenges like natural resource management to rethinking waste systems, these young changemakers have shown a remarkable ability to innovate with purpose and impact. Their solutions not only address urgent climate issues but also reflect the power of collaboration across borders to create a sustainable future.” Ms Sheena Joy Palcis, a member of E-Connect from the Philippines said: “Climate Hack has helped me gain insights on turning my climate-resilient ideas into action. Through the workshops, I gained skills to develop an impactful and practical solution. The feedback and resources that I received from our mentors and trainers also helped to ensure that our team’s solution remains relevant amidst a rapidly evolving global landscape. There is still much to be done in building a more sustainable society, but I am hopeful for a brighter future with all the youth-led innovations that were presented at Pitch Day!” Climate Hack 2024 was organised in collaboration with key partners Action for Change in Southeast Asia (ActSEA), Kidzstarter, and Temporary Local. It was supported by volunteer trainers and mentors from IT consultancy Cognizant, social impact organisation DataKind Singapore, and volunteering platform TheOneHourProject, as well as individual professionals who volunteered in their own capacity.

Since 2021, Climate Hack has trained close to 1,000 youths from 24 countries across Asia. Collectively, the programme’s participants have developed 130 digital prototypes and solutions to address climate-related challenges.

In 2021, Climate Hack received the World Bank Digital Skills Innovation Award in the Lifelong Learning category for its programme innovation in advancing digital proficiencies in Asia.

About the Singapore International Foundation The Singapore International Foundation aims to build eco-systems to catalyse change for a better world. We bring together people from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors across countries to harness the collective strength that is needed to address shared environmental and social challenges. Our work is focused in the areas of climate, digital, education, health, justice, and youth. We believe that cross-boundary collaboration is critical to foster sustainable solutions in an interconnected world. Find out more at www.sif.org.sg About Action for Change in Southeast Asia Action for Change in Southeast Asia (ActSEA) (formerly WISE - WASH in Southeast Asia) is a regional non-profit organisation that contributes towards an equitable and sustainable Southeast Asia by nurturing leaders who are empowered to effect change and amplify impact. Registered in Indonesia and Singapore, and active in the Philippines and Cambodia, ActSEA builds local teams that promote autonomy, professional development, and personal well-being, through community-centred initiatives, programmes, and projects.

Sector-agnostic, its path is driven by the aspiration and needs of the communities they work with. Thus, ActSEA has worked on different areas (public health, environment, livelihoods, education, gender, disaster response) and utilised different approaches (community development, behaviour change, research, advocacy, research, capacity building).

About Kidzstarter Kidzstarter is an entrepreneurial educational network dedicated to providing programs and initiatives that: 1. Support youths in developing transferable skills to navigate and transition into the future of work.

2. Help corporations attract and retain young talent through tailored solutions.

Their vision is to empower, enable, and equip 500,000 agents of change by 2030 with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to navigate the future of work. Kidzstarter aims to cultivate a dynamic and inclusive environment where these leaders are prepared to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape through our programs, approach, and mentorship.

About Temporary Local Temporary Local is a community platform focused on helping individuals to thrive with their social purpose and make this world a better place with a strong community. Through supporting Social Enterprises and capacity building individuals to be an active citizen, Temporary Local strives to forge a community of mutually supportive collaborators. Temporary Local curates experiences and opportunities to bridge the skill and community gaps within social issues.

To View the Image, Click on the Link Below: Three teams, comprising 13 youths from five countries, emerged as winners at the Climate Hack 2024 Pitch Day event on 22 February 2025.

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