PepsiCo has announced Alternō as the winner of its 2024 Greenhouse Accelerator Program in APAC. The program supports sustainable innovation in the food and beverage industry and aims to inspire change through collaboration.
The Greenhouse Accelerator is an important initiative within PepsiCo’s pep+ strategy, which seeks to promote sustainability across the company’s operations. By supporting entrepreneurs who focus on reducing waste, improving food security, and addressing climate change, PepsiCo is reinforcing its efforts to work towards a sustainable food system that benefits both people and the planet.
Selected from a group of 10 finalists across APAC, including Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, and China, the 2024 Greenhouse Accelerator Program winner, Alternō, was selected for its pioneering approach to reducing carbon emissions across agriculture, industry, and residential heating through thermal energy.
As part of their win, Alternō will receive an additional USD 100,000 grant to further develop its solution. This grant will be instrumental in helping them to scale their sand-based battery, which was recently piloted at PepsiCo’s Foods plan in Vietnam, completing a pellet drying project with a view to trial heating oil next.
“Winning PepsiCo’s APAC Greenhouse Accelerator Program 2024 is a pivotal moment for our startup,” said Hai Ho, Co-Founder and COO of Alternō. “PepsiCo’s mentorship and resources have helped us sharpen our strategy and accelerate our growth. We look forward to further collaborating with PepsiCo to expand the reach of our solution and contribute to a more sustainable future.”
The Greenhouse Accelerator Program is designed to be a launchpad for startups that are reimagining the future of business through sustainability. Participants receive personalised mentorship from PepsiCo executives, a USD 20,000 grant, and access to PepsiCo’s extensive industry network, positioning them to bring their innovative solutions to market faster.
Three of the 2024 finalists are based in Australia—ELIoT Energy, Wildfire Energy, and X-Centric—delivering innovative projects that address climate action and promote sustainable agriculture. Captivate Technology, representing New Zealand, brings forward a solution focused on climate action. As Australia advances toward its Net Zero Plan, the government has recognised agriculture and energy as critical sectors for achieving its sustainability goals.
Wern-Yuen Tan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), APAC and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of PepsiCo, remarked, “The APAC Greenhouse Accelerator Program goes beyond celebrating a single winner; it highlights the growing momentum behind sustainable innovation. Through our pep+ strategy, PepsiCo is proud to support visionary entrepreneurs who are helping to build a future where businesses and the planet can thrive. By fostering collaboration, mentorship, and access to resources, we’re helping to scale innovative ideas that seek to address critical environmental and social challenges. This program represents an investment in the future of our planet, and we look forward to continuing this journey, ensuring these solutions can continue to grow and benefit generations to come.”
A diverse panel of judges evaluated the startups based on their innovation, feasibility, scalability, and alignment with PepsiCo’s sustainability goals. The panel included Pariwat Wongsamran, Deputy Executive Director of the Innovation System at National Innovation Agency; Yosavee Niranvichaiya, Senior Investment Manager for Thailand at Circulate Capital; Oranuch Lerdsuwankij, CEO and Co-Founder of Techsauce Investor; Alan Choi, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at PepsiCo APAC; Ashley Brown, Vice President of Supply Chain ANZ and Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo APAC; and Sudipto Mozumdar, GM, IndoChina Foods and CCO for APAC at PepsiCo.
In just four months, the 2024 Greenhouse Accelerator Program has launched seven startup pilots within PepsiCo’s value chain, focusing on Climate Action, Sustainable Agriculture, and Circular Economy, which are tackling challenges like reducing carbon emissions, improving resource efficiency, and fostering circular supply chains. Building on the success of the 2023 cohort, which now has four pilots running at various stages, the 2024 pilots are setting the stage for improved environmental and operational impact.
Among last year’s participants, TURN, a finalist, has successfully partnered with Gatorade to launch the Gatorade x TURN reusable cup, which is currently being piloted with AFLW and AFL clubs in Australia. The initiative is expected to replace approximately 200,000 single-use cups, exemplifying the impact that Greenhouse startups can have on sustainability. Adiona – a startup based in Australia, that brings real-time data visibility to delivery operations – is already in a second-phase pilot with wheels on the ground, analysing PepsiCo’s delivery data and proposing efficiency improvements at its Tingalpa plant. These enhancements can potentially reduce the distance traveled and, consequently, help to lower CO2 emissions.
Last year’s GHAC winner, Powered Carbon, has reached multiple business milestones since participation. Powered Carbon has to date provided its low-carbon bio-fertilizer to PepsiCo’s potato fields across Guangdong, Shandong, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia. Since participating in the Greenhouse Accelerator program, Powered Carbon has not only raised market awareness and attracted the attention of investors but has also enjoyed a six-fold surge in income since August 2023.
PepsiCo is exploring a third edition of the Greenhouse Accelerator Program in APAC, set for 2025. To date, startups across the previous 11 editions worldwide have generated a total of USD 200 million in annual revenue, showcasing the program’s ability to fuel growth and support the launch of sustainable solutions.
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