Metronome Energy’s low-cost technology which balances demands on the national energy grid during peak times won first place for the Energy Solutions category. WormingUp developed an innovation on farming of insects for effective organic waste management for agriculture and won in the Retail Supply Chain category, while Greenna’s entry on fashionable products from recycled plastics won in the Social Enterprises category.

These pioneering entrepreneurs emerged as the winners after an intense business pitch competition, beating two other entrepreneur s in their respective categories.

The winners were announced at the Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators Awards Event on 14 November 2018 in Kuching, Malaysia during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).

The winner of each category received a top prize of $20,000 and the two runners-up from each category received a prize of US $10,000. All nine winners received an award package, including mentoring support by a Shell expert, the opportunity to benefit from market linkages and the possibility to be considered as a vendor to Shell’s Retail business.

Josh Burton from Metronome Energy said: “I couldn’t believe it when I realised we had won.This $20k and the accompanying support will help us to scale up the business. This means we can help hundreds more farmers to develop new income streams that benefits not just them, but also the grid and all other energy users.

Hung Yee Wee from WormingUp said: “It is a kind of achievement for my life and I am really glad that our work has been recognised by a big brand like Shell, it proves that the things I am doing are worth doing! The money and support will enable us to expand the business and have a bigger part to play in the fight against waste by supporting us to work with communities to reduce, recycle and repurpose waste across a wider area. Thanks to the grant, our first ever organic waste upcycling Centre in Kuching is secured."

Nina Nuraniyah Udin from Greenna said: “It was such an unexpected moment when my name was called by the judge - Greenna became a global winner and that makes me feel so proud. I feel very blessed to have been able to be here and to take away such a special prize on behalf of the team which will enable Greenna to grow, achieve more and ultimately have a bigger social impact!’

The complete list of the 2018 Top Ten Innovator finalists are as follows:

2018 Top Ten Innovator Finalists

Energy Solutions

Metronome Energy UK Metronome Energy has developed low-cost technology which balances demands on the national energy grid during peak times.

Runners-up

HySiLabs France HySiLabs delivers a unique energy transportation solution, not requiring energy to release hydrogen.
Alternate Energy Ltd. Nigeria Alternate Energy provides solar and wind powered community solutions, including water treatment and off-grid solar farms.

Retail Supply Chain

WormingUp Malaysia WormingUp is an agricultural consultancy specialising in the farming of insects for effective organic waste management.

Runners-up

Wonky Drinks UK Get Wonky makes sustainable fruit juices from misshapen fruits, relieving farmers of stock going to waste.
Terravixta Brazil Terravixta’s Plástico Precioso collects and distributes waste plastics to collectors and artisan cooperatives.

Social Enterprises

Greenna Indonesia Greenna’s waste management solutions create fashionable products from recycled plastics.

Runners-up

Mulheres Do Sul Global Brazil Mulheres Do Sul Global economically empower women refugees by supporting their self-employment as seamstresses.
Ai Brique Malaysia Ai Brique are consultants in green technological solutions to improve business operations and energy efficiency.

Outstanding Achievement

De-Rabacon Plastics Nigeria De-Rabacon Plastics is a social enterprise that recycles end-consumer plastics into viable commercial products.

The nine entrepreneurs were judged by an international panel of business leaders chaired by Joerg Wienke, VP Global Retail Marketing at Shell.

 “It’s been incredibly inspiring to see passionate entrepreneurs from around the world share innovative business ideas designed to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues,” said Joerg Wienke, VP Global Retail Marketing. Achieving a truly sustainable retail business will only be possible by doing things differently. We want to partner with creative thinkers like those in this year’s Top Ten Innovators so that we can leverage their innovative mindset to improve the sustainability of our business whilst supporting them to turn their enterprising ideas into viable and long-term businesses.”

Other members of the panel are: Gaurav Gupta, Regional Director Asia and energy lead at Dalberg; Esther Wang, previous winner and Founder of Joytingle; Gwen Abiola-Oloke, Investment Director of Western Africa at GroFin; and Nurfarini Daing, Co-Founder and CEO of myHarapan, Youth Business Foundation, Malaysia.

As part of the Top Ten Innovators event, the entrepreneurs visited a Shell Retail station to collaborate and co-create innovative ideas with Shell operations and marketing employees to enhance the sustainability of the Retail business and support local communities.

Top Ten Innovators is a worldwide competition open to the alumni of Shell LiveWIRE. Its objective is to reward exceptional examples of innovation within businesses supported by the programme and to create a cohort of role models to inspire young entrepreneurs across the globe.

This year’s Awards were held in partnership with Shell Retail with the aim of identifying outstanding Shell LiveWIRE businesses which can enhance the sustainability of Shell Retail business and operations.