In these Startup Profiles, we talked to the YSI SEA Fellows of the Innovation Programme 2020 and asked them about their startups, challenges and ideas for a more sustainable future.
Phytopia connects small farmers with simple agtech to improve efficiency while using the harvested produce to offer healthier alternatives to students and staff in universities. 🥦
Frescue is one of the startups in our Innovation Programme 2020. We talked to the YSI SEA Fellows behind Frescue: Mohd Mahmud and Christina Ong.
.Watch the video below to see them talk about their startup (at 2:58) in greater detail! Scroll down for the rest of the interview.
Mohd Mahmud
Mohd is the CEO and founder of Phytopia, who is at the same time pursuing a PhD in supply chain risk management, and also a lecturer at a public university in Malaysia.
His previous experience involves hydroponics systems, focusing on Nutrient Film Techniques and drip irrigation. He is involved in many knowledge transfer initiatives for marginalized communities such as green seaweed production, vegetable production for aboriginal communities, and giant freshwater prawn cultivation for the B40s.
Can you tell us about your startup?
The idea behind my startup is to democratize agricultural technology and to build a healthy campus community around real food.
What made you interested in social impact?
It was from my own experience in life and from the frustration that I’ve felt everyday for the past 10 years. I kept seeing poor farmers wanting to produce more from their small farms, so they can give more to their families, so they can live a better life. But with what they have now, they just can’t.
The frustration came when I knew that there were many technologies out there that can help them, and it’s no use because they don’t have access to those technologies. It’s either too expensive or they don’t know how to use it or simply because it doesn’t exist here in Malaysia. We have to do something to change that. We have to give them what they deserve.
What is a lesson you would like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs?
Humility. To realise that you can’t do it alone. It doesn’t matter how good you think you are, being an entrepreneur is not always rainbows and sunshine. You will want someone to hold your hand when things get tough. So start looking for a mentor and never stop learning.
What is success to you?
Success to me is personal. Success is when I can convince myself to take that one hard step moving forward, every time. My getting out of my comfort zone is an everyday fight, to be honest. It's a long journey, it’s everyday, it’s not one destination.
Christina Ong
Christina has an Academic Fellowship in Social Entrepreneurship & Economic Development from Brown University, and is a Certified Supply Chain Professional.
Christina met Mohd through the YSI SEA Innovation Programme 2020 and has joined the core team of Phytopia in April 2020.
How would you describe your startup in one line?
How can I improve the business processes for a hydroponic farming and salad bar social enterprise in Kelantan, Malaysia?
What made you interested in social impact?
I felt that the triple bottom line (people, planet, profit) is incomplete without the discussion of sustainability. That was what got me involved in this field, talking about social innovation and social impact, especially when it comes to “planet”.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in life so far?
I believe that it is me being unsure of my calling. This is partially because I’ve been brought up in Asia; there are many different expectations by different societal stakeholders on you.
Sometimes you just have to let go of this to really pursue what is meaning to you. It is like going against the grind. It’s quite a challenge in life, but it brings about so much opportunity for growth.
What is a lesson you would like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs?
Success to me is when I know that I’ve done my part, and if today is the day that I die, that I’ve done my best. To entrepreneurs out there: profit is a good indicator, but in the long run, we are going to be all dead. Hopefully you know what you’ve done with the works of your hands, with the intentions of your heart that it went somewhere and you made a difference in someone’s life.
Catch Mohd, Christina, and the rest of the 23 regional impact entrepreneurs at the YSI SEA Demo Day 2020!
