Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2021

Hydroquo+ is a Dhaka-based startup that uses AI to improve water management. Founded in 2018, Hydroquo+ has developed systems and technology to detect germs in water and analyze water quality. The company also consults for government agencies and NGOs on water-quality modeling. In September, Razeen, CEO of Hydroquo+, was named one of the United Nations’ 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals who are leading efforts to combat the world’s most pressing issues.

For the first time, a total of nine Bangladeshis have made the ‘Forbes 30 under 30′ Asia list. Launched in 2011, by the prestigious business magazine Forbes, the ’30 under 30’ lists the thirty movers of shakers under the age of thirty. From 2016 till 2020, a total of nine Bangladeshis got themselves listed for their outstanding work. This year alone nine Bangladeshis under the age of thirty got listed for their work in three sectors: enterprise technology, social impact & retail & e-commerce.

Hydroquo+ co-founder Rizvana Hredita and Md Zahin Rohan Razeen

Hydroquo+, founded by Rizvana Hredita, 28 and Md Zahin Rohan Razeen, 22, provides AI-powered water management solutions that report on water quality, detect leakage, and forecast demand based on consumption.

The Dhaka-based startup was founded in 2018. They consult government agencies and NGOs on water-quality modeling.

বিখ্যাত মার্কিন ম্যাগাজিন ‘ফোর্বস’-এর এশিয়ার ৩০ বছরের কম বয়সী উদ্যোক্তা ও সমাজ পরিবর্তনকারী (চেঞ্জমেকার) তালিকায় এ বছর প্রথমবারের মতো জায়গা করে নিয়েছেন ৯ বাংলাদেশি। রয়েছেন অভিযাত্রিক ফাউন্ডেশনের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা আহমেদ ইমতিয়াজ জামি (২৭), হাইড্রোকো প্লাসের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা রিজভানা হৃদিতা (২৮) ও মো. জাহিন রোহান রাজীন (২২) ও পিকাবোর সহপ্রতিষ্ঠাতা মোরিন তালুকদার (২৭)।

AMSTERDAM – The Fashion for Good initiative has selected 10 new innovators to participate in the third batch of its South Asia Innovation Programme.

The new batch includes potential game-changers such as inks produced from greenhouse gas emissions, dyes from tea industry waste, and leather alternatives from mycelium.

It also features biopolymers from locally-sourced feedstocks like jute, dyeing and finishing innovations, inspection technologies and waste water treatment breakthroughs.

QUANTUM POLYCHEMICS (BANGLADESH)
Quantum Polychemics leverages jute (a bast fiber) bio-polymers with tunable properties and practical applications to meet the growing demand for plastic alternatives in textiles and packaging. Their current application has been used to make multiple products like their Sonali bio-bag, surgical aprons, and personal protective equipment.

Top row L-R: Aquaporin (Peter Holme), MYCL (Adi Reza), Demeta (Patrick Piot), GreenHope (Tommy Tjiptadjaja and Sugianto Tandio)
Middle Row L-R: WiseEye (Calvin Wong), t-hues (Shahid Sangani), Graviky Labs (Nikhil Kaushik, Anirudh Sharma)
Bottom row L-R: Deven Supercriticals (Swapneshu Baser), Quantum Polychemics (Zahin Razeen and Rizvana Hredita), Chlorohemp (Uday Shanker and Raghavendra Singh)

The Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent the diverse voices of youth from every region of the world, and are collectively responsible for activating millions of young people in support of the SDGs.

According to Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, amid unprecedented times, the 2020 Class are a “clear example” of how the youth are leading the way in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.

”Despite being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, young people around the world continue to demonstrate immense resilience, resourcefulness and leadership in finding innovative solutions to recover better and achieve the SDGs”, she said.