Climate change, which has become the topic of discussion at most forums, took an interesting turn when the students of the Thiagarajar School of Management (TSM) presented their ideas towards tackling the issue in their own way.

From going organic to waste management, tapping renewable energy to green buildings, ideas poured in. Incidentally, the course on Climate Change and Entrepreneurship seemed to have inspired them into thinking something different, go beyond mobile app.

Mridula Ramesh, Course Instructor and founder of Sundaram Climate Institute, said ideas were aplenty, but for want of time, they had shortlisted five for presentation before a jury at the Climate Change and Entrepreneurship Start Up Contest - Grand Finale.

After the presentation by the five teams, the jury comprising Venky Natarajan, Managing Partner, Lok Advisory Services Pvt Ltd, K Venugopal, Director, Kasturi & Sons (publishers of The Hindu ), Manikam Ramaswami, Chairman, TSM and Mridula Ramesh acknowledged the Green Bindings team as winners and the Drink Rite team for runner-up prize. The winners presented a business plan on making eco-friendly cement using fly-ash and slag waste, while the runner-up team focussed on clay-water dispenser as replacement for pet bottles.

The runner-up team comprising Ramya Jenefer Grace, Jaya Vignesh, Sri Hariprasath, Nivethitha P and Santhanam said they intended to patent their product. The Institute chairman assured all possible assistance in obtaining the patent. Lauding the efforts taken by each of the teams, Venugopal urged the students to set goals and work with passion to realise it.

Lok Capital, which has been investing in early and growth stage enterprises, has made 30 investments till date across various sectors, said Venky Natarajan, emphasising the importance of incorporating cash flows in the presentation.

Voicing concern about environmental degradation and its impact on climate, the founder of Sundaram Climate Institute called upon the students to come up with solutions in the interest of a larger society. “Like all problems, these trends present opportunity,” she said, underscoring the collective need to save Mother Earth.

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