EQT Foundation invests in agritech company, Qarbotech
EQT Foundation invests in Qarbotech, a Malaysian based nanotech and agritech company specializing in manufacturing photosynthesis enhancers. Qarbotech’s solution aims to address food scarcity challenges and climate change through their biocompatible nanotechnology, unleashing the true potential of photosynthesis. This investment will support in deepening their presence in Malaysia and expansion to Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The winner of the EQT Impact Pitch Competition Southeast Asia, Qarbotech, has received an investment of 100k EUR from EQT Foundation as part of a 1.5mn USD seed funding round. An agritech company using nanotechnology to enhance photosynthesis in plants, Qarbotech’s solution mimics chlorophyll to improve light absorption, speeding up plant growth and increasing oxygen production. This boosts crop yields while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers by focusing on plants’ ability to utilize light, distinguishing Qarbotech from traditional soil-focused methods.
Climate change has significantly impacted crop production in Southeast Asia, causing financial losses for millions of smallholder farmers. A key issue is the inefficiency of plants’ conversion of light into sugars through photosynthesis. This limits crop yields and also reduces the plants’ ability to capture carbon dioxide and release oxygen, further exacerbating environmental issues. Qarbotech’s solution acts as a turbocharger for plant’s photosynthesis. Their chlorophyll-like compound, QarboGrow, further amplifies photosynthesis, increasing crop yields by 30% and optimising fertilizer usage by 25%.
"Qarbotech impressed us with their breakthrough in photosynthesis enhancement during our entrepreneurship competition in Southeast Asia. Their innovation demonstrates that it is possible to drive better yields and economic outcomes for farmers while reducing carbon emissions. With EQT’s global expertise in agricultural investments, we aim to help Qarbotech overcome barriers to achieving impact at scale."
Cilia Holmes Indahl, CEO EQT Foundation
"We are thrilled to be EQT Foundation’s first investment in Southeast Asia. We believe that QarboGrow can be the game changer to one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change, Southeast Asia. With funding from EQT Foundation and other investors, we are opening our first factory in Malaysia, equipped with state-of-the-art technology capable of producing 100,000 liters of QarboGrow monthly. This new facility will not only increase our production capacity but also enable us to meet the growing demand across Southeast Asia more efficiently"
Chor Chee Hoe, CEO Qarbotech
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About EQT
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization focused on active ownership strategies. With a Nordic heritage and a global mindset, EQT has a track record of almost three decades of developing companies across multiple geographies, sectors and strategies. EQT has investment strategies covering all phases of a business’ development, from start-up to maturity. EQT has EUR 269 billion in total assets under management (EUR 136 billion in fee-generating assets under management), within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets.
With its roots in the Wallenberg family’s entrepreneurial mindset and philosophy of long-term ownership, EQT is guided by a set of strong values and a distinct corporate culture. EQT manages and advises funds and vehicles that invest across the world with the mission to future-proof companies, generate attractive returns and make a positive impact with everything EQT does.
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About Qarbotech
Qarbotech is a leading sustainability and green tech company that is committed to using technology to make a positive impact on the world. The company’s flagship product, QarboGrow, is a revolutionary photosynthesis enhancer that helps farmers increase crop yields by up to 60%, while reducing their environmental footprint. With its roots in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Qarbotech is making waves across Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia, by promoting sustainable agriculture solutions that also contribute to carbon sequestration.
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