Photo: Cartier
The RED CLUB x Cartier Young Leader Award (YLA) 2024 celebrated two exceptional young innovators at a ceremony held on October 15 at the National Gallery. This year’s winners, Didi Gan of Singapore and Suraj Nandakumar of India, were recognised for their groundbreaking work in sustainability and environmental technology — an embodiment of the YLA’s 2024 theme, “Tech for a Sustainable Future.”
Their innovative solutions are making a tangible impact on global environmental challenges, from waste reduction to circular economy initiatives.
RED CLUB x Cartier, established in 2019, is a unique global community that brings together multicultural entrepreneurs who are united by a common goal: to shape a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. Driven by Cartier’s commitment to fostering innovation with a purpose, RED CLUB is designed to connect, support, and elevate the work of changemakers from diverse backgrounds, fostering a community that believes in the power of entrepreneurship to create meaningful societal impact.
In line with this mission, the Young Leader Award (YLA) was launched in 2021 to celebrate and support trailblazers aged 20 to 40 who are building socially impactful businesses. Through grants, mentorship, and visibility, the YLA equips young entrepreneurs with resources to expand their influence and scale their solutions globally. The award has quickly grown to become a hallmark of RED CLUB’s work, drawing applications from over 66 countries in 2024 alone, a testament to its reach and relevance.
Cyrille Vigneron, Cartier’s chairman of culture & philanthropy, underscored the importance of supporting the next generation of leaders: “At Cartier, we believe in the power of young leaders to drive meaningful change,” he said. “The Young Leader Award reflects our commitment to nurturing those who contribute to shaping a better future, advancing solutions that address critical challenges in sustainability, economic growth, and social welfare.”
Cartier’s chairman of culture & philanthropy Cyrille Vigneron (fifth from left) presented the trophies to 2024 edition’s joint winners, Suraj Nandakumar from India (second from left), and Didi Gan from Singapore (fourth from left) (Photo: Cartier)
This year’s YLA ceremony honoured two winners who exemplify these values through their groundbreaking innovations. Didi Gan, founder of N&E Innovations in Singapore, developed an edible antimicrobial derived from upcycled food waste. This unique product offers a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical disinfectants, significantly reducing environmental impact and offering both business and consumer applications. By using materials that would otherwise be discarded, Gan’s solution reduces carbon emissions and promotes a circular approach to waste management.
The four finalists in contention for the Young Leader Award included Enrico Di Oto, founder and CEO of OACP from Italy, and Aasawari Kane, founding member and head of growth at PadCare Labs from India (Photo: Cartier)
Each winner received a €50,000 ($71,300) grant, institutional support from the club, extensive media exposure to help expand their initiatives on a global scale, as well as a tailored mentorship programme by this edition’s university partners, the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School and the University of Sydney Business School.
The two runner-ups — Enrico Di Oto, founder and CEO of Italy-based OACP, and Aasawari Kane, founding member and head of growth of Indian company PadCare Labs — received €10,000 (S14,270) each.
The evening event, which saw a 150-guest turn-out of entrepreneurs, academics, media, and thought leaders, also featured insightful discussions on entrepreneurial innovation and the critical role of education in supporting it.
YLA’s next edition is slated for 2026, with applications opening in autumn 2025. If you’re a young visionary with transformative ideas that will benefit the world, do check in to the RED CLUB x Cartier website to find out next year’s theme.
