Ankita’s journey into the world of climate entrepreneurship began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working for a multinational company, she found herself questioning the true impact of her efforts. "What are we really doing with our time?" she pondered, as the world stood still. This introspection led her to the realization that her calling was in the climate sector. Together with Nikhil, she launched their first startup, Nature Healers, which focused on educating people about sustainable living.

Their work with Nature Healers revealed a critical insight: food waste treatment offered a substantial opportunity for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This revelation was the catalyst for BillionCarbon, which focuses on converting food waste into valuable resources using Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) technology. After a couple of years of rigorous research and development, they launched BillionCarbon in 2023, equipped with innovative, IoT-enabled bioreactors which convert food waste into valuable byproducts, including liquid biofertilizer and insect protein, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the process.

Ankita's entrepreneurial journey has not been without challenges. Balancing motherhood with running a start-up has been particularly demanding. She became pregnant shortly after founding BillionCarbon, facing physical and emotional health challenges during pregnancy and postpartum. However, this phase also taught her the importance of prioritizing initiatives, ruthlessly focusing on execution, and building a robust support system. "It’s crucial for women to proactively create a support system around them," she emphasizes, highlighting the role of her co-founder Nikhil, her husband, her parents, and her domestic helps in navigating this period.

Additionally, the flexibility of running a home office has been crucial. This experience has reinforced her belief in the need for supportive workplace policies that acknowledge and accommodate the unique challenges women face, particularly in balancing work and caregiving responsibilities. Her story calls for a broader acknowledgment of care work and its integration into the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In early 2024, BillionCarbon joined a climate tech and sustainability accelerator run by Accelerating Asia in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The accelerator was tailored exclusively for women-led start-ups in the Asia Pacific region. Ankita highlights that the mentorship, resources, exposure, and networking opportunities offered by the programme have been instrumental in navigating the complex landscape of climate tech investments??. In May 2024, at the second edition of ESCAP’s Feminist Finance Forum in Bangkok, Ankita pitched her innovation alongside other participants of the accelerator programme. She won the pitch and was awarded a seed grant of USD 5,000 to scale BillionCarbon’s work.

The roadmap for BillionCarbon is ambitious yet clear. With a goal to mitigate one billion tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030, the startup is steadily building its foundation. Ankita envisions an exponential growth trajectory, focusing on refining their technology, expanding their capacity tenfold each year, and fortifying their market position against competitors. This optimistic outlook is fuelled by the increasing recognition of climate tech as a critical investment area and the rising willingness of investors to fund innovative solutions in this space??. Ankita is also ready to overcome challenges and stay resilient. "It's never a no; it’s always about finding other ways of doing it," she says, encapsulating the spirit of BillionCarbon.

BillionCarbon’s story is not just about environmental innovation – it's a testament to the power of women entrepreneurship and the essential role of care work in building sustainable businesses. Their journey illustrates that with the right support and a strong commitment to holistic values, it is possible to turn ambitious ideas into impactful realities. As the world grapples with climate change, the contributions of companies like BillionCarbon, supported by initiatives such as the Accelerating Asia - ESCAP accelerator programme, offer hope and direction for a greener, more inclusive future.