The Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Awards ceremony took place in Singapore on October 15. The annual event was a reminder of what is possible when fashion and philanthropy join forces. The awards, which honor high-impact emerging entrepreneurs who are shaping the world through technology, received 540 entries from 66 countries. The field was then narrowed down to four finalists, from which two grand prize winners were selected.

One of the grand prize winners was Didi Gan, founder of N&E Innovations, who developed an edible antimicrobial agent that reuses food waste. Suitable for both commercial and consumer use, this breakthrough technology offers a sustainable alternative to traditional disinfectants by reducing the carbon footprint. [I am deeply grateful to be a part of YLA2024, which empowers us to drive change toward a more sustainable planet by reducing the use of harmful chemicals,” Gan said.

The runner-up was Suraj Nandakumar, co-founder and CEO of Recity Network, which provides environmental and economic value through ethically sourced and traceable post-consumer plastic recyclables. The company is a recycling-oriented plastics asset management company. [Recity Network is honored to be recognized by RED CLUB x Cartier. It highlights the importance of our efforts in promoting sustainability and the plastic cycle. This honor reinforces our commitment, expands our influence, and encourages further progress toward creating a more sustainable and innovative future.”

Both winners will receive grants totaling just over $50,000, international exposure, media exposure, and mentorship from this year's university partners, the National University of Singapore Business School (NUS) and the University of Sydney Business School.

In addition, two runners-up will each receive grants totaling nearly $11,000: Enrico Di Oto, founder and CEO of OACP, and Arthawali Kane, founding member and head of growth at PadCare Labs. Di Oto's company OACP specializes in rapid cancer diagnosis, while Kane's PadCare Labs promotes menstrual hygiene management by recycling used pads into valuable materials.

The brainchild of Moulin Group CEO and co-founder Giada Zhang, Red Club x Cartier began in 2019 as a global gathering place for Chinese entrepreneurs. Since then, the club has expanded to include 40 members between the ages of 20 and 40 in 11 international chapters. The club provides funding, peer support, and mentorship opportunities to this network of young entrepreneurs from a variety of industries, including fashion, healthcare, technology, and finance, at a critical time in their careers.

“It is completely irrational to choose [entrepreneurship] because the odds of success are so small,” Chan previously told Marie Claire.

“You need to focus on deadlines and persistence, especially through fundraising, strategic planning, and creating a brand legacy.”

In 2021, the Young Leader Award was created in partnership with Cartier to further recognize and reward talent from the Red Club's growing community.

“At Cartier, we believe in the power of young leaders to make a meaningful difference. Cartier believes in the power of young leaders to make a meaningful difference,” said Cyril Vigneron, Chairman of Cartier Culture and Philanthropy.

Applications for next year's awards ceremony will open in the fall of 2025, but until then, you can follow the club on LinkedIn.