Emre Caglar is the founder of Youth for a Future, a nonprofit organization working to empower children living in orphanages across Japan through education, mentorship, and self-discovery.

In this episode, Emre shares his journey from launching a student club focused on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs) to building a growing youth-led movement for social impact.

We delve into the challenges of working in the nonprofit sector, the emotional weight of leadership, and the deep importance of sustainability and collaboration when creating lasting change. Emre also reflects on how a pivotal experience at the One Young World summit shaped his vision and helped him build a community around youth empowerment.

From quiet moments of connection in Japan’s orphanages to big-picture dreams for the future of education, Emre brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective to social entrepreneurship.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about purpose, resilience, and the transformative power of giving young people the tools to shape their own futures.

Highlights: 00:00 Empowering Youth for a Brighter Future

10:06 The Journey of Youth for Future

20:05 Impacting Lives: Stories from the Orphanages

30:10 Challenges and Growth in Nonprofit Leadership

Follow Emre and his team at Youth for Future here: https://www.yfforg.com/ Follow Emre’s LinkedIn and Instagram accounts here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emrecaglar2005/

https://www.instagram.com/emre._caglar/

Zachary Brown is a Co-Founder of Creattura, a climate tech startup dedicated to reducing methane emissions from rice farming through cutting-edge AI, satellite data, and sustainable agricultural practices. In this episode, Zachary shares his inspiring journey from a self-taught tech enthusiast to a social entrepreneur driving innovation in climate solutions.

He delves into the challenges of integrating technology with agriculture, particularly in addressing the significant environmental impact of rice farming. Zachary also discusses the importance of data-driven solutions, the role of carbon credits in promoting sustainable practices, and the critical need for community engagement in successful climate projects.

Through personal stories, he reflects on the lessons learned from his transition into social entrepreneurship, his motivations for tackling climate change, and his vision for the future of sustainable agriculture in Southeast Asia and Japan.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Zachary on how technology, collaboration, and innovation are shaping a more sustainable future.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Climate Tech and Creattura

02:11 Zach's Background and Journey into Tech

05:41 Life in Zambia and Its Influence

10:27 The Birth of Creattura and Its Mission

16:47 Addressing Methane Emissions from Rice Farming

20:37 Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture

24:09 Utilizing Satellite Technology for Climate Impact

28:00 Harnessing Satellite Data for Agricultural Innovation

32:05 Community Engagement in Agricultural Projects

34:57 Personal Stories of Impact and Inspiration

39:01 Lessons from Social Entrepreneurship

40:58 Ensuring Integrity in Carbon Credits

45:59 Future Projects and Expansions

Follow Zachary and his team at Creattura here:

https://creattura.com/

Narayan Lal Gurjar, the founder and CEO of EF Polymer, has a mission to solve one of agriculture’s most pressing issues—water scarcity. Hailing from a farming community in Rajasthan, India, Narayan’s journey into agri-tech was deeply personal, inspired by his father’s struggles with water shortages.

In this episode, Narayan opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, sharing the challenges, setbacks, and successes in creating a sustainable, food waste-derived solution that helps farmers thrive in water-scarce areas. He reflects on the importance of perseverance and resourcefulness, stressing how crucial these traits were in transforming his idea into a reality. Narayan also touches on the critical role mentorship, education, and community support played in his growth.

Join us for an insightful conversation on innovation, sustainability, and how Narayan’s vision is making a lasting impact on both farmers and the planet. Discover the trials of building a startup from the ground up and the valuable lessons that have shaped his path toward empowering millions of farmers worldwide.

Highlights

00:00 Introduction to Narayan Lal Gurjar and EF Polymer

02:32 Narayan's Early Life and Inspiration

12:10 The Journey of Innovation and Prototype Development

26:30 Overcoming Challenges and Building a Startup

29:18 Innovative Solutions for Water Scarcity

30:54 Overcoming Challenges in Entrepreneurship

41:23 Key Learnings and Reflections

46:56 Scaling and Future Aspirations

48:14 What Not to Do as an Entrepreneur

Follow Narayan and his team at EF Polymer here: https://efpolymer.com/

Riki Yamauchi is a venture capitalist at Novastar Ventures, focused on driving sustainable growth through impactful investments in Africa. In this episode, Riki shares his journey from a successful finance career in Japan to becoming a leading advocate for startup innovation in Africa.

Riki discusses the unique opportunities and challenges of venture capital in Africa, highlighting how startups are innovating to solve local problems and drive positive change. He also reflects on the importance of measuring impact in his investments, the critical role of building trust in the venture capital space, and how young entrepreneurs are shaping Africa’s future.

Join us as Riki shares his personal experiences, lessons learned from navigating a new market, and offers advice to aspiring changemakers looking to make a difference through business and investment.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, sustainable growth, and the transformative potential of venture capital in Africa.

Highlights:

03:11 Riki's Journey: From Finance to Venture Capital

06:02 Understanding Venture Capital: A New Perspective

15:07 Spotlight on Startups: Innovations in Africa

17:56 Life in Kenya: Surprises and Insights

21:14 Challenges Faced: Personal and Professional Growth

24:05 The Drive for Impact: Riki’s Motivation

26:58 Reflections on Growth: Lessons Learned

29:46 Advice for Aspiring Change Makers

33:09 Future Endeavors: What's Next for Riki and NovaStar

Follow Riki and his team at Novastar Ventures here:https://www.novastarventures.com/

Dedy Tien is the Founder of the Peduli Learning Center, a nonprofit organisation empowering children in rural Indonesia through education.

Growing up in a remote village without electricity, Dedy’s journey to becoming an education innovator and social entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring.

In this episode, Dedy shares how he transformed his personal challenges into a passion for providing local children with essential skills such as English proficiency, entrepreneurship, and communication.

He delves into the evolution of Peduli Learning Center, discussing the hurdles he faced in building the organisation, as well as the impact it has on the community.

Dedy also explores the role of mentors and the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT to improve the learning experience for both students and educators.

Join us for a deep dive into the importance of continuous learning, the power of mentorship, and how technology is shaping the future of education in rural communities.

Highlights

06:36 A Growing Interest in Social Entrepreneurship 15:55 Challenges and Growth of the Peduli Learning Center 32:52 Using AI Tools like ChatGPT in Education 44:33 Key Skills for Students and Future Plans

Follow Dedy & the Peduli Learning Centre here: https://peduli.school/

Thomas Chevallier, Co-founder and Director of Plant the Seed, launched a community-run organic farm as a student. Years later, this evolved into an impact-driven business providing end-to-end waste management solutions to South African schools and businesses.

Plant the Seed has diverted 100,000+kgs of waste from landfills through its innovative ‘Zero Waste Toolkit’, as well as empowering 17,000+ people, including 1,000+ educators, with training in recycling and waste management.

We follow Thomas’ journey from starting a student movement to leading a revolutionary waste management business. He explores the challenges and successes of turning a passion into a business, finding ‘bleeding neck problems’, and how his team uses creative videos and nudges to drive behaviour change in schools.

Join us for an uplifting conversation about entrepreneurship, waste management, perseverance, education, and Thomas’ ongoing mission for a cleaner, greener future. Highlights

06:09 Launching the Student Organic Farm 11:01 Challenges in Establishing a Sustainable Business 16:05 Identifying the 'Bleeding Neck Problem' 24:02 The Zero Waste Toolkit: A Comprehensive Solution 30:33 Systems Thinking in Action 37:11 Bridging Gaps: Education and Infrastructure 44:34 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Challenges and Motivations 50:20 Key Learnings, Reflections & Future Aspirations

Follow Thomas & Plant The Seed here: https://planttheseed.co.za/

Anaiah Singh is a 15-year-old changemaker and the creator of HeartTalk, an app transforming teen mental health through peer-to-peer voice messaging.

Inspired by her own struggles with bullying and isolation, Anaiah is on a mission to provide a lifeline for teens facing loneliness and mental health challenges.

Her Instagram account reached 30 million+ people and the beta version of her app attracted 3,000+ users within weeks.

In this episode, Anaiah shares her journey from a struggling middle schooler to a teen entrepreneur, discussing the youth mental health crisis and the challenges of building a supportive community. She reflects on personal growth, resilience, and the lessons learned in bringing her vision to life.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about using technology for good, building human connection, and Anaiah’s dream of a world where no teen feels alone.

Highlights

• 00:00 Anaiah’s Story
• 08:48 The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health
• 15:54 Building the MVP and Going Viral
• 20:57 Overcoming Challenges in Social Media
• 26:27 Reflections on Personal Growth
• 31:31 Encouragement for the Younger Self

Follow Anaiah and HeartTalk here: https://hearttalk.app/welcome_page

"What is your dream?" That was the question Taichi Ichikawa, CEO of World Road, asked 201 young people from 201 countries.

Their answers are captured in his groundbreaking book, “We Have a Dream”, a collection of stories from around the globe focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Taichi’s mission to empower young people quickly expanded beyond the page, inspiring a TV series on the Discovery Channel that showcases these powerful stories.

We explore how Taichi turned his vision into a global platform, building an education and training company, navigating the challenges of cross-cultural storytelling, and harnessing the power of community to drive change.

Join us for an uplifting conversation on dreaming big, resilience, and the power of storytelling to unite 201 countries with one vision.

Highlights 03:03 Taichi's Journey: From Struggles to Inspiration 09:02 The Birth of World Road and Its Mission 11:56 Creating the Book: We Have a Dream 18:07 Documentary and Media Collaborations 21:04 Reflections on Inspiration and Community Support 30:00 The Power of Vision and Support 38:59 Common Threads in Dreams and Goals 44:08 Advice for Aspiring Changemakers 50:00 Finding Your Dream and Role Models

Follow Taichi & the World Dream Project: www.instagram.com/worlddreamproject