The prestigious Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award recognises groundbreaking innovators who are transforming industries ranging from healthcare and sustainability through technology and innovation.
The 2024 edition, themed ‘Tech for a Sustainable Future,’ attracted entries from 66 countries, demonstrating the program’s global reach and diverse impact. “At Cartier, we believe in the power of young leaders to drive meaningful change. The Young Leader Award is a testament to our commitment to those who contribute to shaping a better future. We are honoured to support these extraordinary individuals who are making a tangible difference in our world by inventing across sectors solutions, stimulating economic progress while improving environmental and social wellbeing,” says Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Cartier Culture and Philanthropy.
The 2024 award has awarded two winners: Didi Gan, founder of N&E Innovations and Suraj Nandakumar, co-founder and CEO of Recity Network, a Circular Plastic Asset Management Company from India that delivers environmental and economic value through ethically sourced, traceable post-consumer plastic recyclables. The runners-up, Enrico Di Oto, Founder and CEO of OACP (Italy), and Aasawari Kane, Founding member and Head of Growth at PadCare Labs (India), will each receive €10,000.
The winners will each receive a €50,000 grant, alongside global exposure and a tailored mentorship programme from this year’s academic partners, the National University of Singapore Business School (NUS) and the University of Sydney Business School.
In Singapore, I sit down with last year’s winner, Dr. Bea Bakshi, founder of C the Signs. Her inspiring seven-year journey began during a night shift in a London emergency room, where Bakshi encountered a patient whose story would change her life. The man, a former marathon runner, had been misdiagnosed with diabetes for six months before receiving a devastating late-stage pancreatic cancer diagnosis. “The system failed me,” he told her, spurring Dr. Bakshi to investigate why such cases were so common.
“Cancer is a collection of 200 different diseases that can present anywhere in the body,” Dr. Bakshi explains. “Unlike diabetes or heart disease, there’s no single test for cancer.” This complexity, combined with the fact that primary care physicians see only eight new cancer cases annually, creates a perfect storm for missed diagnoses.
In response, Dr. Bakshi and her co-founder, Dr. Miles Payling, developed C the Signs, an artificial intelligence tool that analyses patient data to identify cancer risks early. The results have been remarkable: “We had an eight to twelve percent increase in cancer detection in primary care,” says Dr. Bakshi. The technology has expanded beyond the UK to the Mayo Clinic in the United States, where it has demonstrated the ability to identify cancers up to five years before traditional diagnosis methods.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, this year’s co-winner N&E Innovations co-founder Didi Gan was tackling a different global challenge: the 2.5 billion metric tons of food waste generated annually. Growing up observing waste in food processing facilities, Gan was inspired to find innovative solutions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her childhood best friend, a PhD holder, founded N&E Innovations.
Their breakthrough came in the form of the world’s first edible antimicrobial cleaning product derived from food waste. “We turn food waste into an additive that kills germs and bacteria, just like traditional cleaning products, but it’s safe enough to eat,” Gan explains, as she sprays her disinfectant spray into a plum and takes a bite (she’s serious when she says it’s good enough to eat). The company has expanded its innovations to include biodegradable plastic wrap that extends the shelf life of fresh produce and breaks down without harmful emissions.
Both entrepreneurs faced similar challenges in bringing their innovations to market. As women in male-dominated fields, they encountered both skepticism and funding difficulties. Dr. Bakshi initially approached a major cancer charity but was told to seek funding from doctors instead. Gan and her partner self-funded their startup, achieving an impressive $440,000 in sales their first year through sheer determination.
“We couldn’t raise money in the first year,” Gan recalls. “We had no sleep, but we pushed ourselves to show people the technology works.” From producing 50 grams of their antimicrobial powder initially, N&E Innovations now manufactures 10 tons daily and reduces 200,000 tons of carbon emissions with every ton of material created.
The impact of both companies extends far beyond their original markets. C the Signs has partnered with the Mayo Clinic, while N&E Innovations has established distribution channels in Korea and Thailand, with plans to enter the European market. Both founders emphasise the importance of diversity in technology and entrepreneurship.
“We need more women in tech,” Dr. Bakshi asserts. “Technology is going to happen. It’s like a fourth industrial revolution, and women need to be part of this.” Her sentiment is echoed by Gan, who was inspired by her mother, a single parent who built a successful business while raising five children.
The Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award provides winners with not just financial support but access to a global network of entrepreneurs. The program operates in 11 cities worldwide, from Paris to Hong Kong, fostering a community of conscious leaders focused on positive social impact.
We need more women in tech. Technology is going to happen. It’s like a fourth industrial revolution, and women need to be part of this.
Dr. Bea Bakshi
“It really validates our technology on the global scale,” says Gan of winning the award. “It’s different from winning a Singapore award – this is global recognition.” Beyond the substantial grant, winners benefit from mentorship through prestigious academic partnerships and valuable networking opportunities within the RED CLUB x Cartier community.
Both entrepreneurs remain focused on their broader missions. Dr. Bakshi continues to advocate for early cancer detection and healthcare innovation, while Gan, who named her company after her children, works toward a sustainable future. “Hopefully one day, 30 years down the road, they’ll still see blue skies and not crazy 45-degree temperatures,” she says.
Their stories exemplify exactly what the Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award seeks to celebrate: entrepreneurs who combine technological innovation with social responsibility. Through their work, these innovators are not just building successful businesses; they’re creating solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, from healthcare accessibility to environmental sustainability. As the award program continues to grow, attracting worldwide innovators from dozens of countries – there was a total of 66 countries who applied for this year’s edition – it reinforces Cartier’s vision of supporting those who dare to think differently and act boldly to create positive change in our world
The next edition of the Young Leader Award is set to take place in 2026, with applications opening in autumn 2025. This new chapter will invite another wave of visionary entrepreneurs to present their transformative ideas, continuing the legacy of innovation and social impact that the current winners have established.
For more information, go to redclubcartier.com
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