Efforts to promote eco-friendly polymers were highly praised, and won the award as an entrepreneur under 30 who will lead the next generation in Asia

Polymer EF Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture/ Founder and CEO: Narayan Lal Gharjar, hereinafter “EF Polymer”), which develops 100% organic super absorbent polymers, has recently announced that Narayan Ghaljal has been selected for “Forbes Under 30 Asia 2024” announced by Forbes. Also, Ankit Jain (Ankit Jain), a co-founder who has been involved with EF Polymer since its inception and serves as CBDO, was also selected for this list along with Narayan.

About Forbes Under 30 Asia 2024

Forbes Under 30 has been held by the US “Forbes (Forbes)” since 2011, and it is an award that sheds light on young talents leading the next generation under 30 to projects they are focusing on globally. Currently, in addition to the US edition, it is being held in 25 countries/regions, including European, Asian, and African editions. This time, people leading the industry were selected from 10 fields for the Asian version of “Forbes Under 30,” and EF Polymer's Narayan Gharjar was selected in the “Industry, Manufacturing & Energy” category.

10 minute field for Forbes Under 30

• Entertainment & sports
• Finance & Venture Capital
• Enterprise Technology
• Media, Marketing & Advertising
• Consumer technology
• Industry, Manufacturing & Energy
• The Arts (Art, Style, Drink)
• Social impact
• Retail & eCommerce
• Healthcare & Science

Narayan Ghaljal, founder and CEO of EF PolymerIt is stated as follows. “We are delighted that our efforts, which began with a wholehearted desire to support farmers around the world suffering from water shortages, have received sympathy and have been praised in this way. Recently, environmental awareness is rising and the number of people working on sustainability on a global scale is pleasing, but “cooperation” is key in order to have a real impact that will change the world. I believe that startups like ours can create new value and synergy by collaborating with large companies, and become a breakthrough to overcome conventional barriers. EF Polymer will continue to work with people who sympathize with our vision and efforts to resolve environmental and social issues.”

EF Polymer plans to raise Series B funding next spring. In particular, we need support for expanding our overseas business centered on the United States, which is a priority development area, and we are looking for partnerships that include overseas investors.

Related sites

• Forbes Under Asia 20204 winners list
• https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2024/asia/
• About Forbes Under 30 Asia 2024 (English page)https://www.forbes.com/sites/ranawehbe/2024/05/15/meet-the-forbes-30-under-30-asia-class-of-2024/?sh=71f82fe45955

Narayan Gharjahl's Biography and EF Polymer History

EF Polymer Co., Ltd. Founder and CEO Narayan Ghaljal (26 years old)

They are from a rural village with a population of about 300 people in Rajasthan, India.

• When I was in high school in 2014, I saw how my father, who is a farmer, was worried that crops would not grow due to lack of water, and thought about the concept of technology
• In 2018, we developed a prototype of EF polymer. He started a business while attending an agricultural university in India (agricultural engineering major) (currently India Production Company). 20 years old at the time
• 2019 Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)acceleratorsCame to Japan in the wake of being selected
• EF Polymer Co., Ltd. was established in Onna-mura in 2020 (headquarters) and sales began in the Indian market
• Sales start in the Japanese market in 2021
• 2023 Series A funding raised 550 million yen, and sales began in the US market
• In 2024, the plant in India was expanded and relocated, sales began in the French market, and a local subsidiary was established in Delaware, USA

As of 2024/5, there are 18 people enrolled at the Okinawa headquarters (including overseas/remote work) and just under 40 people at the India office.

About EF Polymer

EF Polymer Co., Ltd. is a deep tech startup born in India and raised in Okinawa that develops technology globally. By upcycling fruit residues that have been discarded conventionally, such as orange peels, we have developed “EF Polymers,” which are 100% organic super absorbent polymers (SAP), and are being developed as agricultural materials. It was established in Okinawa in 2020 and is currently promoting business based in India and Japan. Furthermore, through collaboration with companies, we are developing products using naturally derived SAP for ice packs, daily necessities, cosmetics, etc. Through the dissemination of our products, we aim to solve environmental problems centered on water shortages.https://ja.efpolymer.com/

Related coverage

• Okinawa TV:EF Polymer Founders Selected by US Economic Journal “30 People Who Will Change the World”
• Okinawa Times:2 EF Polymer Founders Selected as Next-Generation Ken-Inducing Entrepreneurs
• Ryukyu Shimpo:Mr. Gharjar on “Forbes” EF polymer from OIST

‍