26 May 2025: Krufarm, a climate-tech startup created at the Asian Institute of Technology’s interdisciplinary collaboration, proudly represented AIT in the prestigious Bangkok Business Challenge (BBC) 2025, hosted by the Sasin School of Management from May 22 to 24, 2025. Competing alongside 308 teams from 82 institutions across 16 countries, Krufarm showcased a bold solution to one of Southeast Asia’s most pressing issues, agricultural waste and greenhouse gas emissions caused by open-field burning.
Krufarm is a team of five students: four from the Natural Resources Management (NRM) program under the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) – Eaindray Aung, Charm Angel Pardillo, Ojashwi Thapa, and Nawan Wangkun—and one from the Information Management program under the School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Ritik Sareen. The startup was selected as one of the 20 semi-finalists in this year’s global competition themed “Growing Impactful Ventures.” The team pitched an innovative digital platform that enables smallholder farmers to convert agricultural waste into biochar—a soil enhancer that also sequesters carbon—and access carbon credit markets through a pro-farmer digital marketplace.
Krufarm’s mission aligns with AIT’s broader commitment to sustainability and innovation. With future integration of artificial intelligence and blockchain, the platform will enable real-time traceability, monitoring, and climate impact verification.
“We envision Thailand where farmers earn more while polluting less,” shared Krufarm’s verification lead, Charm Angel Pardillo, who also represented the team in the 60-second Pitch Competition held on May 22. “This challenge pushed us to think bigger, validate our model, and pitch to real investors. It was a transformative experience.”
Supported by their faculty advisor, Dr. Takuji W. Tsusaka, the team competed in Group D alongside other cutting-edge ventures from Thailand and beyond, including Protenere and AgriConnect. Krufarm’s participation included a venture exhibit and a formal 10-minute pitch, followed by a rigorous Q&A with international judges and investors from sectors like ESG, AI, and AgriTech.
Currently in its 23rd year, the Bangkok Business Challenge @ Sasin is Asia’s longest-running global student startup competition. The 2025 edition emphasized sustainability, technological innovation, and market viability.
As Krufarm moves forward, the team is focused on contributing to the growing momentum in biochar development and building meaningful collaborations with farmers. By continuing to engage with agricultural communities and partners, Krufarm aims to refine its solution and support the transition toward more sustainable, climate-smart farming practices in Thailand and beyond.
