Climate Drinks — not a cocktail, but definitely a strong mix.
A quiet climate buildout from the South — where founders engineer change before the headlines arrive.
I attended the Climate Drinks meetup in Chennai yesterday, hosted by Pratap Raju of Climate Collective. No panels. No pitches. Just real conversations with founders, funders, and ecosystem builders shaping India’s climate future from the grassroots up.
Pratap opened with an insightful walkthrough of Climate Collective’s support across the Global South.
What stood out for me:
🍊 Mosambi Tech — their soon-to-launch platform to connect climate founders, incubators, accelerators, CSR teams, and funders. A digital bridge for a fragmented ecosystem.
I joined with Safar Rahman — founder of RecycleNXT, Dense, and SpaceNXT — innovating across waste-tech, circularity, and aerospace skilling.
Also with me: Manasa Sai Sekar from Saint-Gobain Research India, where industrial innovation meets sustainability.
Conversations that stood out to me:
🛰 Lakshmi Vaidyanathan & Dr. Shubhra Shukla of Gyrfalcon IntelliEdge – developing edge AI + IoT platforms for real-time, climate-smart infrastructure.
🚘 Mohammed Rameez Khan of AquaWrap – creating flood-resistant car covers tailored for cities facing increasing climate volatility.
📊 Venugopal Ravi of ClimActo – enabling companies in the built environment to measure, manage, and reduce emissions through smart, sector-specific GHG accounting platforms.
⚙️ Sriram Gopal of Viridian Ingni Propulsion – developing rare-earth-free electric motors and controllers to power net-zero goals in mobility and industry.
🪨 Tapan Ghosh & Pavithra Sathyanarayanan, co-founders of RubiscoBlack – a Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) startup accelerating the weathering of silicate rocks for permanent carbon sequestration.
🔆 Srikaanth Sarangapani of SunWind Eco Technologies – delivering turnkey solar EPC solutions and pioneering waterless panel-cleaning tech to power India’s clean energy transition.
🌱 R.P. Shivakumar of Puviyan – building digital-first sustainability tools that empower individuals, institutions, and communities to embed climate action into daily life and decision-making.
🌿 Mohamed Sameer of F and F Foundation – driving grassroots climate education through school eco clubs, youth-led research, and environmental programs that blend sustainability with social equity and actionable change.
🌿 Dinesh Shankaran of DS Groups – leading a mission to make sustainable living accessible through eco-friendly and organic products, helping communities embrace a greener lifestyle.
🏛️ Krithika Venkatesh of Studio for Earthen Architecture – reviving vernacular building traditions through climate-responsive, lime-based architecture that blends heritage techniques with modern sustainability.
🛠️ Vishnu Devadas & Divya Venkat of SolidPro Engineering Support Pvt Ltd – delivering advanced sustainability services through digital solutions, accelerating Industry 4.0 adoption and net-zero transitions across sectors.
🌐 Muskan Goidani – leading investments and partnerships at Vidhai and Vaanam Space, while also serving as the Chennai lead for The Climate Party®, fostering climate innovation and community engagement.
🌾 Mohanapriya Srinivasan – ESG & Impact Manager at Samunnati, advancing agri-finance with sustainability, and co-leading The Climate Party® in Chennai to blend climate action with culture and community.
🚀 Dakshin S P Lakshman of FounderX Venture Partners – at just 19, he's building one of the world's largest open startup ecosystems, empowering early-stage founders through community-driven venture support and accessible entrepreneurial education.
📈 Yashwanthkumar M – a carbon markets enthusiast diving into offsets, trading, and climate finance as a personal passion, decoding how emissions can be priced, traded, and transformed for climate impact.
🌱 Rodick – Co-founder & CEO of PayirCorp, driving green business development and sustainability strategy. As a studentpreneur, he integrates innovation with environmental stewardship, leading initiatives that foster sustainable growth and ecological responsibility.
🧠 Darshan Gangolli – a quiet force in India’s climate startup ecosystem, brimming with insight and building behind the scenes where most don’t look — or last.
💼 Mohan Kumar – crafting real runway for climate founders at AIC RAISE, where ideas don’t just incubate — they get investor-ready.
🎯 Finally met Sai Ranganathan, AVP & Head of Investments (VC & PE) at StartupTN, after 3–4 near-misses — and he waited till the very end of the event just so we could connect. Grateful (and slightly shocked) by that kind of generosity — especially rare from people leading high-stakes capital conversations in the ecosystem.
From climate code to clean tech, grassroots pilots to frontier bets — Chennai isn’t just in the conversation. It’s building the blueprint. Quietly. Relentlessly. Unignorable.
Credits
The post is written by Deepa Sai.