"Leading Equatic’s Series A round was a pioneering moment in many ways," says Ryan Tan, Head of Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H), a catalytic vehicle of Temasek Trust that backs innovative, early-stage companies driving impact in climate, health, and their intersection.
C3H took a leadership role in bringing other organisations into the US$11.6 million round, which exceeded its US$10 million target. The team also gained exposure to novel technology and worked alongside other like-minded and impactful partners.
Equatic embodies the kind of bold, scalable innovation championed by C3H. Based in the US and with a project underway in Singapore, Equatic’s patented seawater electrolysis process accelerates the ocean’s ability to absorb and permanently store carbon at scale, while simultaneously producing green hydrogen. Recently, the startup unveiled a Memorandum of Understanding to construct another plant in Sarawak.
Born in a Los Angeles laboratory, Equatic’s technology is now being scaled up in Singapore. Once completed, its facility will be able to remove 10 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide from seawater and the atmosphere daily, boosting Singapore’s climate mitigation efforts.
Running Together in a Race Against Time
Temasek Trust set up C3H last year to seize opportunities in channelling more capital toward promising early-stage climate-related mitigation and adaptation solutions.
For Ryan, heading up C3H speaks to his sense of purpose and mission. "If we continue on our current trajectory, we won't have much of a planet left for the next generation," he says.
The team behind Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H), which provides catalytic capital to innovative, early-stage companies in climate, health, and their intersection.
With experience spanning early-stage investments, mergers and acquisitions, and operations, Ryan brings a holistic lens to his role.
He cites resilience as being a key determinant of success — one honed not only in boardrooms, but also on dirt paths and in open water.
"Long-course triathlons teach you a lot about character and resilience," says Ryan, who completed the gruelling IRONMAN Cairns in 11 hours and 30 minutes last year.
Ryan participating in the IRONMAN triathlon in Cairns, Australia in 2024.
The event began with a 3.8km swim, followed by a 180km bike ride, and a 42km run. "Racing for well over 10 hours builds inner strength and determination," Ryan reflects. He found deep meaning not only in the race itself, but also on the road to becoming an IRONMAN.
He sees the same resilience and sense of purpose in C3H’s ambition of fast-tracking the low-carbon transition — a mission shared by many of his colleagues across the Temasek Trust ecosystem and beyond.
Ryan with colleagues across the Temasek Trust ecosystem at the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2025, organised by the Philanthropy Asia Alliance and supported by Temasek Foundation and Temasek Trust.
"It is inspiring working alongside so many amazing, purpose-driven people who put mission above self," he says. He is also grateful for the collaboration across the ecosystem — "The networks that my colleagues have built within the wider impact community have been most valuable, and I’m grateful to my seniors and teammates who have so generously shared these with me."
Clarity at the Helm
The startup landscape brims with innovation, yet few ideas achieve lasting impact.
For Ryan, success starts with a novel solution with an applicable use-case or vertical. "Technology for its sake rarely scales or succeeds," he explains.
Equally important is alignment between founders, investors, and partners. When assessing opportunities, C3H looks out for clarity of purpose and intentionality around both impact and business outcomes. "This gives us a sense of whether they align with our mandate and mission at C3H," Ryan adds.
His work gives him a front-row view of some of the most groundbreaking innovations shaping the future of our planet.
In September, Ryan visited Rodrigo García González and Pierre-Yves Paslier — the co-founders and co-CEOs of Notpla — at their research and development centre and office in London.
The UK-based startup’s edible seaweed-based materials have replaced nearly 12 million plastic items in 2024 alone. That same year, C3H had joined Notpla’s £20 million fundraising round to accelerate its expansion into the North American market and fuel the development of its solutions.
"It was wonderful to experience the Notpla magic in person,” Ryan quips. “They are sincere, grounded leaders on a mission to change the world."
Ryan with Rodrigo García González and Pierre-Yves Paslier, the co-founders and co-CEOs of Notpla, during a visit to its research & development centre and office in London (left), where some of its sustainable packaging solutions are displayed (right).
The journeys of both Equatic and Notpla have been shaped by various entities across the Temasek Trust ecosystem.
In 2021, Equatic won The Liveability Challenge, the global crowdsourcing platform for sustainability solutions by Temasek Foundation. Equatic was also named a 2024 finalist of The Earthshot Prize, a global challenge that supports innovations to repair the planet, of which Temasek Trust is a Founding Partner. Notpla was a 2022 winner of The Earthshot Prize.
C3H has also invested in Dozee, a pioneering India-based healthtech startup transforming remote patient monitoring through AI-driven innovation. With C3H’s support, Dozee is poised to expand its presence in the United States and bring impactful healthcare solutions to millions worldwide.
Bright ideas need more than capital — they also need a nurturing ecosystem to help them grow and thrive.
"When like-minded partners come together across sectors and borders, promising early-stage ideas gain the support they need to achieve scalable and financially sustainable impact."
— Ryan Tan, Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health
"Gradatim Ferociter": Purpose In Every Step
To startups and founders, Ryan’s advice is simple but hard-won: Dream big but be pragmatic.
“Ruthlessly prioritise your time, effort, and energy toward each next step that gets you closer to your goal,” he adds.
Those words guide him, too. Under his leadership, C3H aims to bring together like-minded organisations, investors, and changemakers to support pioneering projects that support a healthy, liveable planet for generations to come.
Ryan's story is part of ‘People of Purpose’, a series spotlighting colleagues across the Temasek Trust ecosystem who are driving meaningful impact. Each story reflects the spirit of collective action and our shared journey toward inclusive, sustainable change.
