EF Polymer has been selected for Forbes’ prestigious “Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2024” list.
About Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2024
The Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list highlights promising small companies and startups across Asia-Pacific that are making an impact in their respective industries.
The list covers companies from 10 key sectors aligned with the Forbes Under 30 categories:
- 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
EF Polymer’s Founder & CEO, Narayan Lal Gurjar, commented, “We started this journey with a single goal—to support farmers struggling with water scarcity worldwide. I am honored that our efforts have resonated with others and received such recognition. While it is encouraging to see increasing environmental awareness and global sustainability efforts, true impact requires collaboration. Startups like ours can create new value and synergies by working with large corporations, breaking down traditional barriers in the process. EF Polymer will continue working alongside those who share our vision to address environmental and social challenges.”
EF Polymer plans to raise a Series B funding round next spring. As part of its global expansion, particularly in the United States, the company is actively seeking support and partnerships, including international investors, to accelerate growth in key markets.
Related page
- About Forbes Under 30 Asia 2024: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ranawehbe/2024/05/15/meet-the-forbes-30-under-30-asia-class-of-2024/?sh=71f82fe45955
Narayan Gurjar’s Profile & EF Polymer’s History
- Narayan Gurjar – Founder & CEO, EF Polymer Inc. (Age 26)
- Narayan Gurjar hails from a small farming village in Rajasthan, India, with a population of around 300 people.
- 2014 – While in high school, he witnessed his father struggling with crop failures due to water scarcity. This experience led him to conceptualize a solution.
- 2018 – Developed the first prototype of EF Polymer. While studying agricultural engineering at an agricultural university in India, he founded the company (now EF Polymer’s Indian subsidiary) at the age of 20.
- 2019 – Came to Japan after EF Polymer was selected for the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Accelerator Program.
- 2020 – Established EF Polymer K.K. in Onna Village, Okinawa, and launched sales in the Indian market.
- 2021 – Expanded sales to the Japanese market.
- 2023 – Raised ¥550 million (Series A funding) and launched sales in the U.S. market.
- 2024 – Expanded and relocated the company’s factory in India, launched sales in France, and established a U.S. subsidiary in Delaware.
- As of May 2024, EF Polymer has 18 employees at its Okinawa headquarters (including remote international staff) and nearly 60 employees at its India office.
About EF Polymer
EF Polymer is a deep-tech startup that originated in India and grew in Okinawa, now expanding its technology globally. By upcycling fruit waste such as orange peels, which are typically discarded, the company has developed a 100% organic super absorbent polymer (SAP)—and is introducing it as an agricultural material.
Founded in Okinawa in 2020, EF Polymer currently operates in India and Japan. The company is also collaborating with various industries to develop natural SAP-based products for ice packs, personal care items, and cosmetics. Through the adoption of its products, EF Polymer aims to tackle environmental challenges, with a focus on water scarcity. https://efpolymer.com