Jaslyn Lee

Dr Jaslyn Lee wants to solve two problems at once: food waste and the widespread use of harsh chemicals in antimicrobial products. At N&E Innovations, which she co-founded in 2020 with Didi Gan and where she was CTO, she developed a solution called ViKang, a patented antimicrobial formulation primarily derived from upcycled cashew nut waste that serves as a 100 per cent non-toxic, skin-safe alternative to harsh synthetic chemicals and alcohol. The company has sold more than 500,000 units of its consumer products and secured more than 20 clients across the retail, hospitality, aviation and medical industries, including Sheng Siong Group, Obtech Corporation and Qian Hu Fish Farm.

During her time as a researcher at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, she also helped develop a way to turn durian seeds into a food stabiliser and probiotics, and soya bean waste into a solution to grow yeast.