YAMA and Metha8 Win Climate Tech Prizes

Why this is here: This year’s Liveability Challenge awarded a record S$4.3 million (US$3.3 million) to disruptive deep tech startups, reflecting a growing commitment to climate solutions.

France’s YAMA and Singapore’s Metha8 each received S$1 million (US$780,000) at The Liveability Challenge 2026 in Singapore. YAMA developed an electrified carbon capture system for natural gas power plants. It aims to reduce emissions without requiring major infrastructure changes.

Metha8 created a system converting methanol to electricity. Their technology achieves roughly 60% efficiency and integrates carbon capture. Both companies beat over 1,500 submissions from more than 100 countries to win the top prize.

The competition awarded a total of up to S$4.3 million (US$3.3 million) to deep tech startups. While funding for climate tech in Southeast Asia decreased in the first half of 2025, these awards provide crucial support. The organization notes that scaling these solutions requires commercial viability and integration into existing systems.