At the heart of Arkadiah’s momentum lies its diverse and passionate team. Headquartered in Singapore, the team hails from India, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, alongside local experts.
Gerry Ong, Co-Founder and Head of Geospatial, brings three decades of experience in the industry. His leadership was critical during Arkadiah’s early ground truthing missions in Asia, and recent expansion into Latin America. “The real test was adapting to unpredictable weather and remote sites,” Gerry shares. “We paired seasoned experts with younger teammates in the field—because field experience isn’t taught in textbooks.”
One of those younger teammates is Foo Tun Shien, a Carbon Project Development Associate who has long been passionate about environmental issues. Tun recently led an onsite validation trip to the Philippines, working with local stakeholders to co-design restoration initiatives. “This trip changed how I see nature restoration,” he says. “It’s about empowering communities to become stewards of their land. The best carbon projects are built with local people, not just for them.”
Made in Singapore, for the Region
Choosing Singapore as Arkadiah’s launchpad was strategic. "Singapore is a powerhouse in finance, tech, and talent," Reuben explains. "It’s also emerging as a leader in carbon markets, offering a supportive ecosystem for nature tech startups like ours." With these conducive factors, Reuben also sees Singapore not just as a location for headquarters, but as a living laboratory for innovation. “I see Singapore as a test bed for solutions that can address global climate challenges.”
EDB’s support has also proven instrumental in connecting Arkadiah to global opportunities. Collaboration platforms launched by EDB, such as the Singapore Carbon Market Alliance (SCMA) and Earth Observation Initiative (EOI), have provided Arkadiah with strategic networks and industry access. “EDB has been a close partner to Arkadiah from the very beginning, be it connecting us with partners or offering strategic support to help us scale. I look forward to scaling Arkadiah with the multi-faceted support through the Global Founder Programme.”
