The winning Beijing AIForce Technology team at the final GHAC event in Shanghai, China
Chosen from among 10 finalists, Beijing AIForce Technology impressed judges with its autonomous, low-carbon electric tractors
PepsiCo, a global leader in beverages and convenient foods, is proud to announce Beijing AIForce Technology as the winner of the 2025 Greenhouse Accelerator (GHAC) program in Asia Pacific (APAC). Beijing AIForce was recognised for its autonomous, low-carbon e-tractors, which represent an emerging solution for advancing sustainable farming.
Now in its third year, GHAC is PepsiCo’s flagship initiative dedicated to nurturing an ecosystem of innovation and collaboration in Asia Pacific. The program supports breakthrough startups driving impact in sustainable agriculture, circular economy, and climate resilience. It offers each finalist a $20,000 USD non-dilutive grant, mentorship from PepsiCo executives, access to an extensive network of PepsiCo partners, and an opportunity for a potential pilot, which enables participants to refine their innovations, tackle real-world challenges, and validate their solutions within PepsiCo’s ecosystem.
Beijing AIForce Technology clinches top prize
In its early testing phase, the agri-tech startup is exploring how its solution brings together automation, affordability, and sustainability. This focus reflects areas emphasised in PepsiCo Positive (pep+), the company’s global sustainability framework.
Beijing AIForce Technology has developed autonomous, low-carbon electric tractors that use robotics and data to support efficient farm operations, including continuous day-and-night work.
As the 2025 winner, Beijing AIForce Technology will also receive a prize money of $100,000 USD.
Dr. Han Wei, Founder & CEO, Beijing AIForce Technology said, “We are incredibly honoured to be named the winner of this year’s PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator in Asia Pacific. Participating in this program has been a game-changer for us. The mentorship, connections, and insights we’ve gained have sharpened our strategy and opened doors to new opportunities. We’re grateful to PepsiCo for believing in our potential, and look forward to what’s ahead.”
“After three editions, the APAC Greenhouse Accelerator has shown that the real test of sustainability innovation is not the idea itself, but whether it works where it matters—in the field, on the line, and in the market,” said Anne Tse, Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo Asia Pacific. “The strength of this program is how it connects founders with the scale of our value chain and the discipline to measure both environmental and economic outcomes. Each year, we’re building a stronger pipeline of solutions across circular economy, regenerative agriculture, and climate resilience that can support the long-term transformation of our industry. This year’s winner reflects that journey—moving from vision to viability—adds to the momentum of a program that is now firmly embedded in APAC’s innovation ecosystem.”
Empowering startups to scale: GHAC 2025 highlights
This year’s cohort featured 10 startups from Australia, China, Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea, each receiving tailored guidance from PepsiCo’s global experts, previous program winners, and investment experts in the sustainability domain.
The finalists included two Australian start ups. Endua, a Brisbane-based startup backed by CSIRO and Main Sequence Ventures, develops on-site production of green hydrogen, and Calyx.eco, a Sydney-based startup providing data driven insights into the environmental impacts of the supply chain for food and beverage companies.
PepsiCo’s mentorship ensures each finalist receives support to advance their sustainability-focused solutions through knowledge sharing and collaboration on pain points such as growth challenges, refining business strategies, and scalability.
Key program components included:
- Personalised mentorship from two PepsiCo team members per startup over five months
- 10 customised learning modules covering business model optimisation, supply chain, fundraising, procurement, customer centricity, marketing, and more
- Expert guidance from previous GHAC alumni and external subject matter experts
Startups involved in this year’s GHAC also reported clear outcomes, including Australian finalist Endua discovering three new market opportunities through program connections. Several finalists also launched pilot deployments with PepsiCo or partners across APAC markets, testing their solutions within the PepsiCo value chain.
These pilots enabled testing and iteration of exciting ideas, including Beijing PHAbuilder Biotechnology Co. Ltd.’s Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) film development; Bali Waste Cycle’s low-value plastic (LVP) regeneration centre; and Service Enviro SCAD Inc.’s solution that transforms organic waste into a clean, nutrient-rich resource. These real-world pilots provide valuable data, feedback, and commercial traction, helping startups refine strategies and accelerate growth.
The five-month journey culminated in a final event in Shanghai, where all 10 startups showcased their progress. A diverse panel of cross-sector experts evaluated the finalists based on their innovation, feasibility, scalability, and progress through the program:
- Ashley Brown, Chief Sustainability Officer – APAC and India, PepsiCo
- Fred Li, Senior VP, Supply Chain, Asia Pacific and Greater China, PepsiCo, Ltd
- Lisa Deng, CFO, APAC & GCR of PepsiCo APAC
- Tas (Tassawuth) Pojanavaraphan, Ph.D., CVC Director (APAC), GC Ventures
- Brooke Dong, Ph.D., Partner, GRC SinoGreen Capital
- Rob Kaplan, Founder & CEO, Circulate Capital
Following careful deliberation, Beijing AIForce Technology was selected for its practical approach to addressing farm costs, labour shortages, and carbon emissions. Early benchmarking on PepsiCo farms has indicated reductions in operating costs and emissions, providing insights into possible applications in sustainable farming.
A proven platform for growth: GHAC alumni in action
GHAC’s commitment doesn’t end when each year’s program comes to a close. It is a long-term ecosystem built on lasting partnerships, consistently delivering first-of-its-kind pilots that achieve significant traction:
- X-Centric (2024 finalist) collaborated with PepsiCo’s agricultural teams to validate its world-first, portable X-ray fluorescence instrument that helps farms create more efficient and sustainable agricultural operations in the field. The startup has since raised AU$600,000 in funding.
- Enwise (2023 finalist) began working with PepsiCo’s Wuhan facility in 2019, then pivoted its business model to refine its solution during GHAC, moving from turning waste into electricity and toward green natural gas production. The company has now expanded its scope to PepsiCo facilities in China and Thailand.
These success stories show how GHAC is dedicated to catalysing innovation beyond the program, helping startups gain confidence, strengthen business models, grow operations, and expand their customer base.
Globally, GHAC has supported over 100 emerging startups who have delivered over $15 million USD in revenue growth since 2017. Over the last three years, the APAC edition of the program has awarded more than $1 million USD in grant and pilot funding to finalists and greenlit over 20 pilots.
“The Greenhouse Accelerator Program is driving how we advance pep+ in APAC. By giving early-stage innovators direct access to our business, we test and scale solutions that promote packaging circularity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate-resilient agriculture,” said Ashley Brown, Chief Sustainability Officer – APAC and India, PepsiCo. “Each edition expands this pipeline, with alumni and winners delivering pilots that align with the sustainability priorities of our industry and region. Many congratulations to Beijing AIForce Technology on their achievement in developing and testing low-carbon autonomous e-tractors for sustainable farming. Their work demonstrates the kind of solution making an impact today. I am excited to see them build on their experience in GHAC and continue to scale in the years ahead.”
PepsiCo congratulates Beijing AIForce Technology and all 2025 finalists for their dedication to driving sustainable change.
Applications for the 2026 Greenhouse Accelerator Program will open soon. The company invites all aspiring startups to stay tuned for more details.
For more information about PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator, visit the website https://greenhouseaccelerator.com/, LinkedIn, or X.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
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