### From IIT Classrooms to Global Climate Frontlines: The Rise of Shantanu Agarwal, TIME100 Next Honoree
In a world racing against the clock to combat climate change, few stories embody the fusion of academic excellence, entrepreneurial grit, and mission-driven impact quite like that of Shantanu Agarwal. The Indian-American innovator, whose journey spans gold medals at IIT Roorkee to boardrooms at Harvard and MIT, has just been named to the 2025 TIME100 Next list—a prestigious roster spotlighting rising leaders shaping tomorrow. At 45, Agarwal isn't just building businesses; he's reimagining agriculture as a carbon superpower, empowering millions of smallholder farmers while locking away gigatons of CO2. As TIME aptly puts it, his work with Mati Carbon "locks away carbon for centuries while restoring soil, boosting harvests, and increasing farmers’ incomes." Let's meet the man who's turning dirt into a climate hero.
#### Roots in Excellence: Gold at IIT Roorkee and Beyond
Born and raised in India, Agarwal's story kicks off at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, one of the nation's premier engineering bastions. Graduating with a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, he didn't just excel—he dominated, clinching the prestigious gold medal for topping his batch. But Agarwal's mark went deeper than grades. As a visionary undergrad, he founded the Information Management Group (IMG), rallying over 50 peers to pioneer the institute's internet and intranet infrastructure. This wasn't mere tech tinkering; it laid the digital groundwork for IIT Roorkee's modern connectivity, earning him nods as a trailblazer even then. Off the books, he also claimed the university squash championship, proving his prowess extended to the court as much as the classroom.
Hunger for innovation pulled him across oceans next. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Agarwal dove into entrepreneurship through full-credit courses on technology commercialization, innovation, and product development. Here, he collaborated with cutting-edge labs, brainstorming scalable solutions in water and energy—fields that would foreshadow his climate odyssey. But the capstone? An MBA from Harvard Business School, where he honed the strategic acumen to turn ideas into empires. "Shantanu was a superstar summer associate who rapidly understood complex models and markets," raved a former colleague, underscoring his innate ability to blend intellect with impact.
#### From Energy Giant to Climate Crusader: A Career of Bold Pivots
Agarwal's professional arc reads like a blueprint for purpose-driven success. Fresh out of Harvard, he plunged into the energy sector, consulting for heavyweights like McKinsey & Company and Schlumberger, where he tackled global challenges in oil, gas, and renewables. His expertise? Marketing, strategy, and business development, with a tech-savvy edge that saw him lead investments at an energy-tech VC firm and sit on boards for startups like PanGeo Subsea and EV Private Equity.
Yet, in 2020, amid the COVID-19 chaos, Agarwal made a seismic shift. Ditching a high-flying role managing a $1.2 billion energy fund, he returned to India to leverage tech for social good. He co-founded the Jaano app, a lifeline that connected citizens to essential services during lockdowns—empowering states down to district levels with real-time info on resources. It was a quiet revolution, born of empathy: "The government is doing a lot... we need to connect the dots and inform citizens," he said at the time.
This pivot fueled his true calling. In 2022, Agarwal launched Mati Carbon (formerly tied to ventures like Sustaera and Susteon Inc.), a climate-tech powerhouse commercializing enhanced rock weathering. The tech? Grinding basalt rock into fine powder and spreading it on farmland, where it naturally captures CO2 from the air, enriches soil, and amps up crop yields by up to 20%. It's deceptively simple—yet scalable to gigatons. Operations span India, Tanzania, and Zambia, targeting smallholder farmers who till 80% of the world's farmland but bear climate's brunt.
The breakthrough came in April 2025: Mati clinched the $50 million grand prize at the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, backed by the Musk Foundation and outpacing 1,300 global teams. "What set Mati Carbon apart... was its commitment to equity and grassroots engagement," noted XPRIZE officials. Agarwal's vision? Reach 100 million farmers and sequester over 1 billion tons of CO2 by 2050—enough to offset India's annual emissions multiple times over.
#### TIME100 Next: A Nod to Next-Gen Game-Changers
Agarwal's TIME100 Next inclusion, announced September 30, 2025, cements his status among emerging titans like cricket sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal (another Indian on the list). Wendy Schmidt, president of the Schmidt Family Foundation, lauded him: "With operations in India, Tanzania, and Zambia, Shantanu has an ambitious goal: reaching 100 million farmers and removing over 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide by 2050." It's not hyperbole—his work marries environmental restoration with economic uplift, turning vulnerable farmers into carbon entrepreneurs.
On X, the buzz is electric. Posts hail him as "India's climate warrior," with one user sharing: "From IIT gold to TIME100—Shantanu Agarwal driving carbon solutions for 100M farmers by 2050." As Good News Today put it, he's among six Indians lighting up the list, from dairy stalls to global stages.
#### Why Shantanu Matters: A Blueprint for Impact
Agarwal's tale isn't just inspirational—it's instructional. In an era where climate tech demands both brains and heart, he proves elite pedigrees (IIT, MIT, Harvard) amplify when paired with audacious goals. "Climate solutions must be inclusive," he insists, echoing his roots in India's rural heartland. Through Swaniti Initiative and beyond, he's mentored policy wonks, but Mati is his magnum opus: A for-profit force for planetary good.
As we hit COP30 milestones, Agarwal's ascent reminds us: True leaders don't chase accolades—they till the soil for a greener tomorrow. Fresh off TIME's nod, he's already eyeing Africa expansions. What's next for this serial innovator? Whatever it is, expect it to be earth-shaking.
*Inspired by his story? Follow Mati Carbon's journey or share how you're tackling climate in the comments.*
