BIOPOD
DEMOCRATIZING WETLAND RESTORATION IN A NEW AGE OF CLIMATE TECH SOLUTIONS
As the Founding Product Manager, I championed the transition of BIOPOD from a one-off project to a viable product in a small team of scientists, researchers, and designers. This entailed owning the product roadmap, defining our customer business model, and strategizing alongside key stakeholders.
As the Founding Product Manager, I championed the transition of BIOPOD from a one-off project to a viable product in a small team of scientists, researchers, and designers. This entailed owning the product roadmap, defining our customer business model, and strategizing alongside key stakeholders.
BACKGROUND WHAT’S A BIOPOD?
BIOPOD modules are buoyant mycellium mats designed to remediate water quality, reintroduce vital fringe marshes, and engage the public in citizen science. The first prototype was created by biodesigners Avantika Velho and Manini Banerjee, and I joined the two to evolve the modules from a project to a product and service-based company.
Here, I applied my background at the intersection of product management and policy to drive the larger product system that BIOPOD was proposing, leverage an evolving policy landscape attuned to climate change, define what success would look like on both the business and environmental scales, and ultimately ask:
How can we optimize BIOPOD to reimagine a modern-day circular economy?
WHAT’S A BIOPOD?
BIOPOD modules are buoyant mycellium mats designed to remediate water quality, reintroduce vital fringe marshes, and engage the public in citizen science. The first prototype was created by biodesigners Avantika Velho and Manini Banerjee, and I joined the two to evolve the modules from a project to a product and service-based company.
Here, I applied my background at the intersection of product management and policy to drive the larger product system that BIOPOD was proposing, leverage an evolving policy landscape attuned to climate change, define what success would look like on both the business and environmental scales, and ultimately ask:
How can we optimize BIOPOD to reimagine a modern-day circular economy?
DELIVERABLEDEFINING THE CUSTOMER
Starting from scratch, I restructured the team’s thinking to help think of the larger system that BIOPOD could be. I led thought on how to be a B2B business model, leveraging local community knowledge to best understand and heal diverse ecosystems.
DEFINING THE CUSTOMER
Starting from scratch, I restructured the team’s thinking to help think of the larger system that BIOPOD could be. I led thought on how to be a B2B business model, leveraging local community knowledge to best understand and heal diverse ecosystems.
Through this, I formulated how we could pitch and partner with key stakeholders in governments and nonprofit organizations everywhere from New England to Goa, India, to even Accra, Ghana. We soon evolved to a model similar to franchising, in which BIOPOD equips local hotspots to create and sustain their own BIOPOD ecosystems through our fabrication and education kits. As a product focused on ecosystem remediation, it was critical to articulate how BIOPOD modules can adapt to different ecologies.
DELIVERABLE
I introduced a data platform to critically think about the ways in which technology can work alongside climate solutions to best optimize its potential. On this data platform, BIOPOD hotspots around the world can upload observations from their BIOPOD modules, as well as see the success of other hotspots. The data platform provides a centralized way to share, analyze, and synthesize key metrics of BIOPOD hotspots.
BIOPOD DATA PLATFORM
I introduced a data platform to critically think about the ways in which technology can work alongside climate solutions to best optimize its potential. On this data platform, BIOPOD hotspots around the world can upload observations from their BIOPOD modules, as well as see the success of other hotspots. The data platform provides a centralized way to share, analyze, and synthesize key metrics of BIOPOD hotspots.
As the platform is underway to become an engineered reality, I am leading the product design of the platform, additionally defining internal product requirements and metrics for success.
DELIVERABLE
BIOPOD first piloted in Providence, Rhode Island in late 2023, marrying emerging climate innovation and accessible technology to create a business that’s committed to effectively remediating urban wetlands around the world.
As a startup through-and-through, my interdisciplinary work stretched to own responsibilities like the formation of our LLC, financial management, marketing strategy, and public-facing engagements.
THE SYSTEM IN ACTION
BIOPOD first piloted in Providence, Rhode Island in late 2023, marrying emerging climate innovation and accessible technology to create a business that’s committed to effectively remediating urban wetlands around the world.
As a startup through-and-through, my interdisciplinary work stretched to own responsibilities like the formation of our LLC, financial management, marketing strategy, and public-facing engagements.
BIOPOD is proud to be featured in NYC Climate Week 2024, DesignMilk, Terra Carta Design Lab, and more.
BY THE NUMBERS
IMPACT IN DATA
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$125K+ of pre-seed funding raised since I joined the BIOPOD team
- 12 community partners across 5 countries established in FY2024
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1097% increased viewership across major platforms