# Saving the f#$%ing rainforests with Shara Ticku of C16 Biosciences

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-06-15
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences

## Summary

Shara Ticku, co-founder and CEO of C16 Biosciences, explains how the company developed Palmless, a biomanufactured palm oil alternative produced via yeast fermentation to prevent rainforest destruction. After being inspired by the air pollution in Singapore and the destruction of Costa Rican rainforests, Ticku and her co-founders used scrappy, low-budget methods—including home-brewed beer equipment—to create a proof-of-concept that secured $4 million in funding from Y Combinator. The company launched a consumer product named 'Save the Effing Rainforest' to demonstrate viability, selling out in three hours, and is now pivoting to supply major CPG brands with this sustainable ingredient for personal care and, eventually, food products.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences#t=0) Introduction: The Palm Oil Problem and Shara Ticku
- [2:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences#t=133) Singapore Air Quality and the Origin of C16
- [4:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences#t=284) Harvard Business School and the Impossible Burger Inspiration
- [14:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences#t=880) Biomanufacturing: Using Yeast Instead of Agriculture
- [21:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences#t=1288) Scrappy Science: Home-Brewed Beer and Y Combinator
- [29:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences#t=1761) Market Strategy: Personal Care vs. Food
- [31:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences#t=1910) Launching 'Save the Effing Rainforest' and Palmless
- [38:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences#t=2284) Funding, Profitability, and Future Roadmap

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- C16 Biosciences (company)
- Palmless (product)
- Y Combinator (other)
- Impossible Foods (company)
- Impossible Burger (product)
- Unilever (company)
- Procter & Gamble (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Whole Foods (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Feature: Ariel Altman and Ronny Berger of Figa Foods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-08-01-founder-feature-ariel-altman-and-ronny-berger-of-figa-foods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [299 - EarthKind is a truly sustainable company from the farm, doing no harm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-12-30-299-earthkind-is-a-truly-sustainable-company-from-the-farm-doing-no-harm) (People of Packaging)
- [#004 - How one green company could beat the odds with a magical pencil and double each year, with Michael Stausholm of Sproutworld, Denmark](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2016-12-14-004-how-one-green-company-could-beat-the-odds-with-a-magical-pencil-and-double-e) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [Alex Blum: $1200 Houses, Plant-based Plastics, Political Activism, and BioFi | Hard Tech Podcast #11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-20-alex-blum-1200-houses-plant-based-plastics-political-activism-and-biofi-hard-tec) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [Ep. 2: Bissy Energy Drink - The Real Kola with Zach En'wezoh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-05-04-ep-2-bissy-energy-drink-the-real-kola-with-zach-enwezoh) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-15-saving-the-f-ing-rainforests-with-shara-ticku-of-c16-biosciences. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.