Brewing Change: Upcycling Food Waste into Sustainable Beer w/ Naman Tekriwal

On the latest episode of The Conscious Cut, we explore the exciting intersection of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and sustainability! I had the absolute thrill of chatting with Naman Tekriwal, a recent HKUST graduate and co-founder of Breer, a groundbreaking startup that turns surplus bread into delicious craft beer to fight food waste. If you're intrigued by how a student entrepreneur can blend innovation with eco-impact—and even includes a fun beer tasting—this episode is an inspiring must-hear.

Naman, born and raised in Delhi, India, in a business family, kicked off his entrepreneurial journey at just 13 with a startup promoting financial literacy among high schoolers, teaching them to invest pocket money wisely. This evolved into Rural Invest, empowering rural farmers and workers with accessible saving tools amid India's financial revolution. Serendipity brought him to Hong Kong for university, where he spotted rampant food waste on campus and co-founded Breer with a fellow student. Drawing from ancient brewing techniques like kvass, Breer upcycles unsold bakery bread into beers like crisp lagers, pineapple bun IPAs, and non-alcoholic cocktail bun brews, all while reducing landfill contributions and carbon emissions.

In our lively discussion, we trace Naman's path of "serendipity" moments, from dorm-room R&D during COVID to scaling Breer internationally into Singapore and soon India. We tackle Hong Kong's food waste crisis—the city's biggest polluter—and how conscious capitalism can solve it through profit with purpose. A highlight? Our on-air beer tasting, where we sampled flavors that prove sustainable choices can taste amazing, like the award-winning bolo bao IPA that captures Hong Kong's iconic bun essence. Naman's tips on starting small, like joining hackathons for experiential learning or supporting upcycling initiatives, make building a sustainable mindset feel empowering and achievable.

This episode brims with motivational tales and practical ways to rethink waste and innovation, perfect for anyone eager to drive positive change. Ready to join in? Head to Breer's website at www.breer.hk or follow @breerhk on Instagram to grab their beers, learn about their impact, or get involved in upcycling efforts.

Listen now: [Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts] | [YouTube]