Turning waste into a winner

An innovative idea to make probiotic-rich tepache jelly drink from pineapple waste was the winning concept in BAT/BTV's global early-career pitch competition, Battle of Minds 2024.

Pitched by Indonesia's Team Pachéllo - Annisa Saptayulia Belyanugraha, Daffa Muhammad Zidan and Ailsa Numa Adi Lukita - the idea captured the judges' imaginations and met the challenge brief perfectly: to create either a wellbeing food or beverage using healthy ingredients, or to build an AI-driven solution to source, generate and validate new product ideas.

Team Pachéllo went down the wellbeing route with tepache, a traditional Mexican beverage made from the fermented peel and rind of pineapples. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of the fruit, leading to readily available waste rind.

Pachéllo's idea, to add functional probiotics to the mix, wasn't just bold, it also focused on health and sustainability - a winning combination, beating more than 1,100 other teams from 25 countries in the overall competition, and seven other teams in the global final.

BTV caught up with Team Pachéllo after the win to ask them about their experience.

How did the team feel after the news had sunk in of your win?

"We were overwhelmed with joy, gratitude and an immense sense of accomplishment. It felt surreal to know that all our hard work, late nights and dedication had led us to this moment.

We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to compete alongside such brilliant minds from around the world and to have learned so much throughout this journey. We also want to give a big shout out to the BAT Indonesia team, which has been very supportive, mentoring us throughout this journey. This experience has truly been transformative, and we are excited to see where this milestone takes us next!"

What was your overall Battle of Minds experience like?

"It was truly remarkable and unforgettable. The journey was intense yet incredibly fun at the same time. We feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to challenge ourselves, grow, and innovate with such talented teams around the world.

We love how the BAT team consistently provided invaluable mentorship with professionals who guided and inspired us throughout the competition. Everyone was incredibly supportive, making the experience even more special. It wasn't just a competition; it was also a journey that we will always cherish."

What would you say to teams who are thinking of entering Battle of Minds in 2025? 

"We think Battle of Minds is such a remarkable opportunity for everyone - you definitely shouldn't miss it!

Based on our personal experience, this competition may make you feel thrilled and nervous at the same time because each of the other contestants will do their best. But don't worry, what truly sets your business apart is it uniqueness. Find its personal uniqueness and embed that brand persona deeply into your soul too! 

Remember to always present yourself in the competition as the main character - own your story, embrace your creativity, and make your presence unforgettable.

Wishing you the best of luck, future Battle of Minds champion!" 

As part of the prize packages on offer, Team Pachéllo won £50k from BTV to support their business idea. We will also offer mentorship to the team as they develop their business plan and explore other opportunities where we could partner together in the future.

Coming in second in this year's Battle of Minds was Team Signverse from Kenya, with their idea to empower deaf communities by combining AI and motion capture, to create a platform that enables real-time translation between text, speech and sign language.

Third place was Team JACO from Bangladesh, whose idea was to produce a healthy and tasty snack of jackfruit chips using sustainable methods, and the national fruit of Bangladesh! 

We'll be checking in with Team Pachéllo throughout the year for updates on their progress. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for our latest insights.

‍