Ram currently serves as the Director of Lotus Coconut Plantation (LCP) with plans to develop the first fully-integrated vertical supply chain stack for coconuts in Malaysia. The key components of LCP will encompass a Centre of Excellence for Coconut R&D, a Technology and Data Centre, Procurement of organic and sustainable farming inputs, a Planting incentive scheme and a Centralised virgin coconut oil (VCO) and coconut water processing facility, among others.
Ram previously co-founded a biotechnology-focused startup in London called MultusMedia that aimed to produce a novel low-cost, serum-free and food-grade culture media to aid the cellular agriculture (lab-grown/clean meat) industry. Ram co-conducted the component studies of growth factor production — enhancing protein stability using an in-house modular and high-throughput automated platform. Additionally, he helped develop key operational initiatives, oversaw legal due diligence, accounting and partnerships as well. Notable awards (all in 2020): 1) Winner of the McKinsey Venture Academy, 2) National Champion and Global Top-16 Finalist in the Climate KIC Climate Launchpad competition by the European Insitute of Innovation and Technology, and 3) Regional final winner and Global finalist of the Hult Prize Foundation.
Following this, Ram had a stint at 500 Durians (Southeast Asian division of US Venture Capital firm, 500 Startups) where he was involved in the Investments Team, as well as aiding a few projects under Capital Formation. Notable projects include: 1) Co-developing the entire Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) policy and framework for 500 Durians, 2) Preparation of a RFP for the National Penjana Fund, and 3) Proposal for the development of a Centre of Excellence (COE), in collaboration with ministries and agencies like MDEC, MIDA and MOSTI.
Ram graduated with a Distinction in a Master of Science (MSc) in Genetics, Drug Development and Stem Cell Research from Imperial College London, and was seconded to the prestigious Francis Crick Institute in Kings Cross, London where he developed a novel algorithm to quantify the spatial localisation and distribution of cells and proteins in the tissue. Prior to that, Ram obtained First Class Honours in his Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Biotechnology from the University of Manchester.
