Hande Ilhan

Hande Ilhan is an engineer-turned-climate-tech entrepreneur and is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. She is the founder of SeaCycle, a startup specializing in sustainable next-generation polymer solutions. SeaCycle transforms food waste into eco-friendly polymers, challenging the conventional polymer sector that typically relies on hazardous chemicals and generates toxic byproducts. By leveraging waste resources that would otherwise end up in landfills or combustion facilities, SeaCycle not only reduces carbon emissions but also creates cost-efficient solutions with applications across pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and bioplastics.

Before attending Harvard Business School, Hande worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), where she focused on impact investing. She played a key role in guiding companies toward green, sustainable, and innovative practices across various countries. After dedicating her career to improving ESG standards and financing climate-tech projects, Hande recognized that entrepreneurs and startups are essential to solving climate change. Determined to tackle this issue head-on, she rolled up her sleeves and founded SeaCycle to drive systemic change in the polymer industry.

As a Cheng Fellow, Hande is passionate about creating a positive environmental impact and believes that cutting-edge technologies are key to solving climate change.