
[email protected]
Luna Yu is the founder and CEO of Genecis Bioindustries, a Toronto-based startup that transforms food waste into biodegradable plastics through innovative bacterial reprogramming. Yu's pioneering work in sustainable biotechnology positions her as a leading figure in the development of eco-friendly materials, contributing to a circular economy and reducing environmental impact.
Under Yu's leadership, Genecis has developed a proprietary process that converts organic waste into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a type of compostable plastic with applications ranging from flexible packaging to 3D printing filaments. Since its founding in 2017, Genecis has garnered significant recognition and investment. The company has raised $17 million in funding and Yu was a finalist in the Women in Cleantech Challenge; she also won the Lead2030 Challenge. In 2021, Genecis became the first company led by a female CEO to receive investment from Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund through its Female Founder Initiative.
A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Yu completed both her Bachelor of Applied Science with Distinction and Master of Environmental Science at the University of Toronto by the age of 21.
Related Speakers View all
![]() |
Gabrielle Bourret-Sicotte
Climate Tech Entrepreneur; Co-Founder & Former CEO a...
|
![]() |
Jasmine Crowe-Houston
Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur, Environmental Adv...
|
![]() |
Brennan Spellacy
Co-Founder & CEO of Climate Tech Platform Patch
|
![]() |
Katie Diasti
Founder & CEO at Viv
|
![]() |
Erica Cole
Founder & CEO of Adaptive Clothing Line No Limbits; ...
|
![]() |
Franziska Trautmann
Waste Alchemist; Co-Founder, CEO, & Resident Chemica...
|
![]() |
Bernadette Beck
Founder & CEO of Kindle Coffee & 1 for 1 Foundation;...
|
![]() |
Leigh-Kathryn Bonner
Founder & CEO of Bee Downtown
|
![]() |
Robin Chase
Award-Winning Transportation Entrepreneur, Founder &...
|
![]() |
Mark Ang
Co-Founder at Go Bolt, a Sustainable Third-Party Log...
|
![]() |
Michael Arens and David Constantine
Water Pollution Innovators & Co-Founders of Clean Ea...
|
![]() |
Christine Simone
Health Insurance Planning Advocate; Founder & CEO at...
|
![]() |
Jacob Johnson
Social Entrepreneur; Founder & CEO at Calyan Wax
|
![]() |
Emma Butler
Social Entrepreneur; Founder & CEO of Adaptive Linge...
|
![]() |
Stacey Swann
Founder & CEO at Resilient Earth Capital
|
![]() |
Ester Baiget
President & Chief Executive Officer at Novonesis; Vi...
|
![]() |
Kehkashan Basu
Founder & President, Green Hope Foundation; Forbes 3...
|
![]() |
Catherine Coleman Flowers
Climate Justice Activist; Founding Director of the C...
|
![]() |
Ethan Brown
Co-Founder & CEO of Beyond Meat & Vegan & Sustainabi...
|
|
Joel Jean
CEO & Co-Founder of Swift Solar
|