Healthy human life is more precious than any other thing nowadays and to have a healthy life one should have a pollution-free, oxygen-rich environment, and nutrition-enriched food when needed. Innovations from Proteios Green cater to all such requirements by supporting healthier living and diets for all by addressing global well-being. Proteios Green, co-founded by Yazhini Devarajan, is one of the Elite Indian organizations to establish microalgae production on a large scale with a State of Art Technology, with international technical Collaborations for advanced cultivation, production & extraction processes, and product development.

Yazhini Devarajan has completed her Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology and Master of Technology in Biotechnology from Anna University. Before co-founding her company Proteios Green, she worked with companies like US based company, Tata Chemicals, and Tata Medical & Diagnostics. Yazhini has aimed to thrive for excellence by implementing the latest skills with improving the organization to meet the latest challenges in every sphere. Yazhini  engages in an exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneur Magazine.

Take us through your early educational journey and your prior industry experience.

I have completed under graduation as a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology and postgraduation as a Master of Technology in Biotechnology under the sports quota and I have always believed in self-studies throughout my educational journey. I have been a rank holder and secured distinction levels at various stages of my education. Since I was 13 years old, I have been self-managing all of my expenses without asking from parents.

While I was working with a US-based health insurance company, I realized the pain of unhealthy people and how their family struggles economically. The thought that nutrition food is an important need came to my mind when I was manufacturing the alternative sweetener and resetting microbiota product in Tata. I was also part of the team protecting the Kumbh Mela by installing COVID-19 test laboratories.

What motivated you to co-found Proteios Green? Tell us about the underlying idea behind the company and some of its most unique features.

During the COVID-19 period, the whole world intended to work on vaccines and drugs for the remedy whereas our company sparked & emerged with a start-up for infection-less nutritional resetting to improve the quality of life. This thought has fostered the growth of the Spirulina product attributed to the need for nutritional attention and vitamins as a potential remedy against the COVID-19 virus or other infectious diseases. In addition, Spirulina fortified seaweed's potential to fight COVID-19 is recognized in many research studies carried out by the organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), thereby creating ample room to rebalance the industry.

Tell us about the roles and responsibilities you shoulder including the challenges you face at your position and how you overcome those challenges.

My roles include managing day-to-day operations of various departments such as Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering and Maintenance, Techno Marketing, Plant Administration, and Safety. Apart from this, my primary focus is always on Research & Development and how to improve the sustainable quality of our products. As an entrepreneur, the two pressing challenges which I have faced are gender bias and second is not believing in young talent's ideas. Choosing the right mentor and a company with transparent culture helped me successfully overcome these challenges.

What are some of the most significant milestones that you have achieved throughout your professional journey? What has been the driving force behind your successful stint as an entrepreneur?

One of the significant milestones that I achieved was successfully commissioning Made in India's biggest first 60KL Fermenter for the FOS product. I have single-handedly handled the 40-acres plant operations for continuously seven night shifts. I was also tasked to upkeep the women employee ratio in the remote area, made the architecture of the welfare committee, and was actively involved to set the motivated women employee role are some of the milestones that I consider in my professional journey I have achieved.

“Desire to learn will upkeep the pace of life”

What would be your advice to young women and girls who also aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

My advice to the budding leaders would be to choose a good mentor and be determined in whatever we are doing. Along with that, one should be focused on sparking ideas and exploring them to the core. To scale up such emerging ideas, find the correct and similar thinking financial partner and always make the right framework for the business processes. Last but not the least, always be outspoken about gender bully and family pressure.

Yazhini Devarajan, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Proteios Green

Yazhini is constantly thriving with an intense curiosity to transform nutrition and human lives. She has completed her Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from St. Joseph's College of Engineering and Master of Technology in Biotechnology from Anna University.

Awards & Recognitions:

· In top 5 at National weightlifting Championship 2013.

· Anna University zonal weightlifting awards 2014 to 2018 - 2 Gold and 2 Silver.

· Chennai district weightlifting gold championship from 2013 to 2017.

· Chief Minister weightlifting championship for 2014 & 2015 - Silver and 2016 ­ Gold.

· Best Employee awards consecutive 3 years in Tata.

· Maathare T22 women of excellence award for Women achievers won in May 2022.

· A business leader you admire: Ratan Tata & Elon Musk