The desire to build something of their own and focus their grey cells honed by academic excellence in the field of technology, made two friends set out on a very innovative journey, which could change how the world views Indian technology. 

Akshay Singhal has been working in the field of Nanotechnology for the last 7 years and hold great knowledge of Nanotechnology and Material Science. Along with co-founder Kartik Hajela, the duo set out to build Log 9 Materials from a lab set up in Akshay's backyard.

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Log 9 Materials is one of our country's leading Nanotechnology companies that specializes in Graphene. So, while Akshay looks after overall research and operations of Log 9 Materials. Kartik takes care of the commercial and market introduction aspect of the products that are launched by the company. However, the duo swears by Graphene and the immense potential it holds.

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Graphene is the most advanced form of Carbon that exists in this world, which was discovered in 2004. Related to graphite at the core, but Graphene is different in properties. It is more conducting than copper and stronger than steel! It has such diverse properties that can be put to use in different areas across the board.

The first product that they launched when they were in college, was a cigarette filter called PPuF. Next, they began to explore the oil filtration domain, and the findings so far have been very promising. They came up with the Log9 Pad which is laced with graphene, which can bring about a positive change during oil spills by absorbing the oil spilt on the water surface.

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However, their latest product in the pipeline is the Metal-Air Battery. Kartik says, “The battery is still a working prototype and we are working on it. However, the essence of the technology comes in E.V.s.”

Yet, the challenges related to belief have been real, both from the side of investors as well as consumers. Because both investors and consumers have a hard time placing their faith, that something of such potential can be developed and manufactured in India.

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Log 9 Materials is a team of 34 people from engineering backgrounds, and they have scientists as well as marketing wizards. The company seeks people from the said background because regardless of what they do, they need to have technical competency. The average of the team is around 26 and most of them come from materials, chemical or nanotechnological background.

These committed and ambitious people have come on board to innovate and build something that would impact the world.

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Akshay and Kartik want aspiring entrepreneurs to take that leap of faith, if they have faith in their own ideas and know that it will work. As for Akshay he says, “if you really want to do something, do it today rather than tomorrow. Also, hold your ground. Don't buy into or accept whatever is offered, but hold your ground and things will fall into place.”