Strategic investment and advisory for sustainable growth

At OTAGO, impact is more than a goal — it’s how we work.

OTAGO is a consulting company specializing in sustainable growth, investment facilitation and impactful project execution.

Founded in Singapore in 2018, OTAGO began as the platform for its first flagship project: an investment in Khmer Green Charcoal (KGC), a pioneering clean cooking energy enterprise in Cambodia. As KGC scaled successfully, OTAGO gradually expanded its activities, taking on consulting assignments, building partnerships and supporting sustainable business models across sectors. Following the majority-stake sale of KGC in 2024, OTAGO continues to grow as a trusted partner for investment facilitation and impact-driven advisory work in emerging markets.

Drawing on a unique blend of entrepreneurial leadership, engineering expertise and international advisory experience, OTAGO supports high-impact projects that intersect sustainability, innovation and inclusive business models. We work across Asia, the Pacific and Africa.

Whether advising international organizations or supporting early-stage ventures, OTAGO tailors its support to the needs of each client.

Leadership

Carlo Figà Talamanca – Founder & CEO

With over 20 years of international experience in sustainability, innovation and business development, Carlo bridges entrepreneurship and advisory through a global career.

Trained as an industrial engineer, he began his career in the consulting sector in Italy and then moved to the USA in 2005, to work on innovation and technology transfer projects.

In 2010 he moved to Cambodia where, in 2012, he founded Khmer Green Charcoal (KGC), an award-winning social enterprise. He launched KGC from the foundation of an NGO project and scaled it into the largest factory of its kind in a developing country. In 2024, Carlo exited the company, selling the majority stake to a Cambodian strategic investor.

Carlo brings a unique mix of technical insight, entrepreneurial drive and field experience, combined with a solid track record in institutional advisory and an extensive network of impact investors.

We work with some of the best organizations and companies.

Awards & Recognition

Over the years, our work has been recognized internationally:

  • Khmer Enterprise SME Award – Cambodian Entrepreneurship Development Fund, 2024 (KGC)
  • Business Plan Competition Winner – PFAN – Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF), Singapore, 2019 (OTAGO)
  • Finalist – Mohammed Bin Rashid initiative for Global Prosperity, Abu Dhabi, 2019 (OTAGO)
  • CSR Award – European Chamber of Commerce, Cambodia, 2019 (KGC)
  • International Ashden Award – Royal Geographical Society, UK, 2014 (KGC)
  • Energy Globe Award for Cambodia – Energy Globe Organization, Austria, 2014 (KGC)