FigureAsia 35 Under 35 · Business
Laureen Meroueh
Age 32 · Climate, energy and circular enterprise · Lebanon / United States
Moved low-carbon steelmaking into a continuous operating pilot
- Approximate age at the edition boundary
- 32
- Field
- Business
- Country or region
- Lebanon / United States
- FigureAsia U35 Assessment
- 82.0 / 100
Profile
Career and operating record
The business question in Laureen Meroueh’s record is concrete: reducing the energy and carbon intensity of primary steelmaking without sacrificing the ore flexibility and economics required by industrial customers. Hertha unveiled and operated a 2025 pilot reported at roughly one tonne of steel a day.
Laureen Meroueh is a technical founder and industrial operator and serves as founder and chief executive at Hertha Metals. In climate, energy and circular enterprise, the work addresses reducing the energy and carbon intensity of primary steelmaking without sacrificing the ore flexibility and economics required by industrial customers.
The company completed engineering work that processed lower-grade iron ore through a single-step system designed to use varied energy inputs. Meroueh assembled approximately US$17–20 million of financing around a working industrial asset; capital itself was excluded from scoring.
Meroueh originated the process, founded the company and leads technical and commercial development, giving her direct responsibility for the pilot’s design and operation.
A credible smaller-scale process can matter to steel producers that cannot simply rebuild entire plants around one new fuel or ore grade. The limitations are equally clear: The pilot remains far below commercial steelmaking scale and emissions, yield and cost claims still require independent replication.
FigureAsia selection
Why Laureen Meroueh is on the list
Hertha unveiled and operated a 2025 pilot reported at roughly one tonne of steel a day. Meroueh originated the process, founded the company and leads technical and commercial development, giving her direct responsibility for the pilot’s design and operation.
Relative to climate founders with announced projects, Meroueh brought a physical process to measurable daily output during the window.
The company completed engineering work that processed lower-grade iron ore through a single-step system designed to use varied energy inputs. Meroueh assembled approximately US$17–20 million of financing around a working industrial asset; capital itself was excluded from scoring.
The pilot remains far below commercial steelmaking scale and emissions, yield and cost claims still require independent replication.
Verified work
The 2025–26 business record
Operating result
Hertha unveiled and operated a 2025 pilot reported at roughly one tonne of steel a day. Meroueh originated the process, founded the company and leads technical and commercial development, giving her direct responsibility for the pilot’s design and operation.
Market consequence
The company completed engineering work that processed lower-grade iron ore through a single-step system designed to use varied energy inputs. The result was completed within Meroueh’s verified responsibilities as founder and chief executive at Hertha Metals, while delivery remains credited to the relevant team and partners.
Strategic execution
Meroueh assembled approximately US$17–20 million of financing around a working industrial asset; capital itself was excluded from scoring. The evidence connects Meroueh to strategy and accountable execution; organisational output is not assigned to the individual wholesale.
Market context
The work in its market
Laureen Meroueh is assessed against founders and operators in climate, energy and circular enterprise. Company performance establishes scale; individual credit follows only where the public record ties decisions and execution to the person’s role.
FigureAsia U35 Assessment
Assessment breakdown
82.0out of 100
Operating execution
24.6 / 30
Hertha unveiled and operated a 2025 pilot reported at roughly one tonne of steel a day. Meroueh originated the process, founded the company and leads technical and commercial development, giving her direct responsibility for the pilot’s design and operation. The result is completed and operational rather than announced.
Commercial consequence
20.5 / 25
The record produced measurable consequence in climate, energy and circular enterprise, with company-wide outcomes kept distinct from personal credit.
Individual agency
16.4 / 20
As Founder and chief executive, Laureen Meroueh held an identifiable decision-making and execution remit.
Industry influence
12.3 / 15
Moved low-carbon steelmaking into a continuous operating pilot. The work established a reference point beyond one financing or publicity cycle.
Asian and global relevance
8.2 / 10
Lebanese-American engineer born to Lebanese parents The work also carries consequence beyond one immediate market.