About the initiative:

By the end of this decade, global freshwater demand is expected to outstrip supply by 40% due to a combination of population growth, climate change and weak water governance.

While the numbers vary by country, agriculture irrigation accounts for about 70% of global water withdrawal, industry and energy for 19%, and the remaining is for household use – having already depleted 21% of the planet’s largest 37 groundwater resources.

To drive the freshwater conservation and management agenda, leading global conglomerate, HCL has partnered with UpLink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum that connects highly promising start-ups with the partners and funding they need to scale. Through a $15 million investment over five years, HCL will help accelerate the innovation agenda for water and create a first-of-its-kind innovation ecosystem for the global freshwater sector on UpLink, called the ‘Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative’.

This initiative will draw on HCL’s own regional experience of driving innovative projects in water conservation and brings global leaders and champions together, to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration. In building this ecosystem, water entrepreneurs will be able to thrive and influence freshwater ecosystems all over the world.

Tackling Water Pollution Challenge, 2024

The five-year Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative aims to find innovative solutions to conserve and restore freshwater ecosystems. This is the third of five innovation challenges, focusing on tackling water pollution and ensuring water quality.

Challenge Overview
Submit Solution

Water holds profound environmental significance, and both its availability and quality are essential to sustain human life and biodiversity. Although water is essential for a flourishing environment, it is also a significant source of pollution within it.

Industrial runoff, agricultural practices, and plastic waste are common sources of water contamination, posing serious risks to both human health and the environment. Emerging contaminants from pharmaceuticals, pesticides, nanomaterials, microplastics, and the so-called “forever chemicals”, are further intensifying these risks. Based on a World Bank report, industries discharge around 300-400 million tons of heavy metals, solvents, toxic sludge, and other wastes into water bodies every year. "Forever chemicals," also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminate drinking water supplies for up to 200 million Americans today.

To tackle these issues, the third Aquapreneur challenge is seeking high-potential solutions to prevent water pollution and reduce the environmental impacts of contaminated water. This initiative aligns with recent global shifts towards implementing stricter water quality regulations, exemplified by the recent UN resolution on water at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in spring 2024, which made decisive strides towards the protection of global water resources and the improvement of hazardous chemical and chemical waste management.

Solutions could include advanced filtration, the elimination of wastewater discharges, decision support systems to provide accurate and accessible data for measuring options for both the public and industries, as well as household water testing and filtration.

The focus areas of this challenge include:
  • Prevent contamination at source
  • Drive new approaches to water management
  • Optimize public water and wastewater treatment
  • Offer water quality solutions for households
Challenge timeline
  • 21st May 2024: Challenge launch
  • 21st May - 31st August 2024: Open for submissions
  • 31st August - September 2024: Review and selection process (including communication about a pitch competition)
  • January 2025: Announcement of the winners during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos

Zero Water Waste Challenge, 2023

This five-year Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative aims to find innovative solutions that conserve and restore freshwater ecosystems. This is the second out of five innovation challenges, focusing on freshwater usage.

Challenge Overview

This challenge calls for innovative water usage approaches to improve freshwater conservation from supply to demand, moving towards zero water waste. 10 winners will receive a total of a 1.75M CHF financial award.

In line with the Global Commission of the Economics of Water, this challenge is seizing high potential opportunities to bolster global water conservation by sourcing innovative approaches to water usage that will strengthen freshwater ecosystem resilience from supply to demand.

It is looking for existing innovations that capture alternative water resources to protect groundwater reserves and avoid unnecessary loss of water, reuse water before discharging it back into the water cycle — ideally, recycling materials we gain from wastewater as an alternative energy resource and avoiding any type of water pollution — as well as smart irrigation solutions to benefit those who most need it. Solutions that work with big data and AI, and employ innovations in their service, pricing, partnerships, and business models are particularly encouraged to apply.

Top 10 Aquapreneurs from SECOND CHALLENGE

Juan Carlos Escobar, Rina Margarita Martinez

Aquakit

Greywater Treatment Technology

AQUAKIT builds greywater treatment technology to drive sustainability and water conservation. Its innovative greywater treatment system for large-scale residential and commercial buildings offers a unique water-saving solution, reclaiming up to 300,000 litres monthly in a single 12-story building. By recycling greywater for non-potable purposes like toilet filling, irrigation, and cleaning, AQUAKIT not only slashes tap water consumption but also minimizes wastewater emissions. With a focus on accessibility, sustainability, and automation, AQUAKIT transforms wastewater into a valuable resource for water, energy, and nutrients, ushering in a smarter, more responsible approach to water management.

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Wilrik Kok, Karina Peña

FieldFactors

Rainwater to freshwater source through its BlueBloqs circular water system.

FieldFactors transforms rain into a dependable local freshwater source through its BlueBloqs circular water system. Specializing in climate change mitigation, the company designs and implements integrated solutions to combat urban flooding, drought, and heat stress, fostering biodiversity with green spaces. By storing up to 95% of project site rainwater, the company aids municipal, commercial, and industrial users in saving 20% on discharge measures and cutting drinking water consumption by up to 80%. From design to operation, the interdisciplinary team at FieldFactors ensures seamless integration into the built environment.

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Asim Bhalerao, Nidhi Jain

Fluid Analytics Inc.

Monitoring urban water pollution and enabling the diversion, treatment, and reuse of water.

Fluid Analytics is a water analytics company committed to addressing urban water pollution. Employing cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence, the company's platform monitors water infrastructure health, waterway conditions, and the spread of water-borne diseases at scale. With unique mathematical and machine-learning models trained on diverse datasets, Fluid Analytics has successfully deployed solutions, monitoring over 1.3 billion litres of urban water pollution and enabling the diversion, treatment, and reuse of 800 million litres daily. Its SaaS/RaaS business model empowers cities to combat water pollution sustainably, collaborating with utilities, contractors, and engineering firms.

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Jaime de la Cruz Gonzales

Kran Nanobubble

Integrable nanobubble hydraulic systems for industrial processes.

Kran is a Chilean nanobubble tech pioneer transforming industrial processes. Its integrable systems, harnessing nanobubbles' unique properties, revolutionize agriculture, water treatment, and aquaculture. Kran empowers farmers with responsible water use, crop health, and increased productivity. In water treatment, it tackles challenges sustainably, addressing wastewater and eutrophication. In aquaculture, Kran enhances concession recovery, shelf life, and oxygenation. With adaptability and scalability, the organization’s innovative approach seamlessly integrates into diverse industries, reshaping the global landscape of water-related challenges for a sustainable future.

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Greg Newbloom

Membrion

Treatment and reuse of toxic industrial wastewater.

Membrion develops ceramic desalination technology, offering the world's first ceramic membrane capable of efficiently desalinating water. Specializing in treating harsh industrial wastewater on-site, Membrion's innovative solution eliminates the need for off-site disposal and costly treatments like boiling or chemical processes. Its flexible electro-ceramic membranes recover up to 98% of water, enabling recycling in challenging conditions. With low fouling, oxidizer resistance, and economic advantages, Membrion empowers industrial facilities to achieve sustainability, saving over $500,000 annually and realizing a 12-24 month ROI.

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Biplabketan Paul, Trupti Jain

Naireeta Services Pvt. Ltd.

Rainwater Harvesting Technology

Naireeta Services Private Limited (NSPL) is a social enterprise dedicated to eradicating poverty through innovative solutions in the agricultural sector. Specializing in climate-adaptive technologies, NSPL's flagship product, Bhungroo, a proprietary World Bank-awarded rainwater harvesting technology, empowers 125,000 smallholder farmers across 12 Indian states, Bangladesh, Ghana, Vietnam, and Rwanda. NSPL's unique business model combines direct payments from wealthier farmers with subsidies, CSR funding, and grants, ensuring accessibility for all. Its Women Climate Leaders (WCL) programme, staffed by trained smallholder women farmers, provides fee-based agricultural advice, differentiating NSPL in the market.

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Taher Mestiri, Amira Cheniour

Seabex SAS

Transforming farming through AI-powered precision irrigation.

Seabex is an agritech startup transforming farming through AI-powered precision irrigation. Its mission is to empower farmers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with resource-efficient irrigation solutions. Its scalable, sensorless precision irrigation, driven by AI algorithms, optimizes water usage, enhances crop yields, and tackles global water scarcity. The organization is committed to accessibility, ensuring all farmers benefit from its technology. With a core focus on sustainability and innovation, Seabex utilizes global soil databases and diverse data sources to deliver real-time, personalized irrigation insights.

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Mulundu Sichone

PYDRO

Self-powered sensing and acting systems for smarter water networks.

PYDRO develops self-powered sensing and acting systems for smarter water networks. The PT1, its flagship product, revolutionizes data transmission by eliminating the need for power supply or battery exchange, offering real-time insights into water network dynamics. PYDRO's turnkey ‘water to data’ solution ensures seamless communication without additional sensors or expert intervention. With a commitment to innovation, scalability, and a unique sensing-as-a-service model, PYDRO empowers water utilities globally, providing unparalleled efficiency and pre-emptive event detection.

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Gokul Krishna Govindu, Giridharan Sengaiah, Navaneethan Santhanam

SmartTerra

AI analytics to detect leaks and anomalies across vast networks.

SmartTerra revolutionizes water utilities with cutting-edge AI analytics, reducing water losses and enhancing revenue streams. Its cloud-hosted software, adept at handling intermittent water supply, enables utilities to swiftly detect leaks and anomalies across vast networks. The company’s solution, showcased in successful pilots across India and Southeast Asia, boasts up to 75% accuracy in leak localization and 80% in abnormal meter detection. With a unique focus on city-scale and campus-scale utilities, SmartTerra has secured major contracts, exemplified by its groundbreaking partnership with L&T in Pune, India.

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Global Freshwater Challenge, 2022

To drive the freshwater conservation and management agenda, leading global conglomerate HCL partnered with UpLink to accelerate the innovation agenda for water. They will create a first-of-its-kind innovation ecosystem to enable water-focused entrepreneurs (Aquapreneurs) to scale and thrive. This five-year Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative seeks solutions that conserve and restore freshwater ecosystems, making them healthier and more resilient. This was the first out of five innovation challenges.

Submissions 454
Winners 10

Top 10 Aquapreneurs from FIRST CHALLENGE

Tatiana Alvasio

Kilimo

Paying farmers to save water

Kilimo is a company in Latin America using big data and machine learning to verify, improve, and offset water usage in agriculture. It provides software-as-a-service to help farmers optimize irrigation and sell water offsets to companies that want to become water neutral. Using a unique remote technological tool, Kilimo helps farmers improve their irrigation practices, validate their water savings and market these savings as water offset credits to companies with water stewardship pledges. Kilimo helps farmers across the world reduce water usage by 30%.

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David Pong

Wateroam Pte Ltd

Safe drinking water in minutes

Wateroam is tackling the global challenge of contaminated drinking water, especially in rural and disaster-affected communities, with a portable filtration system that converts unsafe water into drinking water in minutes. Its technology works without electricity and can be implemented in hard-to-reach communities for as little as $2 per person per year. It operates on three continents and its products have been deployed in more than 40 countries, impacting over 200,000 people around the world.

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Amrit Om Nayak

Indra Water

Decentralized treatment of wastewater using electricity for reuse

Indra water is an Indian company making water treatment systems that recycle domestic and industrial wastewater into non-potable applications. It aims to support the world’s transition to sustainable water management with products that are cheaper, more scalable and more easily deployed than traditional systems. Its solutions are able to recover 95% of wastewater and can be fully automated in order to benefit from smart monitoring and advanced analytics.

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Simon Uenzi

bNovate Technologies

Improving water safety with technology

bNovate is a Swiss start-up that aims to improve water safety with technology. It is developing and commercializing simple and effective tools that analyze microbial water quality in as little as 20 minutes. The goal of bNovate is to bring water safety into the digital age with automatic and connected solutions. It makes and sells products and services targeted at industrial facilities and environments.

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Aaron Tartakovsky

Epic Cleantec

Converting building wastewater into clean water, energy, and soil

Epic Cleantec is a water technology company based in the United States. It provides ready-to-go systems targeted at large building operators that convert wastewater into treated water for non-potable applications and clean energy. Its products can help reduce water demand by up to 95%, saving building owners hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on their water and sewer bills. Its goal is to shift the water industry toward a distributed, circular approach, where wastewater is converted into a renewable supply of valuable commodities.

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Dragan Tutic

Oneka Technologies

Harnessing the power of waves to produce fresh water

Oneka is a Canadian company developing and commercializing autonomous desalination systems that use the power of the waves to produce fresh water. Its mission is to make the oceans the most sustainable and affordable source of drinking water, by using the movement of the sea’s waves to power a pumping, filtration and desalination system. Its desalination units can provide water for between 20 and 1500 people per day depending on consumption. Its solutions provide a source of water that requires no electricity, land-based real estate and generates no greenhouse gases.

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Kevin Mercer

RainGrid Inc.

Intelligent Circular Rainfall Retention and Reuse

RainGrid is a Canadian company whose mission is to build a neural networked rain harvesting utility capacity. Its goal is to provide a circular solution to protect watersheds, improve flood and drought resilience and provide fiscal security of water infrastructure. It does so with physical and digital products that predict, capture, store and reuse rainwater on private properties. By creating a network of storage and monitoring systems, RainGrid develops an internet of things for rain collection and storage to more effectively manage water runoff in urban areas.

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Olivier Gröninger, Laura-Stocco

Openversum

Providing safe water through micro franchising and engineering

Openversum is a Swiss enterprise tackling the challenge of safe and affordable drinking water by combining an innovative filtration membrane system with micro franchising. Its goal is to provide millions of people in Latin America, Asia and Africa with access to safe drinking water while creating thousands of work opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Openversum has created an affordable all-in-one drinking water filter that removes pathogens, pesticides, heavy metals and micropollutants and lowers the risks of recontamination. At the same time, it trains entrepreneurs to locally manufacture and distribute its filters, creating employment and helping those in need.

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Mohammad Aatish Khan

NatureDots Private Limited

AI-powered monitoring for aquafarms

NatureDots is an Indian company enabling remote, real-time monitoring of aquafarms. Its product, AquaNurch, is an artificial intelligence application for inland freshwater fisheries that conducts data analytics and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. By tracking both water and fish health, NatureDots aims to transform aquaculture based food chains by ensuring healthy fisheries, and in the process has created the world's biggest water data repository and observing system.

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Beth Koigi

Majik Water Technologies

Renewable water source for arid regions

Majik Water is a social enterprise that specializes in air-to-water technologies in arid and semi arid regions. Initially operating in Kenya, its goal is to provide the estimated 780 million people around the world who are living without access to water with the opportunity to access clean, safe water pulled directly from the air. It uses solar thermal energy and sponge-like desiccant materials to do this in a low cost, energy efficient way. Its proof of concept can generate 10 litres of water in 24 hours.

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