Imagine H2O Asia builds solutions to Asia-Pacific’s water challenges with the world’s best entrepreneurs.
Communities across Asia are on the front lines of the global water and climate crisis. In response, the region is embracing innovative water solutions. Imagine H2O Asia helps startups capture these opportunities.
We build water technology startups based in Singapore and the region, as well as help global entrepreneurs enter and scale their solutions across South and Southeast Asian markets for the first time.
Since our launch in 2019, our program has helped 50+ water startups secure projects across twelve countries in the region.
Imagine H2O’s Water Innovation Pilot Fund (WIPF) provides startups with recoverable grants and loans to de-risk innovative water and climate solutions faster. Since 2023, Imagine H2O has co-funded 33 pilots globally through WIPF, with 19 based in Asia-Pacific.
Catalytic Capital
Grants and recoverable grants (up to $150k) for startups to pilot their solutions with early adopters
Technical Assistance
End-to-end project design and on-the-ground implementation support to increase the likelihood of commercialization
Learn more about the Water Innovation Pilot Fund here.
Our program is open to different profiles of startups and your experience will be customized based on your technology readiness and status in the region.
Eligible startups must be less than 10 years in operation, generating less than $5M revenue and have raised less than $20M in equity.
AquaOptima’s AI autopilot integrates directly with existing SCADA and PLC systems to autonomously optimise pump station scheduling and speed, reducing energy use without needing hardware replacement.
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Retrofit plume recovery system for cooling towers to capture evaporative water loss with real-time recovery tracking.
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Regenerable filtration media to achieve high contaminant removal for silica, COD, colour, heavy metals, ammonia, and fluoride.
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Micro-hydro system to convert water flow in building tanks and cooling systems into renewable electricity for use on site.
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Water intelligence platform that enables real-time monitoring and control through integrated sensing, automated sampling, lab validation, and analytics.
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Poly-ceramic membrane systems to recover solvents, acids, alkalis, and water under harsh operating conditions.
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance platform using SmartChip qPCR to deliver actionable water biosecurity insights.
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BioMetallica’s dual-technology solution uses genetically engineered bacteria to recover precious metals from e-waste, catalytic converters and mine tailings, while ensuring near-zero wastewater discharge.
They are currently validating precious metal (Pt, Pd, Rh) recovery efficiency of >95%, with plans to scale up its capacity by 5x this year.
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Cloudwell has developed an affordable and scalable rainwater harvesting and treatment system that seamlessly integrates with local water grids, diversifying a community’s water sources for improved resilience.
Its systems are currently operational in 486 sites across Nepal, India, Indonesia and Malaysia, helping communities access a clean and steady source of water.
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Hontrel Technologies’ platform automatically generates Bills of Quantities (BOQ) using AI for quick and accurate costing in project tender preparation according to client specifications.
They are currently engaging in early trials with customers to test specific features of its AI proposal management and CPQ (configure, pricing, quotation) algorithm.
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Geo Climate Risk Solutions’ platform leverages non-invasive tools (satellite imagery, remote sensing data and geospatial analytics) to detect contamination trends in large water bodies and enable proactive interventions.
The software has effectively analyzed 3,500 water bodies across 200 unique environments in India, helping agencies prioritize restoration efforts.
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Transient Detect combines software with long-lasting IoT devices embedded with an algorithm that accurately transmits true transient pressure events for utilities to monitor and predict fatigue in the network.
They have completed 5 pilots with water utilities in Australia to date, with 2 more underway in Australia and Asia.
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Matter’s system brings together its compact, low-energy IP68 rated sensors that can detect stormwater surges and drain blockages up to 20m deep, with real-time analytics to reduce urban flood occurrences.
To date, they have deployed more than 150 sensors in Melbourne which have demonstrated an 80% reduction in manpower deployed for pit inspections and 7% savings on flood cleanup costs.
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Citybot Technology combines its defect identification AI software with modular robotic systems to accurately map and identify structural anomalies in both dry and submerged environments.
Utilizing more than 10,000km of sewer network data to further train their AI model, they are currently completing a major trial to map drainage conditions in Singapore.
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Grid’s no-code operations platform integrates meter data and workflows for a utility to effectively manage large-scale smart meter installations, scheduled maintenance and field incidents.
They are working with commercial customers in both energy and water utilities with multi-project deployments covering over 5 million metering points.
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Cindy Ko
Toniic (Singapore)
Hong Paterson
Greenbridge Capital Management (Singapore)
Irwan Dinata
Moya Holdings Asia Ltd (Indonesia)
Kunal Shah
Independent Consultant (Singapore)
Michael Reed
Family Sustainability Solutions (Singapore)
Michael Toh
Singapore Water Association
Ng Wun Jern
Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
Paul Gunstensen
Independent Consultant (United Kingdom)
Philip Abraham
Veolia Asia (China)
Prashant Pundrik
Athena Cleantech (Singapore)
Ramon Alikpala
FutureWater Asia (Philippines)
Ranjiv Khush
Independent Consultant (USA)
Rodney Chapin
Ardurra International (Vietnam)
Stuthi Vijayaraghavan
Urban Venture Labs (India)
Tuck Wai Lee
Upconverge (Singapore)
Imagine H2O Asia 2
Water Quality
Environsens and SpaceAge Labs found each other through Imagine H2O Asia’s inaugural cohort, during the program’s startup bootcamp. As fellow Singaporean companies, they saw a potential collaboration: a combined solution to tackle the industrial discharge of heavy metals in Singapore’s sewage systems.
While Environsens’ biosensor could effectively monitor toxicity levels, it was unable to aggregate and transmit that data across multiple assets. SpaceAge Labs offered a low-power, wireless communications and analytics platform that could enable Environsens and PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, to view data in real-time. By improving the efficiency of wastewater monitoring and surveillance, Environsens and SpaceAge Labs were able to save the utility both time and money. At the same time, they protected Singapore’s waterways from toxic industrial discharge. The companies have installed 175 joint systems across Singapore to date.
Every aspect of the Imagine H2O Asia program was well-designed and relevant for a water startup like ours. A highlight for us was the the opportunity to hear from industry veterans and alumni who understand the unique challenges of growing and operating a water business in the region.
Urban Water Challenge I, Imagine H2O Asia 2
Water Efficiency & Conservation
South and Southeast Asian utilities are struggling to tackle water leaks, under-registering meters, unauthorized consumption, and other drivers of non-revenue water—all of which contribute to losses as high as 50% in some cities in the region. With climate change and growing population demands further threatening water supply, utilities are faced with increased pressures to improve water coverage while operating under tighter budgets and financial constraints. SmartTerra’s AI-powered analytics platform helps reduce utility losses and increase revenue with no additional capital investment required. Within the first three months, Imagine H2O Asia’s team helped SmartTerra secure its first project outside of India with a Philippines utility. The project’s first phase analyzed the operator’s 15,000 connections.
Imagine H2O Asia truly enables market access. Just weeks into the program, we got our first pilot. But they didn’t stop there. Imagine H2O Asia mobilized its staff and network of in-country advisors to support the project’s implementation. We have then been invited to present to their partners like ADB and the World Bank, apply for pilot funding and showcase at events like Singapore International Water Week. The team isn’t just running a great program—they have become our best partners.
The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, Dalio Philanthropies, Imagine H2O and XPRIZE Foundation have announced a new strategic collaboration designed to help promising water technologies progress beyond innovation competitions toward commercialization, deployment and scale. Announced in New York City during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81), the collaboration will bring together […]
The depletion of the Great Salt Lake is one of the most visible water challenges in the American West. At the recently convened inaugural Utah Blue Industry Summit, Imagine H2O launched an initiative to help preserve the Lake by closing the gap between technology and adoption: the Imagine H2O Great Salt Lake Water Innovation Hub […]
Join Imagine H2O and Sorenson Impact Institute at the Yale Club on September 23 for a morning connecting investors, founders, corporate innovators, and water infrastructure leaders during Climate Week NYC. Climate Week NYC returns to New York from September 20 to 27, convening governments, businesses, and civil society around the defining climate questions of the […]
