Eleven global water technology startups will join the Singapore-based, regional accelerator to jumpstart their solutions in the wider region
Across South and Southeast Asia, the pursuit for new water solutions is intensifying as utilities and businesses strive to protect and sustain increasingly scarce resources. The eleven companies selected for Imagine H2O Asia 2020 each provide a distinct water innovation opportunity to alleviate the mounting water pressures facing communities across Asia-Pacific.
At the same time, they share a common vision to challenge the water management status quo — treating and reusing more water with less; monitoring changing water resources in real-time to make smarter decisions, faster; and boosting progress towards universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
In collaboration with program partners Enterprise Singapore, SUEZ, ADB Ventures and PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, Imagine H2O Asia’s Evaluation Committee selected the eleven finalists from a global field of 115 applicants based on commercial viability, technological differentiation, impact and Southeast Asia market readiness. The 2020 cohort will benefit from an enhanced program this year with new pilot funding awards, additional visibility opportunities and an expanded mentors and customer network.
“While the water and wastewater challenges facing the region are many, the scale of entrepreneurial activity across the sector gives me hope,” said David Hansen, Investment Director, SUEZ Ventures and Imagine H2O Asia Advisor. “The diversity of applicants to Imagine H2O Asia this year revealed an extraordinary range of technologies and businesses models under development, and I am particularly pleased to see this year a sharp increase in startups from the Asia-Pacific region addressing local issues,” he continued.
The 2020 applicant pool showcased a record number of water entrepreneurs worthy of the spotlight. Emerging water technology entrepreneurs are creating new opportunities to accelerate water security today when equitable access has become a non-negotiable due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we look ahead towards a global recovery, these same entrepreneurs serve as a powerful change agents reimagining water resilience for communities facing pressures from population growth, urbanization and climate change.
“ADB Ventures supports and invests in technologies for climate impact in developing Asia Pacific markets,” said Dominic Mellor, Senior Investment Specialist, ADB Ventures and Imagine H2O Asia Advisor. “Through our partnership with Imagine H2O Asia, we look forward to meeting the water technology entrepreneurs who aspire to make the region, its communities, and its economies more climate resilient, and then engaging Asian Development Bank operations and networks to help them scale.”
Thank you to all Imagine H2O Asia’s 2020 applicants and congratulations to the eleven finalists! Introducing the Imagine H2O Asia 2020 accelerator companies:
Water & Wastewater Treatment & Reuse
Arun (South Korea): High-efficiency and non-clogging microfiltration technology, requiring a smaller footprint and less maintenance relative to competitors, cutting operational costs by up to 85%.
Fluid Technology Solutions (USA): Advanced osmosis technology to treat wastewater for Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and water reuse. Applications in mineral refining, landfill treatment and industrial ZLD.
Memsift (Singapore): Energy efficient, low OPEX brine treatment and ZLD solutions using a novel hollow fiber membrane. Initial pilots demonstrate significant cost savings for pharmaceutical and metal-finishing industries.
Drinking Water
Liquinex (Singapore): Compact suitcase-sized water treatment system using ceramic ultrafiltration and UV-LED disinfection for mobile deployment, primarily in disaster zones or remote communities.
Mempure (Singapore): Easy-to-manufacture, positively-charged hollow fibre nanofiltration membrane technology with high removal of hardness, heavy metals and bacteria for safe drinking water production.
Sensors & Diagnostics
AquAffirm (UK): Rapid and low-cost enzyme strip-testing technology and digital monitoring platform for real-time detection of arsenic and fluoride. Proprietary enzyme and biosensor completed initial testing in Bangladesh.
Noria Water Technologies (USA): Real-time, image-based reverse osmosis membrane monitoring tool to diagnose abnormalities and inform maintenance. Solution demonstrates 30% OPEX savings due to reduced chemical usage and filtration downtime.
SENTRY (Canada): Bio-electrode sensor platform for real-time analysis of biological wastewater treatment processes and early detection of toxicity events in a robust, plug-and-play package.
Network Management & Leak Detection
Fluid Robotics (India): In-pipe robotic mapping and assessment tools to detect leaks, monitor wastewater networks and prevent pollution runoff. Flagship pilot diverted 650+ MLD raw sewage from rivers.
Digital Water Solutions
SatSure (India): Satellite imagery and analytics as a forecasting decision support tool for agricultural, irrigation and water balance applications. 50 million hectares monitored weekly through initial projects in India.
SmartTerra (India): Operational intelligence tool for utilities to reduce O&M and identify water losses due to metering faults, unauthorized usage and erroneous data recording. First pilot in India demonstrated a potential 3% revenue increase for the city’s utility.
Is your organization interested in joining the Imagine H2O Asia Ecosystem Partners Network? Learn more about the program here and contact us singapore@imagineh2o.org today.
Imagine H2O’s Accelerator & Urban Water Challenge programs announce their 2023 startup cohorts We are in a promising era of water innovation. Technology advancements, increased investment, expanding awareness, collaboration and favorable policy are creating a fertile ground for water innovation to grow – allowing for new solutions to address the world’s water challenges. As the […]
Imagine H2O Announces Six Finalists for the 2019 Urban Water Challenge Update August 27, 2019: Three startups announced as Challenge Winners (see news release). Urban communities are at the frontlines of the global water crisis. While Chennai grapples with a worsening water shortage, Day Zero has become a reality for a majority of the city’s […]
The 3rd Annual Urban Water Challenge is calling entrepreneurs Accelerating Water Sustainability Through Innovation to apply to the program and unlock funding of up to $275k Cities around the world are increasingly struggling to meet the growing demand for water in a time of uncertainty. In 2019, Chennai’s local reservoirs vanished, causing residents to wait […]