ABOUT THE 2018 CHALLENGE

A Global Innovation Competition to Address Urban Drinking Water Scarcity

BY 2030...

Fast-growing cities globally are facing increasing pressures on their drinking water systems

Imagine H2O’s inaugural Urban Water Challenge deployed decentralized solutions for water-scarce cities to advance measurable progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 6. The Challenge’s Founding Partners, 11th Hour Racing and Bluewater, committed up to $1,000,000 in cash awards, deployment funds and follow-on investment to three winners.

Note: This initiative is distinct from Imagine H2O's flagship annual accelerator program. The application was open to Imagine H2O alumni and current portfolio companies.

Call for Solutions

The competition supported entrepreneurs developing drinking water solutions in the following areas:

DEVELOP AND AUGMENT URBAN DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES

STRENGTHEN DECENTRALIZED DRINKING WATER PURIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

EMPOWER CITIES TO MONITOR AND MANAGE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OF WATERWAYS AND ECOSYSTEMS

Program Benefits

Three winners received $85,000 each ($10,000 cash prize and $75,000 deployment award). Investment of $750,000+ may be available from Founding Challenge Partner, Bluewater Group. The 2019 program will unlock larger deployment awards and additional visibility opportunities.

Deployment Awards and Investment Consideration

WORLD WATER WEEK 2018 SLINGSHOT@SWITCH

FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO SCALE SOLUTIONS

Imagine H2O Asia Track

Partner competition status with SLINGSHOT@SWITCH powered by Startup SG, an initiative of Enterprise Singapore, unlocked additional support for three startups through the Challenge’s Imagine H2O Asia Track.