Our Mission
Empowering the future of water through innovation, collaboration, and strategic action
The Water Foundation is set up to tackle a core blind spot of humankind: despite its existential importance, water remains misunderstood in many global agendas — under-prioritized, underfunded, and under-strategized.
Exceptional People
We bring together exceptional people who are impatient with the status quo, embrace new systems thinking across the entire water cycle and water tech stack, and — most importantly — have the courage to act. For certainty of success and real transformation.
Strategic Empowerment
The Water Foundation empowers individuals, organisations, and states to develop strategic capacity, increase resilience, and shape circular water and resource infrastructures for the future.
Ecosystem Building
We build an ecosystem that addresses one of our time's least appreciated challenges: water scarcity and impending degradation of our water systems.
Water's Triple Challenge
The core blind spot of humankind manifests in three critical dimensions
Under-Prioritized
Water security remains absent from most global agendas, despite being fundamental to human survival
Underfunded
Less than 1% of climate capital flows to water solutions, creating a massive investment gap
Under-Strategized
No comprehensive global strategy exists for water security, leaving solutions fragmented and ineffective
Our Approach
Non For Profit
We accept donations and employ best practices in blended finance for development and impact, enabling us to drive sustainable change through charitable initiatives and strategic partnerships.
For Profit
We accept direct capital investments into closed-end venture and PE funds, as well as participate with our principals in an evergreen structure, creating opportunities for financial returns alongside impact.
WHY
NOW?
Human Lives That Could Be Saved
Annual Deaths
from unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene-related diseases
Children Under 5
die annually from diarrhoeal diseases related to unsafe water
Lives Over 10 Years
that could be saved with universal safe water access
Regional Impact
Highest burden: unsafe water contributes to ~5% of all deaths
Nearly 700,000 premature deaths annually due to poor WASH
Across Geographies
Children Under 5
Preventable deaths each year from diarrhoeal disease linked to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2023)
Sub-Saharan Africa
Highest burden, with unsafe water contributing to approximately 5% of all deaths — around 500,000 preventable deaths annually (WHO Africa, 2023)
South Asia
Nearly 700,000 premature deaths annually due to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WHO Global Health Estimates, 2022)
Southeast Asia
Around 200,000 preventable deaths each year related to unsafe water and inadequate sanitation (WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2023)
Middle East & North Africa
Approximately 150,000 preventable deaths annually, with fragile and conflict-affected states carrying the highest burden (UNICEF MENA, 2023)
Latin America
Around 100,000 preventable deaths annually, disproportionately affecting poor and rural populations (PAHO/WHO, 2022)
Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Lower but still significant, with about 80,000 preventable deaths annually due to inadequate WASH services (WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2023)
The convergence of crisis and opportunity in the world's most critical resource
The Critical Resource Crisis
Water is quickly becoming the world's most critical resource. As scarcity and contamination rise, so does the urgency for bold, scalable solutions.
In 2024, investor interest surged in technologies like desalination, advanced treatment, and PFAS destruction — solutions that are vital for environmental resilience and rich with market potential.
Key Global Indicators
Critical data points driving water innovation investment
Access to Safe Drinking Water
2.2B
people without access
UNICEF/WHO JMP, 2023
Sanitation Access
3.5B
lack safe sanitation
WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2023
Wastewater
80%
untreated globally
UNESCO WWDR, 2023
Economic Losses
$260B
annually
World Bank, 2021
Market Growth
$1T+
water tech market by 2030
BNEF, 2023
Climate Impact
74%
of climate disasters water-related
UNDRR, 2022
The Investment
Water is the last big scarcity play. As global challenges intensify, breakthrough technologies in water treatment and management are becoming the most compelling investment opportunity of our time.
The convergence of crisis, innovation, and market demand creates unprecedented potential for investors who act now.
The Investment Surge Is Here
Water innovation is becoming the most compelling investment opportunity of our time
Market Growth
Global water technology market projected to exceed USD 1 trillion by 2030, reflecting rising demand for resilient and efficient water systems. (Source: BloombergNEF, 2023)
Venture Capital Momentum
Funding for water startups doubled in five years, reaching USD 1.6 billion in 2022, though it remains far below energy or fintech. (Source: BlueTech Research, 2023)
Infrastructure Gap
To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6, the world must invest USD 114 billion annually until 2030 in water infrastructure. (Source: World Bank, 2021)
Institutional Entry
Allianz GI Water Fund surpassing USD 1.2 billion AUM (2023). S&P Global Water Index outperforming utilities over the past decade. (Sources: Allianz GI, S&P Global, 2023)
Blended Finance & Philanthropy
Catalytic capital is accelerating: the African Development Bank's SEFA program and the Global Innovation Fund channel concessional and blended capital into water innovation. (Sources: AfDB SEFA, GIF, 2023)
Unsiloed Finance
Three integrated approaches to water innovation investment
Venture Builders
We identify the best water IP/ideas, build teams around it, enable them with capital
VC Funds
We invest in the best existing teams and technologies, plug them into the venture ecosystem and help them scale
PE Funds
We buy incumbent players and hidden champions along the water cycle and build something even bigger
Bridging the Valley of Scale
The Problem
The world doesn't lack water solutions - it lacks scalable pathways to deploy and finance them where they matter most.
Our Platform
We uniquely connect the early-stage innovation ecosystem with institutional capital and operational maturity of large-scale water infrastructure.
Our Vision
We accelerate the transition from water innovation to global resilience by turning bold ideas into bankable infrastructure and lasting equity.
Our Belief
Equitable access to water is foundational to dignity, opportunity, and planetary stability.
What Sets Us Apart
Cross-Capital Stack
From catalytic seed to patient PE, we work across the entire capital spectrum. We don't just fund - we build sustainable financial pathways.
Ecosystem Approach
We support people, places, and policy ecosystems that turn belief into practice. It's not just about the technology - it's about the entire ecosystem.
Infrastructure Focus
Unlike traditional accelerators, we focus on scalable, bankable infrastructure. We build what lasts, not what's trendy.
The Investment Case
Water is not only the world's most vital resource - it's also the one where capital can affect the most change.
It hasn't been effectively priced into our financial systems yet. Water is set to become the most capitalized asset class amongst natural resources. Investing in water also has the highest impact multiple amongst natural resources.
It's the last big scarcity play.