HCL Group and UpLink Reveal ‘Tackling Water Pollution Challenge’ Winners
HCL Group, a leading global conglomerate, and UpLink, the World Economic Forum’s early-stage innovation initiative, have announced the winners of the ‘Tackling Water Pollution Challenge.’ This announcement marks the third challenge in a series of five, under the five-year
, CHF 15 million Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative launched by HCL Group. The initiative’s primary goal is to address critical global water issues through innovation and entrepreneurship. This year’s challenge highlights the continued efforts to combat water pollution, a pressing global concern that directly impacts both human and environmental health.
The ‘Tackling Water Pollution Challenge’ received over 270 submissions from innovators across 60 countries. After careful evaluation, 10 innovative startups were selected as winners,HCL hailed as ‘UpLink Top Innovators and Aquapreneurs.’ These winners represent a diverse global spectrum of expertise in the freshwater sector, showcasing innovative solutions to some of the most challenging water pollution problems worldwide.
With a shared financial award of CHF 1.75 million, the winners will have the opportunity to scale their operations, further advancing their work to tackle water pollution. HCL In addition to this financial backing, the winners will benefit from mentorship, access to a global network, and exclusive resources provided by both HCL Group and UpLink.
The solutions presented by the winners of this year’s challenge are diverse and impactful, ranging from cutting-edge filtration systems to advancements in wastewater treatment, industrial water HCL reuse technologies, and water quality monitoring systems. These solutions are all aimed at addressing water pollution, with an emphasis on innovation and sustainability.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Group, emphasized the importance of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative in fighting water-related challenges. “Water scarcity and pollution are existential threats to humanity and biodiversity. The Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative, launched a couple of years ago, aims to discover and support the most innovative start-ups and scale-ups addressing the world’s most pressing water challenges. The success of the 20 pioneering start-ups from the first two years of the initiative has been extraordinary.
In 2024 alone, these start-ups helped save over 12 billion liters of water, which is the equivalent of Switzerland’s entire annual water footprint. Additionally, they treated 3 billion liters of wastewater. The support provided by HCL’s grant has allowed these companies to expand into new markets, deploy pilot projects, and scale their operations. These startups have raised over US$70 million in funding since joining the initiative, and I am confident that this year’s winners will experience similar success,” said Malhotra.
Olivier Schwab, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, also highlighted the significance of the initiative. “As water challenges become more urgent, HCL Group and UpLink’s continued commitment to driving collaborative innovation is vital in safeguarding freshwater ecosystems. This initiative is not just about solving immediate issues; it is about building long-term, sustainable solutions for the future of water access. By fostering scalable, bold solutions, we are contributing to addressing one of the most critical global challenges of our time,” he added.
The global water pollution crisis is severe, with approximately 80% of the world’s untreated wastewater being discharged into rivers, lakes, and oceans. This untreated waste contributes to 485,000 premature deaths annually and costs the global economy approximately $260 billion each year. The problem is exacerbated as countries industrialize, with significant chemical contamination of freshwater sources, including pollutants like microplastics and PFAS (Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances), commonly known as “Forever Chemicals.” These contaminants pose significant threats to public health and the environment.
The 2025 winners of the Tackling Water Pollution Challenge include:
- Aquagga (USA) – Specializes in innovative PFAS destruction technology using Hydrothermal Alkaline Treatment (HALT) for environmental remediation and wastewater treatment.
- Digital Paani (India) – Focuses on enhancing water treatment operations to address water scarcity and pollution through scalable solutions, especially in under-resourced areas.
- Fluidion (France) – Develops innovative water sampling solutions for pollution and water quality monitoring across urban, natural, and industrial environments.
- FREDsense (Canada) – Provides in-field water quality testing solutions, empowering utilities and environmental consultants with real-time data for better water management.
- Fungi Life (Colombia) – Utilizes fungal biotechnology to create sustainable ingredients, aiming for net-zero emissions and utilizing agro-industrial waste for environmental sustainability.
- Mimbly (Sweden) – Focuses on water resource optimization in the laundry industry through innovative recycling and filtration solutions to promote sustainability.
- Oxyle (Switzerland) – Offers an economical solution for eliminating PFAS from water, enabling remediation companies to tackle contamination effectively.
- SENTRY (Canada) – Develops a biological activity and water quality monitoring platform using bio-electrode sensor technology for real-time monitoring of wastewater treatment systems.
- Syrinx (Australia) – Offers nature-based water treatment solutions, such as its ‘Wetland-in-a-Box’® (EnPhytoBox), which addresses water pollution and enhances climate resilience in agriculture.
- WASE (United Kingdom) – Specializes in treating industrial wastewater onsite, helping customers meet regulations, maximize bioenergy generation, and decarbonize thermal energy through sustainable, economically viable solutions.
In addition to the financial awards, these winners will be invited to participate in global events and projects led by the World Economic Forum and its partners, providing them with unparalleled opportunities to scale their initiatives.
Since its inception, the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative has seen considerable success, driving innovations in water conservation, wastewater treatment, greenhouse gas reduction, and job creation. The funding and support provided have enabled winners to scale their solutions and expand into new markets, making significant progress in tackling the world’s freshwater challenges. To date, top innovators have collectively raised over $70 million in funding to further their impact. The continued success of the initiative is a testament to the critical role that innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial spirit will play in addressing the global water crisis.
