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Bereits zum zweiten Jahr in Folge ist der wincubator Partner des StartGreen Awards. Wir haben dem Corporate-Investor drei Fragen zu seinen Aktivitäten gestellt. Ihr habt Interesse an direktem Kontakt? Trefft das Team bei einem Meet&Greet auf dem Netzwerkforum am 15. November in Berlin.

 

What are the specific challenges and opportunities in water innovation?

According to Sensus' Water 20/20 Report, 1/3 of utilities around the globe report a loss of more than 40% of clean water due to leaks. Reducing leaks by 5%, coupled with an up to 10% reduction in pipe bursts, can save utilities up to 4 billion Euros annually.  And, according to the UN World Water Development Report 2017, increased discharges of inadequately treated wastewater are contributing to the further degradation of water quality in surface and groundwater. As water pollution critically affects water availability, it needs to be properly managed in order to mitigate the impacts of increasing water scarcity.

Therefore, opportunities in water innovation lie around optimizing and digitalizing water networks for ageing utilities, improving underground pipe health (i.e. to prevent leakages and bursts), and of course, finding more environmentally safe ways of treating residential and/or commercial wastewater.

 

What type of companies are you searching for?

We are looking for startups that address challenges related to climate change and rapid urbanization, such as water scarcity or energy shortages, in the smart building and water technology sectors.

For investment cases, we are looking for growth-stage startups that are fundraising for Series-A rounds (big bonus if the startup has already secured other investors!). We want to see that they already have a strong track record, a solid customer base and at least €200,000+ per year in sales. Additionally, would love to see the startup backed up by a diverse and focused management team with nice chemistry between the founders or core team. Our ticket size is around €500K - €1 million, however we always handle startup’s financial needs on a case-by-case basis.

For co-creation cases, we stand strong on the belief that the best way to innovate is to collaborate. This is why we welcome new enterprises interested in taking their businesses to the next level to co-create projects together. Depending on what the startup wants to do, we can tap into our global network of pump specialists, industry professionals, co-investors and others in the water management sector to help actualize ideas and build something amazing.

 

What are the benefits of having such a close connection to a company like Wilo?

Headquartered in Dortmund, WILO SE is one of the world's leading manufacturers of pumps and pump systems for the building, water and industrial sectors. Since 1872, Wilo has been providing high-tech pumps and pump services for customers all around the world. The German seal of quality inherent in Wilo's legacy is comparable to none. Having a close connection to Wilo means being able to access our massive, specialized global network of experts, customers and suppliers. Since we are a strategic investor, you can count on us being there for you during the entire journey, ebbing and flowing as we grow and bring the future, together.