This startup is changing the way wastewater recycling works

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Hello reader,

Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 has been off to a good start. As the new year gets underway, I’m getting started on some of my goals for the year – such as reading at least 12 books, training to complete a 10-kilometer run, and being more conscious about my impact on the environment.

In a seamless segue, the startup featured in today’s premium story is also trying to address an environmental issue – water pollution.

Globally, there are 844 million people who lack safe drinking water, of which around 110 million live in Southeast Asia. Indonesia, for example, accounts for 21% of Asia Pacific’s water resources, but more than half of the country’s rivers are polluted.

Being able to treat wastewater effectively could help address these issues – read on to find out more about a startup who’s doing just that.

Today we look at:

• A company trying to change the way wastewater recycling works (try saying that five times fast)
• An ex-Grab exec’s new nature tech startup
• Other newsy highlights such as Zoomcar’s listing on the Nasdaq via a SPAC and Firstcry’s IPO plans

Premium summary

Water, water everywhere

Image credit: Timmy Loen

Wastewater recycling could help address the effects of water pollution and increase access to drinking water for people all around the globe. However, conventional wastewater technologies are reliant on chemical reactions with contaminants, which produces additional waste and consumes a lot of energy.

That’s where Singapore-based greentech startup Hydroleap wants to make a difference.

• A new approach: Hydroleap aims to provide wastewater recycling solutions through methods that consume less energy and don’t use chemicals. It’s also developing proprietary technology to tackle issues that occur with these processes.
• Money matters: While environmental, social, and governance goals are gaining momentum among companies, these aren’t enough to make a business switch to more eco-friendly alternatives in their operations, according to Hydroleap CEO Mohammad Sherafatmand. However, the firm says its solutions can help reduce carbon emissions as well as power and water consumption, allowing clients to save around 50% to 60% in costs – something that has helped it pick up some major clients.
• On the right track: Sherafatmand shares that Hydroleap’s revenue has grown 4.6x over the past 18 months. It aims to reach profitability in the next two years.

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