Name of the Company : Swajal

Set up in: 2014

Based in: Gurugram, India

Founders: V ibha Tripathi (social entrepreneur working in water/energy segment); Advait Kumar (ex-banker from JP Morgan, US)

Funding: $1.2 million

What it does: Enables clean water access to people in India across the socio-economic spectrum. Offers innovative products like Remote Sensing Water Purification Systems for schools, hospitals, rural and urban slums, villages and high floating-population areas.

How it does it : Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled water purification solutions allow the start-up to remotely manage, update and even repair the dispensers. IoT helps to remotely monitor and manage each machine, the usage of RFID cards streamlines water vending by taking input from the user on the amount of water needed. The RFID cards are rechargeable. The water ATMs run on solar in regions where there is lack of electricity.

Big moment : Awarded a prestigious grant from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). Also won several awards, including the Best IT and Innovation Award 2017 at the TiE Summit, Millennium Alliance Award 2016 and Best Start-up award by IoT India Congress.

Impact: Has set up over 400 systems across the country, catering to more than two lakh people. Is reducing 420 tonnes of plastic annually by nudging users to bring their own reusable bottles or utensils. Also generates economic opportunity by hiring local operators for the system at railway stations, hospitals, and others. Absenteeism in schools where Swajal systems are installed in Haryana has reduced up to 90 per cent as children do not fall sick anymore and fill water from the school for their homes.

Vision: To provide affordable, accessible and reliable clean drinking water for everyone.

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