Investing in Water Aligning Investment Strategies with Water Innovation 2025

Water does not require a complete shift in everyone’s investment approach. Instead, it can enhance and strengthen existing theses. As every activity has a water footprint, most investors are already investing in water, whether they realize it or not. By understanding where water intersects with their current holdings – perhaps focused on climate resilience, supply chain stability or technological innovation – they can position themselves as investors attuned to the complexity of various sectors and confidently add water as an intentional, strategic vertical. Figure 4 illustrates how water aligns with leading industry verticals, showing clear opportunities and solution providers that can complement current strategies.2.2 Water innovation in everyone’s investment thesis The water opportunity in different industry verticals FIGURE 4 Source: World Economic Forum and UpLink Investing in Water Working Group Investing in Water: Aligning Investment Strategies with Water Innovation 20High Water impact opportunity Energy and sustainability Examples: Water capture and reuse, energy generation from wastewater Oneka Technologies Wave-powered desalination system Growing Water impact opportunity Limited scope for water impact opportunities Mobility and transportationConsumer goods and servicesMedia and telecom Examples Water treatment for marine and aerospace applications, water-efficient battery manufacturingExamples At-home water filtration, water-efficient appliancesExamples Early flood-warning systemHealthcare and life sciences Industrials and manufacturing Examples: Leak detection, smart water management, advanced industrial water treatment, efficiency, resource recovery and reuse Kran Nanobubble Transforming industrial process efficiency with nanobubbles Examples: Bioremediation, pollution-cleaning microbes, waterborne pathogen monitoring, portable water purification systems Fluidion Affordable, field-deployable water safety monitoring Agriculture and foodtech Examples: Precision irrigation, circular water use in agriculture, water-efficient food processing Seabex AI-powered sensorless precision irrigationDeeptech and frontier technologiesInformation technology Examples: Software and software as a service (SaaS) platforms for water management DigitalPaani IoT software to make water treatment more efficientExamples: Advanced resource recovery, nanofiltration, synthetic biology, direct lithium extraction Membrion Treatment and reuse of toxic industrial wastewater Financial services and fintech Examples Insurtech, microfinance, water credits Kilimo SaaS-enabled marketplace to help farmers sell water offsets to companies that want to become water-neutral