Against the backdrop of the World Economic Forum, HCL Group and UpLink have unveiled the winners of the 2026 Water Resilience Challenge.
The fourth chapter of the CHF 15 million Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative identifies and funds the missing middle of the water-tech sector. It specifically targets startups with proven technology that are ready to solve the mounting pressures of climate change and industrial demand.
Indian innovation leads the charge:
Leading the 2026 cohort is EarthFokus, an Indian water-tech disruptor from Chennai. Recognized for its zero-waste philosophy, EarthFokus specializes in real-time water management and high-efficiency hardware for large-scale buildings and industrial complexes. Their technology helps urban centers drastically reduce consumption through intelligent monitoring and atomization tools that save millions of liters of water without compromising user experience.
A multimillion-dollar global mandate:
The ten winners were selected from a pool of over 300 applicants spanning nine countries. These Aquapreneurs will share a CHF 1.75 million (approx. $2 million) grant pool. The focus this year was specifically on water resilience, targeting solutions that optimize water efficiency in tech-heavy sectors—like AI data centers and semiconductors—and rethink water use in agri-food systems.
“Through the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative, HCL Group is focused on enabling solutions that can deliver measurable impact at scale,” said Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCL Group. “In light of the current global climate change crisis, the urgent need for innovative solutions to manage our freshwater supplies cannot be overlooked.”
The 2026 Aquapreneur winners list:
• EarthFokus (India): Intelligent water-saving systems for commercial and industrial buildings.
• Xatoms (Canada): Using AI and quantum chemistry to design photocatalysts for water purification.
• ElectraMet (USA): Electrochemical systems to remove and recover heavy metals from wastewater.
• Flocean (Norway): Low-energy subsea desalination technology powered by deep-ocean pressure.
• Hohonu (USA): Hyperlocal, real-time flood and water-level monitoring via smart sensors.
• iFLUX (Belgium): Real-time monitoring of groundwater flow and contaminant plumes.
• NoorNation (Egypt): Solar-powered lifehubs providing off-grid energy and clean water.
• SWAN Systems (Australia): Precision irrigation and nutrient management software for agriculture.
• Vortech Water Solutions (Ireland): Energy-efficient wastewater treatment using vortex aeration.
• Desalytics (UAE/Africa): Digital-first water testing and technical support for African markets.
