By 2029, Waterhub projects the prevention of over 16,500 tons of plastic waste and savings of more than 300,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, after filtering over 21 million liters of water in 2025 alone and eliminating millions of single-use bottles. Those goals frame a seed round aimed at scaling clean, affordable drinking water across Indonesia.
WaterHub, an Indonesia-based startup providing clean and cheaper drinking water through filtration systems, has raised seed funding from Archipelago VC and The Radical Fund to scale operations across Indonesia. The funding amount was not disclosed. The round was led by Archipelago VC, with participation from The Radical Fund, Waterhub said in a statement on Monday. The Radical Fund backs the seed round of the ID cleantech firm Waterhub.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
The Use of Proceeds: Production, People, and R&D
The funds raised will be used to ramp up machine production, expand the team, and fuel research and development (R&D)—especially in refining filtration technology and operational efficiency. Long-term, Waterhub sees regional potential, recognizing the urgent challenge of Southeast Asia facing a projected 40% shortfall between water supply and demand by 2030. In light of this, Waterhub is prioritizing strategic partnerships, including collaborations with bottled water producers, to accelerate regional adoption.
“Waterhub is not just about providing water; it’s about environmental justice, public health, and building resilient communities, This investment accelerates our mission to make safe drinking water accessible, affordable, and sustainable for all Indonesians,” said Chief Executive Officer Lyonda Huwaidi. According to the statement, access to clean drinking water remains one of Indonesia’s greatest public health and environmental challenges. With 192 million Indonesians lacking reliable access and 14 million still without proper sanitation, communities are forced to rely on single-use bottled water, fueling an industry worth nearly US$10 billion annually and contributing to plastic pollution and emissions.
How Waterhub Works: Filtration at the Point of Need
Waterhub is tackling this crisis head-on through a network of water dispensers and large-volume water filtration systems. These devices transform municipal, rain, groundwater, and even seawater into safe drinking water. By eliminating the need for plastic packaging and reducing transportation, Waterhub offers an environmentally and economically sustainable alternative to bottled water. Each unit uses advanced reverse osmosis, IoT monitoring, and optional app-based payments. Its pay-per-use and subscription models are designed to offer affordable, high-margin water solutions.
Since launching in 2024, Waterhub has deployed 36 filtration units, 32 “Communal” dispensers, and 4 “Heavy Duty” systems for major clients across fitness, food and beverage (F&B), and hospitality industries, with 100+ more planned for 2025. The company is targeting 2,000 units by 2029.
“We’re proud to back Waterhub’s bold mission, Clean and affordable water is a fundamental right, Waterhub’s scalable model addresses both climate and public health challenges, and their rapid traction proves this isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do,” said Nicolo Castiglione, Managing Partner of Archipelago VC.
“What stood out to us was Lyonda’s ability to pair deep technical expertise with a clear vision for systemic change.” said Alina Truhina, Managing Partner of The Radical Fund. “With Southeast Asia’s rising water demands and growing regional water insecurity, Waterhub’s proprietary, self-cleaning filtration system and business model for high-demand environments give it a strategic edge to scale quickly and sustainably, This positions the company to serve communities, businesses, and governments across the region,” she added.
“What stood out to us was Lyonda’s ability to pair deep technical expertise with a clear vision for systemic change.” said Alina Truhina, Managing Partner of The Radical Fund. “With Southeast Asia’s rising water demands and growing regional water insecurity, Waterhub’s proprietary, self-cleaning filtration system and business model for high-demand environments give it a strategic edge to scale quickly and sustainably, This positions the company to serve communities, businesses, and governments across the region,” she added.
Context and Conflict: Innovation vs. Infrastructure
Indonesia’s water crisis demands infrastructure investment at massive institutional scale. Waterhub’s seed funding, while significant for a startup, highlights the enormous gap between private investment and the resources needed to address Indonesia’s water access crisis. It is noted that across Southeast Asia, much of the water infrastructure is aging, centralized, and unable to keep pace with rapid urban growth, industrial expansion, and volatility in rainfall, among other systemic challenges. Given water’s societal, economic and environmental value, water-focused technologies are advancing rapidly and coming to the fore, attracting investor attention in what was once an overlooked sector.
