Kumulus

Kumulus Water, founded in 2021 by Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid, is a water technology company addressing water scarcity by manufacturing atmospheric water generators (AWGs). The co-founders, both engineers from École Polytechnique in France, leverage their combined expertise in engineering, finance, and renewable energy to tackle this global challenge. Iheb Triki's background includes experience at The Boston Consulting Group, private equity in renewable energy, and serving as an advisor to the Tunisian Ministry of Energy. His partner, Mohamed Ali Abid, has a complementary background in engineering and project management. The inspiration for the company reportedly came to Triki during a trip to the Tunisian desert, where he observed the morning dew and realized water could be harvested from the air.

The company's flagship product, the Kumulus-1, is an AWG capable of producing 20 to 30 liters of safe, clean drinking water per day by capturing and condensing humidity from the air. The process involves drawing ambient air through a filter, cooling it to condense the moisture, and then passing the collected water through a multi-stage filtration and mineralization process. These units can be powered by solar panels, making them autonomous and suitable for off-grid locations. The systems are digitally connected and can be monitored and controlled remotely through a web or mobile application. The company is also developing a larger, industrial-grade model called the Kumulus Boks to serve community-scale needs.

Kumulus operates on a hybrid business model that includes direct sales and a water-as-a-service rental model, making the technology accessible without a large initial investment. The standard price for a machine is around 4500 Euros, with additional yearly maintenance fees. The company targets a diverse client base, including businesses, hotels, schools, NGOs, and remote communities, primarily in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. By providing a decentralized water source, Kumulus aims to reduce reliance on plastic bottled water and the associated logistical and environmental costs. The startup has secured funding from investors such as Techstars, Flat6Labs, and Bpifrance to scale its operations and expand into new markets like Spain and Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: atmospheric water generator, water technology, water scarcity, sustainable water, air-to-water, cleantech, decentralized water, off-grid solutions, water-as-a-service, solar-powered