WIPO Hosts Event To Boost Entrepreneurship, Investment In Safe Water Technology

An unusual meeting is taking place at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week, bringing together entrepreneurs in water and sanitation technology and business models with prospective investors, including clean-tech venture capitalists, private equity and corporate investors.

The event, “Innovate 4 Water: A Matchmaking Forum for Sustainable Development,” is taking place from 7-9 June and is organised by Waterpreneurs, WaterVent and the WIPO GREEN Network. A matchmaking day will be held on 8 June, followed by an open forum on 9 June. The event programme is available here [pdf].

WIPO GREEN is a public private partnership that operates a global platform for technology transfer and diffusion [clarified].

The first day involves “coaching sessions” for entrepreneurs who will be pitching the next day to receive feedback and coaching.

On 8 June, the matchmaking day will take place, and more than 30 (far-reaching but mostly European) companies will pitch their startups (note: attendance is by subscription only and seating is limited).

On 9 June, an open forum with the focus of “access to safe water and sanitation” will be held, free and open to anyone but registration is required. This is full day of “needs pitches” around six major themes and short panel discussions on the six themes with an extensive lineup of over 50 entrepreneurs and investors, IGOs, NGOs, and others (except governments). Most startups that pitched to investors the previous day will also be present.

The themes are: water and sanitation in the circular economy; water-food-energy-health nexus; smart water technologies; sustainable ecosystem for water entrepreneurs; hybrid business models; and blended finance.

The keynote address is by John Tidmarsh, chief investment officer of R20 Regions for Climate Action (founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger), based here in Geneva.