In the realm of water technology investment, OurCrowd stands as a pioneering force, revolutionizing how entrepreneurs and investors connect in the water sector. This Israeli investment platform has created a unique ecosystem where innovative water solutions meet capital efficiency, democratizing access to high-potential water technology startups. By leveraging a hybrid model of venture capital and equity crowdfunding, OurCrowd has become a catalyst for water innovation, enabling both seasoned investors and newcomers to participate in shaping the future of water technology.
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Investor Name: OurCrowd
Investor Type: VC
Latest Fund Size: $1900 Million
Dry Powder Available: Yes
Typical Ticket Size: $3M – $10M
Investment Themes: Water scarcity & efficiency, water quality & treatment, climate-resilient water tech
Investment History: $21481139.43 spent over 7 deals
Often Invests Along:
Already Invested In: BlueGreen Water Technologies, CropX Technologies, Kando
Leads or Follows: Lead
Board Seat Appetite: High
Key People: Jon Medved, Andrew Kaye, Eli Nir, Josh Wolff, Liat Sverdlov
The Genesis of OurCrowd
In 2013, veteran entrepreneur and venture capitalist Jon Medved recognized a critical gap in the investment landscape. While innovative water technology startups were emerging with solutions to global water challenges, accessing capital remained a significant hurdle. This observation led to the birth of OurCrowd, a groundbreaking investment platform that would democratize venture capital investment, particularly in critical sectors like water technology.
Medved’s vision extended beyond traditional venture capital models. He understood that water innovation required patient capital and deep technical expertise – qualities often missing in conventional investment approaches. By creating OurCrowd, he established a platform that could connect sophisticated investors directly with thoroughly vetted water technology startups, effectively bridging the funding gap that had historically hindered water innovation.
The platform’s approach to water technology investment is particularly noteworthy. Unlike traditional venture capital firms that might shy away from water-focused startups due to longer development cycles, OurCrowd embraced the sector’s unique characteristics. The platform developed specialized due diligence processes that account for the technical complexities and regulatory requirements inherent in water technology development.
What truly sets OurCrowd apart is its hybrid model that combines professional venture capital management with individual investor participation. This structure allows water technology entrepreneurs to access not just capital, but also valuable networks and expertise. Simultaneously, it enables investors to participate in promising water technology ventures with investment amounts that were previously impossible in traditional VC structures.
As discussed in how water technologies matter in lithium mining and why you should buy now, the platform’s impact extends beyond direct water treatment solutions into adjacent sectors where water technology plays a crucial role. This comprehensive approach has helped establish OurCrowd as a pivotal player in advancing water innovation globally.
The platform’s success in water technology investment has demonstrated that democratizing access to venture capital can accelerate innovation in sectors critical to global sustainability. Through OurCrowd, Medved has created more than just an investment platform – he has fostered an ecosystem where water technology entrepreneurs can thrive and investors can participate in shaping the future of water resources management.
Platform Mechanics: How Water Entrepreneurs Can Engage
Water technology startups seeking funding through OurCrowd must navigate a thorough yet streamlined application process designed to identify and validate promising innovations. The platform’s evaluation framework specifically addresses the unique characteristics and challenges of water ventures.
The journey begins with a comprehensive online application that details the startup’s technology, market opportunity, and team capabilities. Entrepreneurs must demonstrate clear technological differentiation and scalable solutions that tackle pressing water challenges. The platform gives particular attention to innovations in water treatment, conservation, smart water management, and resource recovery.
Due diligence at OurCrowd follows a multi-stage approach that examines both technical and commercial viability. Technical validation requires third-party verification of performance claims, pilot results, and intellectual property protection. Commercial assessment focuses on market size, competitive positioning, and revenue model sustainability.
For water ventures specifically, OurCrowd evaluates three critical metrics: resource efficiency gains, implementation feasibility, and cost-effectiveness compared to incumbent solutions. The platform recognizes that water technologies often require longer commercialization cycles and factors this into valuation methods.
Valuation methodology combines traditional metrics like revenue multiples with water sector-specific considerations including regulatory landscape and infrastructure integration requirements. The platform’s water technology experts work closely with entrepreneurs to establish realistic valuations that balance growth potential with market realities.
Success criteria emphasize demonstrable impact alongside financial returns. Startups must show potential for meaningful water conservation, quality improvement, or access expansion. Clear paths to regulatory compliance and utility adoption are essential. The platform particularly values solutions that can scale across multiple geographic markets.
An analysis of water venture capital dynamics reveals that successful applicants typically demonstrate strong intellectual property protection, proven pilot results, and established partnerships with utilities or industrial users. The platform’s water portfolio companies average 18-24 months from listing to completing their funding rounds.
Upon acceptance, startups gain access to OurCrowd’s network of water industry experts, potential customers, and strategic partners. The platform’s sector specialists provide ongoing support in areas like regulatory navigation, utility engagement, and growth strategy development. This ecosystem approach helps bridge common commercialization gaps in the water technology space.
Impact Investment Success Stories
OurCrowd’s portfolio showcases remarkable water technology companies that have successfully attracted impact investment capital while delivering innovative solutions to global water challenges. These success stories demonstrate the platform’s ability to identify and nurture transformative water technologies.
In the water treatment domain, several portfolio companies have pioneered breakthrough approaches. One standout venture developed an electrochemical treatment system that removes complex contaminants while consuming 90% less energy than conventional methods. Another introduced a novel membrane technology that prevents biofouling through surface modifications, dramatically extending operational lifetimes and reducing maintenance costs.
Water conservation efforts have also seen significant wins through OurCrowd’s platform. A notable success story comes from a smart irrigation company that combines soil sensors, weather data, and machine learning to reduce agricultural water consumption by up to 40%. The technology has been deployed across thousands of hectares globally, demonstrating rapid scalability.
In the smart water management space, OurCrowd has backed companies leveraging artificial intelligence and IoT solutions to transform utility operations. One portfolio company has developed an AI-powered leak detection system that identifies potential pipeline failures before they occur, helping utilities save millions in water losses and infrastructure repairs. Another pioneered a cloud-based analytics platform that optimizes treatment plant operations, reducing energy usage while improving water quality compliance.
These companies exemplify how OurCrowd’s investment model can accelerate water technology adoption. By connecting promising water entrepreneurs with impact-focused capital, the platform has helped scale solutions that deliver both environmental benefits and financial returns. Their success has attracted follow-on investment from major water industry players, validating OurCrowd’s due diligence process and demonstrating the commercial viability of water innovation.
The Investment Process for Water Impact Investors
OurCrowd’s investment platform provides a structured pathway for investors seeking to participate in water technology opportunities while managing risk and maximizing impact potential. The platform employs a multi-tiered investment approach that caters to diverse investor profiles.
The entry point for water technology investments through OurCrowd starts at $10,000 per deal, making impactful water innovation accessible to qualified investors. This relatively low minimum allows investors to build diversified portfolios across multiple water technology companies rather than concentrating risk in a single venture.
Portfolio diversification options include investments across different water technology verticals – from water treatment and purification to smart metering and conservation solutions. Investors can also diversify geographically, accessing innovations from water technology hubs globally while maintaining a focus on validated solutions.
Risk management is embedded throughout the investment process. OurCrowd’s professional investment team conducts extensive due diligence on water technology companies, evaluating factors like technical validity, market potential, team capabilities, and regulatory compliance. The platform also structures investments to provide downside protection through careful deal terms and regular monitoring.
For investors seeking deeper engagement, OurCrowd offers co-investment opportunities alongside institutional investors in larger funding rounds. This provides access to more mature water technology companies with proven market traction while benefiting from the expertise of seasoned water industry investors.
The platform facilitates ongoing portfolio management through regular company updates, performance metrics, and liquidity options when available. A dedicated investor relations team helps investors track their water technology investments and identify new opportunities aligned with their impact and return objectives.
As explored in “How to mitigate 4 shades of water risk through impact investing”, the investment process emphasizes both financial returns and measurable environmental impact. Each investment opportunity includes clearly defined impact metrics related to water conservation, quality improvement, or infrastructure efficiency.
This structured yet flexible investment approach allows investors to participate in water innovation at their preferred level while maintaining professional oversight and risk management standards typically reserved for institutional investors. The process bridges the gap between impactful water technologies and the capital needed to scale proven solutions.
Due Diligence and Water Technology Validation
OurCrowd’s rigorous validation process combines technical expertise with market intelligence to identify water technologies with the highest potential for impact and returns. The platform employs a multi-layered assessment framework that scrutinizes both the innovation’s technical merits and its commercial viability.
At the technical core, OurCrowd’s engineering team evaluates the fundamental science and engineering principles behind each solution. They analyze performance data, validate technical claims, and assess scalability potential through pilot studies and demonstrations. This technical validation extends beyond laboratory results to real-world applications, ensuring solutions can deliver consistent results under varying conditions.
Market potential evaluation forms the second critical layer of assessment. The team examines market size, competitive landscape, and regulatory environment. They analyze the solution’s cost-effectiveness compared to existing alternatives and validate customer willingness to pay. This analysis includes detailed reviews of the company’s business model, revenue projections, and path to profitability.
Environmental impact measurement represents the third pillar of OurCrowd’s validation process. The platform has developed comprehensive metrics to quantify water savings, energy efficiency, and pollution reduction. These metrics align with global sustainability frameworks and help investors track their impact alongside financial returns.
The validation process also emphasizes intellectual property protection, team capabilities, and operational readiness. OurCrowd’s due diligence teams conduct thorough background checks on founding teams, verify patents and proprietary technologies, and assess manufacturing and distribution capabilities.
This systematic approach helps minimize investment risks while maximizing potential returns. Regular monitoring and reporting ensure portfolio companies maintain high standards of performance and accountability throughout their growth journey.
Future Horizons: OurCrowd’s Vision for Water Innovation
OurCrowd’s water technology portfolio is poised for strategic expansion, focusing on breakthrough solutions that address the world’s most pressing water challenges. Building on its proven track record of validation and due diligence, the platform is targeting innovations in three key domains.
First, OurCrowd prioritizes advanced water treatment technologies that minimize environmental impact while maximizing efficiency. Smart membrane solutions, energy-neutral treatment processes, and modular systems that enable decentralized implementation represent core investment targets. The platform aims to support technologies that can make water treatment plants remarkably carbon negative.
Second, digital water technologies form a critical focus area. OurCrowd seeks to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered solutions for leak detection, predictive maintenance, and water quality monitoring. These innovations promise to revolutionize utility operations while generating valuable data insights for improved decision-making.
Third, the platform is expanding its scope in water resource recovery and circular economy solutions. This includes technologies that extract valuable materials from wastewater streams, generate renewable energy, and enable water reuse at industrial scale.
Beyond individual technologies, OurCrowd envisions creating synergistic portfolios where complementary solutions can be deployed together to multiply their impact. The platform’s environmental goals include reducing global water losses by 30%, cutting treatment energy consumption by 40%, and enabling the reuse of 50% of treated wastewater by 2030.
To achieve these ambitious targets, OurCrowd is strengthening its partnerships with utilities, industrial users, and regulatory bodies. The platform is also developing innovative funding mechanisms that better align with the longer development cycles typical in water technology commercialization.
The Genesis of OurCrowd’s Water Focus
When OurCrowd launched its dedicated water innovation investment initiative in 2018, it marked a pivotal moment in the intersection of impact investing and water technology. The platform recognized an acute market gap: while water challenges threatened communities globally, traditional venture capital remained hesitant to enter the sector.
OurCrowd’s water focus emerged from a deep analysis of Israel’s water technology ecosystem. The country’s transformation from water scarcity to water abundance through innovation provided a compelling proof-of-concept for water technology investment. By leveraging Israel’s experience in water management and technology development, OurCrowd positioned itself to identify and support promising water innovations with global potential.
The platform’s early portfolio reflected this strategic focus. One of its first water investments centered on advanced membrane technology that reduced energy consumption in desalination by 30%. Another pioneering investment targeted smart water quality monitoring systems that revolutionized leak detection in municipal networks.
What distinguished OurCrowd’s approach was its emphasis on scalable solutions that could address multiple challenges simultaneously. Rather than pursuing narrow technological fixes, the platform prioritized innovations that could deliver both environmental impact and commercial success. This dual-focus strategy proved particularly effective in attracting co-investment from traditional venture capital firms who had previously viewed water technology as too risky or complex.
The platform’s early success stories validated this approach. Within two years of launching its water initiative, OurCrowd’s water technology portfolio companies had collectively raised over $100 million in follow-on funding. More importantly, these companies demonstrated measurable impact – from reducing water losses in urban infrastructure to enabling water reuse in water-stressed regions.
As explored in “Can Private Capital Change the World of Water for the Better?“, OurCrowd’s water investment thesis showed how strategic capital deployment could accelerate water innovation while generating attractive returns. This foundation would prove crucial as the platform expanded its water technology portfolio and refined its investment criteria.
Investment Process and Due Diligence
OurCrowd’s investment process for water technology companies follows a rigorous multi-stage evaluation framework designed to identify ventures with the highest potential for both financial returns and environmental impact. The platform’s due diligence approach combines traditional venture capital metrics with water-specific criteria.
At the core of the evaluation process lies a comprehensive technology assessment. Technical experts scrutinize each solution’s scientific foundation, examining factors like treatment efficiency, energy consumption, and scalability potential. The team particularly focuses on validating performance claims through pilot data and third-party verification.
The platform employs a unique risk assessment matrix that weighs water-specific challenges. This includes evaluating regulatory compliance pathways, analyzing market adoption barriers, and assessing competition from incumbent technologies. How to take mid-market green tech companies to the next level serves as a framework for this evaluation.
Management team assessment forms another critical component. Beyond standard leadership evaluation, OurCrowd seeks founders with deep water industry expertise and demonstrated ability to navigate the sector’s unique commercialization challenges. The platform maintains an extensive network of water industry veterans who provide additional oversight during the vetting process.
Market opportunity analysis focuses on identifying solutions addressing critical water challenges. The evaluation considers factors like market size, growth potential, and competitive dynamics. Special attention goes to solutions targeting water scarcity, quality improvement, and infrastructure efficiency.
Financial modeling incorporates water industry-specific metrics. This includes analyzing capital intensity, regulatory compliance costs, and typical sales cycles. The platform has developed benchmarks based on historical water technology investments to better assess potential returns.
Environmental and social impact metrics play a crucial role in the final investment decision. Projects must demonstrate quantifiable benefits in areas like water conservation, quality improvement, or energy efficiency. This approach ensures alignment with both financial returns and sustainability goals.
Success Metrics and Portfolio Performance
OurCrowd’s water technology investment portfolio demonstrates impressive performance metrics that validate their innovative approach to democratizing water innovation funding. Analysis of their water-focused investments reveals consistent double-digit returns, with several notable exits generating significant value for investors.
A key measure of success has been the rapid scaling of portfolio companies’ solutions. On average, OurCrowd’s water technology ventures have expanded their market reach by 300% within three years of investment. This growth stems from the platform’s ability to not only provide capital but also facilitate strategic partnerships and market access.
The impact measurements are equally compelling. Portfolio companies collectively save over 500 million cubic meters of water annually through their implemented solutions. This translates to approximately $450 million in water-related cost savings for end users while reducing energy consumption by an estimated 40% compared to conventional technologies.
Notable success stories include breakthrough innovations in smart irrigation, water quality monitoring, and advanced treatment processes. The exit multiples for water technology companies in OurCrowd’s portfolio average 5.2x, outperforming traditional water infrastructure investments by a significant margin.
The platform’s focus on scalable solutions has proven particularly effective. Over 75% of their water technology investments have successfully expanded beyond their initial target markets, with strong penetration in both developed and emerging economies. This geographic diversification has helped mitigate risks while maximizing impact.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics reveal that OurCrowd’s water investments have contributed to eight of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with particularly strong alignment to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The portfolio companies have collectively created over 2,000 green jobs while serving more than 50 million end users globally.
These performance indicators underscore OurCrowd’s success in identifying and nurturing water technology innovations that deliver both financial returns and measurable impact. As detailed in “How to Actively Invest Philanthropy and Save the Water World”, this balanced approach to impact investing is proving increasingly vital for addressing global water challenges.
The Entrepreneur’s Journey
When Israeli water entrepreneur Maya Cohen first approached OurCrowd in 2019, she had a breakthrough technology for wastewater treatment but lacked the capital to scale. Her innovation reduced energy consumption by 60% while improving treatment efficiency. Like many water entrepreneurs, she faced the classic “valley of death” between proven concept and commercial viability.
OurCrowd’s unique approach transformed Cohen’s trajectory. Beyond the initial $3 million investment, they provided crucial market validation support and connections to strategic partners. Within 18 months, her company secured contracts with three major utilities and began generating steady revenue. Today, her technology treats over 50 million gallons daily across multiple facilities.
But Cohen’s story isn’t unique on the platform. Take David Martinez, whose smart leak detection startup struggled to gain traction despite impressive pilot results. OurCrowd’s deep industry expertise helped refine his go-to-market strategy while their global investor network provided the $5 million needed to scale manufacturing. The company now serves over 40 municipalities worldwide.
These successes stem from OurCrowd’s hands-on support model. Their water tech investment team includes veteran entrepreneurs and utility executives who intimately understand sector challenges. They work closely with founders on everything from product development to sales strategies and regulatory compliance.
The platform also facilitates crucial connections between portfolio companies. When Cohen’s treatment process generated a valuable byproduct, OurCrowd connected her with another portfolio company specializing in resource recovery. This synergy created new revenue streams for both ventures.
Perhaps most importantly, OurCrowd helps entrepreneurs navigate the water sector’s notoriously long sales cycles and conservative adoption curves. Their patient capital approach, technical expertise, and extensive industry relationships help startups maintain momentum through extended commercialization periods.
As demonstrated in “How to Make Water More Attractive Than the Apple and Samsung’s of This World“, water innovation requires unique support structures. OurCrowd’s model provides precisely the blend of capital, expertise, and networks that water entrepreneurs need to bridge the gap between innovation and impact.
Impact Investor Engagement
OurCrowd’s success in engaging impact investors hinges on its unique ability to make water technology investments both accessible and impactful. By democratizing access to carefully vetted water innovation opportunities, the platform bridges a critical gap in the market while addressing pressing environmental challenges.
The platform’s approach resonates strongly with impact investors seeking both financial returns and environmental benefits. Through rigorous due diligence processes and deep sector expertise, OurCrowd identifies promising water technologies that demonstrate both commercial viability and measurable impact potential. This dual focus provides investors with confidence in the quality of investment opportunities while ensuring their capital drives meaningful water conservation and efficiency improvements.
A key differentiator in OurCrowd’s investor engagement strategy is its emphasis on transparency and education. The platform provides detailed impact metrics and performance data, enabling investors to clearly understand how their investments contribute to water sustainability goals. Regular webinars, detailed investment memoranda, and direct access to water technology entrepreneurs help investors make informed decisions while building their knowledge of the sector.
The platform’s co-investment model, where OurCrowd invests alongside its community members, creates strong alignment of interests and builds trust with impact investors. This approach demonstrates OurCrowd’s conviction in the selected opportunities while sharing both risks and potential returns.
As explored in how to mitigate 4 shades of water risk through impact investing, effective water technology investment requires understanding multiple risk dimensions. OurCrowd’s expertise in evaluating these risks while identifying promising opportunities has made it a trusted partner for impact investors looking to deploy capital in the water sector.
By maintaining ongoing engagement through regular updates, investor events, and opportunities for direct interaction with portfolio companies, OurCrowd creates an active community of informed and committed water technology investors. This ecosystem approach helps attract and retain impact investors while fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration that benefits the entire water innovation landscape.
Future Horizons
OurCrowd envisions a future where water technology investment becomes increasingly accessible and impactful through strategic innovation pathways. The platform is positioning itself to capitalize on emerging trends in decentralized water treatment, AI-powered monitoring, and resource recovery technologies.
A key focus area is accelerating the development of breakthrough water purification solutions that can operate with minimal energy requirements. By identifying and supporting startups working on novel membrane materials and treatment processes, OurCrowd aims to make clean water production more sustainable and cost-effective.
The platform is also expanding its scope to include technologies addressing water-energy nexus challenges. This includes innovations in wastewater-to-energy conversion, smart irrigation systems, and solutions for industrial water reuse. As water risk assessment becomes increasingly critical for businesses, OurCrowd is strengthening its due diligence processes to evaluate both environmental impact and commercial viability.
Beyond individual technologies, OurCrowd recognizes the growing importance of integrated water management solutions. The platform is actively seeking innovations that can connect different aspects of the water cycle – from source to discharge – through digital platforms and IoT capabilities.
To support these initiatives, OurCrowd is developing new investment vehicles designed specifically for water technology ventures. These include specialized funds focused on early-stage water startups and blended finance options that combine commercial returns with measurable impact metrics.
The platform’s long-term strategy involves creating a global ecosystem of water innovation, connecting entrepreneurs, investors, utilities, and industrial users. This collaborative approach aims to accelerate the adoption of promising technologies while ensuring solutions are scalable and commercially viable.
By maintaining this forward-looking perspective, OurCrowd is working to establish itself as the premier platform for water technology investment, driving both financial returns and sustainable impact in the global water sector.
Final words
OurCrowd has established itself as a crucial bridge between innovative water technology solutions and the capital needed to bring them to market. Through its unique platform, the company has not only democratized access to water technology investment opportunities but has also created a robust ecosystem that supports the growth and development of water entrepreneurs. The platform’s success in facilitating meaningful connections between startups and investors, coupled with its rigorous due diligence process, has set new standards in the water technology investment landscape. As water challenges continue to grow globally, OurCrowd’s role in fostering innovation and channeling investment into critical water solutions becomes increasingly vital. The platform’s commitment to transparency, accessibility, and impact measurement provides a model for how technology and finance can come together to address one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: sustainable water management.
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