Net-zero has become the goal of both corporations and governments around the world, with most organizations aiming to achieve this by 2050. According to the research company Our World in Data, food production has large environmental impacts, including accounting for 26% of the global greenhouse gas emission, using up half of the world's habitable land, using up 70% of the global freshwater, etc. In addition, Energypedia projected the food and agricultural value chains consume 30% of the global energy resources. With such an intensive requirement, improved efficiency in the agriculture and food & beverage industry can have a significant impact to the global carbon emission, as well as water and energy usage.

One of the winners of the InnoVEX 2024 Pitch Contest is Watasumi, a Japanese startup spun out of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in October 2021. The founder of Watasumi, David Simpson, shared that the team's mission is to provide efficient waste management solutions for food and beverage factories. By converting previously discarded waste into usable energy and clean water, they are not only addressing a pressing environmental issue but also creating a positive impact on the industry. Their work with companies to understand and address the issue of massive time, energy, and money allocated specifically for waste management is a step towards a more sustainable future.

Watasumi's flagship product, Kappa, is a compact, modular device that utilizes biological filtration. It is integrated with IoT monitoring and remote-control systems that allows users to operate the system without any on-site operators. The technology utilizes Biological Electrochemical Systems (BES) that functions similarly to a biological battery to provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions for wastewater management that benefits both the industrial and municipal sectors by reducing environmental impact and operational costs.

As populations and industrial activities grow, energy consumption and wastewater generation will inevitably grow, potentially polluting drinking water supplies and increasing carbon generation. Watasumi stated that despite the significant impact that can be generated from wastewater treatment, it is often overlooked in the scope of ESG. In addition, wastewater treatment can be a reliable source for green energy and integrating it as a realistic sustainability strategy should be seriously considered.

A result of over 10 years of Research & Development by Simpson and his team, the Watasumi team started showcasing the Kappa's efficacy by collaborating with SMEs who contribute significantly to the local economies and global sustainability efforts. The Kappa has been demonstrated over many years at a major Awamori factory in Okinawa, and has recently expanded to a whisky distillery in Hokkaido as well as a sake brewery near Tokyo. The Kappa is launched with a leasing model to help companies adopt solutions more easily and provide customers with a better peace of mind. As of time of writing, the Kappa has received numerous accolades, including a 2021 Climate Launch Pad Global Finalist selection and TIE Award in 2023, which proves its successes and contributions in the industry.

Watasumi is open to collaboration with partners who share their vision of sustainability and has been growing with young professionals from Japan who want to build practical solutions for making an impact to climate change. The company has already received offers for proof of concept (POC) and commercial provisions of the technology overseas and is working toward its realization.

At the same time, various locations and regions are also experiencing rapid industrialization, especially in Asia. Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Vietnam now are also facing a growing need for wastewater treatment as well as unstable freshwater supplies. These issues are more prevalent in island communities and Watasumi hoped they can cooperate with the local governments and industry & equipment installers to achieve more sustainability for them.

As an international startup, joining InnoVEX provided Watasumi with a great exposure to companies from around the world, especially Asia. It also provided Watasumi with an opportunity to meet directly with companies that might be interested in exploring their technology and see their pitch. In addition, Watasumi also met with several Japanese governmental agencies who will assist in their overseas outreach; expanding their network with potential partners in Taiwan.

In the InnoVEX 2024 Pitch Contest, Watasumi won the Future Star Award, an award dedicated for Early Stage startups (pre-launch angel round). By joining the Pitch Contest and winning the award, they were able to not only promote their innovation, but also their cause & purpose. Waste water management is important and more direct action is definitely needed. They have also connected with several potential investors who attended InnoVEX and are interested in adding more sustainable companies to their portfolio.

Sustainability has become an increasingly important trend for everyone. As the industry often has a high cost barrier and technological challenges, it might be challenging for startups to enter. For startups interested in exploring sustainability, David Simpson shared, "Sustainability, especially with real-world solutions can be a difficult industry to break into, as there are many factors and players (government, industry, public) to consider. It's also essential as a business you consider how your solution will scale, which means fundamentally it must generate income or save money. If you can do this successfully, you can spread your solution more effectively and your overall climate impact will increase."

For startups and teams interested in joining InnoVEX, Mr. Simpson suggests: "Taiwan has many support programs available to startups, so use do your best to make the most of the event, especially if you are considering doing business in Taiwan. Incentive programs like the Gold Card can also help with travel expenses so you can focus more on the business side of things."

About InnoVEX

Started in 2016, InnoVEX is a startup-focused exhibition organized by the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). Positioned as the innovation hub of Asia, InnoVEX is held alongside Asia's leading ICT B2B Tradeshow, COMPUTEX, to connect startups and their innovations to global VCs, CVCs, manufacturing partners, buyers, and media.

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