Climate tech innovator Kumulus Water has raised $3.5 million (EUR 3.1 million) in a seed funding round, aimed at scaling its revolutionary water solutions across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The funding round attracted notable investors including Bpifrance, PlusVC, Kalys Venture, Flat6Labs, and Spadel.
Founded by Tunisian-born entrepreneurs Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid — though headquartered in Paris — Kumulus Water’s mission is to combat water scarcity through advanced atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology. Their devices, capable of extracting moisture directly from the air and converting it into potable water, are designed to operate even in areas with limited or no infrastructure, making them particularly suitable for underserved regions.
The core technology employs atmospheric water generators that pull in ambient air, filter it, and cool it to induce condensation. The resulting droplets pass through multiple purification stages before being stored in tanks. Each unit typically produces 20–30 liters of clean drinking water daily, functioning on conventional electricity or solar power — thus supporting off-grid operations. This flexibility is vital for water-stressed communities and remote locations where grid access may be unavailable or unreliable.
A distinguishing feature of Kumulus Water’s systems is their autonomy combined with smart digital connectivity. Equipped with remote monitoring via web or mobile applications, users can track system performance, adjust settings in response to weather variations, and receive alerts for maintenance needs. This hands-off management capability is especially important for installation in rural, hard-to-reach, or emergency settings, reducing operational complexities for users.
Spadel, one of the investors in the round, highlighted the sustainable advantages of Kumulus’ approach, emphasizing the system’s ability to generate clean water locally without relying on bottled water, transportation, or packaging. This decarbonizes water supply chains and significantly reduces ecological footprints, a critical factor in today’s climate-conscious landscape.
With the new funding secured, Kumulus plans to accelerate the deployment of Kumulus Boks — a larger, higher-capacity version of their atmospheric water generator aimed at industrial and community-scale applications. The startup also aims to deepen its presence in France, Spain, and Tunisia, while expanding into Saudi Arabia — a region where water scarcity issues persist at an alarming rate.
From an African and broader climate adaptation perspective, Kumulus Water’s model reflects the growing need for decentralized, self-sustaining infrastructure solutions that address basic needs efficiently and resiliently. As climate-related water stress intensifies worldwide, innovative modular technologies like these could play a crucial role in ensuring access to safe drinking water in regions most vulnerable to climate change.
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