GENEVA 2017
June 8-9, 2017
"Innovate 4 Water": A market-place forum for sustainable solutions and innovations for Urban Water and Sanitation
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2 days articulated around a matchmaking event and an open forum, focusing on water & sanitation, entrepreneurship and sustainable investments.
SPONSORS
CO-ORGANIZING PARTNERS
FACTS & FIGURES
PARTICIPANTS
Participants to the event came from:
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Small and Medium Enterprises with interests in the water & sanitation sectors
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Multinational companies with interests in the water & sanitation sectors
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Investors (banking, asset management, private banking, corporate companies)
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Water & sanitation institutions (foundations, coalitions, NGOs)
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International organisations, national governments
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Universities / incubators / research institutions
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UN Agencies with interest in WASH and IWRM
THEMES
Participants from the event shared expertise:
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Water, sanitation and related development issues
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Sustainable Development Goals
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Access to basic services for low income populations
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Business and human rights
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Market based solutions
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Social entrepreneurship
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Impact investing
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Blended finance
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Circular economy
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Decentralized business models
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the event were to:
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Create visibility for entrepreneurs in the water sector in order to enable them to reach impact investors;
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Promote the transfer of innovative water technologies and innovative business models in emerging markets and developing countries;
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Facilitate connections to catalyse collaborations
FACTS & FIGURES
Waterpreneurs co-organized this event with WaterVent and the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization’s "WIPO GREEN : The Marketplace for Sustainable Technology”.
WIPO GREEN hosted the event that brought together various water & sanitation stakeholders over the course of two days (entrepreneurs, investors, large and small companies, non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, incubators) who are contributing to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 6.
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The event brought together over 350 participants including entrepreneurs, investors, companies, public sector organizations, UN agencies, incubators, and others to discuss and pitch solutions for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.
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PROGRAMME
Investment Matchmaking
June 8, 2017
Day 1 kicked off with 40 presentations by entrepreneurs, who pitched their green business ideas to experts and investors.
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Entrepreneurs with innovative water and sanitation technologies and business models looking for investments pitched to prospective investors, including clean-tech venture capitalists, private equity and corporate investors.
Open Forum
June 9, 2017
On day 2 some 60 organizations with water-related projects and programs pitched the challenges and needs for which they seek an innovative solution.
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The Open Forum provided the opportunity for meaningful interactions about Technologies, Business and Human Rights amongst water experts, impact investors, social entrepreneurs, multinational corporations, NGOs and UN agencies.
COLLABORATIONS DEVELOPED
As a matchmaking forum centered on stakeholder pitches and challenges, the event helped foster collaboration and innovation in the water sector through increased understanding, visibility, and networking amongst entrepreneurs and potential investors.
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Mentions of Innovate 4 Water in partners / participants news items
PARTICIPATING COMPANIES
