Jasper Schakel and Erik realised that the problem extends globally, and that end-users show true interest in sustainable alternatives. In response, they developed an innovative electrochemical process that produces water treatment agents on-site, offering a more sustainable solution with a reduced impact on operations. This process helps water treatment facilities become less dependent, and more sustainable, allowing water treatment facilities to do what they can do best.
How it started
Jasper Schakel and Erik Kraaijeveld first met when Jasper was informed about the limited accessibility and high prices of water treatment chemicals in Ghana. Erik flew out to Ghana to help Jasper build a pilot using electrocoagulation, as part of Jasper’s collaboration with Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). This was their first effort to find an alternative method that didn’t rely on importing chemicals from far and wide. Together, they constructed the pilot, but soon realised the technology had limitations. Life continued, with Erik finishing his doctorate of engineering and Jasper pursuing an MBA.
While in Switzerland, Jasper got the chance to enter the IMD Venture Award competition for 100.000 francs, so he rang up Erik to rekindle the issue and explore a different technical approach. Together with Doris van Halem, professor drinking water technology at the TU Delft, they found a new technical solution and won the competition at IMD, and CIWI was born.
As an engineer, I want to make an impact. And when I saw that scientists estimate almost 40 percent of the population of the earth will lack access to water by 2030, I was inspired to become an engineering in the water sector.
Just only move the metal
The key idea of the company was the use of electrochemistry to produce the chemical that is used to treat water across the entire water sector. Water treatment facilities now often use metal salts to make metal hydroxide, a molecule that creates coagulation: it makes pollutants in the water flock together so they are easily removed. The founders of CIWI realised that you only needed the metal ions, not the whole metal salt, to achieve this, so they developed a method that could release these ions with just electricity more effectively and efficiently than other technologies. This proved to work, without the need for expensive metal salts.
Existing infrastructure
One of the strengths of CIWI’s technology is that it applies to existing water treatment infrastructure. This is what sets them apart from other companies that produce similar technologies. They already received interest from several water treatment plants, and they are currently conducting their first large scale tests at Brabant Water.
YES!Delft helped us to look beyond our technique, and focus on what our clients really need. They were great at identifying problems and helping us fix them.
Next steps
While the IMD Venture Award was a good start, Jasper was glad he could join YES!Delft for more help and guidance in developing the company further. Now CIWI is ready for the first large-scale testing of the technology, developing the prototype into a full commercial product and testing it out at different water treatment facilities across the Netherlands. They are seeking employees and partners to help elevate their product into a fully commercialised solution with global impact.
Your dream can become a reality too!
As long as you want to make a change, don’t miss the opportunity to boost your startup by joining the YES!Delft Validation Lab or Accelerator Program. However, if working for a startup resonates more with your ambition, we got you! Check out vacancies placed by our startups.
Be the change, as change starts with you.
