Wastewater recycling and treatment in Southeast Asia can’t keep up with climate, demographic changes and other threats to water security. Companies in Singapore are developing techniques to manage water supplies. SG Enviro launched in 2018 to treat industrial wastewater with modular systems that don’t require harmful chemicals.
Zurich-based Emerald Technology Ventures led SG Enviro’s an S$8 million ($6 million) round to support the startup’s expansion in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Investing in water
Emerald, which invests in early and growth-stage companies helping to green industrial sectors, has invested in nearly 20 water ventures and notched four exits in the sector. Emerald is looking to raise €180 million ($211 million) for its second Global Water Fund, which is backed with €20 million ($23 million) from American water and food tech company Veralto.
SG Enviro is Emerald’s first announced water investment in Southeast Asia. It has one portfolio company – water treatment system maker Indra – in India. In a separate deal, the wastewater treatment provider Hydroleap, also based in Singapore, raised $4.8 million from Antares Ventures, Woh Hup and Singapore Economic Development Board’s venture group to expand in the Asia-Pacific region.
Blue innovation
Singapore has a progressive policy environment for water management. In 2006 the city-state launched the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters Programme to improve water management in the city’s public spaces. Singapore’s National Water Agency has since 2018 promoted tech innovation in the water sector.
The government in 2020 allocated S$220 million for a five-year plan for water circularity and tech innovation. Imagine H2O, a water startup accelerator, launched its first Asia program in Singapore in 2019. Now on its sixth cohort, it has supported more than 50 startups in the region.
