Openversum

Openversum is a Swiss startup founded in 2023 that has developed an innovative membrane filter technology to provide clean drinking water in remote areas of the global South. The company's water filter uses thin plastic membranes with microscopic holes that allow water to pass through while blocking bacteria, microplastics, and other contaminants. Heavy metals are absorbed by a separate granular material added to the filter. This size-selective technology ensures that only pure water can pass through.

Openversum's filters are designed to be affordable and locally produced, addressing the challenge of providing clean water in rural areas where existing water treatment technologies are often too expensive or technically unfeasible. The company employs a micro-franchising business model to make its technology accessible. Local entrepreneurs, often women, are trained as water experts and provided with the knowledge and equipment to conduct water treatment on-site. This approach not only saves on transportation costs but also strengthens local economies.

Key customers and partnerships

Openversum is currently active in Colombia and has plans to expand to other countries in Africa and Asia. In January 2023, Openversum was selected as one of 10 winners of the Global Freshwater Innovation Challenge, organized by UpLink (the World Economic Forum's open innovation platform) and HCL Group. As a winner, Openversum received CHF175,000 (approximately USD 190,000) in funding to scale its innovations. The challenge, launched in September 2022, called for solutions to strengthen data-driven decision making, improve freshwater resilience in the face of climate change, and restore water quality worldwide.