Two mechanical
engineering students from a Canadian university founded Hydrated World in
October 2013, not even a year old the company has grown quickly and has seen
some great success. The company has won multiple business plan competitions and recently won $10,000 of marketing services from a local company through a social media competition. Hydrated World
was started by Spencer Kelly and Aleks Poldma, both graduating this year, with
the goal of helping those that live without clean drinking water. It is estimated by United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs that 1.2 billion people lack access
to clean drinking water.
Hydrated World offers a
unique value proposition: Hydrated World is a brand that provides stylish
apparel while supporting the water crisis, one of the most urgent social issues
in human history. Hydrated World provides funds from every item purchased to
fund sustainable clean water projects in developing nations. Hydrated World has
made a social commitment that is honored with every transaction: every five
items sold provides one person in a developing nation with access to clean
drinking water.
Below are a few examples of the clothing Hydrated World offers:
Below are a few examples of the clothing Hydrated World offers:
Here
is a quick video showing the two founders, Aleks and Spencer, wearing some of
their gear and talking about their company:
The
company is currently funding sites in South Sudan and do this through
Enviro-Stewards, an Ontario based engineering firm. Enviro-Stewards is a certified B-Corporation,
inspiring Canadians to harness the power of business to solve social and
environmental issues in the world. Enviro-Stewards was founded in September,
2000 and takes on meaningful projects that create benefit for the customer and
the world we live in. Hydrated World’s partnership with Enviro-Stewards
provides a connection to the African based ‘Safe Water Project’.
The Safe
Water Project helps launch locally owned and operated social businesses in
South Sudan where they train locals to properly build and test the bio-filter
products to ensure the recipients are protected from contaminants in the water.
The great thing about this model is that every water project sponsored by
Hydrated World ensures that 100% of the project cost is used in the African
economy. Therefore, every water project not only provides clean drinking water,
but it also helps with development, employment, health and sustainability of
villages in Africa.
A picture of the bio-filters is posted below. It is important that the
bio-filters do not require any chemicals or replacement parts to operate,
providing a source of safe water for up to 30 years. Enviro-Stewards has taught
and continues to teach entrepreneurs in Africa business practices to ensure
long-term sustainability. Hydrated World is excited to join in the development
of these communities.
As
soon as Hydrated World raises enough money to sponsor a water project the money
pledged will be used by The Safe Water Project who will select someone in the
community who is most in need of a water filter. Typically the filter will be used to supply clean water to
an additional 10 people.
This is a link to the company’s website where you can browse through some of their apparel and maybe make a few purchases!
http://www.hydratedworld.com
This is a link to the company’s website where you can browse through some of their apparel and maybe make a few purchases!
http://www.hydratedworld.com
Sources, Links
and Additional Reading:
This is a very interesting company. I appreciate this post as it relates back to the discussion about business/revenue model and which models are best to achieve your goal. Since the water/beverage industry is extremely competitive, it is hard to have a business which highlights access to water, that isn't the model presented. My favorite part of the business model is the training and human capital development portion of the business. Not only are people provided with a resource that they need, but also with transferable skills.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great company! As a former water engineer I am always particularly interested in international water projects and how they involve and impact the local community. Hydrated World appears to address one of the major problems with aid-funded water projects which is lack of ownership and training of the local population. Great read!
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