Disrupting Water Infrastructure: Pulling Clean Water from the Air - Brian Sheng / Co-founder and CEO of Aquaria

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In this episode of Disruptors for GOOD, I sit down with Brian Sheng, the co-founder and CEO of Aquaria, to explore how his company is reshaping the future of water access.

At a time when nearly 30 million Americans are affected by water scarcity each year—and our infrastructure is failing to keep up—Aquaria offers a revolutionary solution: extracting clean, reliable water directly from the air.

Brian shares how an unexpected path led him into the world of climate tech, why aging water systems are a ticking time bomb, and how Aquaria is making water independence not only possible—but scalable. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about sustainability, innovation, and the future of infrastructure.

About Brian Sheng

Brian Sheng is the Co-Founder and CEO of Aquaria, a Public Benefit Corporation building the world’s first Air Water Infrastructure network. A serial entrepreneur and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Brian has dedicated his career to solving massive problems at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and climate.

After witnessing the devastating water shortages in cities like São Paulo, Cape Town, and Mexico City, Brian partnered with his brother Eric to launch Aquaria. Their goal? To provide decentralized water security by harnessing a resource that’s all around us—air.

Today, Brian leads Aquaria with a bold vision: to serve 1 million people in water-scarce regions using atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology over the next decade. In his own words, "I consider this my life's work."

About Aquaria

Aquaria is a climate-tech company using Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) to produce clean water—anytime, anywhere—by condensing and purifying moisture from the air. Their technology doesn’t require pipelines, wells, or municipal connections. It's plug-and-play water independence.

Aquaria’s flagship products include the Hydropack series for households and the Hydrogrid platform for community-scale water infrastructure. These systems can generate from 66 to 10,000+ gallons of clean water per day, offering a sustainable alternative to aging or nonexistent water systems.

What sets Aquaria apart:

✅ No permits or plumbing needed
🌞 Solar-ready and energy efficient
🌎 Ideal for off-grid, emergency, and underserved communities
🏡 Focused on residential first—scaling to cities next
🤝 Partnerships with nonprofits, developers, and policymakers

With over $100M in financing secured and recognition from outlets like TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024, Aquaria is scaling fast. And it’s not just a business—it’s a movement to democratize access to clean water.

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