This Week in Startups E1102 The Next Unicorns E15: Zero Mass Water CEO Cody Friesen is perfecting drinking water with hydropanels, aiming to create essential resource UBI for the world
Aug 29, 2020
Cody Friesen, the CEO of Zero Mass Water and a material scientist with a PhD from MIT, discusses innovative hydropanel technology that extracts drinking water from sunlight and air. He highlights the potential of this method to provide clean water to billions lacking access. The conversation delves into the environmental impacts of traditional water sourcing and advocates for disrupting current systems with sustainable alternatives. Friesen also emphasizes the importance of culture in leadership as his company navigates challenges while championing social responsibility through entrepreneurship.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Zero Mass Water's Mission
- Zero Mass Water aims to make drinking water free and ubiquitous, much like solar energy did for electricity.
- Their hydropanels use sunlight and air as feedstock, enabling predictable operating costs for decades.
Hydropanel Technology
- Cody Friesen explains the hydropanel technology using the analogy of sugar absorbing moisture.
- The panels use nanostructured materials to concentrate water vapor and sunlight to condense it.
Go-to-Market Strategy
- Leverage existing ecosystems, like the solar installer network, for distribution.
- Offer flexible purchase agreements, like Water Purchase Agreements (WPAs), to facilitate adoption.