UpLinkAnnualImpactReport

MARCH2025

Contents

AboutUpLink 2

Foreword 3

Executivesummary 4

HowUpLinkenablesimpact 6

Engagementandnetworkingopportunities 6

Globalvisibilityandthoughtleadership 9

Businessgrowthacceleration 10

TopInnovators’impact 14

Spotlight:Economicimpact 14

Thematicimpact 17

Lookingahead 29

Appendices 30

A1Impactmanagementandmeasurementframework 30

A2UpLink'sroleinfacilitatingconnectionswithkeystakeholders 31

A3TopInnovators’growthplansinthenext18months 32

Contributors 33

Endnotes 34

Images:GettyImages,Unsplash

UplinkAnnualImpactReportMarch2025

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AboutUpLink

UpLink

isaWorldEconomicForuminitiative,foundedincollaborationwithDeloitteandSalesforce,focusedonimpactfulearly-stageinnovation.Itbuildsecosystemsthat

enablepurpose-driven,early-stageentrepreneurstoscaletheirbusinessesforthemarketsandeconomiesthatareessentialtoanet-zero,nature-positiveandequitablefuture.

UpLink’sstrategicobjectives

Accelerateimpact

ofearly-stageinnovatorsbyprovidingthenecessaryresourcesandnetworksto

supporttheirgrowth,enablingthemtoscaleanddeliverimpact.

EnableInnovationEcosystems

byfacilitatingcollaborationbetweeninnovatorsandbusinessleaders,investors,public-sectorpartnersanddomainexperts.

Influenceperception

throughimpactfulnarrativestoinspirecollectiveaction,mobilizecapitalandcultivateaconduciveenvironmentforinnovationtothrivein.

11

InnovationEcosystems

Fundingstage

42%

37%

UpLinkinnumbers

66

InnovationChallenges

517

TopInnovators

selectedsince2020

Headquartersin75countries

66%

Male(Co-)FounderorC-suite

34%

Female(Co-)FounderorC-suite

SeriesA Pre-seedorseed

21%

SeriesBorother

EuropeandCentralAsia 27%

NorthAmerica 26%

Sub-SaharanAfrica 15%

EastAsiaandPacific 10%

LatinAmericaandCaribbean 10%

SouthAsia 9%

MiddleEastandNorthAfrica 3%

UplinkAnnualImpactReportMarch2025

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Foreword

JohnDutton

Head,UpLink,

WorldEconomicForum

SadafHosseini

Head,Growth,PartnershipsandInnovationEcosystems,UpLink,WorldEconomicForum

AtUpLink,wearedrivenbyaclearmission:topropelinnovationsthatwillshapeasustainable,equitableandthrivingglobaleconomy.

SinceitslaunchfiveyearsagoattheWorldEconomicForum’s2020AnnualMeetinginDavos,UpLinkhasbecomeaglobalchangeengineforscalingpurpose-drivenstart-ups.Byunlockingthepowerofentrepreneurship,wetackletheworld’smosturgentchallengesoutlinedbytheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).

Webelievethatinnovationdoesn’thappeninisolation.Byconveningentrepreneurs,investors,industryleadersandenablers,webuildcross-sectorthematicpartnershipsvitalforaddressingsystemicchallenges.These

partnershipschampionsolutionsthatgobeyondincrementalchangeandrewireindustrymodelsforlastingtransformation.Thisismadepossiblethankstothepassionandcommitmentofourpartners,ForumcolleaguesandtheUpLinkteam.

AsprogresstowardstheSDGscontinuestolag,theurgencyoftakingdecisiveactiongrows.UpLinkisacceleratingtheimpactofmorethan500early-stagestart-upsor“TopInnovators”

inareasincludingclimateaction,cleanwater

andenergybycollaboratingwithvisionarypartnersthatprovidecatalyticfunding,andover300ecosystempartnersthatoffermentorship,resourcesandgrowthopportunitiestoinnovators.Additionally,in2023-24,wewelcomedover50newinnovatorsinhard-to-abatesectors,suchassustainablemining,sustainableaviationandcircularcarbonuse,andlaunchedtheUpLinkInvestorsCommunity,unitinghigh-quality,early-stageinvestorscommittedtomobilizingcapitalforpurpose-drivenstart-upsworldwide.

Wearealsocommittedtorigorouslymonitoringandmeasuringourimpact,emphasizingourroleinadvancingthebusinessgrowthofTopInnovators(Chapter2)aswell

asthebroadersocialandenvironmentaloutcomesdrivenbytheirsolutions(Chapter3).Thiscommitmentreflectsourbeliefthataccountabilityandtransparencyareessentialinthejourneytowardsmeaningfulchange.

Werecognizethatthefutureisshapedbyouractionstoday.Together,let’sturnchallengesintoopportunitiesandaspirationsintoachievements.Let’scelebrateinnovationthatmatters.

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Executivesummary

TheUpLinkInnovationEcosystemchampionssolutionsthatcreatelastingtransformationacrossindustriesandsocieties,acceleratingprogressforpeopleandplanet.

UplinkAnnualImpactReportMarch2025

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Byconveningentrepreneurs,investors,industryleadersandsupporters,UpLinkcreatesecosystemsinwhichideasarenurtured,collaborations

areforgedandsolutionsarescaled.Thesepartnershipsenablepurpose-drivenentrepreneustosecurefunding,expandtheirworkforce,growtheircustomerbaseandscaleimpactfulsolutions,therebydrivingmeaningfulprogresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).

In2024alone,UpLinkTopInnovatorsraised

$633millionininvestmentcapital,anincreaseofapproximately$196millioncomparedto2023.UpLinkisalsocelebratingthesuccessofthefirsttwocohortsof20water-focusedinnovators(or“aquapreneurs”)sourcedthroughtheAquapreneurInnovationInitiativeconducted

incollaborationwithHCLGroup.Collectively,theyhaveraisedanimpressive$70million,from

organizationssuchasEmeraldTechnologyVentures,Temasek,RolexandtheUSDepartmentofEnergy,sincejoiningtheUpLinkInnovationEcosystem.Similarly,theSustainableAviationcohort–sourcedthroughUpLinkandtheForum’sFirstMoversCoalitioninitiative–hasraisedmorethan$260millionfromfunderslikeBreakthroughEnergyCatalyst,JetBlueVenturesandothers.

Investmentcapitalempowersstart-upstoscaletheirbusinesses,leadingtoimpressivegrowthmetrics.In2024,47%oftheinnovatorswhoreportedtheirdatasawmorethan40%growthintheircustomercount.Thisgrowthunderscorestheirstrengthandsustainability,allowingthemtoamplifytheirsocialandenvironmentalimpactthroughmeasuressuchaswastewaterfiltration,CO2sequestrationandforestlandrestoration.

Figure1OverviewofTopInnovators’impact

Between2023and2024,UpLinkinnovators’solutionshavecontributedto:

28milliontonnes

Wastetrackedandtracedthroughdigitalplatforms

140millionhectares(ha)

Aquaticorterrestrialareaprotectedoractivelymanagedforprotection

2.5billionlitresWastewater,includinghazardouswastewater,treated

142,400tonnesCO2emissionsavoidedthroughcleanelectricity,sustainableagriculture,manufacturingandotherprocesses

In2025,UpLinkwillcontinuetostrengthenitsInnovationEcosystembyfacilitatingstrategiccollaborationandensuringthatimpact-driveninnovatorscontinuetoreceivetheresources,

guidanceandconnectionsnecessarytosucceed.Theorganizationisalsocommittedto

continuouslyimprovingitsimpactmeasurementframeworkinalignmentwithobjectives.

UpLink’simpactmeasurementandmanagementframework

UpLink’simpactmeasurementandmanagementframeworkemploysamixedmethodologyfordatacollection,combiningqualitativeandquantitativeapproachesto

ensureacomprehensiveunderstandingofprogresstowardstheSDGs.ThisframeworkisexplainedindetailinAppendix:A1.

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01

HowUpLinkenablesimpact

UpLinkactsasacatalyst,transformingvisionarysolutionsintotangibleoutcomesthatbendindustrymodelstoaddresstheworld’smostpressingissues.

1.1 Engagementandnetworkingopportunities

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UpLinkselectsthemostpromisingstart-upsandcultivatesacollaborativeecosystemthatempowersthemtogrowtheirbusinessesandscaletheirimpact.Theselectionprocessinvolvesarigorousevaluationofbusinessviabilityandpotentialimpact,drivingpositivetransformation.

Onceselected,thesestart-upsgainaccesstoauniqueengagementprogramme,which

includesparticipationinevents,capacity-buildingworkshopsandsupportforbusinessgrowththroughconnectionswithpartners,decision-makers,domain-specificexpertsandinvestors.

In2024,UpLinkhosted55events,1bringingtogetheracommunityofinnovators,investors,expertsandfundingandecosystempartners.

Table1UpLinkeventsin2024

Typeofevents Purpose

36

in-person

events

Facilitatestrategicbusinessconnections,enablecollaboration,enhancevisibilityandstrengthenbrandvalue

SpotlightTopInnovators’impactandraiseawarenesstoattractcollaborationandinvestment

Examples:MonacoOceanWeek,Dreamforce,16thConferenceoftheParties(COP16)

Examples:WorldEconomicForumAnnualMeeting,SustainableDevelopmentImpactMeetings(SDIM),AnnualMeetingoftheNewChampions(AMNC)

BuildInnovationEcosystemsandstrengthenpartnerships

Communitydevelopmentandconnection

Examples:NaturalCapitalInvestorseries,BlueHorizons:PitchingforaRegenerativeOceanEconomy

Examples:SpecialMeetingonGlobalCollaboration,GrowthandEnergyforDevelopment,TheVillarsInstituteSummit2024,3-SPACE

19

virtual

events

Capacitybuilding

Examples:Expert-ledmasterclassesonestablishingcredibility,perfectingthepitchandbuildingastrongcorestory

TheStorytellingMasterclassworkshopwasveryvaluableandchallenging.Everysessionwasdesignedtopushustothinkcriticallyandcommunicatewithstructureandprecision.Fromdelivering

ourpitchtogivingandreceivingfeedback,theexperiencerequiredustobeconcise,clearandthoughtfulinourcommunication.Ithelpedsimplifyandsharpenourideas,providingvaluabletoolstostrengthenouroverallpresentationandpitchingskills.

CatalinaPfenniger

KranNanobubble

Credit:KranNanobubble

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TopInnovatorshaveexpressedahighlevelofsatisfactionwithUpLinkprogramming.Onaverage,nineoutof10wouldrecommendUpLinktootherentrepreneurs.TheyalsoreportedseveralkeybenefitsoftheirengagementwithUpLink,includingenhancedorganizationalreputationandbrandrecognition,improvedconnections

withpotentialstakeholdersinbothcurrentandnewoperatingmarkets,andthedevelopmentofpartnershipswithotherorganizations.Notably,amongallrespondents,39indicatedthattheirparticipationhasenabledaccesstoinvestmentfundingfromotherinvestors.

Figure2ThebusinessvalueTopInnovatorsgainedfromtheirengagementwithUpLink

Enhancementoforganization’sreputationandbrandrecognition

25%

Connectionwithprospectivecustomers,investors,partners,experts,peercommunitiesorpolicy-makersinthemarketcurrentlyinoperation

Connectionwithprospectivecustomers,investors,partners,experts,peercommunitiesorpolicy-makersfromnewmarkets(domesticoroverseas)

Partnershipwithotherorganizations/corporates/businessesthatcameasaresultofconnectionthroughUpLink

Increaseinknowledgeonlegalandregulatoryinsightsthatcanbene?tabusiness

14%

7%

18%

17%

Accesstoinvestmentfundingfromotherinvestors

6%

Increaseinaccesstomaterialsornewtechnologies

toexpandtonewproduct/servicecategories 5%

Improvementinaccesstoqualitytalentforstaff

andleadershiproles 3%

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1.2 Globalvisibilityandthoughtleadership

UpLinkcollaborateswithitsInnovationEcosystemmembersandtheForum’spublic-privateinitiativestodeliverindustry-relevantanalysesandinsights.Theseeffortsaimtoshapepublicperceptionabouttheimportanceofearly-stageinnovationinmeetingtheGlobalGoals2030,andinspirecollectiveaction

tofacilitatefunding,policychangeandindustrysupportforthem.Bystrategicallyharnessingcommunicationchannelsanddiversecontentformats,UpLinkamplifiesthesekeymessages,enhancingthevisibility,marketpositioningandstakeholderengagementofTopInnovators.

Figure3Strategicreports

IncollaborationwiththeEuropeanWaterTechAccelerator

InvestinginWater:

APracticalGuide

COMMUNITYPAPER

JUNE2024

InvestinginNaturalCapital:

InnovationsSupportingMuch-NeededFinancingforNature

INSIGHTREPORT

SEPTEMBER2024

InvestinginNaturalCapital:

InnovationsSupporting

Much-NeededFinancing

forNature

ThisinitiativewascreatedincollaborationwiththeForum’sNatureActionAgendaand1,andUpLink’sfundingpartner,Mercuria.LaunchedduringtheForum’sSustainableDevelopmentImpactMeetings2024(SDIM24)inNewYork,itshowcasedtheimpactandinvestmentpotentialofseveralnatureandbiodiversityinnovators.

InvestinginWater:

APracticalGuide

Thiscommunitypaper,partofthe“AquapreneurInnovationInitiative”,wascreatedincollaborationwithHCLGroupandalongsidetheEuropeanWaterTechAccelerator.LaunchedattheBlueTechForumin2024,itofferedinsightsfromimpactinvestorsandexpertsonwatermarketpotential,andshowcasedopportunitiesforinvestinginwater-focusedinnovators.

Source:WorldEconomicForum.(2024).InvestinginNaturalCapital:InnovationsSupportingMuch-NeededFinancingforNature;WorldEconomicForum&UpLink.(2024).InvestinginWater:APracticalGuide.

Inthereportingperiod,UpLinkpublishedover1,737socialposts,generating1.48millionimpressionsandmaintaininganimpressive5.79%averageengagementrate,wellabove

industrystandards.TopInnovatorsolutionswereshowcasedin114videos.Thelong-formatseries,

AnInnovatorExplains,isparticularlynoteworthy.Itwaslaunchedinthisperiod,withsevenepisodesfeaturingUpLinkinnovatorsacrossthemessuchascleanwater,sustainablemining,urbantransformation,circulareconomyandnatureinnovation.

UpLinkismorethanaplatform–it’saforcemultiplierforentrepreneurs!Theexposure,connectionsandnetworkingopportunitiesitprovideshaveacceleratedourjourney,showcasedourimpactacrossindustriesandborders.Ithasamplifiedourbrandrecognitionandvisibility,positioningusonaglobalstage,whichwillbehelpfulinattractinginvestorsandfosteringvaluableconnections.

TarunKatoch

Co-Founder,

DvaraE-Registry

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Anadditionalfourvideoshighlightedimpactfulsolutionsandpromotedinvestmentreportsshowcasingsuccessfulexamplesofinnovatorsscalingsocialandenvironmentalimpact.Theseeffortsresultedin760,000videoviewsacross

UpLinkchannels.ContentwasalsopublishedontheForum’sdigitalmediachannels,reachinganaudienceof50millionfollowers.Additionally,UpLinkpromoted64blogsacrossForumStoriesandtheUpLinkwebsite,generatingatotalof88,500views.

1.3 Businessgrowthacceleration

UpLinkaimstoempowerTopInnovatorsbyprovidingaccesstoglobalmarketopportunitiesandfunding,enablingthemtoamplifytheirsocialimpact.Throughitsinitiatives,networksandglobalreach–particularlyitscollaborationwiththeForum’spublic-privateinitiatives–UpLinkisenablingnetworking,brandexposureandpartnershipopportunities,positioningthemforsuccessinacompetitivelandscape.

Wearebeginningtoseetheresultsofthisapproach:in2024,thetotalcapitalraisedbyTopInnovatorsincreasedbyaremarkable45%,mainlythroughequity,debtorgrantsfromorganizationssuchasEmeraldTechnologyVentures,Temasek,Rolex,theUSDepartmentofEnergy,BreakthroughEnergyCatalyst,JetBlueVenturesandothers.Onaper-innovatorbasis,theaveragecapitalsecuredroseby$3.6millioncomparedto2023.

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Figure4InvestmentcapitalraisedbyTopInnovators,2023versus2024

$633,615,130

$437,327,649

2023

111TopInnovators

2024

84TopInnovators

Figure5TopInnovators’customergrowthin2023-24

100%

75%

50%

25%

0

<20%

20-40%

40-70%

70-100%

>100%

BeingrecognizedasaTopInnovatorhasopeneddoorsforMembriontoprestigiouscollaborationsandpartnerships.AprimeexamplewastheinvitationtoparticipateatAMNCinDalian,China,whichwasastepchangeforus,layingthefoundationforenduringrelationshipsthatcontinuetofuelourgrowthandinnovation.Uplinkfacilitatedconnectionstoinfluentialtechnologyleaders,prospectivecustomersandvaluablefundingpartners,supportingourjourneytowardsasustainable,circularfuture.

ThomasMitchel

ChiefOperatingOfficer,

Membrion

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Thisincreasedaccesstocapitalempowersearly-stageventurestostriveforsustainability,asevidencedbysignificantgrowthintheir

customerbase.NearlyhalfoftheTopInnovatorsexperiencedmorethan40%growthintheircustomercountcomparedtothepreviousyear.

Indrivingtheseefforts,theyareseekingstrategicpartnershipswithcompaniesintheirrespectivesectorstocultivatecollaboration

andattractco-investment.Asignificantshareisprioritizingequityinvestmentastheirprimaryfundingsource,withaparticularemphasisonventurecapital.Withintheequityspace,theyaretargetingadiverserangeofinvestors,includingventurecapitalists,impactinvestors,familyoffices,angelinvestorsandcorporateventurecapitalists.

Inadditiontoseekingprivateinvestors,agrowingnumberofinnovatorsarepursuingpartnershipswithgovernmentagenciesanddevelopmentorganizationstoobtainregulatorysupportandaccesstopublicfunding,suchasgrants.Thesecollaborationsareviewedas

vitalforscalingtheirsolutionsandamplifyingtheirimpact.2

Thisstrategicapproachtofundingandpartnershipsalignscloselywiththeirfocusareasandsectors,basedontheirthematicpriorities.Forinstance,urbantransformationinnovatorsareexploringpartnershipswithindustriessuchasengineeringandconstruction,underscoringthecriticalneedforinvestmentintransformativeinnovationswithinthissector.Ontheotherhand,newcross-sectoralcollaborationsareemerging

forexample,urbantransformationinnovatorsarealsolookingtoconnectwiththeminingandmetalsindustry.Similarly,natureandbiodiversityinnovatorsareseekingcollaborationwiththeinformationandcommunicationtechnologysector,harnessingtechnologyandAItoaddresschallengesmorequicklyandsustainably.

Additionally,alongwithfoodinnovators,theyareextendingtheirreachintotheprofessionalservicessector,highlightingthegrowingfluidityofsectoralboundaries.

Credit:Cemvita

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Figure6TypeofsectorsTopInnovatorsarelookingtocooperatewithwithinthenext18months

Advancedmanufacturingindustry

Professionalservicesindustryandinstitutionalpartners

Agriculture,food

andbeverageindustry

Chemicalsandadvancedmaterialsindustry

Agriculture,foodandbeverageindustry

Informationandcommunicationstechnologyindustry

Retail,consumerandlifestyleindustry

Healthandhealthcareindustry

Retail,consumerandlifestyleindustry

Supplychain,logisticsandtransportindustry

Professionalservicesindustryandinstitutionalpartners

Informationandcommunicationstechnologyindustry

Agriculture,food

andbeverageindustry

Retail,consumerandlifestyleindustry

Professional

Miningandmetalsindustry

Advancedmanufacturingindustry

servicesindustryandinstitutionalpartners

Automotive

andnewmobilityindustry

Chemicalsandadvanced

materialsindustry

Agriculture,food

andbeverageindustry

Advancedmanufacturingindustry

Healthandhealthcareindustry

Engineeringandconstructionindustry

Realestateindustry

Professionalservicesindustryandinstitutionalpartners

Informationandcommunicationstechnologyindustry

Engineeringandconstructionindustry

Miningandmetals

Professionalservicesindustry

Travelandtourismindustry

Circulareconomy Natureandbiodiversity Foodsecurity Sustainablemining

Water

Urbantransformation

Note:ThesectorsidentifiedbyTopInnovatorsinthesurveyweremappedtoWorldEconomicForumindustries.Innovatorscouldspecifymultiplesectorstheyaimtotargetoverthenext18months.Thesizeofeachrectangleintheheatmapreflectshowfrequentlyanindustrywasmentioned,categorizedbythematicfocus.

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02

Top

Innovators’impact

TopInnovators’solutionshaveboostedeconomicgrowththroughjobsandincomegenerationwhiledrivingsignificantsocialandenvironmentalbenefits.

2.1 Spotlight:Economicimpact

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AmongtheimpactmetricssharedbyTopInnovators,itisunsurprisingtoseethosealignedwiththethemesandfocusareasoftherespectivechallenges.However,thereisasecondsetofmetrics–reportedwithnear-equalfrequency–thathighlightsadifferentvaluecreatedbythem.Ofthe108metricscollected,27aremarket-andjobs-related.Thenumberofjobscreatedby

thedeploymentoftheseinnovators’solutions,alongwiththeincreasedincomeofbothdirect

andindirectbeneficiariesofthesesolutions,rankamongthetopfivemetricsreported,eventhoughUpLinkhasneverlaunchedachallengespecificallytargetingtheseoutcomes.

TopInnovatorshavereportedover19,000jobscreatedinthelatestreportingyear,a68%increasefromthepreviousyear.Thosewhoreportedforbothyearscollectivelyexperienceda47%growthinjobscreated.

Figure7 NumberofjobscreatedbyTopInnovatorsin2024comparedwith2023

20,000

16,000

19,241

12,000

8,000

11,458

4,000

0

2023

2024

Figure8Totalnumberofjobscreatedbythematicareain2023-24

Disaggregatingthedatafurtherrevealsthatthecirculareconomyandnatureandbiodiversitysectorsdrivemostofthejobscreated.

20,000

18,000

18,799

16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000

10,367

8,000

6,000

532

4,000

399

318

2,000

179

50

47

8

0

Natureandbiodiversity

Circulareconomy

Ocean

Plastic

Food

Humanitarian Waterandresilience

investing

Urban Net-zerotransformation

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ABALOBI

Ocean,SouthAfrica,2021

DivineBambooGroup

Natureandbiodiversity,Uganda,2023

RiverRecycle

Circulars(plastic),Finland,2022

AerobicAgroforestry

Natureandbiodiversity,Nigeria,2022

BDWaste

Circulars(plastic),Ghana,2022

JETConnectivity

Ocean,UnitedKingdom,2023

Latitudo40

Natureandbiodiversity,Italy,2022

BILLIONCARBON

Food,India,2023

Figure9 NumberofjobscreatedbyTopInnovatorsbyyear

23

373

60

132

48

80

40

65

15 35

1628

510

510

2023

2024

Figure10Increasedincomeofunderrepresentedgroups

TopInnovators’solutionshavealsoprioritizedbreakingbarrierstoemploymentandincreasingincomefortraditionallyunderservedgroups,suchasyouth,womenandruralpopulations.

20,000

20,000

16,000

12,000

15,000

8,000

4,000

5,100

6,100

0

2023

2024

2023

2024

NumberofIndigenous/racialminoritypeoplewithincreasedannualincome

Numberofwomenwith

increasedannualincome

Theseoutcomesareparticularlymeaningfulastheyillustratethepowerfulrippleeffectsofinnovation.UpLinkremainscommittedtonotonlyexpandingtheseopportunitiesbutalso

ensuringthelong-termqualityandsustainabilityofthejobscreated,therebycultivatingimpactandresilience.

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2.2 Thematicimpact

Water

The

AquapreneurInnovationInitiative

is

apioneeringcollaborationbetweenglobalconglomerateHCLGroupandUpLink,supportedbytheForum’sFoodandWaterInitiativeandaimedatbuildingaleadingwater-focusedInnovationEcosystemtoaccelerateearly-stageinnovatorsor“aquapreneurs”.Thefirstcohortofaquapreneurswasannouncedin2023,whilethesecondcohort,alongsideaCHF1.9million(Swissfrancs)investmentfromHCLGroup,wasannouncedduringtheForum’sAnnualMeetinginDavosinJanuary2024.

Overthesetwoyears,UpLinkhasfocusedonhelpingaquapreneursattractinvestmentandscaletheirimpact.Todate,thefirsttwocohortshavecollectivelyraised$70millioninfunding.The

thirdAquapreneurChallenge,launchedattheWorldWaterForuminBaliinMay2024,focusesonestablishingnewpartnershipswithvariouspublic-sectorentities.

HarnessingsupportfromUpLink’sEngagementProgramme,aquapreneurshavealreadydemonstratedsignificantimpact.Forinstance,usingananomalydetectionsystemcalledAutonomousDynamicFlowAnalytics(ADFA),

SHAYP

savedanimpressive7billionlitresofwaterin2024,3billionmorethanin2023.Theincreaseinsavingsisprimarilyattributedtotheadditionof2,273meteringpoints,andthegoalistosave100billionlitresofwaterby2027byexpandingintonewgeographies.

Between2023and2024,UpLinkTopInnovators’solutionshaveresultedinthefollowingimpacts:

Table2TopInnovators’socialandenvironmentalimpact

Impact

2.5billionlitresofwastewater(includinghazardouswastewater)wastreated.Thisisenoughtomeetthewaterneedsofapproximately25,000householdsforayearinadevelopingcountry.

TopInnovatorexample

IndraWatertreated243%morewastewaterin2024comparedto2022,scalingupfrom350millionlitresto1.2billionlitresperyearthroughitsinnovativeenergyefficientsolution.

153millionlitresofwastewaterwasreused,whichisenoughtosupplyanelementaryschoolof5,000studentswithwaterfordrinking,sanitationandcookingforapproximately4.5years.

EpicCleantecnearlydoubledtheamountofwastewaterconvertedintotreatedwater,increasingfrom28millionlitresin2023to45millionlitresin2024.

2.7millionpeoplereceivedimprovedaccesstoanduseofwater,sanitationandhygiene(WASH)solutionsinbothdevelopedanddevelopingcountries.Studiesshowthataccesstoimprovedwaterandsanitationisassociatedwitha24.5%reductionofdiarrhoealdiseaseamongchildrenunderfive.3

7,980peopleweretrainedtoreduceimpactfromaquacultureandimprovewateruseefficiency.

915peopleweretrainedtoprotectfreshwaterecosystems.

SmartTerraimprovedaccesstoWASHsolutions

for120,000peopleinPune,India;Depok,Indonesia;andDumaguete,Philippinesin2024.

NatureDots’solution,AquaNurchDigitalTwin,hasde-riskedfishfarmersandsupported4,200freshwaterfishfarmersinadoptingsustainablefisheriespracticesandachievingoptimumproductionin2024,upfrom1,095in2023.

Inonlyoneyear,NaireetaSer