From Ghana to the Notary: Celebrating CIWI’s First Anniversary
Exactly one year ago, on December 20, 2023, Erik and I sat at the notary’s office. With one signature, CIWI was officially born. But the journey that led to this milestone started long before—in Ghana.
In Ghana, we worked on water treatment solutions and witnessed the global challenges firsthand. This inspired us to take part in the IMD Venture Award. In September 2023, we were thrilled to learn we had won! The prize came with one key condition: commit to entrepreneurship for at least one year. And so, on a cold December morning, CIWI became a reality.
A Year Full of Milestones
Our first year has been packed with progress and achievements. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished so far:
CIWI was founded and officially established as a company.
We opened our office in the YES!Delft building, a hub for innovative startups.
Participated in the YES!Delft Validation Program to sharpen our business model.
Conducted extensive customer research to understand market needs.
Collaborated with TU Delft on an NWO Take-off Phase 1 project, advancing our knowledge and technology.
Filed our first patent to protect the innovative aspects of our process.
Installed our first pilot system at Brabant Water, marking a major milestone in validating our technology.
Built strong relationships with technical partners, essential for our development and scaling.
Secured €25,000 from Rabobank’s Impact Fund, supporting our mission.
Joined the YES!Delft Accelerator Lab, gaining valuable insights and connections to fuel our growth.
Looking Ahead
The next year promises to be even more exciting. Our goals include:
Expanding our team to accelerate development and scale our operations.
Refining and testing our technology further, building on the success of our pilot.
Continuing our mission to create a world where water treatment agents are always available and produced sustainably.
This year has been an incredible journey, and we owe it to our partners, supporters, and the entire CIWI team. Thank you for believing in our vision and being part of our story. The best is yet to come!