WOTA

About WOTA

WOTA Corporation is a Japanese company founded on October 24, 2014, that develops small-scale, decentralized water recycling systems and autonomous water treatment control technology. The company's vision is to address global water crises by creating a future where water is accessible to everyone, everywhere, independent of large-scale, centralized infrastructure. The current CEO is Yosuke Maeda. Maeda's interest in water purification began in high school, and he later developed and sold an algorithm for energy conservation controls for buildings before joining WOTA as COO and later becoming CEO.

WOTA's business model focuses on shifting water infrastructure from a traditional civil engineering approach to a manufacturing-based model, which allows for mass production and lower costs. The company operates on a B2G2C (Business-to-Government-to-Consumer) model, partnering with governments and municipalities to implement its solutions. They have also established the Water 2040 Fund to help municipalities with financing and planning for the deployment of their systems. WOTA's core technology, WOTA CORE, utilizes a combination of proprietary sensors and AI to autonomously monitor and control water quality, ensuring safety and efficiency. This system allows for continuous software updates that have significantly improved membrane lifespan and reduced water treatment costs.

The company has launched several key products. The "WOTA BOX" is a portable water reclamation plant that can recycle over 98% of domestic wastewater from showers and handwashing. Launched in November 2019, it is designed for use in disaster situations and off-grid locations, providing shower facilities with just an initial 100 liters of water to serve around 100 people. The WOTA BOX has been deployed in numerous disaster zones, including providing aid to over 30,000 people at 120 evacuation centers. Another product, "WOSH," is a self-contained, water-circulating handwashing station that can be installed in places without running water. It also features a function to sterilize smartphone surfaces. WOTA is also developing a residential system, the 'WOTA Unit', designed to recycle all household wastewater to potable quality on-site.

The company's innovative approach has gained significant recognition. WOTA was a finalist for the Earthshot Prize in 2021 and received a CES 2024 Innovation Award for the WOTA BOX. WOTA has raised a total of $73.5M in funding.