Hydros: A Startup Story

Back in Spring 2009, Jay and Aakash made the decision to start Hydros at 4am in the basement of a University of Pennsylvania study hall. The two undergraduates were busy writing a business plan for the Dell Social Innovation Competition, due in just 8 short hours. Their idea: sell a filtering water bottle to raise money for global water projects and rid the world of plastic bottled water. To create the plan, Jay drew on his field experience building rural water projects as the President of Penn Engineers Without Borders while Aakash implemented concepts from his social entrepreneurship courses in the Wharton Business School.

After finishing as semifinalists in the competition, they walked away from their future jobs, emptied their tiny bank accounts (saving was not a priority in college), and set out to develop the first prototype with the technical help of their friends at Innova Dynamics, Inc. Shortly thereafter they bumped into young banker/philanthropist Winston Ibrahim (Johns Hopkins University 09). Immediately impressed by the potential of their idea he jumped to get involved. He took the lead in putting together the company’s financing, joining the team fulltime shortly thereafter. 

The team set out to find manufacturing partners (made locally in the US) and the first retail placement (thanks Whole Foods!). With your help we can make make more progress toward solving the Global Water Crisis.

Thanks for your support and help us get the word out!

What is Hydros

Hydros is the movement to fight the Global Water Crisis worldwide. Hydros funds sustainable water projects to help the nearly one billion people who do not have access to water. 

What is Hydros Bottle?

Your Hydros Bottle is designed to eliminate the need for bottled water and can be used at water fountains, kitchen sinks, and bathroom  taps here in the US. Your bottle purchase funds water projects through Operation Hydros and can provide clean water for one person in need for an entire year.

Get great tasting water on the go and never buy expensive bottled water again! You can learn more on our About the Bottle page. 

-Team Hydros