Navigating Water Tech Investment: Balancing Innovation and Market Realities with "(Don't) Waste Water" Podcast Host Antoine Walter

In this Interview, we meet Antoine Walter who is the Host and Creator of the (don’t) Waste Water podcast, a popular Water Industry Media Platform based in France. Antoine's podcast explores water technology, innovation, and the stories of founders in the water sector, connecting the dots between startups, investors, and industry leaders.

ONE-LINER:

"(don’t) Waste Water is all about sharing knowledge and experiences to help water innovators tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow."

Pitch/Reverse Pitch:

Don’t miss Antoine’s Overview of the (don’t) Waste Water podcast, which you can find on the video from [2:16] to [3:14].

Discussion:

After the overview, we discuss:

• The challenges of bringing water technologies to market, particularly the need for startups to focus on specific verticals and avoid spreading themselves too thin.
• The importance of understanding the water industry's unique characteristics, including its fragmentation and the need for targeted, specialized solutions.
• Antoine's insights into the investment landscape for water startups, highlighting the scarcity of dedicated water tech investors and the importance of selecting the right investor for long-term success.

Insights:

At [10:31], Antoine shares the advice he received from Gary White about the importance of saying "no" to opportunities that don't align with a startup's core mission, emphasizing the need to obsess over solving a specific challenge.

Advice:

At [40:21], Antoine advises water startups to focus on becoming specialists in a particular area, stating that the key to success is having a clear, targeted approach and becoming the best at solving one specific problem before expanding to other areas.