Hult Global Case Challenge 2011

Getting Safe Water and Sanitation to the Bottom of the Pyramid through Bold and Game-Changing Innovations

Accelerating Water.org’s vision

by Hitendra Patel, Ahmad Ashkar, Sabina Ciminero, Tyler McNally, and Ronald Jonash

Getting Safe Water and Sanitation to the Bottom of the Pyramid through Bold and Game-Changing Innovations

Accelerating Water.org’s vision

by Hitendra Patel, Ahmad Ashkar, Sabina Ciminero, Tyler McNally, and Ronald Jonash

Water.org believes that new business models are needed to reach 100 million people in five years.

As one coconut after another broke open next to shiny new water taps, cheers and laughter filled the steamy afternoon air with great festivity. Why the celebration? For the first time in their entire lives, the people of Annanagar slum in Hyderabad, India had quick-and-easy access to safe water—just minutes ago, clean water began flowing, crystal clear, from taps installed right outside of their homes (taps and connection fees they had proudly paid for with a “WaterCredit” loan). WaterCredit has been a breakthrough innovation of non-profit Water.org and is on a path of exceptional growth towards reaching 10 million people over the next five years. However, co-founders Gary White and actor Matt Damon see this as representing just a tiny sliver of the one billion people lacking access to safe water and the more than 2.5 billion individuals without basic sanitation.1 They envision the day when everyone in the world can take a safe drink of water and experience the dignity of a toilet. “We need to keep pushing the envelope and look at bigger and bolder solutions that will further accelerate our reach from today’s potential of 10 million people to 100 million people in five years,” said Gary. Walking back across the lane of silvercolored water taps, Gary stopped and turned to Matt: “We are living in amazing times where industries such as telecom, education, and banking are penetrating the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP).2 If we...