As part of Terna Innovation Zone Tunisi, an initiative launched in collaboration with Mind the Bridge and ELIS and included in the broader Global Scaleup Program, we caught up with Capucine Cogné, Head of Marketing International & Business Development France and Spain at Kumulus Water — one of the five Tunisian startups selected – a climate-positive startup that’s literally bottling water out of air.
They’ve raised millions, landed partnerships with ministries, and claim their machines can produce on average 30 liters of clean water a day. But as we asked Capucine: if that’s true… why aren’t these machines already everywhere?
Let’s talk about scaling, credibility, and the not-so-obvious side of “tech for good.”
Let’s start with the basics. You claim to produce water from thin air. Is that really possible?
Yes, and not just theoretically — it’s already happening. Our solution is autonomous, sustainable, and plug-and-play and can produce on average 30 liters of water per day. We essentially replicate the phenomenon of morning dew, then filter and mineralize the water, delivering safe and healthy drinking water.
It’s a real alternative to plastic water bottles, especially in remote areas, offices, factories, or places where water logistics are complicated. It works off-grid with solar panels and it’s more than a machine — we offer maintenance, software, ESG data, and a full ecosystem around each unit.
This isn’t sci-fi: over 120 machines are already deployed across Tunisia, France, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. And for each one, we estimate a savings of 500kg of plastic and 2 tons of CO₂ per year.
That sounds like a game-changer. So… why aren’t we seeing your machines everywhere?
Fair question. First of all, we’re still a young startup. We began in 2021 and are now in full expansion mode. But yes — it’s frustrating when people say “this is incredible!” and then still opt for bottled water.
Part of the challenge is scale. Producing 30 liters a day is great for an office or school, but not enough for large public use or factories. That’s why we’re developing the “Titan” model, a high-capacity version that can produce up to 2,000 liters/day, mainly for industrial and emergency contexts.
Also, we’ve had to prove the reliability of the technology, especially in off-grid rural schools or harsh environments. That takes time and real-world data.
Ultimately, changing people’s habits is really hard.
But still — clean water is a huge global issue. Who’s actually buying your machines?
Today, we mostly work with corporates and institutions: NGOs, companies wanting to cut plastic use, or CSR projects. We sell the machines or offer them in leasing models.
What’s been truly impactful is our partnership with the Tunisian Ministries of Health and Education. Thanks to funding from entities like the UK Embassy, we’ve been able to install our machines in rural schools where there wasn’t even running water.
The kids drink at school, then fill bottles to bring home. That’s the kind of use case that keeps us going.
Let’s talk about the risk of greenwashing. How do you make sure people don’t just buy the machine to feel good about themselves?
That’s a real concern. We try to avoid “show-off CSR.” We only partner with organizations that take the impact seriously — not just the press release. Our machines are connected and provide ESG tracking, so clients can monitor usage and CO₂ savings.
We also focus on building local relationships, not just selling and disappearing. In Tunisia, we manufacture with local partners, test everything in Tunis, and stay involved post-installation.
Where’s the tech built? And where’s the team?
We prototype and test in France, but manufacture and assemble in Tunisia. It’s not just a cost choice — it’s strategic. We want to keep part of our identity grounded in Tunisia, especially since we started there. This also allows us to root the startup in the local economy, while scaling internationally. We’ve already filed three patents, and we’re now developing a new modular system — basically a smart “box” that can pair with an indoor dispenser to serve clean water anywhere.
Today, we’re about 30 people, with offices in Tunis, Paris, Riyadh, and now Spain. We’ve also filed three patents and are launching a new modular system with a dispenser that works like a smart water fountain.
You just raised €3.1M in a seed funding … What’s the plan now?
We’re focused on launching the high-capacity model, strengthening presence in key markets like Spain, Saudi Arabia, and (hopefully soon) Italy, and building strategic distribution and industrial partnerships.
Programs like the Global Scaleup Program Tunisia help us connect with serious international players — the kind who understand that scaling impact means working with both the public and private sector, across regions.
Water isn’t just a resource — it’s a right. And with the right tech, it can be delivered anywhere. Kumulus is on a mission to prove that.
And we’re glad they’re doing it not just from Paris, but from Tunisia.