Tunisia’s Kumulus Water Raises US$3.5 Million Seed

Kumulus Water, a Tunisia and France-based water technology startup that produces clean drinking water from air, has secured US$3.5 million in seed funding.

The investment round was led by French investment bank Bpifrance via the France 2030 Le Secrétariat général pour l'investissement (SGPI) initiative and the Île-de-France Region, with additional backing from international and regional investors.

Notable participants include early-stage venture capital (VC) firm Plus VC, as well as Morocco-based early-stage investment firm Kalys Venture, regional VC and startup accelerator Flat6Labs, European bottled water company Spadel, and several family offices and entrepreneurs from Europe and North Africa. 

Founded by Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid in Tunisia in 2021, Kumulus Water develops and produces atmospheric water generators that convert humidity in the air into safe drinking water—without the need for existing water or electricity infrastructure.

Its systems are already deployed in schools, hotels, and remote areas throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), providing a sustainable, decentralized solution for water scarcity in areas that lack access to reliable clean water sources.

In an interview with Inc. Arabia, Triki, who is also the CEO of Kumulus Water, said that the company will use the investment to advance product development and deepen its market presence. “This funding means that we'll be able to work on R&D for a new product that produces 1,000 to 2,000 liters per day and really focus on developing the markets we're currently in,” he explained. 

The funding will support the launch of Kumulus Boks, a line of industrial-grade, atmospheric water generators that provide clean drinking water from air humidity. It will also help the company scale its operations further in Tunisia, France, and Spain, as well as prepare for entry into the Saudi market. 

Triki highlighted how the investors that participated in this round will each play a unique role in Kumulus Water’s next phase of growth. “Each investor contributes in a different way: Spadel helps us with water-specific challenges, Bpifrance with developing ourselves in France, and Plus VC in the investor and startup world,” he shared. 

He also noted that early deployments of Kumulus Water’s off-grid technology in MENA have revealed the importance of strategic focus amid broad potential. “We've learnt that there are many use cases for our technology, so we need to stay focused. Our collaboration with different governments has really pushed us forward in the MENA region,” Triki explained. 

He also noted that its on-ground partnerships enable Kumulus Water to deliver lasting value to communities. “We ensure long-term local impact through thorough after-sales support and communication. You can't simply sell a machine and leave it there,” he explained. “We're innovating, we're producing a new type of water, and what that means is that we need to support partners with the communication and understanding that comes with it.” 

While Kumulus is a startup that has sustainability baked into its core, Triki told us that the company's model is also rooted in commercial practicality. “Our solution is commercially viable: it's 10 to 50 percent cheaper (including electricity consumed) than using plastic bottles.”   

As for founders looking to build startups in the climate-tech and water-tech sectors, Triki encouraged them to focus on viability and market fit. “Make sure it's commercially viable, test different markets before finding a niche and focusing on it, and go for it!” he advised. 

Pictured in the lead image are Mohamed Ali Abid (L) and Iheb Triki (R), co-founders of Kumulus Water. Courtesy of Kumulus Water.