HOPE Hydration, a Miami-based startup, is making waves in sustainable hydration by providing free water refills using its innovative HydroStations. Since its inception in 2020, HOPE has offered approximately 2 million refills at various high-profile events, airports, and city centers, with aspirations to hit 10 million refills by the end of this year.
The company recently announced the closing of a $20 million Series A funding round, led by Pentair plc and with participation from Burnt Island Ventures. This infusion of capital is set to accelerate HOPE’s growth, scale its manufacturing, enhance product innovation, and strengthen global partnerships.
Founded by Jorge Richardson, Cristina Gnecco, and Dave Tigue, HOPE Hydration aims to significantly reduce single-use plastic waste while promoting access to clean drinking water. Utilizing advanced filtration technology from Pentair Water Solutions, the company designs and distributes HydroStations that provide high-quality, chilled drinking water to residents and visitors in urban areas and commercial spaces.
Jorge Richardson, the CEO of HOPE, emphasized the increasing demand for public access to water amidst rising outdoor activities and a focus on environmental consciousness. He stated, “People are traveling and enjoying outdoor activities more than ever before, and are also more mindful of the impact they have on the world around them, but public access to water hasn’t kept up. We built HOPE to fix that. This investment will help enable us to scale a new kind of infrastructure – one that is built for health, for exploration, and for the planet.”
HOPE’s journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic, a challenging period for launching new public infrastructure projects. However, the startup quickly garnered attention from Miami’s Mayor, Francis Suarez, who expressed strong interest. According to Richardson, a direct message on Twitter led to a quick meeting with the Mayor over cafecito, highlighting Miami’s supportive environment for tech innovation.
The business model of HOPE Hydration is unique, as it generates revenue from advertisements displayed on its HydroStations. Each unit is equipped with technology to provide real-time data, which includes the number of water refills and the amount of plastic and carbon dioxide emissions avoided. Additionally, the HydroStations feature 55-inch LED screens displaying digital advertisements, allowing the installation of these stations at no cost to venues.
Richardson explained, “The best part of our model is that brands already have media budgets. We’re not asking them to spend more; we’re just giving them a better option. Why not invest in a digital screen that invites people to stop, engage, and walk away with free water?”
Pentair Water Solutions’ EVP and President, Adrian Chiu, commented on the partnership, stating, “We are excited to contribute our filtration technology, expertise, and resources to help HOPE accelerate their growth strategy, broaden their impact and ultimately help to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic water bottles.”
Previously, HOPE raised a $5 million seed round in 2024 and is backed by other investors, including Boost VC and Spice Capital. With the recent funding, HOPE Hydration looks to expand its reach, transforming public access to hydration while making strides towards reducing plastic waste.
image source from：refreshmiami
