Disruptors for GOOD | Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises

Disrupting Water Infrastructure: Pulling Clean Water from the Air - Brian Sheng / Co-founder and CEO of Aquaria


Listen Later

----------------------------------------

Spotlighting impact startups, brands, and founders.

We feature social impact startups, conscious brands, and visionary founders shaping the future of business. Join thousands—subscribe to our weekly newsletter for exclusive interviews, the latest funding rounds, digital tool reviews, and curated products fueling the impact economy.


To learn more, please visit causeartist.com


In this episode of Disruptors for GOOD, I sit down with Brian Sheng, the co-founder and CEO of Aquaria, to explore how his company is reshaping the future of water access.

At a time when nearly 30 million Americans are affected by water scarcity each year—and our infrastructure is failing to keep up—Aquaria offers a revolutionary solution: extracting clean, reliable water directly from the air.

Brian shares how an unexpected path led him into the world of climate tech, why aging water systems are a ticking time bomb, and how Aquaria is making water independence not only possible—but scalable. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about sustainability, innovation, and the future of infrastructure.

About Brian Sheng


Brian Sheng is the Co-Founder and CEO of Aquaria, a Public Benefit Corporation building the world’s first Air Water Infrastructure network. A serial entrepreneur and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Brian has dedicated his career to solving massive problems at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and climate.

After witnessing the devastating water shortages in cities like São Paulo, Cape Town, and Mexico City, Brian partnered with his brother Eric to launch Aquaria. Their goal? To provide decentralized water security by harnessing a resource that’s all around us—air.

Today, Brian leads Aquaria with a bold vision: to serve 1 million people in water-scarce regions using atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology over the next decade. In his own words, "I consider this my life's work."

About Aquaria


Aquaria is a climate-tech company using Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) to produce clean water—anytime, anywhere—by condensing and purifying moisture from the air. Their technology doesn’t require pipelines, wells, or municipal connections. It's plug-and-play water independence.

Aquaria’s flagship products include the Hydropack series for households and the Hydrogrid platform for community-scale water infrastructure. These systems can generate from 66 to 10,000+ gallons of clean water per day, offering a sustainable alternative to aging or nonexistent water systems.

What sets Aquaria apart:

No permits or plumbing needed
🌞 Solar-ready and energy efficient
🌎 Ideal for off-grid, emergency, and underserved communities
🏡 Focused on residential first—scaling to cities next
🤝 Partnerships with nonprofits, developers, and policymakers


With over $100M in financing secured and recognition from outlets like TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024, Aquaria is scaling fast. And it’s not just a business—it’s a movement to democratize access to clean water.


----------------------------------------

 Causeartist is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:

  • Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.
  • Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.
  • Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.
  • Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.
  • Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.
  • IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.
  • Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.
  • Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.

As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.

👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Disruptors for GOOD | Social Entrepreneurs and Social EnterprisesBy Causeartist

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

52 ratings


More shows like Disruptors for GOOD | Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises

View all
HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

HBR IdeaCast

199 Listeners

Tara Brach by Tara Brach

Tara Brach

10,442 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,265 Listeners

How I Built This with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Wondery

How I Built This with Guy Raz

30,260 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

86,508 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

110,824 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

55,990 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,121 Listeners

Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

Worklife with Adam Grant

9,164 Listeners

Modern Wisdom by Chris Williamson

Modern Wisdom

3,763 Listeners

The Dispatch Podcast by The Dispatch

The Dispatch Podcast

3,214 Listeners

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

9,216 Listeners

Investing in Impact | Impact Investing by Causeartist

Investing in Impact | Impact Investing

15 Listeners

Tools for Scale by Causeartist

Tools for Scale

3 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,363 Listeners

Fairbee Buzz | Sustainable Lifestyle & Fashion by Causeartist // Fairbee

Fairbee Buzz | Sustainable Lifestyle & Fashion

0 Listeners

Changemaker Rehab by Causeartist

Changemaker Rehab

3 Listeners