Scale-Up Innovators in the Spotlight: Uravu Labs

A new kind of water is making a splash in Bangalore’s vibrant F&B scene, captivating hoteliers and consumers alike. Unlike any regular water, this water is made from air using revolutionary technology and is driven by a bold but essential vision to ensure water security for all.   

Uravu Labs, the innovators of this packaged drinking water evocatively called FromAir, has developed a radically innovative technology to harness air and produce 100% renewable water. Fundamentally, this proprietary technology exposes common desiccant materials like silica and calcium chloride to ambient air, allowing them to absorb moisture. These materials are then heated using renewable sources such as solar and biomass, converting the absorbed moisture into vapour. The vapour is subsequently condensed and recovered as pure water, which Uravu Labs bottles and supplies to the hospitality, and food & beverage (F&B) sectors under the trademark ‘Water from Air’.  

Rethinking Water through a Holistic Lens

The water crisis we face presents a dual challenge.

Supply: Conventional water sources are increasingly under threat due to escalating droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and climate change, jeopardising their long-term sustainability. 

Demand: Growing concerns are emerging about water safety and existing water purification options like reverse osmosis result in significant waste exacerbating the strain on already limited water supplies.

Uravu Labs’ revolutionary technology leverages air, an abundant and inexhaustible resource, and harnesses renewable energy sources like solar and biomass. By prioritising sustainability, efficiency, and zero waste, this solution has the potential to make our water infrastructure resilient holistically, and at scale. 

Uravu Labs: A Stellar Journey of Growth

Founded in 2019 by Swapnil Shrivastav, Govinda Balaji, and Venkatesh RY, Uravu Labs has pioneered technology that offers sustainable alternatives to industries heavily reliant on clean water, such as hospitality and F&B. With a promise of consistent high quality, industry as well as end consumers are seeing value in making sustainable consumption choices and driving up demand for water FromAir.

The last two years have been pivotal in the growth of Uravu Labs, with nearly 80+ brands and 100+ outlets in Bangalore switching from traditional packaged water to Uravu Labs’ FromAir water. In 2024, Uravu Labs crossed an impressive milestone of 1 million units, validating their bold, almost magical bet to make water from air. They also earned a spot in the top 10 of the ‘What India is Drinking – 2024’ survey, under the water category.   

The Power of Partnership

Scale-Up, Marico Innovation Foundation’s flagship no-equity accelerator, has been a key partner in Uravu Labs’ journey, providing deep, bespoke mentorship on a wide range of challenges. Upon induction into Scale-Up in January 2023, the startup identified key challenges such as quality control, standard operating procedures (SoPs), and processes critical for achieving scale. It also highlighted the need for better compliance with industry standards and government regulations. 

A team of experts from Marico including Head of Quality Shailesh Ghodekar, Works (Guwahati) Head Gajanan Naik, Associate Manager of Critical Quality Assurance (CQA) Senthilkumar G, and Executive, CQA, Sakshi Dhavle, provided hands-on support to Uravu Labs in successfully overcoming the identified challenges. 

Most notably, the startup was guided in the engineering aspects of machine design and bottling processes for a new, fully automated bottling unit facility, process documentation including robust SoPs, flow charts, and capacity building through team training. Assistance concerning manufacturing licenses, compliance frameworks, and quality controls was also provided. This led to a doubling of productivity, 100% factory compliance, a 75% decrease in sample printing costs, a 60% reduction in bottle rejections, a 50% reduction in bottling labour costs, and a 15% increase in energy efficiency. 

MIF’s Scale-Up Program recognises that building the right structures and capacities is fundamental for startups aiming to scale in their INR 1-100 crore revenue journey. This is precisely the startup growth phase that Scale-Up remains steadfast in supporting. As of January 2025, Uravu Labs continues to be a part of Scale-Up.

Uravu Labs recently received recognition in Business World, showcasing their pioneering work in the niche space of sustainable water solutions. Read the full coverage here.