Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. (NOU Takeshi, President; hereinafter, “Mitsui Kinzoku”) has invested in WaHa Inc. (Headquarters: United States, CEO: Frank Ramirez), a company that is developing a revolutionary energy-efficient atmospheric water harvesting and dehumidification engine, through its corporate venture capital (hereinafter “CVC”) investment activities.
Centered on its purpose, “We promote the well-being of the world through a spirit of exploration and diverse technologies,” Mitsui Kinzoku is working to create new businesses that contribute to the establishment of a sustainable society by fusing the external powers (customers, partner companies, universities, etc.) with the company’s own strengths (core technologies/know-how/sales channels), and it is investing in promising international and domestic start-ups that can create business synergy with Mitsui Kinzoku through its CVC.
Water scarcity is a critical global challenge, with approximately 2.2 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water. In agriculture, water shortages lead to diminished food productivity. WaHa Inc., the company in which we have recently invested, has developed proprietary technology that efficiently extracts water from the air using solid desiccants, even in very low-humidity environments. This breakthrough enables the provision of safe water for residential and agricultural use in arid regions with limited freshwater resources. Additionally, WaHa is advancing high-efficiency dehumidification solutions applicable to various sectors, including indoor agriculture, dry rooms, and HVAC systems. Their products contribute to significant energy savings in dehumidification processes.
Through our investment in WaHa, we are collaborating on the development and manufacturing of advanced adsorbent materials utilized in the company's equipment. Together with WaHa, we aim to contribute to the realization of a world where everyone has access to safe water. Furthermore, by supporting the development of WaHa's highly efficient dehumidifiers, we strive to promote a sustainable society through the advancement of energy-efficient air conditioning systems.
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Investment in WaHa, a Start-up developing atmospheric water generation and dehumidification technology