NextDrop

NextDrop was a for-profit venture driven by a powerful social mission: to solve global water challenges. Founded in 2011, the company launched its initial pilot program in the Hubli-Dharwad district of Karnataka, India. By 2015, NextDrop had successfully registered 70,000 users throughout the state. The company's core vision involved creating a synergistic relationship between the private sector, government utilities, and citizens. This interconnected loop facilitated timely service delivery and continuous feedback collection, effectively bridging existing gaps in water management. NextDrop leveraged cutting-edge technology to achieve its objectives.

At its heart, NextDrop's mission centered on water, while its business revolved around data. The company crowdsourced water-related data and developed sophisticated algorithms and visualizations to optimize urban water distribution within emerging markets. Urban residents received timely text message alerts regarding upcoming water availability, supply cancellations, or potential issues like contamination or low water pressure. Simultaneously, utility engineers gained access to a live feed of problems within the distribution system, enabling them to address issues proactively and in real-time.