Global Water First

Global Water First (GWF) is a startup social business changing lives in the developing world in a sustainable, regenerative manner through decentralized networks of safe water enterprises (SWEs), which process and sell safe drinking water to the community at below market prices but at a profit.  Each SWE will employ 10 to 12 people who will receive extensive training in plant maintenance, operations, marketing and sales.

Venn’s PRI will provide concessionary capital to help GWF establish and build out additional SWEs in Africa, Latin America, and Asia (each, a PRI SWE) and to further refine its SWE technology and training program. 

SAFE Water Enterprises - How it Works

Multi-Dimensional IMPACT

  1. Public Health
    SWEs improve public health by purifying, bottling, and distributing affordable and safe drinking water. 

  2. Community Self-Reliance
    SWEs improve each community’s self-reliance and overall economy by providing gainful employment to community members and ending generational poverty for both the local owners and their employees. 

  3. Social Services
    SWEs are required to put a meaningful amount of the revenue they generate back into the local community to support essential social services. 

  4. Empowering Women & Girls
    SWEs provide women and girls with the time needed to obtain an education, thereby removing the marginalization they experience as a result of foregoing education in order to access water for their families. 

Recipient Name:  Global Water First
Corporate Form:  Public Benefit Corporation
Total Investment Sought:  $75,000 - $300,000
Total Raised to Date: $164,590

Overview of Investment Terms:

  • Unsecured, subordinate loan

  • 3% simple interest

  • 5-year term

  • Years 1-4: Annual payments equal to 20% of the revenues received by GWF from the PRI SWEs. No payments made if no revenues are received by GWF from the PRI SWEs

  • Year 5:  All accrued but unpaid interest and principal paid in two balloon payments.