“We do not value water until we run out of it. But the truth is, we are already in a crisis, it’s just unevenly distributed.” ~ Navkaran Singh Bagga, Founder & CEO, Akvo Atmospheric Water Systems
Navkaran Singh Bagga’s journey to revolutionizing water access began far from the laboratories or environmental conferences typically associated with such innovation. Raised in Kolkata, he pursued a conventional path in finance and accounting. Yet, from a young age, his insatiable curiosity set him apart. As a child, he spent hours dismantling video cassette recorders and assembling computers from scavenged parts, honing a self-taught mastery of technology. This innate drive to understand and innovate, rather than any formal training in engineering or environmental science, would later propel him into one of India’s most pressing challenges: water scarcity.
The turning point came as Bagga observed the deepening crisis across India’s urban centers, borewells running dry in Bengaluru, water rationing in Chennai, and growing dependence on unreliable and contaminated sources. Recognizing the untapped potential of atmospheric moisture, he founded Akvo Atmospheric Water Systems in 2017. With no external investors, grants, or institutional backing, Bagga bootstrapped the company, determined to prove that clean, sustainable water could be produced without relying on depleting groundwater, extensive pipelines, or plastic bottles.
Akvo’s Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs) embody this vision. The machines draw in ambient air, filter out impurities, cool it to induce condensation, and collect pure water droplets. Through rigorous purification, sediment and carbon filtration followed by ultraviolet disinfection, the system produces mineral-balanced drinking water. In humid regions like Chennai and Mumbai, a single unit of electricity yields up to four liters of water; even in drier climates like Bengaluru, it produces 2.5 liters per unit. Designed for versatility, the machines operate on grid electricity, solar panels, or generators, making them viable for remote, off-grid locations.
Under Bagga’s leadership, Akvo has installed over 2,000 systems across 15 countries, generating more than 100 million liters of water without extracting a single drop from the ground. The company operates without venture capital, maintaining a lean team of 38 and prioritizing mission-driven growth. Clients can purchase units outright or opt for a Build, Own, Operate, Transfer model, where Akvo manages installation and maintenance while charging only for the water consumed, eliminating significant upfront costs.
This approach has delivered tangible impact. Factories in Gujarat and Mumbai have replaced bottled water with on-site generation, reducing procurement costs by up to 22 percent. Remote wind farms in Karnataka now produce their own clean water, aligning water sustainability with their renewable energy mandate. In water-stressed villages in Madhya Pradesh, Akvo units provide up to 1,000 liters daily, preventing risky groundwater extraction and seasonal migration.
Bagga’s story is one of deliberate focus and strategic restraint. By eschewing external funding, he has preserved control over the company’s direction, ensuring that innovation remains tied to practical, scalable solutions rather than investor-driven timelines. His vision extends beyond technology to a fundamental shift in perspective: treating the atmosphere as a viable, decentralized source of water.
As Akvo continues to expand, particularly into humidity-rich regions of Africa and the Gulf, Bagga emphasizes pragmatism over sweeping promises. “We are not solving the global water crisis alone,” he acknowledges, “but by enabling communities and businesses to produce their own clean water, we can reduce dependence on vulnerable and finite sources.” Through relentless experimentation, self-funded growth, and a technology that transforms the invisible abundance of air into a reliable resource, Navkaran Singh Bagga has built a company that proves innovation can emerge from curiosity and conviction, charting a path from Shunya to Shikar in the critical mission of securing sustainable water for all.
