{"id":44,"date":"2021-05-25T16:34:56","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T16:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/?p=44"},"modified":"2024-04-04T15:19:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T21:19:41","slug":"catalytic-funding-for-scaling-handwashing-and-drinking-stations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/2021\/05\/25\/catalytic-funding-for-scaling-handwashing-and-drinking-stations\/","title":{"rendered":"Catalytic funding scales handwashing and drinking stations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Image courtesy of Mekbib Tadesse @mekbib_tadesse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Catalytic funding from the Autodesk Foundation helped Splash build a proof of concept for handwashing and drinking stations produced at scale, which led to $1.6 million in follow-on funding to bring the product to market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Access to clean water is foundational to health and wellbeing; without it millions of people are exposed to preventable, often fatal illnesses. U.S. nonprofit organization Splash International designs child-focused water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions for some of the world\u2019s biggest cities, like Kolkata and Addis Ababa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Handwashing and drinking stations around the world are often costly to install, difficult to maintain, and overlook community needs. Splash\u2019s first handwashing and drinking station designs followed the norm – they were made from concrete, tile, and fiberglass, which are not easy to replicate or maintain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAutodesk Foundation\u2019s catalytic funding and technical support helped us prove we could manufacture a new product [a design-forward handwashing and drinking station]. Without that track record, we wouldn\u2019t have had a proof of concept for new investors. If we can do it once we can do it again.\u201d -Leslie Llado, Director of Global Infrastructure and Product Development<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Splash and the Autodesk Foundation partnered to scale a design-forward, replicable WASH solution by combining Splash\u2019s knowledge in handwashing and drinking stations with the Autodesk Foundation\u2019s philanthropic funding and design and engineering expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 2017 to 2021, Splash received funding to create and sell transformative stations for the WASH sector, resulting in the design and manufacturing of a plastic handwashing and drinking station in just one year, mass manufacturing of 3,600 handwashing and drinking stations for schools and orphanages in Kolkata and Addis Ababa, and establishing a social enterprise model to scale distribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to funding, in-kind support like Autodesk software and Autodesk pro bono consulting and interns were integral to Splash\u2019s successful design and manufacturing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had limited design and manufacturing expertise on staff, so the Autodesk Foundation acted as part of our team.<\/p>Cyndie Berg, Chief Development Officer<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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2017<\/h4>\n\n\n\n