Inventor Kaustubh Chilwarwar progresses to the subsequent stage thanks to a groundbreaking solid-state, zero-electricity desalination innovation
Plantation, Florida Sep 24, 2025 – ChilCorp – Water, a climate technology startup established and headed by engineer and innovator Kaustubh Chilwarwar, which is developing pioneering solid-state, electricity-free desalination technology, has received official designation as a Qualified Team in the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition (Track B–Novel Materials and Methods). This $119 million worldwide endeavor aims to provide lasting access to clean water via advanced seawater desalination solutions.
After a thorough international assessment, ChilCorp – Water was chosen among a group of 143 innovators proceeding to the subsequent stage: Qualified Teams Testing. What commenced in Kaustubh’s living room, founded on intuition, self-filed patents, and initial trials conducted in makeshift laboratories, is now recognized as one of the leading potential solutions poised to redefine the future of desalination.
The company’s primary technology, known as Water Cubes, is engineered to passively draw freshwater from seawater utilizing microstructured hydrophilic surfaces and ambient infrared radiation, completely free of membranes, electricity, or any moving components.
“We are privileged to be recognized as a Qualified Team in this remarkable worldwide competition,” stated Kaustubh Chilwarwar, Founder of ChilCorp – Water. “Water Cubes signify a novel advancement in decentralized desalination, offering a scalable, quiet, and self-sufficient solution. Our objective is to facilitate plentiful water access everywhere, including in off-grid or energy-deficient areas.”
Worldwide, more than 2 billion individuals do not have access to safe drinking water, as reported by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme. The areas primarily impacted encompass Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, where populations frequently depend on costly or unstable water supplies. Although the long-term aim is to assist these water-deficient regions, ChilCorp – Water intends to conduct preliminary field trials in America and Europe, both oceanic regions experiencing increasing climate-induced water stress, prior to expanding for global implementation.
Water Cubes comprise stackable, wafer-based modules that harness the Exclusion Zone (EZ) phenomenon, which creates solute-free water layers on hydrophilic surfaces. This passive, ambient-energy-powered method provides a robust and low-maintenance substitute for high-pressure RO systems, particularly suitable for industrial and climate-vulnerable applications. ChilCorp has submitted numerous patent applications and is currently engaged in developing field-deployable prototypes.
The initial components for ChilCorp were manufactured at the Washington Nanofabrication Facility (WNF) at the University of Washington and the Idaho Microfabrication Laboratory (IML) at Boise State University. While the system is still in its pre-prototype phase, it has already achieved significant design benchmarks and has been independently appraised at $44.6 million USD (pre-revenue, pre-prototype) by the global startup valuation platform Equidam, an assessment derived from its patent portfolio, market opportunity, and technological distinctiveness.
A diverse team backs the project, including Stefan Grigorov, founder of FounderCentre in Sofia, Bulgaria, who contributes to strategic advancement and investor relations. Also involved are Arvind Kumar, Trupti Puttewar, and Suman Sah, who were instrumental in setting up ChilCorp International Pvt. Ltd. in India to facilitate future implementations.
The XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, a five-year worldwide event, is sponsored by the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. Its objective is to foster the development of cost-effective, energy-efficient desalination technologies for international benefit. Qualified Teams signify the most encouraging methods for transforming future access to seawater.
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Kaustubh Chilwarwar
Origin :ChilCorp Inc.
