Watly Is Crowdfunding To Put Europe On The Global Tech Map

Watly is the Barcelona startup that (among several features) creates electricity, purifies water and connects you to the internet, all through their solar powered Watly computer.

Just months before they start selling the first Watly’s, they’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo.

The founder and CEO of Watly, Marco Attisani explains to Barcinno that the goal of the crowdfunding campaign is to bring Europe in on the project:

 “Most investors in Europe are not visionary, like you see in the US. That’s why we want to bring the people in on this project. This is not another marketplace or a delivery service, it’s a life-changing technology that will put Europe on the global tech-map, which you can be a part of for €5”.

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Massive interest

Attisani has been travelling around the world the last years, showing governments and multinational companies how Watly can change lives in areas without water, electricity or connectivity.

“The interest has been massive, we’re talking with banks, telecommunication companies, as well as states and regional governments, and they’re all waiting to see the product in action”.

In June the first official Watly computer will be ready, and if the crowdfunding campaign goes as planned, they will present two computers (instead of one), and show how the Watly’s are communicating with each other.

One computer costs €400.000, but in return serve 3.000 people for a span of 16 years, according to CEO Attisani:

“This is a small investment for a big company or government, in terms of what you’ll get back from it.”

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Funding

 On the question if Watly considers itself a Barcelona startup, Attisani hesitates a bit:

“Legally we’re a Spanish company, that started out in Barcelona. But we have offices all over Europe, so I would rather say that we’re a European company, like other startups are called American or Asian”.

Watly has been more or less bootstrapping for the last years, however they’ve received funding in terms of grants, nearly €2 million in total.

Even though their plan is to start selling the Watly already this year, Attisani hopes to go big at the next Mobile World Congress.

“Our plan is to have a real show at the next Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, be there!”.