DrinkPrime: Manas Ranjan Hota on Making Safe Drinking Water Affordable for Urban India
In the rapidly growing metros of India, access to safe drinking water remains a paradoxical challenge. While technology advances, millions still rely on unverified bottled water or expensive purifiers with high maintenance costs. Manas Ranjan Hota, Co-founder of DrinkPrime, is on a mission to democratize safe water. By combining IoT sensors with a 'pay-per-liter' subscription model, DrinkPrime is disrupting a decades-old industry and ensuring that every urban household can afford pure water.
The journey of DrinkPrime began in late 2014 when Manas and his co-founder, Vijender, were roommates in Bangalore. Like many young professionals, they relied on 20-liter water cans. "The quality was suspect, the delivery was never prompt, and if the brand you liked ran out, you were at the mercy of whatever was available," Manas recalls. This personal frustration led to a deeper investigation, revealing that over 50% of bottled water in circulation failed basic safety norms. They didn't set out to build a company; they set out to solve a problem for people just like them.
The Problem with 'One-Size-Fits-All'
Traditional water purifiers are sold like TVs or fridges—mass-manufactured and sold through dealers. "Water quality varies from one street to another," Manas explains. "A one-size-fits-all product can't possibly be effective for everyone. DrinkPrime uses data to map water quality across the city and customizes the filtration for every single subscriber."
The 'Uber of Water Purifiers'
DrinkPrime's biggest innovation isn't just the filtration technology, but the business model. By offering purifiers on a subscription basis, they removed the high upfront cost barrier (₹12,000–₹15,000) and the recurring headache of maintenance. Users pay only for the water they consume, much like an electricity or gas bill. "We call ourselves the Uber of water purifiers," Manas says. "You don't own the car; you just pay for the ride. With us, you don't own the machine; you just pay for the safe water."
This model required a massive technological backbone. The team spent years perfecting IoT sensors that monitor water quality and consumption in real-time. This data allows DrinkPrime to proactively service machines before they fail, ensuring a seamless experience for the user.
Pivoting from 'WaterWalla' to DrinkPrime
Success didn't come overnight. The first iteration was an app called "WaterWalla" that connected bottled water suppliers to users. While it gained traction with 5,000 households, the unit economics were a nightmare. "We realized transporting heavy water cans wasn't the solution," Manas reflects. They went back to the drawing board, identified why people weren't buying purifiers (cost and complexity), and married the best of bottled water (convenience) with the best of purifiers (on-site filtration).
This pivot was supported by a network of mentors and early investors, including the founders of Snapdeal. Recently, DrinkPrime raised a pre-series round from Sequoia Capital and Omidyar Network, validating their mission to reach millions of households across India's top cities.
Manas's Roadmap for First-Time Founders
- Don't Love the Solution, Love the Problem: Solutions will change as you learn. If you stay married to the problem, you'll eventually find the right answer.
- Drip-Feeding into Entrepreneurship: Manas and his co-founder transitioned one by one. This allowed them to support each other financially during the early, uncertain months.
- Find Your 'One Yes': Fundraising is a game of persistence. "We pitched to 50+ investors before hearing our first 'yes'," Manas notes. Don't let the 'no's' dishearten you.
- Build a Support Network: Reach out to fellow entrepreneurs. Most are willing to share their time and help you shorten your learning curve.
The Road to 10 Million Households
Looking ahead, DrinkPrime aims to expand from its stronghold in Bangalore and Hyderabad to the top 10 cities in India. The vision is to reach 10 million households. "The mechanism might change—perhaps community-based solutions for some areas—but the benefit remains constant: safe water at the lowest possible cost," Manas asserts. For him, the true transformation of India will be led by founders who are willing to get their hands dirty and solve the most basic of human necessities.
DrinkPrime Milestones
- Growth: Achieved 10x growth between 2019 and 2020.
- Technology: Proprietary IoT stack for real-time water quality monitoring.
- Backing: Supported by Sequoia Capital, Omidyar Network, and top Indian angel investors.
About the Guest
Manas Ranjan Hota is the Co-founder of DrinkPrime. An engineer and MBA by training, Manas spent five years in the corporate sector with firms like Sonata Software and Thomas Cook before launching his venture in 2016. Hailing from Odisha, Manas is a passionate problem-solver who believes in the power of data and technology to drive social impact. He is a recognized leader in the Indian consumer-tech space and a strong advocate for sustainable urban living.
DrinkPrime is a smart water purification company that provides safe drinking water through a subscription-based model. By leveraging IoT technology and a data-driven approach to water quality, DrinkPrime offers a personalized, affordable, and hassle-free alternative to traditional water purifiers and bottled water cans.