WaHa Advances Breakthrough Water Harvesting Technology as Co-Founder Omar Yaghi Receives Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Fremont, CA / Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — November 7, 2025 — At a moment when global water scarcity is intensifying, Water Harvesting Inc. (WaHa) is demonstrating how cutting-edge science can deliver practical, scalable solutions.

This year marks two major milestones for the company: the close of an $8 million Series A-1 financing round to accelerate global growth, and the recognition of its co-founder, Professor Omar M. Yaghi, with the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

A Shared Commitment to Scalable Climate Solutions

WaHa’s latest financing round, supported by a coalition of mission-aligned backers including Berkeley Catalyst Fund, Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd., and Vestafund, positions the company to expand deployment of its WaHa Vaporator® systems.

These systems harvest pure water directly from the air, operating reliably even in extreme desert heat and low-humidity conditions. Field trials in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, West Texas, and Stockholm have achieved 99.998 percent mechanical reliability and 98 percent of target water output, setting a new performance standard in atmospheric water generation (AWG).

“The progress WaHa is making reflects exactly the kind of applied innovation that can translate scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact,” said Jason Gwo, senior scientist at the Anthropocene Institute. "We’ve followed their work closely and admire their commitment.”

WaHa’s upcoming debut at WETEX 2025 in Dubai (September 30 – October 2) introduced its first commercially available unit for utilities, developers, and industrial operators seeking reliable, sustainable access to water.

Honoring Scientific Leadership

In October, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded Professor Omar M. Yaghi the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering development of reticular chemistry: the science of constructing crystalline frameworks such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs).

These materials have reshaped how scientists approach energy storage, water generation, gas separation, and environmental remediation. Yaghi’s foundational discoveries have inspired WaHa’s mission since its founding in 2018, connecting cutting-edge materials science to the urgent challenge of global water security.

While his Nobel recognition honors independent academic research, Professor Yaghi’s scientific vision continues to guide WaHa’s pursuit of sustainable, off-grid water and air systems that can operate anywhere on Earth.

Why It Matters

Water scarcity is a defining challenge of the 21st century. As climate-driven droughts threaten communities and economies, innovations like WaHa’s are expanding the frontier of what’s possible, turning air into an abundant, decentralized source of clean water.

The Anthropocene Institute congratulates Professor Omar M. Yaghi on this extraordinary achievement and celebrates WaHa’s continued progress in delivering transformative climate technology to the world.