Clearbot: A Startup that cleans water bodies with a bot

A Hong Kong-based startup that uses solar-powered, self-driving robot boats to collect plastic waste from water bodies has secured backing from the Alibaba Entrepreneurship Fund and other investors.

Clearbot, which was founded in 2019 by two graduates from the University of Hong Kong, announced on Monday that it had raised an undisclosed amount of seed funding from the fund, Gobi Partners GBA, and other angel investors.

The startup said it will use the funds to launch a new generation of larger and more advanced robot boats that can collect up to 500 kg of plastic waste per day from rivers and oceans. The new boats are expected to be deployed in India by March 2024, where Clearbot has been working on several pilot projects to clean up polluted waterways.

How Clearbot cleans polluted rivers

Clearbot’s co-founder and chief technology officer, Utkarsh Goel, said the startup’s mission is to revolutionize the marine services industry by automating and electrifying tasks that are traditionally done by manned-diesel-powered boats.

“We want to build these boats that do this dirty, dirty job that is happening with boats around the world and automate them and make them more sustainable,” he told the South China Morning Post.

Clearbot’s robot boats use artificial intelligence and computer vision to identify and collect different types of marine plastic waste, such as bottles, bags, and fishing nets. The boats are powered by solar panels and batteries, and can operate autonomously or remotely. The collected waste is then deposited at designated locations for recycling or disposal.

Clearbot started in 2019 in Hong Kong, where it saw the problem of water pollution and wanted to find a better way to clean it. It then expanded to India, where it saw a bigger problem and a bigger opportunity. India has a lot of water pollution, especially in the Ganga river, which is very important for the people and the environment.

Clearbot has been working in Varanasi, which is the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has launched many schemes and projects to clean the Ganga river. However, the river is still polluted by many things, such as sewage, industrial waste, and religious offerings. People throw flowers, clothes, and bottles into the river, which harm the water quality and the aquatic life.

Clearbot expands, cleans water bodies

Since then, Clearbot has expanded its operations to Hong Kong and India, where it has deployed 13 boats that can collect up to 250 kg of plastic waste per day. The startup has partnered with various organizations, such as the Sino Group, the Rotary Club of Hong Kong, and the Indian Institute of Technology, to clean up water bodies in both countries.

India, which accounts for about 13 percent of the global ocean plastic, is a key market for Clearbot, as the country faces a severe water pollution challenge. According to a 2022 report by the Central Pollution Control Board, over 70 percent of India’s surface water is polluted, mainly due to industrial waste, untreated sewage, and agricultural runoff.

Clearbot has conducted pilot projects in cities like Shillong and Bengaluru, where it has demonstrated its ability to significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste in lakes and rivers. The startup plans to scale up its operations in India and other countries, as it aims to make a real impact on the global plastic pollution problem.

Clearbot’s efforts come at a critical time, as the world is becoming more aware of the harmful effects of plastic pollution on the environment and human health. According to a 2020 report by the Pew Charitable Trusts and Systemiq, at least 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year, posing a threat to marine life, ecosystems, and food chains.

Clearbot cuts emissions

Clearbot’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond waste collection, as the startup also eliminates carbon emissions associated with conventional diesel-powered boats by using solar power for its fleet. The startup claims that its robot boats can save up to 90 percent of the fuel and maintenance costs compared to these boats.

Clearbot’s innovative approach has attracted attention and investment from various stakeholders, who see the potential of the startup to drive positive change in the marine services industry. The startup has secured a valuation of $4 million in its seed funding round, and has also won several awards and recognition, such as the Alibaba Cloud Startup Contest and the Hong Kong Social Enterprise Challenge.

As Clearbot continues to forge partnerships and expand its reach, introducing its new fleet of robot boats marks a significant step towards cleaner and more sustainable water bodies.

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