DrinkPrime’s Mission to Fix India’s Broken Drinking Water Infrastructure

For many urban dwellers in India, access to safe drinking water remains a persistent challenge. While high-end water purifiers are too expensive for many, plastic water cans — often the go-to alternative — pose serious health risks due to contamination by microplastics and poor hygiene standards. This dilemma was all too familiar to Vijender Reddy Muthyala and Manas Ranjan Hota, two flatmates in Bengaluru who found themselves struggling with the unreliable quality of bottled water.

What began as a simple problem for them soon became the foundation of DrinkPrime, a smart, subscription-based water utility brand. Instead of making users buy expensive purifiers or rely on unhealthy bottled water, DrinkPrime introduced an IoT-enabled smart water purification service with no upfront costs and lifetime free maintenance.

The solution has struck a chord with urban consumers, tapping into India’s growing $6 Bn water purifier and bottled water market, which is expanding at 10–15% annually as awareness around water quality rises.

Addressing Pain Points In The RO Market

DrinkPrime reimagines the traditional water purifier market with a hassle-free rental model. Unlike conventional water purifiers, which require large upfront investments and recurring maintenance expenses, DrinkPrime allows users to rent high-quality, RO+UV water purifiers with built-in IoT technology, ensuring clean, mineral-balanced drinking water at an affordable monthly fee.

The company’s flagship product, DrinkPrime Copper, infuses water with the health benefits of copper while removing contaminants. Other offerings include DrinkPrime Alkaline and DrinkPrime RO+, catering to different water quality concerns across Indian households.

By focusing on convenience, affordability, and quality, DrinkPrime has gained 1.6 Lakh active subscribers across nine cities, helping users move away from unreliable water cans. Rising from the 27th position in FAST42’s 2024 edition, DrinkPrime not only made it to the list again but also jumped to the 15th position. 

DrinkPrime’s Revenue Surge

DrinkPrime has seen remarkable growth, with 20% of its customers coming from online partner marketplaces and a fivefold surge in sales through these channels over the last 18 months. 

Its revenues grew by 59% in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), rising from INR 30.1 Cr in FY23 to INR 47.8 Cr. The company is on track to close FY25 with INR 75 Cr.

The startup has also raised over INR 93.8 Cr and counts Omidyar Network, PeakXV, and SIDBI Venture Capital as its key investors.

What Does The Future Hold For DrinkPrime?

In 2024, the company surpassed 1.5 Lakh active household subscribers and now plans to expand into nine more cities across India.

Looking ahead, DrinkPrime aims to reach 5 Lakh households by 2026. It is also exploring advanced water purification technologies like UTC and UV to enter new markets, speed up service turnaround times, and ensure faster deliveries.

[Authored By Anirudh Trivedi]