Smart technology is needed to promote sustainable water consumption and reduce the risk of leaks in homes. Ramtin Massoumzadeh and Quandify have been awarded this year’s Göran Bredinger Scholarship. The scholarship is being awarded for the tenth time this year in collaboration with Forum for Social Innovation Sweden Malmö University.
Ramtin Massoumzadeh of Quandify has been awarded the 2023 Göran Bredinger Scholarship. The scholarship is the tenth of its kind and is awarded to a young, successful social entrepreneur who has developed and implemented an innovative solution that helps address a societal challenge. It is worth 50,000 Swedish kronor. Göran Bredinger, CEO of the Dieden Group—himself an entrepreneur with extensive experience and deep knowledge of business development and entrepreneurship—will serve as a mentor, providing support through contacts and advice. Forum for Social Innovation Sweden Malmö University, for its part, contributes its network of contacts across various sectors and its expertise in social innovation.
“The fact that the jury selected Quandify is a recognition of the problem we aim to solve. The Göran Bredinger Scholarship lends credibility to our investors, customers, and stakeholders,” says Ramtin Massoumzadeh, one of the three founders and now CEO of Quandify.
Swedes are spoiled by having free access to water
In Sweden, about 180 liters of drinking water are used per person per day. Of this, households account for approximately 130 liters, while industry and other sectors account for the rest. We have a relatively high level of water consumption compared to other countries with a similar standard of living. One in three Swedes never thinks about their water consumption.
“In Sweden, we’re spoiled by having free access to water, and many Swedes mistakenly believe that water is a free and endless resource,” says Ramtin Massoumzadeh.
Smart technology will help promote sustainable water consumption
Sweden is often seen as a pioneer in sustainability, but climate change and irresponsible water consumption have led to record-low groundwater levels across the country. Climate change is expected to bring more intense precipitation and drought, an increased risk of flooding, and, in coastal areas, the threat of water shortages, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and Svenskt Vatten, the trade association for water and wastewater organizations.
“Why don’t we Swedes keep track of our water usage—how much we use and consume every day? We wanted to develop new smart technology that could fill those knowledge gaps and encourage change in society,” says Ramtin Massoumzadeh.
Seeks to lower the barriers to installing water meters
One of the main reasons water consumption isn’t measured in Sweden is the high cost and risks associated with installing a traditional water meter, which requires cutting into the pipe. Ramtin Massoumzadeh and Thibault Helle, both civil engineers and students at KTH, decided to develop solutions involving both hardware and software to eliminate the risks and the need for a plumber.
“The products should be simple and easy to install and use,” says Ramtin Massoumzadeh.
New product clips onto the outside of the water pipe
They first created a product that clips onto the outside of the pipe—a non-invasive water meter. This required them to invent a rubber-like material that doesn’t dry out. The material is now patented and used in their products. They have also developed algorithms for measuring water consumption using ultrasound. To succeed as a company, Ramtin and Thibault brought Olle Henning on board in 2018; he had studied at the Stockholm School of Economics. Together, they founded the company Labtrino, which later became Quandify. The smart monitors and detectors measure water consumption, water temperature—which is important because water temperature is critical to energy consumption—and water leaks. In addition to alerting users in the event of a leak, data is collected, processed, and finally visualized.
We want to continue growing as a company
Today, Quandify has 21 employees. Manufacturing is handled by two Swedish partners with factories in Vellinge and Tallinn, Estonia. The products are sold through retailers and distributors, such as plumbing supply stores and insurance companies, in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. The products are also sold in Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.
“We want to grow, with a particular focus on Europe. The challenge is adapting to the cultural and regulatory differences between countries and to how markets operate,” says Ramtin Massoumzadeh.
The jury's statement
Water scarcity is a major social problem. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), global demand for water will exceed supply by 40 percent by 2030. This year’s scholarship recipient, Ramtin Massoumzadeh of Quandify AB, is committed to both raising awareness about water usage and finding ways to measure consumption and detect leaks.
Quandify has developed several measurement technology products for water consumption and leak detection, with great potential for water savings. The founder has demonstrated strong results and aims to develop Quandify into a growth company in Europe and help reduce our water consumption.
Learn more about the Göran Bredinger Scholarship and past recipients:
https://socialinnovation.se/si/goran-bredinger-stipendiet/
Watch a video featuring Ramtin Massoumzadeh:
[su_youtube url="https://youtu.be/oRAgKcl0rAs?si=MJqwGx-4bD16N9C9"]
Learn more about Quandify
https://quandify.com/
Text: Lotta Orban
Photos and video: Kajsa Kidman