Startup Story
Many women entrepreneurs in Africa are driven to start their businesses because of an identified need. For Esta van Heerden, founder of iWater Pty Ltd in South Africa, she is passionate about the environment and wants to ensure that all citizens have access to clean water in the future. She also believes that companies that have contaminated the environment MUST clean it up! Her business is now offering companies a solution to this clean-up need, harnessing the best of technology solutions to aid the process.
LoA chatted to the game-changing founder of iWater to find out more….
Tell us more about yourself
I am the founder and CEO of iWater Pty Ltd in South Africa. My entrepreneurial journey started when I took a scary leap of faith to leave a successful career of 15 years as full professor at a University to lead a specialized biotechnology development for South Africa. Today, I manage environmental resource qualities and remediation solution implementations. I specialize in Extremophiles, Subsurface biogeochemistry and water quality. I am also an expert in bioremediation. Since 2017, I have led the team to win two professional development programs and we have established ourselves firmly as biotechnology leaders in environmental clean-up. The iWater team is highly qualified and they use their knowledge to develop, establish and roll-out turn-key, sustainable solutions to save our natural resources.
What does your company do?
iWater is a company that offers the client the best technology solutions for their water clean-up program. We will showcase the technology, design and build, and operate the effective system that is not only cost effective, but also guaranteed successful.
“What inspired me to start the company was dwindling water qualities all around us and the impact it has on the economy and people.”
What inspired you to start your company?
The dwindling water qualities all around us and the impact it has on the economy and people. I know there are better technologies to save our water resources. I spent 15 years developing and researching these technologies - it was time to bring them to market.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We understand how to implement the technology successfully and make sure we do not sell a blue print but a tailor-made site specific solution for each client. We also do not consult, but instead roll up our sleeves to ensure the technology is successful in the field.
Tell us a little about your team
We now offer the best endorsed technology associated with biological clean-up systems (Bioremediation), which represents the new wave associated with the treatment of pollutants. These systems are integrated and supported with tailor-made, site-specific selections of chemical treatment components not used currently in South Africa. This will ensure the optimization of the environment for these biological systems and thus facilitate more effective remediation systems. This is all packaged into mobile modular plants that can be used on client’s sites.
“I know there are better technologies to save our water resources. I spent 15 years developing and researching these technologies - it was time to bring them to market.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Should one ask her colleagues about her, Esta’s courageous and inquisitive nature would be the first thing to come to their minds. Her most treasured personality trait, both by her and those who know her, is her passion for new knowledge. Esta’s most beloved fictional character, Atticus Finch from Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird beautifully mirrors her belief that all perspectives and angles must be inspected thoroughly before a decision is made. This has resulted in Esta becoming acknowledged as an active and well-rounded scholar, not only in the world of academia, but in sports and cultural endeavours as well. She thanks her parents, Tobie and Adrie, for providing incredible empowerment and support, as well as guidance towards higher levels of critical and creative thinking.
Margaret Thatcher said that women should never “be for sale”. Rather, they must stand on their values, which is an incredibly important aspect of Esta’s approach to her work. She fully believes that decisions should be based on ethical and resourceful insights. Her childhood curiosity, along with her core values, allowed her to work towards a future within the academic world. This is how she ended up at the University of the Free State, where she was introduced to Biochemistry. For Esta, the idea of understanding life and its control from several aspects is very exciting. She believes that it allows humanity to utilise biotechnological knowledge to improve the lives of people across the globe.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Now almost monthly I can tell you more as we grow and understand the need out in the industry better. Jumping into business had a profound impact on opening my vision for the environmental clean-up need. It also directed me to redefine our company’s offerings and engage and expand to include aspects that will complement one another. Today we create packages to clients that will not only successfully clean up their contaminated water, but also provide a site custom solution that fits their budget and needs.
“We understand how to implement the technology successfully and make sure we do not sell a blue print but a tailor-made site specific solution for each client.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
I am at heart an entrepreneur. But with my research and academic background I ask many more questions, and when we present something to market it is verified ….too many times – but this allows better technologies to clients.
I am just a girl who loves the environment and have a passion to ensure we all have clean water in the future. I believe those companies that have contaminated the environment MUST clean it up!
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Ideas and even a need do not define a business set up. Put good mentors around you. Immediately become part of business accelerator programs. Understand that managing the business and especially the financial management is almost more important that your initial reason for starting a business. Once your systems are set up the business will be able to drive your passion. Remember, all start-up businesses run into cash flow and capacity constraints!
Find out more
WEBSITE | EMAIL esta@iwatersolutions.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
The environment today needs all the help it can get from committed entrepreneurs like Esta van Heerden who is harnessing the power of technology to help companies to clean up their water contamination. This is important business that requires passionate specialists like her who know how to get things done and make an impact. This is definitely a business to watch as it tackles one of the biggest challenges of our time by using technology as a driver for positive change. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa