4EARTH
INDUSTRY DISRUPTORS 4Earth is the dynamic Atlanta-based tech start-up redefining water treatment. CEO, engineer and entrepreneur Jahanzeb Khan, discusses innovating an industry Writer: Phoebe Harper
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rom MMA fighter to a qualified engineer and entrepreneur, Jahanzeb Khan has turned his hand to many things. Now, as the founder and CEO of water technology start-up 4Earth, Khan and his team are reinventing worldwide water treatment through designing, manufacturing, and operating smart and modular solutions centered on water sustainability and membrane technology. Despite the juxtaposition of these two career choices, an overarching concern and awareness of the global water crisis applied to both for Khan. “I took the path of an MMA fighter to indirectly help solve the water crisis. My goal was to make it to the UFC, become the champion at 145 lbs, and utilize my resources and platform to help people around the world with water,” he recalls. After having to withdraw from a championship, Khan pursued a more direct approach, embarking on studies at Georgia Tech. Here, he encountered ongoing research in water treatment and began working with experienced people in the water industry, using cutting edge technology with tech manufacturers and utilities. “This is where I began my journey 12 | North America Outlook issue 07
researching innovative ways to tackle the global water crisis.” Soon, the seeds were planted in Khan’s head, and the start-up that would become 4Earth began to take shape. “I realized that water industry problems can be broken into two parts: firstly - developed nations that need more sustainable, user-friendly and low risk treatment technologies, and secondly - developing nations that do not have any water infrastructure and cannot build large centralized water treatment plants. “After years of working as an engineer on research pilot projects and helping build start-ups, I decided to create my own. I put together a great team of engineers, manufacturers and business operation personnel that could design, build and operate what we believe is the next generation of decentralized water treatment technologies.”
#WATERISLIFE With solutions for both developed and developing nations, today, 4Earth is moving into international markets including Mexico, the MENA region, Africa and Europe, delivering projects that cover drinking water treatment, industrial wastewater reuse and smart city water systems.