Saving Water, Saving the Planet: How Shayp is Revolutionizing Building Water Management with AI

Sara Fedele, Lead, PR and Communications at Kickstart Innovation

As part of Kickstart Open Innovation Program, we showcase the journeys of our participants and alumni. Today, we're highlighting Shayp, a company that's transforming how buildings manage water through cutting-edge AI and IoT technology. From preventing health hazards in kindergartens to saving billions of liters annually across major retail chains, Shayp is making water conservation accessible and impactful at scale.

In 2024, water scarcity and conservation became increasingly critical global challenges, with buildings consuming 70% of fresh distributed water. Yet despite this massive consumption, over 95% of building leaks go undetected, wasting precious resources and causing significant property damage. Shayp is changing this reality through intelligent water monitoring.

Founded in Brussels after a kindergarten water leak threatened children's health, Shayp has developed a revolutionary AI-powered platform that retrofits to any water meter in under five minutes. Their patented IoT device requires no Wi-Fi or configuration, delivering 10-year battery life and instant leak detection that prevents water waste before it starts.

Their impact demonstrates the power of smart infrastructure:

– Over 20 billion liters of water saved annually

– 20%+ reduction in water bills for clients

– Rapid 5-minute installation on existing meters

– Zero connectivity requirements for maximum accessibility

Shayp joined the Kickstart Open Innovation Program, where we facilitated strategic connections that led to a successful proof-of-concept with Stadtspital Zurich a major hospital in the Zurich region. This collaboration showcased how AI-driven water management can protect critical healthcare infrastructure while advancing sustainability goals.

In our latest interview, we speak with Shayp's Co-founder and CEO Gregoire de Hemptinne about their mission to tackle global water loss through intelligent monitoring technology.

Shayp's co-founders: Alexandre, Zineddine and Grégoire.

Q: Could you start by telling us about Shayp's mission and the core technology behind your water management solutions? What inspired the creation of Shayp, and how does your technology help reduce water wastage in buildings?

The inspiration for Shayp emerged from a critical real-world challenge faced by Alex, an energy manager for the city of Brussels, who discovered a severe water leak in a kindergarten that was compromising children's health. This incident highlighted the urgent need for early leak detection and water waste prevention. Alex joined forces with Gregoire, who brings expertise in AI-powered anomaly detection, and Zineddine, an IoT specialist. Together, they developed Shayp, an intuitive and intelligent solution for real-time water monitoring and rapid issue resolution.

The scale of the problem we're addressing is staggering: while 70% of fresh distributed water serves buildings, one-third of all real estate experiences leaks, with over 95% of these leaks remaining undetected for extended periods. These hidden leaks typically account for more than 20% of water bills and represent the leading cause of building damage.

Shayp's mission is to tackle global water loss by empowering buildings to achieve greater water efficiency. Our AI-enabled platform continuously monitors water usage, instantly detecting leaks and anomalies to prevent waste. This technology enables users to reduce their water bills by over 20% while protecting properties and conserving precious resources.

Photo Credit: Olivier Papegnies

Q: Water management is indeed a pressing issue, especially with rising concerns over sustainability. How does Shayp's approach differ from other solutions on the market? What specific features or technologies make Shayp stand out?

Shayp differentiates itself through its patented IoT device, which can be retrofitted to any existing water meter in under five minutes, combined with sophisticated AI-driven analytics that ensure precise anomaly detection. What sets us apart from competitors is our plug-and-play approach: the system requires no Wi-Fi connectivity or pre-configuration, delivering unparalleled ease of use and accuracy.

Our solution features a remarkable 10-year battery life and focuses on delivering actionable insights rather than overwhelming users with data. This combination creates a hassle-free yet powerful platform that effectively minimizes water waste while driving operational efficiency across diverse building types.

Q: One of Shayp's goals is to make water-saving as accessible as possible. Can you share some insights on how your solution has been integrated by your clients and its impact on their operations? Do you have any success stories, milestones, or measurable outcomes you'd like to highlight?

Shayp's solution has been successfully adopted across various sectors, including municipalities, hospitals, and major retail chains such as IKEA and LIDL. To date, we've collectively saved over 20 billion liters of water annually, a testament to the real-world impact of our technology.

One particularly compelling success story comes from Geneva hospitals, where our real-time monitoring system prevented catastrophic water damage that could have disrupted critical healthcare services. Similarly, schools in Brussels have achieved substantial cost savings while reducing their environmental footprint. These examples demonstrate how our solution delivers measurable impact across diverse operational environments, from healthcare facilities to educational institutions and retail operations.

Q: How does Shayp leverage data in its solution? What role does data play in helping users detect leaks, monitor water usage, and improve their overall sustainability efforts?

Data serves as the foundation of Shayp's entire operation. Our system continuously analyzes water flow patterns using advanced algorithms to identify anomalies and deviations from normal consumption patterns. When irregularities are detected, the system immediately sends real-time alerts to users, enabling swift action.

This data-driven approach facilitates proactive maintenance strategies, significantly reducing water waste and supporting users in achieving their sustainability objectives. Beyond immediate leak detection, our platform provides continuous insights and benchmarking capabilities that help organizations track their progress toward water conservation goals and make informed decisions about their water management strategies.

Q: Scaling an innovative solution like Shayp can come with challenges, particularly around education and adoption. What strategies have you implemented to engage clients and encourage them to adopt sustainable water management practices? What lessons have you learned along this journey?

Our adoption strategy centers on demonstrating simplicity and measurable return on investment. We've implemented comprehensive educational campaigns and forged strategic partnerships with industry leaders to showcase both the environmental benefits and financial advantages of our solutions.

One crucial lesson we've learned is that clear communication of savings potential is absolutely essential for successful client engagement and adoption. Decision-makers need to understand not just the environmental impact, but also the tangible financial benefits. By presenting concrete data on potential cost savings and demonstrating our solution's ease of implementation, we've been able to overcome initial hesitation and drive widespread adoption across various sectors.

Q: How do you view the Swiss market in terms of water conservation awareness and adoption of sustainable solutions? Switzerland is known for its environmental consciousness, but how does it compare in terms of water-saving efforts? Do you see it as a fertile market for Shayp, and what opportunities or challenges do you anticipate in expanding there?

Switzerland's strong commitment to sustainability creates an ideal alignment with Shayp's mission. While the country is renowned for its environmental consciousness, current water-saving efforts in Switzerland tend to focus primarily on resource efficiency rather than advanced monitoring technologies.

This presents a significant opportunity for Shayp to lead the integration of cutting-edge technologies that can enhance existing conservation efforts. The Swiss market's sophisticated understanding of sustainability issues, combined with its openness to innovative solutions, positions it as a particularly fertile ground for our advanced water management platform.

Q: Looking ahead, what are Shayp's ambitions for growth and impact in the coming years? Are there new technologies, markets, or partnerships you're particularly excited about?

Shayp has set an ambitious goal to save over 100 billion liters of water by 2027. We're actively expanding our presence in key markets while developing white-label solutions specifically designed for water utilities and insurance companies.

We're particularly excited about exploring new strategic partnerships that can amplify our impact. By leveraging the latest advancements in AI technology and IoT scalability, we aim to revolutionize water management on a global scale. Our vision extends beyond simple leak detection to creating comprehensive water intelligence platforms that transform how organizations think about and manage their water resources.

Q: How has collaborating with partners through Kickstart supported your journey? Are there any specific initiatives or results that stand out? Can you tell us about any collaborations, proof-of-concepts, or deals that happened as a result of Kickstart?

Kickstart has been instrumental in supporting our growth through strategic matchmaking with potential clients. Most notably, we successfully launched a proof-of-concept (PoC) with a major hospital in the Zurich region, which came directly from introductions facilitated by the Kickstart network. This collaboration has been a significant milestone in demonstrating our solution's value in the healthcare sector.

Q: Looking back at your entrepreneurial journey, what would you tell yourself on day one of starting Shayp?

I would remind myself to stay focused on our core mission: creating a lasting impact to make a better planet for future generations. This purpose has been our guiding star throughout the journey, and keeping that vision at the forefront helps navigate the inevitable challenges that come with building a startup.

Q: This year marks 10 years of Kickstart. What does it mean to you to be part of this ecosystem, and how do you think Kickstart has contributed to shaping the innovation landscape in Switzerland and beyond? Do you have any memorable moments from your journey with Kickstart that you'd like to share?

The Kickstart ecosystem has fostered meaningful connections with a diverse range of stakeholders, from fellow entrepreneurs to corporate partners, allowing us to exchange insights on shared challenges and explore potential synergies. What stands out most is the unique atmosphere Kickstart creates: it's both relaxed and business-minded, which makes networking feel natural and productive.

I've had some particularly interesting connections with a variety of different stakeholders, from entrepreneurs to corporates, with whom I could exchange ideas about our challenges and create potential synergies. It was a lot of fun in a relaxed yet business-minded atmosphere. These interactions have not only expanded our professional network but also contributed to the collaborative innovation culture that Kickstart has helped establish in Switzerland and beyond.

About Gregoire de Hemptinne, CEO Shayp

Combining a strong technical background in software engineering with business experience as a serial entrepreneur, Gregoire de Hemptinne is current cofounder and COO of the startup Shayp that helps real-estate owners reduce their water consumption in buildings with AI and most importantly save water for future generations. Did you know over 30% of the clean water is lost during its distribution causing the loss of a precious resource, and also causing damages of infiltration?

As an entrepreneur, Gregoire has felt the urge to put his technical and business skills at the service of a sustainable transition towards a resilient world. Strongly connected with the European entrepreneurial ecosystem, he defines business success through creation of new virtuous systems benefiting many stakeholders, fostering network effects.

About Shayp

Shayp is a Belgian company that offers an IoT-enabled SaaS solution for real-time water consumption monitoring and leak detection in buildings. Their AI-driven software helps building managers reduce water consumption, detect anomalies and misuse, and ultimately lower water bills by identifying and preventing leaks and other inefficiencies.

Photo Credit: Olivier Papegnies