Savearth, a startup incubated at UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, has raised €400,000 from 10 investors. As well as accelerating the development of its technology, which enables the hospitality sector to encourage water savings, the capital will allow the startup to strengthen its team and expand operations in Portugal and Spain.

“This investment validates what we are building and the urgency of the problem we are tackling. The hospitality industry needs solutions that reduce waste, improve efficiency and support ESG goals, without compromising the guest experience. Having investors of this calibre gives us a very strong foundation for the next phase of growth,” says João Machado, CEO of Savearth.

In the hospitality sector, excessive hot water consumption in showers represents one of the biggest sources of invisible waste, estimated at over $7 billion a year. On average, each guest uses around 120 litres of hot water per shower, having a significant impact on hotels’ costs and environmental footprint.

Savearth’s technology enables real-time measurement of water consumption through intelligent analysis of shower sounds, allowing hotels to influence guest behaviour. Through a smart interface and initiatives to encourage ‘eco showers’, hotels can engage guests in reducing water consumption without the need for building works, plumbing alterations or the installation of invasive sensors.

The company currently works with more than five hotel groups, including some of the most prominent in Portugal, and has over 30 hotels on its waiting list. By the end of the year, Savearth aims to reach 8,000 rooms in Portugal and Spain.

The range of investors who participated in the round includes Laika Ventures, Pierre Santos, CEO of Host PMS, and Daniel Johnson, former CEO of Venza.

Last year, the startup was also the winner of the Portuguese edition of Climate Launchpad, the world’s largest cleantech ideas competition, with applications currently open for the 2026 edition.

7 May 2026