Vital Lyfe, a technology company founded by former SpaceX engineering leadership, today announced it has secured $24 million in funding to accelerate the rollout of its revolutionary, portable water-making systems. The capital—comprising over $18 million in seed funding and committed debt financing—validates the company’s mission to decouple clean water access from centralized, outdated infrastructure.
The round was spearheaded by Interlagos and General Catalyst, two firms recognized for backing market-defining technology. They were joined by Generational Partners, Cantos, Space VC, and Also Capital. This investment will be used to scale manufacturing, expand field deployments, and pave the way for the first consumer-ready products scheduled for launch in 2026.
Water Without Limits: The Aerospace Approach
Vital Lyfe‘s breakthrough lies in applying the precision and robust systems thinking developed in aerospace to water production. Founders Jon Criss (CEO) and Andrew Harner (COO) both served as engineering leaders at SpaceX on critical projects like Starlink and Dragon. Their experience in building systems for the most extreme environments on and off Earth is now being harnessed to tackle the global water crisis.
The company’s systems are engineered for autonomy and resilience, capable of turning virtually any naturally occurring source—including seawater, brackish water, and biologically contaminated sources—into purified, drinkable water anywhere on Earth. This capability directly addresses use cases where traditional water infrastructure fails, such as remote off-grid communities and demanding marine environments.
Jon Criss, CEO and Founder of Vital Lyfe, emphasized the critical nature of the moment: “For too long, clean water access has been constrained by outdated, centralized infrastructure. With this funding, we have the resources to accelerate our roadmap and work towards scaling a new technology – one that puts reliable, on-demand water generation in the hands of communities everywhere.”
The platform utilizes a compact, high-efficiency purification engine that combines mechanical innovation, advanced membrane science, and smart power management. This allows the device to adapt to the water source available and use the lowest-energy, most efficient treatment pathway.
Andrew Harner, COO and Founder of Vital Lyfe, added, “We’re building technology that is resilient, adaptable, and capable of transforming how communities access water without waiting for infrastructure to catch up. Our goal is simple but ambitious: clean water on demand, anywhere.”
Grant Gregory, General Partner at Cantos, noted the strength of the leadership: “It’s rare to find exceptional engineers that also have so much experience scaling manufacturing and driving commercialization. As soon as we met them, we knew this was the team that was going to make this happen.”
📰 Editorial View: The Decoupling of Water Access and Infrastructure
The investment in Vital Lyfe represents a profound vote of confidence in the shift toward decentralized water access. This model—treating water at or near the point of use—is gaining momentum globally, and Vital Lyfe‘s approach, rooted in aerospace engineering principles, brings a new level of durability and efficiency to the field. Where centralized systems are expensive, inflexible, and vulnerable to natural disasters or geopolitical disruptions, decentralized, portable units offer resilience and immediate relief.
The true genius of Vital Lyfe lies in its universal platform design. By creating a single device capable of intelligently processing an extraordinarily wide spectrum of source waters—from saltwater to condensation—it solves the traditional problem of requiring specialized equipment for every different environment. This universality makes it an ideal solution for global NGOs, disaster relief, and remote industrial operations. The founders’ background at SpaceX, where system failure is not an option, ensures that the engineering priority is autonomy and flawless operation in the most challenging conditions.
We see Vital Lyfe as a defining player in a new wave of environmental technology. Their commitment is not just to technological efficacy but also to sustainability; their systems are designed to operate at a human scale with minimal environmental impact, avoiding the concentrated waste streams associated with large industrial purification plants. By empowering individuals and small communities with high-grade, autonomous technology, Vital Lyfe is delivering on a mission that is vital for public health, climate resilience, and economic development worldwide.
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