Who we are

At WattAir, we believe clean water and efficient cooling should be accessible—anywhere, anytime. Our breakthrough technology transforms ambient air into usable water while improving HVAC energy efficiency through advanced sorbent-based dehumidification.

Powered by solar or waste heat, our modular systems deliver reliable water and climate solutions even in the world’s most extreme environments. From agriculture to data centers, we help customers reduce energy use, boost resilience, and unlock new value from the air around them.

Born from cutting-edge research at Georgia Tech’s Energy Innovation Lab and backed by global partners, WattAir is redefining how water and energy systems work—starting from the molecule up.

Meet the Team

Prof. Bachir El Fil

Co-Founder - CSO

Academic Background:

Dr. Joseph P. Mooney

Co-Founder - CEO

Academic Background:

Our Story

WattAir began with a simple but ambitious idea: solve the world’s toughest water and energy challenges through breakthrough science. It all started when our founder, Dr. Joseph Mooney, came to MIT with a goal to commercialize technologies at the intersection of water and energy. There, he met Pror. Bachir El Fil, an expert in advanced materials and systems engineering for water harvesting and energy applications.

Together, they began designing and testing new sorbent materials and systems capable of producing water, passively or actively, even in the driest places on Earth. Some of our first prototypes were fully solar-powered and achieved record-setting water yields in arid climates. But as we continued deep customer discovery, they realized that while small-scale hydropanels were exciting, they couldn’t meet the massive water demands of farmers, growers, or industry.

So, they reimagined the problem.

They started designing compact, modular systems that dramatically increase water output while using energy far more efficiently. At the same time, they discovered another major pain point: dehumidification. In buildings, managing latent heat load (the moisture in the air) can account for up to 50% of energy use in air conditioning, and HVAC systems contribute nearly 10% of all U.S. energy consumption. They found that our novel materials and custom-designed heat exchangers could remove that burden, cutting cooling energy needs in half and boosting HVAC system efficiency (COP) by up to 30%.

This is when WattAir was born — a company built to harvest water and deliver ultra-efficient air conditioning better, cheaper, and more sustainably than anything on the market.

The founders are driven by impact, resilience, and independence. WattAir’s technologies not only serve agriculture and off-grid communities, but also data centers — a sector close to our founder’s heart. Joseph holds a PhD in data center thermal management and recognized early on that the future of cooling infrastructure must be water-smart and energy-efficient. As the global demand for data storage and processing grows, so too does the urgency to manage their thermal and water footprint.

At WattAir, we’re not just building devices — we’re building a future where clean water and cooling are accessible, affordable, and sustainable for everyone, everywhere.

Mentors

- Brings 30+ years of experience in energy markets, infrastructure development, and cleantech commercialization, with leadership roles spanning startups, utilities, and Fortune 500 firms.
- Co-founded multiple successful startups, including Merit Sustainable Infrastructure, and led over 4,000 MW of solar and wind projects nationwide, totaling ~$4B in capital deployment.
- Former VP of Project Development at First Solar and a key contributor to ERCOT and energy policy implementation in regulated and competitive markets.
- Currently leads cleantech startup formation and ecosystem growth at Georgia Tech, where he launched ATL Cleantech Connect to catalyze partnerships, funding, and innovation in the Southeast.
- Entrepreneur and startup leader with 20+ years of experience, including 5+ years as a C-level executive and co-founder at MIT spinout C2Sense.
- Deep expertise in commercializing interdisciplinary technologies spanning chemistry, materials, engineering, and data science, backed by 14 publications and 8 patents.
- Passionate team builder and mentor, known for empowering leadership and creating high-performing, people-first startup cultures.
- Actively contributes to the Boston innovation ecosystem through advising founders, judging startup competitions, and bridging startups with established businesses
- Award-winning engineer and entrepreneur recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 and JCI Top Outstanding Young Person, with deep expertise in mechanical, energy, and biomedical engineering.
- Founder and CEO of The Rapid Foundation, enabling global access to 3D printing and advanced technologies for education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship in underserved communities.
- Leads cutting-edge research at UCD in energy systems, additive manufacturing, and inclusive design, with a focus on innovation policy, medical devices, and social impact applications.
- Passionate advocate for accessible innovation, combining technical expertise with a strong track record in consulting, public engagement, and international development.