HULO raises €2.3M seed round to combat global water loss with AI-powered leak detection

Leeuwarden, The Netherlands | October 21, 2025 — HULO, a Dutch WaterTech startup using AI to detect leaks in water infrastructure worldwide has raised a €2.3 million seed round to accelerate its global expansion. Earlier, in  December 2023, HULO already successfully secured a €800K pre-seed round led by LUMO Labs. This new round was led by VP Capital and co-led by LUMO Labs with participation of Vanagon, Rabobank, the Frisian Development Fund (FOM), and the NEW-TTT program.

HULO’s SaaS-based platform uses pressure and flow data from existing utility systems to detect, localize, and prioritize leaks and anomalies. It combines AI and physics-based models to understand the dynamic behaviour of each unique network. The platform integrates seamlessly into existing utility operations, without the need for new hardware or district metered areas (DMAs).

“Water scarcity is emerging as one of the world’s most pressing environmental constraints, with around 30% of treated water lost globally, often through ageing water network infrastructure,” said Erica van Eeghen, Senior Manager Ventures, VP Capital. She continued, “HULO’s ability to detect leaks early, using advanced AI rather than expensive sensors, is exactly the kind of lean, scalable innovation that fits our investment lens. This is a domain where measurable environmental impact and efficiency go hand in hand. We’re glad to join forces with such thoughtful co-investors and a technically sharp founding team.”

HULO is already active in Europe and has taken first steps into Latin America. The new funding will be used to accelerate deployment in focus markets and expand HULO’s capabilities in AI, network analytics, cybersecurity, and customer success to further increase their global impact.  

Dagmar van Ravenswaay Claasen, Senior Partner LUMO Labs highlighted, “Based on the measurable environmental impact they are already making: the company is on track to help save the equivalent of over 4 million Olympic-size swimming pools every year by 2030.”

HULO’s hardware- and network-agnostic approach leverages the data utilities already collect, eliminating the need for costly hardware or network segmentation. This results in fast, scalable, and cost-effective leak detection across a wide range of environments.

“The future of water infrastructure requires that digital innovation integrates with the operational reality of today’s networks,” said Robbert Lodewijks, co-founder of HULO. “We’re building solutions that are both powerful and practical — enabling water utilities to take action without overhauling their systems.”

Traditional methods rely on physical inspections, assumptions, or broad hydraulic modelling. HULO’s approach is driven directly by operational data. By continuously learning from real-time flow and pressure signals, the platform surfaces actionable insights where and when they matter most. It’s a fundamental shift: from reactive leak hunting to proactive, data-informed water management.

The Netherlands are renowned for their expertise and commitment to water management, but HULO’s international expansion and the participation of German venture capital fund Vanagon in their latest investment round, underlines theneed for innovative water management is ubiquitous.

Water systems are critical infrastructure — and a resilient Europe depends on transparency and fast reaction to prevent malfunctions or even attacks. With 30% of drinking water in the EU lost due to leakages, the need for AI-powered monitoring is urgent. At Vanagon, we invest in AI-native DeepTech teams tackling exactly these challenges, and HULO is a great example: a team using cutting-edge digital tools to solve one of Europe’s most pressing infrastructure problems. – Axel Roitzsch, Co-Founder & General Partner Vanagon.

NEW-ttt and FOM have a focus on accelerating innovation in water technology and we are proud to be part of the success of HULO, a great example of Dutch innovation capacity originated from Wetsus, the institute for Sustainable Water technology in Leeuwarden. We believe HULO has both the team and the technology to make lasting impact in saving water globally. Sybo Zijlstra – Investment Manager

“Rabobank supports groundbreaking innovations that contribute to sustainable water management. Hulo.ai, developed within the innovation hub Wetsus in Leeuwarden – a strategic Rabobank partner – is creating technology that helps reduce global water losses. We proudly support their mission to make a lasting impact.” – Margot d’Ancona-Roesink, Head of Rabo Water.