Justin Wang is an avid hiker and camper, and knows very well the need for clean drinking water while engaging in physical activity. He is also concerned with the environment and very aware of the horrendous amount of plastic waste that is created every year. Wang did purchase reusable water bottles, but experienced problems with them. They get dirty easily and are often hard to clean. In particular this is because most of them are either not dishwasher safe, or their shape makes it difficult to place in a dishwasher in a way that will get it clean. Concern for the environment and his frustration with the standard reusables led him to invent a water bottle that is reusable and self-cleaning and purifies water as well.
Ultra violet light is ideal to eradicate germs and is widely used today in hospitals to sterilize patient room surfaces. When UV light is absorbed, it breaks the DNA’s chemical bonds and kills bacteria or virus. The PureVisTM UV-C LED technology used in the LARQ bottle is proprietary and patented and according to the website, the most advanced in the world. The bottle cap contains the rechargeable UV-C LED technology, which can eradicate almost 100% of viruses and bacteria. The battery charge lasts approximately one month and is charged through a USB charger cord. The bottle itself is double-wall vacuum insulated and made of food grade stainless steel. It is BPA and phthalates free. The bottle and the USB port are waterproof and no filter is needed. Various colors and designs are available.
In 2017, during the early stages of development, Wang sought funding through a Kickstarter Campaign, with an initial goal of $30,000. The campaign was unbelievably successful, raising $1,374,021 from 12,758 backers! Through Crunchbase, a venture funding round was initiated in 2019 and a Series A round in 2020. Between the two rounds, a total of $10.7M was raised.
In 2018, the Wall Street Journal listed the LARQ bottle as one of “50 Winning Presents – From Understated to Over-the-Top.” The company recently collaborated with Draymond Green, a three-time NBA champion, to create a new variation on the bottle that combines 90’s nostalgia with the LARQ technology.
Francesca Rea of Business Insider tested the LARQ bottle in November of 2019. In her review she noted that the bottle is capable of keeping water cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12.
LARQ is a proud member of the 1% for the Planet network. Through this partnership, a portion of the purchase price is dedicated to fund environmental nonprofits around the world. They also contribute to efforts to bring safe drinking water to billions of people worldwide–because they believe access to clean drinkable water is not a privilege, it’s a right.
