What Business Connect does

Business Connect is a U.S.-headquartered, market-driven social enterprise founded in 2010 by Lou and Jan Haveman that distributes water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) products to individuals, NGOs, governments, and distributors across 80+ countries. Its portfolio spans household water filters (Uzima UZ-2, VF100, ARMOUR, Coldstream Ceramic), facility-scale systems (BB500-BB1000, VF500-VF600 capable of producing 50,000-160,000 liters of clean water per day), water treatment chemicals (Aquatabs, P&G Purifier of Water), field-based water quality testing (Aquagenx CBT kits used in 125 countries), hygiene products (Eco-Soap, Kohler Cleanse hand-washing stations), and emergency/disaster relief offerings. The core technology is a curated digital platform combining a Solutions Database (373+ water solutions, 56 hygiene solutions filterable by technology type, contaminants removed, and scale), an Organizations Database (200+ NGOs/IGOs), a Knowledge Hub of peer-reviewed resources, and a proprietary GIS platform developed with Blue Raster for non-profit project tracking.

The company operates four go-to-market motions: direct-to-consumer e-commerce ($9.99-$199.99 individual products), a global distributor/wholesale network across North America, Latin America, East Africa, Southern Africa, and Asia (anchored by a New Delhi sales center), enterprise sales to NGOs and governments (including tailored consultations and the Preferred Partner Program for disaster relief pre-positioning), and a Honduras Program enabling cross-border direct-to-consumer purchases by the Honduran diaspora. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales, supplemented by consultation services and manufacturer partnership fees. Leadership transitioned from founder-led to a professional executive team led by CEO Jereme Lambert, with CSO Darin Fey and CMO Michelle Bechchar, alongside regional sales leads managing US, Latin America, Southern Africa, and Asian markets.

Name

Business Connect

Website

https://businessconnectworld.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Business Connect is a U.S.-headquartered social enterprise that distributes vetted water, sanitation, and hygiene products to NGOs, governments, distributors, and consumers across 80+ countries via e-commerce, a global distributor network, and a curated solutions database.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Treatment & Hygiene Products Distribution

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Emergency Services (BPAGAAAE)

Keywords

• Water filtration products
• Sanitation solutions
• Hygiene products distribution
• Water treatment systems
• WASH resource platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (E-commerce): Direct-to-consumer and B2B sales of water filtration, water treatment, hygiene, and water testing products through the company's online storefront. Products range from household filters ($21.99-$199.99) to facility-scale systems ($1,171-$2,365).
2. Distributor Network: Business Connect supplies its global distributor network with in-demand products and the resources to grow their businesses, generating revenue through wholesale product distribution across North America, Latin America, East Africa, Southern Africa, and Asia.
3. Consultation Services: Tailored consultations for NGOs, non-profits, governments, and organizations regarding WASH solutions, including GIS services to enhance impact measurement and project tracking.
4. Manufacturer Partnerships: Collaborates with manufacturers to bring innovative water solutions to global eCommerce, retail, and other key segments, backed by market research and a full marketing team.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Business Connect aggregates and distributes water filtration, water treatment, hygiene, water testing, and emergency preparedness products sourced from vetted manufacturers, selling them through its own e-commerce storefront, global distributor network, and direct enterprise sales to NGOs, governments, and humanitarian organizations. Alongside the physical product catalog, the company operates free resource platforms — a WASH Solutions Database, an Organizations Database, a Knowledge Hub, and GIS-based project tracking services — and offers tailored consultations to connect communities in developing countries with life-enhancing WASH technologies.

Product overview

Business Connect is a market-driven platform connecting business expertise with social impact, focused on providing life-enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) products. The company operates as both an e-commerce marketplace and a comprehensive resource platform. Its product portfolio centers on water filtration systems (including Uzima UZ-2, VF100 Home Filter, ARMOUR Stainless Steel Gravity Filter, Coldstream Ceramic Filters, BB500-BB1000 Facility Filters, and ROAMfilter products), water treatment solutions (Aquatabs purification tablets, Aquagenx testing kits, P&G Purifier of Water), hygiene products (Eco-Soap bars, Kohler Cleanse stations), and emergency/disaster relief offerings. The platform is supported by complementary resource databases including a Solutions Database with hundreds of vetted WASH technologies, an Organizations Database connecting NGOs and partners, a Knowledge Base of research resources, and dedicated verticals for Water and Hygiene initiatives. The company distributes through a global network of distributors across North America, Latin America, East Africa, Southern Africa, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Business Connect For Water: A comprehensive ecosystem of resources including solutions database, tailored consultations, and GIS services to empower organizations in missions for safe water and hygiene.
• Business Connect For Hygiene

Products and services

• Uzima UZ-2 Water Filtration System A complete stacked-bucket water filtration system that filters water into a provided collection point; users pour water in the top and receive fresh, clean water from the tap. Sold to individual consumers and institutional buyers.
• Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets Purifying tablets added to water to kill harmful microorganisms; each tablet dissolves quickly and disinfects water in 30 minutes. Available in household and bulk formats (e.g., 397mg x100, InLine cartridge).
• VF100 Home Filter An easy-to-use water filter that attaches to plastic buckets or bottles to remove contaminants from various water sources and provide clean water in minutes; designed for household use and the Honduras Program.
• ARMOUR Stainless Steel Gravity Water Filter System Premium stainless steel system using dual FTO Plus filters that strips away more than 99% of lead, microplastics, and toxins; no power or plumbing required — gravity-fed water anywhere. NSF-certified.
• Coldstream Ceramic Water Filter Ceramic water filter purifiers for countertop and undercounter systems that remove 99.9% of common contaminants.
• BB500 & BB600 Facility Filters Water filtration systems for large-scale applications implemented in businesses, schools, clinics, and community centers; capable of providing more than 50,000 liters of safe drinking water per day.
• BB900 & BB1000 Facility Filters Versatile water filtration systems designed for expansive applications; with a maximum flow rate of 120 LPM, they can run 24/7 and produce 160,000 liters of clean water per day.
• VF500 & VF600 Facility Filters Water filtration systems for larger-scale applications in businesses, schools, clinics, and community centers; capable of providing more than 50,000 liters of safe drinking water per day.
• Aquagenx Water Testing Kits Field-based water quality testing products including the Compartment Bag Test (CBT) for E. coli and Total Coliform detection; tests require no laboratories, electricity, or highly trained analysts.
• Grifaid Family Filter Water filtration device that attaches to buckets, providing families with instant access to clean drinking water for up to five years.
• Nazava Water Filter Countertop water filtration system that turns contaminated, dirty surface water into clean drinking water; designed to provide drinking water for a family of five.
• P&G Purifier of Water

Quantifiable outcome

• Products distributed in over 80 countries helping families access needed resources and build sustainable businesses
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Blue RastercoreTechnology or IntegrationBusiness Connect collaborates with Blue Raster as a development partner to build and maintain its GIS platform that helps non-profits track water and hygiene projects globally. Blue Raster supports designing data collection tools (Survey123), building dashboards, and solving complex user needs for the platform.
• AquagenxcoreTechnology or IntegrationAquagenx provides field-based water quality testing products (Compartment Bag Tests for E. coli and Total Coliform bacteria) through Business Connect's marketplace. Business Connect leverages its scale and online marketplace to help Aquagenx reach U.S. citizens and global customers. Aquagenx tests require no laboratories, electricity, or highly trained analysts.
• World Health Organization (WHO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced for the statistic that 1.4 million lives are lost each year due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Business Connect positions itself as addressing this crisis through market-driven WASH solutions.
• UNICEFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Business Connect database. UNICEF reaches children with life-saving supplies including safe water, sanitation services, child protection, and psychosocial support. Featured as an organization working to improve WASH access globally.
• Darin FeycoreOthersGlobal Institutional Sales lead managing relationships with institutional buyers across the global distributor network.
• Luke PinneocoreOthersGlobal Sales Support managing customer relationships and sales operations globally.
• Josh CroskeycoreOthersUS B2B Sales lead managing U.S. enterprise and B2B customer relationships.
• Chris VillanuevacoreOthersLatin America Sales lead managing distributor and customer relationships across Latin American markets.
• Alex OliviercoreOthersSouthern Africa Sales lead managing distributor and customer relationships in Southern Africa.
• Saurabh ChhabracoreOthersAsia Sales lead managing distributor and customer relationships across Asian markets, working from the New Delhi, India sales center.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LifeStraw (by Vestergaard): LifeStraw sells household and community-scale water filtration and purification products globally, including in developing-country humanitarian contexts. It is the closest direct competitor to Business Connect's catalog of vetted filtration and treatment products, competing head-to-head on marketplace distribution.
• Sawyer Products: Sawyer manufactures and globally distributes water filtration products (e.g., hollow-fiber membrane filters) used in both outdoor and humanitarian settings. Comparable to Business Connect in product category and distribution reach, with overlapping end-customers (households, NGOs, missionaries).
• MSR Global Health: MSR Global Health develops and distributes household water filtration and chlorination products for households in the developing world. Competes directly with Business Connect's portfolio of point-of-use filtration, treatment, and hygiene products targeting low-income communities.
• Katadyn Group: Katadyn manufactures portable and household water filtration systems (e.g., Micropur, BeFree) widely distributed through outdoor, humanitarian, and emerging-market channels. Comparable product mix and B2B/B2C distribution model to Business Connect's curated catalog.
• P&G Children's Safe Drinking Water: P&G manufactures and distributes Purifier of Water sachets (which Business Connect also resells) for global humanitarian programs. A core supplier and a competing direct-distribution channel for the same Sachet/Puribag product family across NGO programs.
• Hydraid: Hydraid develops and distributes bio-sand and household water filtration solutions targeting developing-country communities through NGO and humanitarian channels. Direct overlap with Business Connect on product type, customer base (NGOs, mission groups), and go-to-market approach.

Broad incumbents

• WaterAid: WaterAid is a large international NGO focused on WASH programming, policy, and advocacy across 30+ countries. Not a product seller, but a key institutional buyer and sector convener that overlaps with Business Connect's NGO customer segment and 'organizations' database.
• charity: water: charity: water funds and tracks clean water infrastructure projects globally, with a strong donor base and a focus on transparent project monitoring. Comparable to Business Connect on the WASH NGO side, particularly around impact tracking, project visibility, and donor/funder engagement.
• Water.org: Water.org expands access to safe water through WaterCredit small-loan financing and partnerships with local financial institutions across multiple countries. Compares to Business Connect as a large WASH-focused institutional player but takes a financial-services/distribution angle rather than a product marketplace angle.

Emerging players

• Pure Water for the World: A smaller nonprofit implementing household water filters, biosand filters, and hygiene education programs primarily in Central America and Africa. Comparable mission and product mix to Business Connect, but operates as a direct program implementer rather than a marketplace/distributor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bizconnectworld
• Facebookfacebook.com/Bizconnectworld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bizconnectworld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Business Connect