A new model to fund free water everywhere.
HOPE exists to prove that tradeoffs aren't inevitable. Public infrastructure can be funded in new ways so everyone can have access to better free water.
Our Story
The power in HOPE.
Inspired by a simple, infuriating moment: being thirsty and realizing the only options were buy plastic or nothing. HOPE Hydration is a digital advertising company that was built to expand access to free drinking water by combining refill stations with a digital out-of-home network that lives in the world's busiest places. Brands power our platform. Every refill fuels the system. Every impression funds access.
HOPE In Real Time
The impact behind every refill.
5,162,741
Plastic Bottles Diverted
64,172,871
CO₂ Diverted (grams)
An undeniable win.
Our model is simple, but the impact reaches everyone.
For people
Free, filtered, cold water that is easy to find and enjoyable to use. A small moment of relief in the world's busiest places without plastic, payment, or friction.
For the planet
Every refill replaces a single-use plastic bottle. Every HydroStation makes reuse the obvious choice where plastic once won.
For brands
Advertisers and brands can meet people in a real moment of need, turning a simple refill into connection and a greater good ROI.
For venues & cities
Free, modern water infrastructure that guests will actually use. No install costs, no maintenance burden, and a new revenue stream.
Team
The people behind HOPE.
Jorge Richardson
Co-Founder & CEO
Cristina Gnecco
Co-Founder & COO
Dave Tigue
Head of Hardware Engineering
John Koniski
VP of Engineering & Hardware
Doug Presson
Design Engineer, Hardware
Bryson Feser
Design Engineer, Hardware
Ross Hatamiya
Chief Revenue Officer
Katie Munk
Director of Brand Partnerships
Hannah Egan
Director of Account Management & Sales Operations
Cristina Hernandez
Business Development Associate
Jeannette Paulino
Business Development Manager
Leah Lopez
Director of Marketing & Events
Ali Reilly
Event Production Manager
Abb Kapoor
Head of Operations & Logistics
Rim Perparim
Field Operations Manager
Joelle Schindler
Launch Operations Manager
Maddie Murnane
Operations Systems Manager
Owen Daw
Head of Software
Luke Newman
Staff Software Engineer
Evie Adcock
Director of Accounting & Finance
Frequently Asked
We design and operate water refill stations that pair filtered, cold drinking water with a digital advertising surface. Brands fund the network, venues get free hardware and water, and people get a great refill experience — no plastic, no payment, no app.
Advertisers. The host venue pays nothing for hardware, install, water, or maintenance. The screens on each station carry brand campaigns, and that ad revenue covers the cost of running the network.
Yes. Every station uses commercial-grade Pentair Everpure carbon filtration with UV stabilization. Water is dispensed cold, hands-free, and is regularly tested. Filters and components are serviced on a maintenance schedule we manage.
About sixteen seconds for a standard bottle. The dispenser is hands-free and the flow rate is tuned for high-traffic environments like airports, stadiums, and event venues.
Yes. We sell digital out-of-home placements across the station network, with real-time refill counts and impression data. Reach out via the contact form and the team will walk you through availability and pricing.
Probably — we're actively expanding. The best venues are high-traffic public spaces where people are thirsty and bottles tend to be bought. Submit a host inquiry and we'll get back with next steps.