FieldFactors: turning rain into critical infrastructure for resilient cities

In most cities, rain is seen as a problem: it floods streets, overwhelms drainage systems, and quickly disappears into systems that haven’t been reinvented in years. But what if rain were actually the infrastructure cities need?

That is the question that gave rise to FieldFactors, the company transforming rainwater into a strategic asset for cities and industries. This year, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, they received the I4N Award 2025 de Innovate 4 Nature  in the category Nature as Infrastructure & Planet-Compatible Cities, selected from more than 400 international applications, for their contribution to a regenerative and nature-respecting economy. They demonstrated what is possible when nature, business, and long-term value creation go hand in hand.

We spoke with  Karina Peña, Co-founder and CEO of FieldFactors, about how they are redefining urban water management and how they transform rain into a local resource to make cities safer and more resilient.

A system that no longer works

FieldFactors was born from an uncomfortable reality: cities are losing the battle in water management. “Globally, we continue to operate with centralized and linear infrastructure that has barely changed in almost 200 years,” explains Karina. “It takes up too much space, has low storage capacity, and compromises water quality.”

The consequences are economic and systemic. Today, water scarcity puts more than USD $300 billion in enterprise value at risk globally. Water is no longer just an environmental issue, it is operational continuity and financial risk.

However, entering the water sector is not simple; it is a highly regulated industry, and for good reason. “More than selling technology, the first step is building trust,” says Karina.

In markets like Mexico, the support of clients in regulatory compliance and risk management is just as important as the technical solution. The challenge is not only regulatory: it is often internal, where finance, procurement, sustainability, and operations must align for a project to move forward.

"When the water becomes visible, the conversation changes," says Karina.

There is also a cultural barrier. In many cities, we simply stopped “seeing” water. That is why FieldFactors makes the water cycle tangible. In Madrid, they installed a biofilter that captures rain to supply a pond in an urban park. In Rotterdam, they integrated a manual pump in a plaza next to a stadium, where children can play with rainwater that was previously infiltrated into the aquifer.

The team visiting their two projects in Madrid

From fragmentation to an integrated solution

While many competitors offer isolated pieces —tanks, pumps, or treatment systems— FieldFactors provides a comprehensive large-scale rainwater capture, treatment, and infiltration solution, combined with an advanced digital platform. This technological layer allows industrial clients to accurately measure and report their real water impact.

In the past two years, adoption has accelerated. Corporations have realized that water is not just about sustainability, it is operational risk.

Measuring to transform

At FieldFactors, impact is not a narrative, it is a measurable system. “If it’s not measured, it remains only as intention.” Their projects focus on three key metrics:

1. Managed volume: how much water is captured and recharged into the aquifer.

2. Risk reduction: flood mitigation.

3. Recovered water: supply for industrial use or irrigation.

A compelling example is their project in Rotterdam, which completely eliminated flooding around the stadium. In industrial environments, their systems can reduce potable water consumption by up to 80%. “When you make water visible, people understand why it matters. And that helps sustain projects over time.”

FieldFactors receiving the I4N Award 2025 from Innovate 4 Nature in the category Nature as Infrastructure & Planet-Compatible Cities

Rain as water insurance

Climate change is making rainfall more extreme, long periods of drought followed by intense storms. With its Bluebloqs technology, FieldFactors mitigates both extremes: it reduces flood peaks and ensures supply during droughts, functioning as true “water insurance.”

Additionally, by recharging aquifers, they help mitigate issues such as land subsidence in regions like the Mexico City metropolitan area. “We transform rain into a local resource so that cities are safer and more resilient.”

What’s next

Today, FieldFactors operates in the Netherlands and Madrid. In 2026, they will launch a strategic project in Mexico focused on water replenishment and resilience alongside corporations and public institutions.

They are also exploring a Water-as-a-Service model for the industrial sector and strengthening their intellectual property to maintain technological leadership. Their advantage is clear: solving large volumes in reduced urban spaces with a measurable and scalable solution. A technical challenge that few can address.

In a world where water is becoming one of the greatest systemic risks, FieldFactors is not only managing rain, but redefining urban infrastructure from nature itself. And that is exactly the kind of innovation the future of our cities needs.