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Aquatech and Fuckup Nights: Embracing Failure to Drive Innovation in the Water Sector

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Aquatech has been leading global meetings for decades to address major water technology and sustainability issues. 

During inspiring events in Amsterdam, China and México, Aquatech offers the more than 25,000 industry professionals who attend its events a comprehensive overview of the latest news and analysis on drinking and wastewater.

For the third time, Fuckup Nights was part of the official agenda of the Aquatech Forum 2025 in Amsterdam. With the aim of going beyond technical solutions, opening up a space for learning and innovation from failure.

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Designing with Transparency: The Role of Failure in Water Tech

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In a sector where failure can mean wasted resources and missed opportunities, unsuccessful attempts become critical sources of insight. 

For this edition, we customized our private event experience to spotlight what usually stays hidden: failed prototypes, high-cost decisions, and most importantly—the courage to rise again, reflect, and keep building.

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Open Conversations on Vulnerability, Science, and Resilience

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During this experience, the three guest speakers addressed topics such as vulnerability in technical leadership, the importance of iterating with real data and real users, and how failures can accelerate change processes.

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Ralf Bufler (CEO Europe at CDM Smith), Dr. Orianna Bretschger (Founder of Aquacycl), and Nerea Uri Carreño, PhD (consultant and former executive at VCS Denmark), opened up about the wins, failures, and lessons that shaped their careers and companies.

The event inspired the audience with powerful lessons and real stories of failure—experiences that are rarely shared on technical conference stages.

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Human Connections at an Innovation Forum

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One of the most powerful moments came during the Q&A session when an attendee realized they had once been a client in one of the speaker’s stories. The room filled with laughter and applause. It was a moment of human connection through humor, reinforcing the power of sharing failure with honesty.

The night ended with an open mic session, where audience members were invited to share their own fuckups.  

Conversations continued offstage, with new connections and genuine reflections.

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Flexible financing to F**K Ups… That was, without a doubt, one of my favourite Aquatech Amsterdams" – Tom Freyberg

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"Speaking at the F*** Up Night was truly an amazing and I'd dare to say therapeutic experience." - Nerea Uri Carreño

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Beyond the Event: Building a New Culture of Innovation

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The collaboration between Aquatech and Fuckup Nights more than an inspiring experience; it was an affirmation that the path to sustainability must also include analyzing failures as an opportunity for learning and innovation.

In a world where water innovation is urgent, spaces like these—where failures are shared without shame—can mark the difference between repeating the past and designing a resilient future.

Participants left energized, with renewed perspective and bold ideas to co-create solutions that will define the future of water—and the industries shaping it.

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Curious about bringing this format to your team or event?

Click here to make it happen.

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About the Speakers

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Ralf Bufler
CEO Europe at CDM Smith. Engineer with 30+ years of experience in sustainable solutions, circular economy, and digital transformation.

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Dr. Orianna Bretschger
Founder and CEO at Aquacycl. Earthshot Prize finalist and global leader in sustainable industrial wastewater solutions.

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Nerea Uri Carreño, PhD
Sustainability consultant specializing in wastewater treatment. Former executive at VCS Denmark, speaker at IWA and WEF, founder of N118 Consulting.

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