Washing the dishes. Taking a shower. Watering the plants. Everyday routines that depend on something as automatic as turning on the tap. Yet behind that simple action lies an invisible reality: the enormous amount of water that is lost before it even reaches our homes.

In recent years, the water crisis has produced unprecedented images in Catalonia, such as the bell tower of the Pantà de Sau emerging above the waterline and prolonged water-use restrictions in different municipalities. That was when David Mora (Barcelona, 1987) felt it was his responsibility to put his knowledge at the service of this challenge. “It’s the kind of problem that deserves all my energy,” he says.

David is the CEO and co-founder of Kimedes AI, the startup aiming to “save millions of liters of drinking water every day” through satellite imagery and artificial intelligence. A Telecommunications and ICT Organization engineer with a Master’s degree in Project Management from La Salle and executive training in Innovation from Harvard and MIT, he spent seven years abroad before returning to Catalonia, where he launched the project alongside Jaume Miró, COO and co-founder.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?”

DM: To protect water for future generations. Around 25–30% of drinking water in Europe is lost through broken pipes before it reaches a single tap. We detect those leaks using satellite radar imagery and artificial intelligence, before anyone notices them. We can see it from space.

TB: At what stage is your project now, and where do you see it in two years?

DM: We have the AI engine up and running, our first municipal contracts signed, the backing of ESA and ENISA, and we’ve just completed the incubation program at the BSC AI Factory in Pier07. In two years, I want any municipality in Europe not only to know the condition of its water network, but also to receive concrete, prioritized recommendations before the problem even exists. Not reducing losses – eliminating them.

TB: A key decision that has shaped your project.

DM: We chose to rely on satellite data instead of deploying hardware, a decision that accelerated impact, eliminated implementation friction, and allowed us to scale without depending on physical sensors. Above all, it gave us focus on what we are really good at: algorithms and technology.

TB: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced, and what has it taught you?

DM: Trying to change the world from within the public sector. B2G is a space where there’s very little VC funding, cycles are slow, decision-makers are hard to reach, and yet the impact is real and massive. Nobody makes it easy for you. What it taught us was to understand the rules of the game from day one, to carefully calibrate our survival strategies, to scale thoughtfully, and to develop a kind of resilience that no master’s degree can give you. A lot of persistence and the conviction that it’s worth it.

TB: The best advice you’ve ever been given.

DM: Always remind yourself why you started, and appreciate your own milestones and progress without waiting for anyone else to validate them. This journey is yours, and you have to enjoy it, no matter how hard it gets.

TB: We all change over time. Have you changed your mind about anything?

DM: I used to believe that asking for help was a sign of weakness and a burden to others. When I broke free from that stigma, I discovered that people actually like helping and are often very willing to do so. You just have to ask. Rarely do people say no.

TB: A professional role model who inspires you.

DM: Javi Fernández, Founder and CTO. From him I learned never to settle and to constantly look for solutions to any challenge, especially technological ones. That mindset has stayed with me ever since.

TB: What do you value most in the people you work with?

DM: Humility and empathy. We are all constantly learning and making mistakes, and anyone who doesn’t accept that becomes a problem. Above all, I value execution: I’d rather see a failed experiment than a perfect plan that never leaves the paper.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

DM: Without a doubt, quantum computing. Once it matures, it will help us better understand our world and solve problems even more complex than those we are capable of tackling today. 

TB: A startup or company you admire, and why?

DM: Planet Labs. They democratized access to satellite imagery and proved that space isn’t just for the big players. We draw inspiration from that philosophy every single day.

TB: What do you do to disconnect and unwind?

DM: The sea. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a walk with my family, sailing, surfing, or swimming. I need the sea. And if it’s the Mediterranean, even better.

TB: A book you would recommend.

DM: Shoot for the Moon, by Richard Wiseman: what Apollo 11 teaches us about taking on impossible challenges. And Start Something That Matters, by Blake Mycoskie: building a business with purpose from day one. Together, they say a lot about why I’m doing what I do.

TB: A song that defines this moment in your life.

DM: ‘Wonderful Nothing’ by Glass Animals.

TB: A recipe, a dish, or a restaurant.

DM: Mooma on the Costa Brava.

TB: A place in the world.

DM: The west coast of Ireland, which has been my escape valve for finding peace of mind for years. And the Black Forest in Freiburg, where I spend summers with my family and time seems to move differently. Two places that have nothing to do with each other, yet say a lot about what I need depending on the moment.

TB: Where would you invest €100k?

DM: In Kimedes AI. I strongly believe we are building the foundations of something big, with the ambition of becoming a benchmark for innovation, impact, and sustainability. It’s an investment in the future of our children and future generations.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

DM: It’s hard for me to imagine a different future, but maybe I’d be a researcher in some technological field. I’m passionate about learning and exploring complex things — curiosity pulls me in, and then I love being able to share that knowledge with others.

TB: What is Tech Barcelona to you?

DM: A home. People with the same drive and the desire to change something. Perhaps the meeting point of the entrepreneurial ecosystem where everything converges. Right now, it’s my source of inspiration and connections close to home.