Roosevelt Island Native Son Patrick Connorton Launches Reefill Startup, Mobile App Network Of Stations For Reusable Bottle With Cold, Filtered Water On The Go - Reduces Plastic Bottle Waste

Long time Roosevelt Island resident Judy Connorton reports:

Patrick Connorton, who grew up on Roosevelt Island, has launched a startup, Reefill, with two partners. Reefill aims to reduce plastic-bottle waste dramatically while saving money for consumers of water on the run.

Reefill recently won first place in the 2016 StartUP! Business Plan Competition sponsored by the NY Public Library and the Citi Foundation. They're off to a good start with Reefill stations around the NYU area (the university is a great supporter).

Patrick is Judy's son.



Patrick Connorton adds:

Reefill is an app-enabled network of stations where members can fill their reusable bottle with cold, filtered water on the go -- it's a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative to bottled water. Using the Reefill app, members locate the nearest station (found in local businesses like coffee shops and juice bars), activate it with their phone's Bluetooth, and fill their bottle in seconds. Monthly memberships cost $1.99, or the price of just one bottled water, and provide unlimited refills at any of our stations.

Late last year, Reefill launched an eight-station pilot network around NYU, which provided grant funding and is purchasing memberships for 1,800 freshmen this fall. Reefill won first place and a $15,000 prize in the 2016 New York StartUp! Business Plan Competition, run by the New York Public Library and Citi Foundation, took part in Think Beyond Plastic’s 2015 accelerator class, and is currently incubated at 1776's Brooklyn campus.

Reefill's Indiegogo campaign has already raised over $30,000, which will help Reefill install stations in virtually every neighborhood in Manhattan this coming year.  As a Reefill co-founder and Roosevelt Island native, I can't wait to bring the network to the Island too!

I asked Mr. Connorton:

What is the incentive for local stores to put in a Station? Do you pay them a fee like a supermarket stocking fee?

He replied:

We do not pay the host businesses, nor do they pay us. We handle all costs associated with the Reefill station, including installation, maintenance, and filter changes, and in exchange we drive foot traffic to the stores and provide free advertising on our app and website; the stores also share our mission of reducing plastic waste. Soon the stores will also be able to provide discounts to our users through the app as they are filling up to incentivize further sales (and our members benefit from great deals!).

Great idea. Would love to see Reefill on Roosevelt Island.

Image From Reefill.

Click here to contribute to the Reefill Indiegogo crowd funding campaign.