Meet Rishi Alluri | Founder of Purifi

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rishi Alluri and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rishi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Purifi started with a rather simple thought: why is it that in 2025, so many people still don’t have access to clean drinking water when disasters strike? I couldn’t stop thinking about how something as basic as safe drinking water becomes a luxury in the middle of a crisis.

I didn’t want to just build a project that looked good and function on paper but rather something people could actually use when it mattered most. That’s why I designed Purifi to be solar-powered and portable, so it can work anywhere without needing complicated setup or outside resources.

For me, it’s always been less about chasing an idea and more about solving a problem I couldn’t ignore. If you have the skills to help people in moments like that, you should. That’s what pushed me to make Purifi real.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Purifi is essentially a solar-powered, portable water filtration system designed with one critical mission: to deliver safe drinking water to communities precisely when they need it most, especially in the chaotic aftermath of natural disasters. What truly sets us apart is our relentless focus on making it affordable, incredibly easy to deploy, and robust enough for those tough, real-world conditions where reliability isn’t just a feature but rather a lifeline.

Getting here has been anything but a smooth ride. Since day 1, we’ve faced our fair share of challenges, from design setbacks that sent us back to the drawing board to the constant scramble for guidance and funding. In all honesty, every single obstacle just forced us to get more creative, learn at an insane pace, and really lean on each other’s unique strengths. What I’m most proud of is that we didn’t just stop at an idea. We kept pushing, kept iterating, until Purifi became something truly tangible that relief organizations could actually put to immediate use.

The biggest lesson I’ve taken from all of this is that real impact is built on sheer persistence. You don’t need to have all the answers mapped out from day one, but you absolutely need the drive to keep showing up, to keep solving problems as they emerge, and to believe in the mission. At the end of the day, I want the world to know that Purifi isn’t just about the technology we’ve developed; it’s about giving people a fundamental sense of safety, dignity, and hope when their world has been turned upside down.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1: Start off at The Star by touring the Cowboys’ headquarters, grabbing lunch at Tupelo Honey, and catching some live music in the plaza at night.
Day 2: Spend the day outdoors at Hidden Cove Park with kayaking, hiking, and a picnic by Lake Lewisville. Then, we’d wrap up the day with dinner at Babe’s Chicken Dinner House because quite honestly, it’s a Frisco staple.
Day 3: Dive into some nostalgia by taking a visit to the National Videogame Museum and then heading over to Frisco Rail Yard for food trucks and a laid-back evening.
Day 4: Explore Sci-Tech Discovery Center and the Frisco Public Library for something fun and relaxing, followed by a nice dinner at Salute to end the day.
Day 5: Catch an FC Dallas game at Toyota Stadium if it lines up, or play a few rounds at Topgolf for some friendly competition and a good time
Day 6: Start the day off at the local Frisco Farmer’s Market and then spend some time shopping and walking around at the Stonebriar Center.
Day 7: End the week with brunch at The Nest Cafe, then walk through Frisco Commons Park before heading to the Rail District to check out local shops and art.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my co-founder, Om Vegesna. He’s the one who constantly challenges our ideas and makes sure we’re building something that actually works in the real world. Purifi wouldn’t be half of what it is today without his persistence and sharp thinking.

Website: https://officialpurifi.org/