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Historic Milestone Rolf Stahlhofen was officially onboarded at Station F in Paris as a representative of Water is Right on the world's largest startup campus.
Station F — The Home of Innovators At 34,000 m², Station F is the world's largest startup campus, housed in the heritage-listed Halle Freyssinet in Paris's 13th arrondissement. Founded by Xavier Niel and opened in 2017, Station F hosts over 1,000 startups and an ecosystem of more than 8,000 companies. Partners such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, LVMH and Apple work here side by side with founders from 70 nations.

What Does "Onboarding" at Station F Mean?

Being officially onboarded means being accepted as a recognized member of the Station F ecosystem — with access to workspaces on campus, the international community, networking events, and over 30 programs with partners from the global business world. It marks the formal starting point for a presence at Europe's most important innovation hub.

Why WIR? Why Station F?

  • Innovative Approach: WIR combines NGO work with entrepreneurial thinking — and that is exactly what makes us an ideal Station F member.
  • Tech Synergy: Scalable water solutions, solar energy and digital transparency — WIR thinks about aid like a startup.
  • Network Access: Paris as a gateway to European impact investors, corporations and partners.
  • Visibility: The first foundation on campus — a signal to the entire world of philanthropy.

What Does This Mean for the WIR Movement?

The presence at Station F opens doors that have remained closed to traditional NGOs until now. WIR gains access to a network of over 8,000 companies, global corporations and impact investors — and the opportunity to present our water projects on the international stage. Paris becomes the European hub of the WIR movement.

Rolf Stahlhofen brings not only passion and humanity — he also brings an innovative foundation model that demonstrates: charitable engagement can be just as disruptive and impactful as a tech startup. This combination was the key to admission at Station F.

34,000 m²
Campus Area
1,000+
Resident Startups
70
Nationalities
30+
Partner Programs

Innovation Meets Humanity

Station F is far more than an office building. It is a space for thinking and creating, where the next generation of solutions is born. That WIR has found a place here shows: the world is ready for a philanthropy that moves as fast and creatively as the world's best startups.

For us, this means: we continue to grow. We deepen our networks. And we stay true to our core mission — clean water for all people, everywhere in the world. Station F is not the destination. It is the next step on a long, important journey.