When Paul was just eight years old, he accompanied his father to a rural community that was celebrating the completion of a new water system—a project his father had helped to build. The community no longer had to walk miles for clean water or consume contaminated water from a nearby stream. Witnessing the transformative power of accessible clean water left a lasting impression on Paul, sparking a lifelong passion for water access initiatives. Throughout his career, he studied over 170 water systems across South America, continually inspired by that early experience. This dedication to understanding and improving water access systems eventually led him to pursue a Master's in Innovation Design Engineering at Imperial College London, where he met Beren, who would later become an integral part of DEPLOY's journey. Beren's impressive background perfectly complemented Paul's mission. She had a solid foundation in mechanical engineering. She had already received recognition from British Airways for her innovative work, which was exhibited in the Saatchi Gallery.

During their studies, Paul interned at Concrete Canvas Group Ltd in the summer of 2019 and discovered an innovative material that reignited his childhood memories and professional aspirations. Inspired, Paul began developing prototypes for more efficient water storage units. By the end of the summer, he decided to focus on this concept for his final project at university, leading to the birth of "Deploy." As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, Beren took a leave of absence from her studies and remained an essential collaborator. Her frequent contributions to the design of the manufacturing line prompted a joking suggestion that she should become a co-founder. Paul immediately embraced the idea, marking the official start of Deploy and their partnership in pursuing innovative water solutions.