Announcing Imagine H2O’s 2021 Accelerator Cohort — The Latest Innovations in Water
11 companies from 5 countries selected to participate in our 12th Accelerator Program
Water is at the intersection of economics, health, climate change, and social justice — themes that are particularly top of mind given the events of 2020. For our 2021 cohort, we sought entrepreneurial solutions from around the world addressing safety, access, and efficiency challenges within the water sector.
After 11 years of running the Accelerator program, we know firsthand that entrepreneurship and innovation are key components to solving the global water crisis. Our 150+ startups have raised more than $575 million in early stage investment and have secured notable customer opportunities within our Beta Partner network. In 2020 alone, we supported 23 deployments in high impact communities globally.
Out of a total of 118 applicants from 32 countries, the final cohort represents today’s most promising innovations for the water sector of tomorrow. We are pleased to share with you the 11 startups that make up the Imagine H2O 2021 Accelerator program.
2S WATER
Edmonton, Canada | Water Quality (Real-Time Testing & Monitoring)
Automated, real-time, and cost-effective sensors that detect metals in water. The technology quantifies up to 31 different metals in less than five minutes and does not require any human intervention. Clients use this data to reduce chemical usage, prevent fines, and participate in proper environmental stewardship.
BLUE TAP
Cambridge, UK | Drinking Water (Disinfection)
Flow-dependent doser that automatically inserts the correct amount of chlorine into the water supply to ensure it meets drinking quality standards. The technology is designed to be easy and cost-effective to produce, install, and maintain in low resource settings like Uganda.
CLEARWATER ANALYTICA
Corvallis, Oregon (USA) | Water Quality (Software, Automation & Analytics)
Web-based prediction system that leverages multimodal data and custom machine learning to forecast harmful algal blooms. These forecasts inform municipalities when toxic events are going to happen, helping them avoid the costs of emergency events and buying them crucial time to plan ahead.
DESOLENATOR
Maastricht, Netherlands | Drinking Water (Decentralized Infrastructure)
First-of-its-kind water purification technology powered by Photo Voltaic-Thermal (PV-T) panels. The solution is 4x more efficient than standard solar panels, requires low maintenance, and can purify the most complex water types at a levelized cost of only $1/m3.
FONTUS BLUE
Akron, Ohio (USA) | Drinking Water (Software, Automation & Analytics)
SaaS-based solution that optimizes regulatory compliance, chemical costs, and team performance for drinking water facilities. Their Decision Blue software helps customers avoid unnecessary capital projects, extend the life of current assets, improve water quality, and increase staff capabilities.
GROSS-WEN TECHNOLOGIES
Slater, Iowa (USA) | Wastewater Treatment & Reuse (Nutrient Removal)
Algae-based wastewater treatment system that helps customers meet nutrient-discharge limits while reducing their costs and carbon footprint. The technology removes nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater and converts it into fertilizer for a sustainable, easy-to-use treatment solution.
GYBE
Portland, Oregon (USA) | Water Quality (Software, Automation & Analytics)
Combination of sensors, satellite imagery, and algorithms to autonomously monitor an entire watershed in real-time. The solution provides water managers the data and insights needed to identify water quality problems as they arise, monitor how they are evolving, increase safety, and cut costs.
MEMBRION
Seattle, Washington (USA) | Wastewater Treatment & Reuse (Desalination)
New ceramic ion exchange membrane that helps industrial wastewater treatment facilities recover 30% more water during the desalination process without increasing the levelized cost of water treatment. The membranes are 20% more energy efficient and 50% less expensive than competitors.
RAPID RADICALS
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) | Wastewater Treatment & Reuse (Disinfection) Decentralized wastewater treatment technology that eliminates sewer overflows and basement backups during large storm events. The solution rapidly removes pollutants and disinfects harmful pathogens 16x faster than conventional systems, and its onsite treatment capabilities result in high cost savings for municipalities.
SWAN SYSTEMS
Perth, Australia | Agriculture Technology (Irrigation Optimization)
SaaS-based solution for irrigators that analyzes data from existing farming equipment and provides customized management insights on a daily basis. The technology can calculate total water use, highlight areas of poor crop health, track nutrient application, and create an irrigation schedule.
WATERWORTH
Victoria, Canada | Water and Financial Services (Water Financing)
Live, online “rate study” that enables municipalities to manage utility rates in real-time. The SaaS-based platform eliminates the need for external consultants while allowing operators to understand what is happening in real-time, make smarter decisions, and increase the efficiency of their workforce.
Make sure you follow the cohort’s progress throughout the year! Some will be fundraising, others will be seeking deployment opportunities, and all of them will be looking to connect with experts in the industry.
Stay tuned for Water Innovation Week 2021, our annual celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship.
