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(don't) Waste Water! | Water Tech to Solve the World

(don't) Waste Water! | Water Tech to Solve the World

500 episodes — Page 1 of 10

Guess Who Just Spent $700M on Water? (10 Things Investors Missed) - CRH acquires Axius Water from KKR and XPV Water Partners

May 4, 202646 min

Your Cup of Coffee Uses 29,600x More Water Than a ChatGPT Prompt (w. Alex Passini) [2/2]

May 1, 202653 min

Nobody Asked What the Public Actually Thinks About AI and Water. So I Did. [1/2]

May 1, 202614 min

The 2027 Deadline That's About to Reprice Water Companies (Data Center Water)

Apr 22, 202629 min

Data Center Consumption DOESN'T Matter... But Discharge Does! (AI Water Footprint)

Apr 15, 202626 min

Why a Broke Football Club Spent Millions on Water (Gucci's Water Reuse Strategy)

Apr 8, 202616 min

S14 Ep 4By 2050, Clean Water Will Cost You $3'700 a Year (I Recalculated the US EPA Numbers)

How Much Does The USA Really Need to Fix Its Water Infrastructure? And Why Is Nobody Talking About the Real Number? (Hint: the US EPA has it wrong!)I built a bottom-up predictive model spanning 32 federal datasets, 433,000 water systems, and 15.1 million regulatory violations to determine the true cost of bringing US water infrastructure back to shape. The answer: $3.9 trillion over twenty years (that's three times the EPA's official estimate of $1.25 trillion)🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️📊 A model reproducing the US EPA's own $625B drinking water estimate with 0.00% deviation - then extending it to domains the surveys structurally omit🔧 $1.63 trillion in physical pipe failures that no federal survey captures - cast iron mains break 10x more than modern plastic🏚️ 5,112 wastewater plants "rotting in place" serving 22 million Americans - the US EPA says $8.5B, the real number is $80B💰 Full cost-recovery requires a $26/m³ tariff - roughly $310/month per household, which is 4.4x today's rate (will anyone pay for that?)🧪 $139 billion for PFAS compliance, absent from all current federal estimates (no scandal, makes sense!)📈 PE-backed platforms (CSWR, Nexus Water Group, Inframark) are silently consolidating the fragmented utility tail (and it's a good thing!)🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜**How big is the real infrastructure gap?** The combined water and wastewater need is $3.9 trillion over twenty years, three times the EPA's $1.25 trillion official estimate.**Why is the EPA's number so low?** The surveys ask utilities what they plan to spend, not what aging infrastructure physically demands - and they cover only 891 of approximately 39,500 small water systems.**What about pipes?** One-third of America's 2.2 million miles of water mains are over 50 years old, and 860,000 miles need replacement at roughly $1 million per mile - a $1.6 trillion bill the surveys entirely miss.**Is the gap closing?** No - drinking water coverage stays locked at 28 cents per dollar across every twenty-year window, and wastewater coverage actually deteriorates from 16 to 14 cents per dollar by the 2040s.**Where does this leave investors?** Consolidation is accelerating - American Water Works and Essential Utilities are merging into a $63 billion entity, PE platforms are rolling up rural systems, and water tariffs grow at 4.77% annually, well above inflation.#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣Water Finance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd2tCuwMKfkPFAS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd2tCuwMKfkUtah State University 2023 Break Rate Study: https://engineering.usu.edu/news/main-feed/2024/new-report-says-lack-of-funding-for-critical-water-mains-is-452-billion-over-260000-breaks-annuallyASCE 2025 Infrastructure Report Card: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/Global Water Intelligence's tariff survey: https://www.globalwaterintel.com/documents/tariff-survey-2025Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Apr 1, 202634 min

S14 Ep 3Forget Russia & Qatar: Europe has a New Gas Source (spoiler: it's wastewater biogas)

Can Europe's Sewage Plants Replace Russian Gas? (aka: the €1.9 Billion Biomethane Opportunity) Europe's wastewater treatment plants are sitting on a massive untapped energy reserve. With the right upgrades, roughly 1,900 facilities across Europe could produce 13.4 billion cubic meters of biomethane per year — matching Russia's remaining pipeline gas deliveries in 2024. Let me break down the economics, the technology, and the investment landscape driving this shift. 🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️ ⛽ One oil price spike dropped profitable plant thresholds by 15-47% and made ~600 additional facilities viable for biomethane grid injection overnight 📊 Only 30% of cost-competitive plants have installed grid injection equipment — Denmark leads at 88%, Poland trails at 6.7% ⚖️ The EU's recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive mandates energy neutrality by 2045, creating a regulatory demand floor independent of gas prices 🏭 Cambi's thermal hydrolysis revenue trajectory points to their first €100M year, with EBITDA jumping from near-zero to €20M in two years 💰 NextGen biogas companies are funded by energy infrastructure capital (ENGIE, Pennybacker, Hitachi), not water-focused VCs 🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜 Why did 600 European wastewater plants suddenly become profitable gas producers? The Iran-triggered gas crisis pushed TTF prices from €32 to €60 per MWh, dropping minimum viable plant sizes by 15-47% and making biomethane grid injection economically attractive across most of Europe. How much gas could European wastewater produce? Europe's ~1,900 unequipped wastewater plants could produce 13.4 billion cubic meters of biomethane per year, equivalent to Russia's 2024 pipeline gas to Europe, worth €1.9 billion annually. What is the regulatory driver behind this shift? The EU's November 2024 recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive mandates energy neutrality for all European wastewater utilities by 2045, making biogas production a compliance requirement regardless of gas prices. Who is winning in the biogas technology space? Cambi leads thermal hydrolysis with revenue potentially reaching €100M, while Veolia and SKion Water pursue platform approaches. Anaergia's bankruptcy serves as a cautionary tale that timing matters as much as thesis. Where is the investment capital coming from? Energy infrastructure funds and corporate venture arms (ENGIE New Ventures, Pennybacker Capital, Hitachi) dominate NextGen biogas funding, while traditional water VCs remain largely absent from the space.*** Europe faces a significant energy challenge, highlighted by a potential natural gas shortage following recent events. This situation underscores the broader global energy crisis and its impact on energy markets. We also touch upon the unusual idea of Europe's sewage as a potential gas source, a concept that could impact oil and gas discussions moving forward. The discussion includes analysis from the International Energy Agency regarding supply disruptions and an update on the iran war.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Mar 27, 202626 min

S14 Ep 2His First Two Inventions Made Billions - Number Three Just Went Live

How Did Pierre Côté Build Two Unicorn Water Technologies - and Why Is He Now Betting on Algae? Pierre Côté is arguably the most successful water technology inventor alive. With over 100 patents across four decades, he created ZeeWeed (the membrane that launched the $3.63 billion MBR market) and co-invented ZeeLung (anchoring the ~$500 million MABR market). Now in his seventies, he's co-founded AlgaFilm Technologies to tackle nutrient removal with algae biofilm. 🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️ 🧬 Two unicorn technologies from one inventor — ZeeWeed created the MBR category ($3.63B market), ZeeLung anchors MABR (~$500M and growing) 💰 $689 million exit — GE Water acquired Zenon in 2006 at 3.29x revenue, despite Zenon being loss-making 🌿 AlgaFilm's Algae Forest — patented inverted-cone photobioreactors with 12:1 surface-area-to-footprint ratio, claiming 80% energy reduction 📊 Forced regulatory demand — San Francisco Bay faces $10.8B in nutrient removal costs; Netherlands spending €2.8B in two years; 8,000+ US lagoons need upgrades 🏭 Competitive validation — Gross-Wen Technologies at TRL 9 with 30+ installations and $15M annual revenue proves the algae biofilm category ❄️ The winter test — Kingsville, Ontario demonstration (started March 10, 2026) will face a full Canadian winter, the single biggest unknown 🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜 Who is Pierre Côté? A civil engineer from École Polytechnique de Montréal with a PhD from McMaster, who joined Zenon Environmental in 1989 and invented ZeeWeed — the immersed hollow-fiber membrane technology that created the commercially viable MBR market. What is AlgaFilm Technologies? A BC-based startup co-founded in November 2023 by Côté and Ahren Britton (former Ostara CTO) that grows algae as a fixed biofilm on engineered carriers to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, replacing chemical dosing. Why does this matter now? Regulatory pressure is forcing massive non-discretionary spending on nutrient removal — $10.8 billion in San Francisco Bay alone — while the resource recovery market has inflected from $1.5 billion to $2.88 billion since 2020. What are the risks? AlgaFilm sits at approximately TRL 8, has just kicked off its first plant, and must prove winter uptime through Canadian conditions during its 12-month Kingsville demonstration. Who validates the category? Gross-Wen Technologies (Iowa, 2014) operates 30+ algae biofilm installations at TRL 9, with $15M annual revenue and operational profitability, proving the commercial viability of the approach. #️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣ - AlgaFilm Technologies: https://algafilm.com/ - Burnt Island Ventures blog entry: https://www.burntislandventures.com/blog/fsu1j27imhhsfnbyxi2k2udd30m57e- DWW — The Algae Revolution with Martin Gross (GWT): https://dww.show/the-algae-revolution-how-gross-wen-technologies-is-cleaning-our-water-through-natures-filter/ - My conversation with Andrew Benedek: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e12-how-to-be-alone-early-crazy-but-actually-right-the-history-of-zenon Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Mar 21, 202633 min

S14 Ep 1This French Lab Wants to Replace Every Pump in Desalination (ilion Water Technologies)

Can 4 Volts of Electricity Replace 60 Bars of Pressure in Seawater Desalination? ilion Water Technologies is a 2025 spinout from the Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Their VIRO (Voltage-Induced Reverse Osmosis) technology claims to replace the high-pressure pump train in seawater desalination with an alternating electric field applied to engineered composite membranes, operating at atmospheric pressure. 🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️ ⚡ VIRO generates ~15 equivalent bars of pressure per applied volt, targeting the 60-bar threshold used in industrial seawater RO 💰 ilion closed a €3.8M ($4.46M) pre-seed co-led by Demea Sustainable Investment and Critical Path Ventures, plus €1.3M non-dilutive from Bpifrance, CNRS Innovation, PSL, and the ERC 🔬 The underlying research is peer-reviewed in Nature Materials with a scientific lineage tracing back to a 2013 Physical Review Letters paper 👨‍🔬 Scientific advisor Lydéric Bocquet (CNRS Innovation Medal 2024) previously took nanofluidics from lab to industrial pilot with Sweetch Energy (€40M raised, Rhône river deployment in 2024) 📊 The global RO + nanofiltration market reaches $6.14B TOTEX by 2030 at 6.1% CAGR, with RO commanding ~90% of dissolved solids removal 🪦 The graveyard of RO alternatives is pretty full with the recent addition of Aquaporin (21 years → collapse), to the existing Oasys Water ($31M fire sale), or memsys ($3M) 🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜 How does VIRO actually work? Instead of mechanically forcing saltwater through a membrane at 60 bars, VIRO uses an alternating electric field on a composite membrane with nanoscale charge properties, creating an "osmotic diode" that rectifies water flow while blocking salt. What is ilion's current maturity level? TRL 4 (lab-validated), with no published specific energy consumption in kWh/m³, no salt rejection at scale, no membrane lifetime data, and zero physical deployments. Why has every RO alternative failed before? Forward osmosis, membrane distillation, and biomimetic membranes all failed to cross the gap between lab performance and industrial reliability, while RO kept improving toward its thermodynamic floor of ~1.0 kWh/m³. What makes ilion different from previous attempts? Bocquet's track record with Sweetch Energy, the Nature Materials peer review, a deep-science investor stack, and positioning as an RO enhancer (retrofit-compatible) rather than an RO replacement. What should investors watch over the next 2 years Three milestones: real-water performance at the Île-de-France pilot, XPRIZE Water Scarcity semifinal testing in Q4 2026, and membrane fabrication scalability beyond handcrafted lab specimens. #️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣ 🔗 ilion Water Technologies — https://ilion-watertech.com/ 🔗 Sweetch Energy — https://www.sweetch.energy/ 🔗 NALA Membranes on the podcast — https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s13e9-nala-membranes 🔗 the Active Membranes episode — https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s13e6-this-200-hack-makes-desalination-50-cheaperHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Mar 16, 202635 min

S13 Ep 21Why Water Testing Methods Are Dangerously Outdated (w. Lorenzo Falzarano - Orb)

Why Are Water Testing Methods Dangerously Outdated - And What's the Fix?Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabORB is a water tech company revolutionizing water testing through real-time microbial detection. Using inline deep UV spectroscopy sensors, ORB delivers continuous monitoring that's 1,700 times faster than traditional plate count methods (thus replacing the century-old three-day lab test) with instant insights that protect public health.Lorenzo Falzarano is a serial entrepreneur and the founder and Chief Scientist of ORB, bringing over two decades of experience building impact-driven technology companies, including a successful solar venture that sold through Apple stores worldwide, and has partnered with NASA on space station water monitoring systems.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️🔬 Rapid Microbiology at Light Speed — Water testing results in one second versus three days, using photon-counting detectors that measure microbial fluorescence at the molecular level without reagents or consumables.🎯 Cold Case Solver — 70% of water quality failures go unexplained; ORB's intelligence platform uses pattern matching and fingerprint signatures to identify root causes that traditional water testing misses.⚡ Non-Invasive Innovation — Unlike enzymatic or flow cytometry methods, ORB's water tech requires no chemicals, no sample preparation, and no maintenance—just plug-and-play deployment in drinking water networks.💧 Real-Time Risk Prevention — Catches failing ozone dosing, chlorine systems, and contamination events before they become regulatory violations—helping UK utilities avoid millions in bacteriological fines.🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜Why is traditional water testing fundamentally broken? The plate count method takes three days, captures less than 1% of microbes, and forces utilities to run on "maximum everything" because they're operating blind.How does ORB's rapid microbiology approach work? Deep UV light causes microbial cells to fluoresce; photon-counting detectors measure this at the molecular level, delivering instant counts without destroying the sample.What separates ORB from other water tech solutions? ORB used deep neural networks to identify minimum wavelengths needed, then hyper-optimized hardware for drinking water—achieving 400x more sensitivity than lab spectrometers.Can this water testing method distinguish live from dead bacteria? Yes—dying and dead cells produce different spectral signatures, addressing concerns about counting chlorine-killed cells.What's the business model? ORB sells insights through CapEx, OpEx, or hybrid models—deployed across UK and European utilities with NASA validation and third-party certifications.#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣ORB Monitor: orbmonitor.comLorenzo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-falzarano/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jan 14, 20261h 10m

S13 Ep 2025 Years of Acquisitions Built This Water Tech Powerhouse [M&A]

How Did H2O Innovation Build a Water Empire Through 18+ Acquisitions (M&A)?Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabH2O Innovation is a Quebec-based water solutions company founded in 2000. Through strategic M&A, it evolved from a membrane filtration startup into a diversified platform with four pillars: systems, specialty chemicals, operations & maintenance, and water infrastructure development—with the mission to Simplify Water.Guillaume Clairet is COO at H2O Innovation and GP at the Cycle H2O fund, with 20 years steering the company's M&A-driven transformation from startup through 18+ acquisitions to a private equity-backed platform targeting $1 billion by 2030.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️🔧 Four integrated pillars—systems, chemicals, O&M, and water infrastructure development—enable full lifecycle customer relationships from CapEx through recurring revenue📈 Proven M&A machine with 90%+ acquisition success rate versus the industry standard where two-thirds of deals fail🌍 Global distribution network serving OEMs across Turkey, Peru, Chile, and Australia with specialty chemicals and components💧 Water reuse leadership through the Water Infrastructure Development division offering turnkey solutions with no upfront capital under long-term contracts🤝 Patient private equity partnership with Ember Capital allowing accelerated growth while preserving management continuity and institutional investor alignment🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜How did H2O Innovation transform from a startup to a platform company? Starting as a membrane filtration technology company in 2000, H2O Innovation strategically shifted focus from pure CapEx sales to recurring revenue streams by acquiring specialty chemicals companies PWT and Genesis, then rolling up five O&M contractors across North America.What makes their acquisition strategy different? Rather than relying on investment banking processes, H2O Innovation sources most deals directly through trade shows, customer networks, and industry relationships—prioritizing cultural fit, synergy validation, and fair valuations over competing in auctions.What changed after Ember Capital's take-private transaction? The 2023 privatization brought renewed appetite for bigger swings and faster decision-making while preserving continuity through existing institutional investors CDPQ and IQ rolling over their stakes alongside management remaining invested.What is the Water Infrastructure Development pillar? Acquired through NextEra Distributed Water, this fourth pillar offers industrial and institutional clients turnkey water reuse solutions where H2O Innovation finances, builds, owns, and operates decentralized treatment systems under 30-35 year contracts.Where is H2O Innovation heading by 2030? The company targets over $1 billion in revenue through continued tuck-in M&A, exponential growth in water processing agreements, and geographic expansion.#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣H2O Innovation: https://www.h2oinnovation.comEmber Capital Management https://ember-infra.com/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Dec 24, 20251h 4m

S13 Ep 19The Future of Water Tech VC: Why Specialists Are Finally Emerging.

How is Cycle H2O (a new Water VC) De-Risking Early Stage Water Tech Investment?🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabCycle H2O is a Canadian water-focused venture capital fund investing $500K-$2M checks in early-stage water technology companies. The fund targets 12 portfolio companies across industrial, municipal, and agricultural water sectors with $30 million ready to deploy.Simon Olivier is a senior partner at Cycle Capital and head of the Cycle H2O Water Fund, bringing 30 years of corporate experience, including building GE's renewable energy business from the ground up, and now applying energy sector investment lessons to water tech & the water VC field.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️🔬 Three-headed de-risking structure: Cycle Capital brings VC management expertise, H2O Innovation provides market intelligence across 75 countries, and the fund team delivers strategic guidance as a "copilot investor"⚡ Energy-to-water playbook: 30 years of renewable energy experience reveals water tech is following the same arc—but with higher stakes since water has no substitute💼 Business continuity focus: Invests in B2B solutions where industrial users pay for water efficiency because it directly impacts their bottom line, not just compliance🎯 Exit-first valuation: Maps potential exits before cutting checks to avoid down rounds—seeking the "Goldilocks valuation" where both founder and investor stretch🌍 Impact without compromise: Treats environmental and financial returns as inseparable, positioning water as a strategic business asset rather than a feel-good cause🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜Why focus on early-stage water tech? The greatest impact and value creation happens early, but the risk is high—hence the unique fund structure with strategic partners who provide due diligence support and accelerate time-to-market for portfolio companies.How do you compress the industry's notorious 12-16 year adoption cycle? By investing in companies addressing urgent market fundamentals like the Legionella detection company Bio Alert, and leveraging H2O Innovation's global network to fast-track pilots and distribution partnerships.What makes a quick "no" for investment? Missing barriers to entry like IP, undifferentiated "me-too" products, no clear roadmap to monetization, or incomplete founding teams—though exceptional strength in one area can offset weakness in another.Why avoid policy-dependent business models? Regulations change overnight; instead, the water VC targets industrial users where water efficiency drives business survival, making adoption a financial imperative rather than a compliance checkbox.What returns can water tech deliver? The fund targets 10x returns as achievable across the portfolio, expects two to three zeros from twelve investments.#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣https://cyclecapital.com/en/cycleh2o/https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-olivier-p-eng-mba-3560b04/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Dec 17, 202559 min

S13 Ep 18Would You Gift Sewage for Christmas?

What Wastewater Products Can You Actually Buy for Christmas?🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab My best water tech analysis straight to your inbox: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112 ⬇️ IN THIS VIDEO ⬇️ This special episode showcases 17 commercially available products made from recycled wastewater, desalination brine, and industrial water byproducts. From ski resort snow to table salt, beer to bourbon, cosmetics to clothing, these items prove that circular water economy isn't just theory—it's hitting store shelves as legitimate luxury goods and everyday essentials. 🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️ 🎿 Big Sky Resort now makes artificial snow from recycled village wastewater using Montana's largest zero liquid discharge system 🧂 Desalination brine transforms into gourmet table salts and superfood ingredients instead of marine discharge 🍺 Reused wastewater beer, rainwater whisky, and coffee-waste vodka prove beverage innovation is real 👖 Jeans from Everlane and Triarchy achieve 95-98% water recycling through closed-loop finishing 🧴 L'Oreal's Burgos "waterloop factory" reuses 100% of process water for Kerastase production 🧪 Hungarian startup Cycle ferments sewage sludge into bio-acid cleaners shipped worldwide 🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜 Can you really eat products from desalination waste? Aqualia's Alma de Mar table salts and UAE-grown Salicornia demonstrate that brine valorization creates food-safe, even gourmet products through controlled crystallization and aquaponic farming. How are beverage companies using wastewater? H2O Innovation, Epic Cleantec, and Singapore's NEWBrew produce beers from purified wastewater, while Good Vodka upcycles 15 million tons of annual coffee cherry waste and Old Humble proofs whisky with collected Texas rainwater. What makes water-smart clothing different? Everlane's Saitex partnership recycles 98% of process water, Triarchy replaces chemical bleaching with ozone, and Girlfriend Collective turns plastic bottles into sportswear while capturing microplastics. Which home products close the water loop? Porcelanosa ceramics operates zero liquid discharge, EnviroCopy paper circulates water 30 times per production cycle, and Vuna's Aurin turns urine into nitrogen fertilizer now scaling across Europe. ⏰ TIME STAMPS ⏰ 00:00 17 Wastewater Products 00:17 Big Sky Montana 04:31 Alma de Mar 06:12 Salicornia 07:49 Tasting 09:34 They almost made it... 10:31 H2O Innovation Pale Ale 12:43 Good Vodka 14:24 Old Humble Special Reserve 16:16 Naif Face Scrub 18:27 Kerastase by l'Oreal 20:09 Everlane Jeans 22:29 Triarchy Jeans 23:38 Girlfriend Collective Tank Top 25:07 Himba Fish Cuff 25:32 Innorecycling Water Can 25:59 Aurin by Vuna 27:31 Porcelanosa Tiles 28:56 Sustana Enviro Copy 30:15 Cycle Biocleaners 32:02 Test Results 33:03 An Epic Surprise...Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Dec 3, 202533 min

S13 Ep 17Ovivo's Bold Vision: Back to Full Size in One Decade!

How Will Ovivo Rebuild to Full Size in 10 Years After the Ecolab Deal?🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab ⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️Ovivo is a global water treatment technology provider entering a transformative new chapter after spinning off its electronics division to Ecolab for $1.8 billion. Under Ski on Water's ownership, Ovivo is now positioning itself for aggressive growth through industrial expansion, silicon carbide membrane innovation, and PFAS destruction capabilities across North America and Europe.This episode features Reinhard Hubner, CEO of SKion Water with years of water industry M&A experience; Elena Bailey, Director at Ovivo North America with decades of experience in water technology who joined through an acquisition in 2006; Mike Snodgrass, membrane technology specialist with 25+ years experience; and Sebastian Andreassen, co-founder and leader of Ovivo's Cembrane silicon carbide membrane manufacturing.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️🔬 Silicon carbide membranes deliver breakthrough flux rates at low pressure with hydrophilic, chemically inert properties that outperform polymeric alternatives💧 Double-digit percentage R&D investment funds innovation without a centralized research department—product managers drive patented solutions🏭 European industrial expertise from a decade of experience in operations transfers directly to North American expansion through people-first integration⚗️ PFAS destruction technology from E2Metrix leverages existing municipal customer relationships for rapid market entry🤝 Long-term ownership culture keeps acquired company founders engaged for 7-9+ years post-acquisition🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜What is the 10-year vision for Ovivo? SKion Water plans to rebuild Ovivo to its pre-transaction size through industrial platform acquisitions in North America, silicon carbide membrane scaling, and PFAS treatment commercialization.Why focus on industrial water treatment? Municipal operations run independently with proven teams, while industrial requires European expertise transfer and platform acquisitions to replicate the 350 million euro success achieved through EnviroChemie.How does Cembrane's silicon carbide differentiate? Unlike polymeric membranes, silicon carbide is hydrophilic, extremely porous, and chemically inert—enabling applications in drinking water, sand filter replacement, and backwash recovery that competitors cannot match.What are the capacity expansion plans? Cembrane's manufacturing will increase 50% in 2026 and double by 2027, with Texas production providing tariff protection and BABA compliance for North American municipal projects.Where does PFAS fit the strategy? E2Metrix destruction technology pairs with existing SSE membrane installations at water plants, creating bundled solutions that leverage Ovivo's installed base relationships with municipal customers.#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣Ovivo's website: https://www.ovivowater.com/en/My WEFTEC coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAb9bDjpOsEHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Nov 26, 20251h 3m

S13 Ep 16What Happens When You Build a Water Membranes Factory Just to Prove a Point?

How Is Aqua Membranes Scaling 3D-Printed Water Membranes Spacers from Garage Startup to 200,000 Square Foot Manufacturing Facility? Let's find out!🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab⬇️ IN THIS VIDEO ⬇️Aqua Membranes manufactures reverse osmosis membrane elements with 3D-printed spacers that reduce energy consumption and pressure drops in industrial water treatment across mining, semiconductor, and beverage sectors. Founded 15 years ago by Rodney Herrington in his garage, the water membranes company now operates from Albuquerque and a new 200,000-square-foot Knoxville facility led by CEO Craig Beckman and CTO CJ Kurth.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️🖨️ Proprietary 3D printing technology creates Fibonacci spiral-patterned spacers that optimize fluid flow and reduce fouling compared to traditional mesh spacers found in water membranes⚡ Energy efficiency gains through reduced pressure drops enable customers to lower operating costs and extend cleaning cycles in reverse osmosis systems🏭 Vertical integration strategy from material science through full element manufacturing de-risks technology adoption for major water membranes manufacturers🎯 Strategic customer validation from Fortune 500 companies including Coca-Cola, Micron Technology, and exclusive distribution partnership with Osmo Flow in Australia📈 Scalable manufacturing platform with capacity for 25,000 elements annually in current configuration and 9x expansion potential in the Knoxville facility🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜Why can't Aqua Membranes just license their spacer technology to major water tech manufacturers? The membrane industry requires extensive real-world validation before adopting new materials, forcing innovators to manufacture complete elements at a commercial scale before established players will consider licensing.What makes 3D-printed spacers superior to traditional mesh? The Fibonacci spiral pattern eliminates straight-line flow channels that cause fouling, while UV-cured polyacrylate provides precise control over channel geometry for customized applications.How did Aqua Membranes choose Knoxville for manufacturing expansion? After evaluating 20 U.S. and Mexican locations, they selected Knoxville for its business environment, educational resources, and capacity to support 95 jobs with multi-shift expansion potential.What role does Albuquerque play now that Knoxville is operational? Albuquerque transitions to R&D, focusing on co-creation with customers, testing new patterns and applications, including gas separation, while maintaining identical equipment to troubleshoot production issues.When will the new printing technology become available? The second-generation process moves to Knoxville in March 2025, with commercial launch targeted for late 2026, offering faster speeds, improved tolerance, and lower costs.#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣Aqua MembranesOsmofloHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Nov 20, 202528 min

The Most Ridiculous Water Technology I've Ever Analyzed (it was worth it!)

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Can Cloud Harvesting Revolutionize Water Production? A Deep Dive into AirHES Technology🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab ⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️AirHES is a proposed atmospheric water harvesting technology that uses aerial collection systems (kites or balloons) with specialized mesh to capture cloud droplets. The collected water flows down through hoses, generating both pressurized freshwater and hydropower from the natural pressure head, claiming to potentially deliver the cheapest water and electricity on Earth.This episode features my rigorous "10th man doctrine" analysis—applying contrarian due diligence to unconventional water technologies.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️☁️ Cloud-level water capture using proven fog collection mesh technology with documented efficiencies from existing literature💧 Dual revenue streams from both freshwater production (modeled at $0.10-0.21/m³) and hydropower generation from vertical pressure head🎯 Potential niche applications for remote, cloudy, inland communities needing 10-200 m³/day where traditional desalination faces infrastructure challenges🔬 Rigorous physics-based analysis revealing realistic costs of $0.30-0.60/m³ after accounting for downtime, maintenance, and operational constraints⚖️ Technology requires overcoming complex engineering trade-offs between pipe weight, friction losses, buoyancy, wind loading, and airspace regulatory hurdles🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜Does the technology actually work? The mesh physics and fog collection principles are sound and well-documented, but cloud-level capture efficiency, uptime, and real-world performance remain unproven until multi-month instrumented pilots are conducted.What are the biggest technical challenges? Running kilometers of pressure hoses vertically requires solving complex trade-offs between pipe weight, friction losses, buoyancy, wind loading, and material costs—issues that significantly impact economic viability.Where could AirHES actually succeed? The technology shows promise for remote, persistently cloudy inland communities far from coastlines, mining camps at elevation, and island interiors where traditional reverse osmosis faces permitting barriers or extreme infrastructure costs.Is the electricity generation worthwhile? Power output represents only ~8% of revenue in AirHES's own models, with typical systems generating just 2-3 kW—barely enough to power a hair dryer—making it more of a distraction than a selling point.Why pursue weird ideas like this? Taking unconventional technologies seriously, even when flawed, expands the "adjacent possible" in water innovation, generates valuable insights, and prevents the sector from getting trapped optimizing only conventional solutions like reverse osmosis.#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣AirHES Technology Packy McCormick's "Not Boring" newsletterSend me your ideas: [email protected] on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Nov 12, 202536 min

S13 Ep 15What Does a Billion-Dollar Company Exit Really Look Like?

How Does Water-as-a-Service Drive Billion-Dollar Exits in Infrastructure Investment?🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab ⬇️ IN THIS VIDEO ⬇️ Seven Seas Water Group is a vertically integrated water infrastructure platform that designs, builds, finances, operates, and maintains water and wastewater treatment facilities under long-term service agreements. The company recently completed a successful company exit from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners to EQT Infrastructure, operating over 210 water-as-a-service contracts across the Caribbean and United States with particular expertise in brackish water desalination and decentralized treatment systems. Henry Charrabe is the CEO of Seven Seas Water Group, who led the company through a successful four-year transformation and company exit, previously serving in executive roles at Fluence Corporation, and is recognized for pioneering the application of water-as-a-service business models in US municipal and industrial markets. 🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️ 💰 Vertically integrated platform - Seven Seas handles design, engineering, financing, construction, and operations in-house, eliminating margin stacking for lower costs and faster execution than multi-partner water tech competitors⚡ Proven track record at scale - 210+ active water purchase agreements with 15-30 year terms demonstrate repeatable success new entrants cannot easily replicate🔄 Patient capital meets expertise - The company exit proves infrastructure investors holding 4+ years combined with deep water knowledge generate exceptional returns in underinvested US infrastructure📊 Public vs private dynamics - Public water equities offer lower risk and liquidity; private funds deliver superior returns for patient capital—both forming a necessary growth ecosystem🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜 Why is water-as-a-service winning? Performance-based contracts align incentives—investors only get paid when delivering contracted water quality and quantity.What makes the US market attractive? Massive infrastructure underinvestment, creditworthy municipal off-takers, and decentralized systems create exceptional deployment opportunities.How do private and public returns differ? Private water investments achieve 10x returns with patient capital, while public equities deliver 14-15% annually with lower risk and immediate liquidity.Why fewer IPOs today? Cyclical markets favor private-to-private exits when strategic buyers offer better valuations than public market multiples.What's the biggest opportunity? Reducing waste beats new supply—California loses 32% to inefficiencies, making conservation more economically attractive than desalination.#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣ Seven Seas' websiteLoughlin Water PartnersOrange Ridge CapitalRobin Castelli's bookHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Oct 29, 202551 min

Company Failure: How SOURCE Lost Everything in Just 12 Months

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🤔 What Happened to Source Global's Water-from-Air Technology?🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab My best water tech analysis straight to your inboxSOURCE (formerly Zero Mass Water) produced drinking water from air using solar-powered Hydropanels. Founded in 2015 by Cody Friesen, it raised $270 million, becoming one of water tech's most-funded companies - before turning into a Company Failure🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜 What was Source Global's core technology? Solar-powered Hydropanels that extract drinking water from atmospheric humidity, requiring no electrical or water infrastructure.Why did the company fail despite massive funding? Ran out of cash after failing to raise funds, faced major quality issues from Malaysian manufacturing, and had unsustainable costs versus traditional water delivery, leading to company failureWhat were the main product problems? High failure rates within 2-3 years, frequent fan and battery breakages, and warranty quietly reduced from 10 to 5 years.Did Source attempt a business pivot? Acquired Proud Source Water and launched Sky Water, building Hydropanel farms to produce canned atmospheric water at scale.What remains of Source Global today? The founder and executives left in early 2025. Hydropanels and Sky Water are out of stock, but the acquired Proud Source Water business continues operating despite the mother company failure#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣ SOURCE's SEC filings (over the years): Source on GlassdoorSource's troubles in AllensworthMy own interview with Source, four years agoSource's website (still active)Cody Friesen's LinkedIn profileProud Source Water's websiteThunderf00t's original videoHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Oct 22, 202525 min

Why 32 Companies Fight Over 24 Electrochemical Oxidation PFAS Destruction Deals

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How Do 32+ Electrochemical Water Oxidation Technologies Compete for PFAS Destruction Market Share? Listen to this!🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner, Georg Fischer: https://www.gfps.com/com/en/products-solutions/solutions/design-prefabrication.html#!How Do 32+ Electrochemical Water Oxidation Technologies Compete for PFAS Destruction Market Share?Electrochemical Water Oxidation is an emerging treatment technology that uses electrical current to break down persistent contaminants like PFAS in industrial wastewater. With 32 identified companies developing proprietary systems—17 specifically targeting PFAS destruction—this crowded market represents both intense competition and strong validation of a rapidly growing industrial need.Antoine Walter is a water technology analyst and podcast host who has interviewed nine electrochemical oxidation companies, conducted comprehensive market research across 32 players in the space, and provides strategic insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and water industry executives navigating this competitive landscape.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️⚡ Power Density Range: Technologies span three orders of magnitude (100-10,000+ A/m²), with higher densities potentially enabling more compact treatment systems💎 Electrode Materials: Boron-Doped Diamond (33%) and Titanium suboxide (28%) lead among PFAS-focused companies, with Mixed Metal Oxide dominant overall🎯 Market Maturity: 53% of PFAS-targeting companies operate at TRL 8 with only two at full commercial deployment (TRL 9)🧪 Defluorination Proof: Four companies have achieved third-party verified >90% defluorination, with half reporting complete PFAS destruction capabilities🏭 Minimal Chemistry: 58% operate with minimal chemical addition, and 83% self-clean through electrical reversal or direct capacity🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜What's the actual market size? Only an estimated 250 of 10 million global industrial facilities have addressed PFAS in wastewater, with perhaps 24 choosing electrochemical oxidation—creating fierce competition for limited installations.How do electrode materials differ? Boron-Doped Diamond offers superior performance but higher costs, while Mixed Metal Oxide and Titanium suboxide provide alternatives, with some companies opting for sacrificial anodes to reduce expenses.What determines system performance? Power density, pH tolerance (46% work at neutral pH), electrode lifetime, and reactor design collectively influence treatment efficiency and operational costs more than any single factor.Are these technologies deployment-ready? Most companies (TRL 7-9) have moved beyond lab-scale, though only Axine and AECOM have reached full commercial deployment with multiple installations.What's the investment opportunity? The collective $120M raised across startups represents capital-efficient validation, with regulatory pressure intensifying and the addressable market potentially growing 10x within three years.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Oct 15, 202523 min

S13 Ep 14Can We Actually Afford to Clean Up Forever Chemicals?

How Can We Afford to Remove PFAS from Our Environment When Treatment Costs Exceed Global GDP?🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab ⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are persistent synthetic chemicals (forever chemicals) used in countless everyday products that contaminate drinking water, wastewater, and the environment. Dr. Ali Ling is a professor at the University of St. Thomas, specializing in PFAS management and wastewater treatment, with a decade of consulting experience helping industrial and municipal facilities address emerging contaminants, and expertise in big-picture systems thinking.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️💰 Cost-Effective Approach - Source reduction is 1,000 times cheaper than environmental cleanup, with upstream industrial controls costing hundreds versus millions of dollars per kilogram of PFAS removed🔬 Technology Expertise - Comprehensive knowledge of GAC, ion exchange, destruction technologies, and emerging treatment solutions across drinking water, wastewater, and industrial applications📊 Data-Driven Strategy - Evidence-based analysis showing that removing PFAS at current production rates would exceed global GDP, making source control the only viable path forward🎯 Risk Prioritization - Understanding that drinking water represents less than 20% of human PFAS exposure, with diet and indoor dust contributing significantly more to health risks🌍 Future-Focused Thinking - Emphasis on persistence as a critical factor, recognizing that today's PFAS releases create irreversible accumulation threatening future generations (forever chemicals)🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜Why is cleaning up PFAS from the environment economically impossible? Removing PFAS from the environment at the rate we produce it costs millions of dollars per kilogram and would exceed global GDP, while upstream source control costs only hundreds to thousands of dollars per kilogram.What's the biggest misconception about PFAS treatment? Most people focus on drinking water cleanup as a past problem, but we're still actively producing massive amounts of PFAS today, and drinking water represents less than 20% of human exposure to these persistent chemicals.Should utilities treat PFAS in wastewater effluent? Treating municipal wastewater effluent is extremely expensive and environmentally impactful, whereas addressing industrial discharges and landfill leachate at their concentrated source points is far more cost-effective and logical.How do we prevent regrettable substitution when phasing out PFAS? The European Union is implementing better frameworks that assess both persistence and toxicity before approving chemicals, while companies like IKEA and H&M have successfully phased out PFAS entirely from their supply chains.#️⃣ Mentioned Links #️⃣Ali Ling's LinkedIn profileAli's paper on the costs to remove PFAS from the environmentHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Oct 15, 202557 min

S13 Ep 133 Days at WEFTEC 2025: My Complete Water Tech Breakdown

What's to remember from WEFTEC 2025? Here are my 5 Water Tech picks, 3 Marketing Tips, the State of the Union on the Water/AI Nexus, and much more. Wanna get 3 Days at WEFTEC summarized in 70 Minutes? Listen to this!🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣BDP EnviroTech's website: https://bdpenvirotech.com/Lummus Technology's website: https://www.lummustechnology.com/Weaver Labs' website: https://www.weaver-labs.com/Algafilm's website: https://algafilm.com/CREW Carbon's website: https://crewcarbon.com/GWI's new Water Investment Navigator: https://www.winwaterprojects.io/🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 Introduction01:22 XPRIZE Water Scarcity02:56 3 Shortlisted for XPRIZE07:05 #5 Water Tech Pick - BDP EnviroTech16:03 #4 Water Tech Pick - Lummus Technology23:59 My Rules & Thank You SimpleLab25:01 WEF Board Member Interview28:21 #3 Water Tech Pick - Weaver Labs35:56 #2 Water Tech Pick - Algafilm Technologies45:13 3 Tips to Power Up your Tradeshow Marketing48:27 #1 Water Tech Pick - CREW Carbon59:45 The Water AI Nexus1:01:36 GWI's take at AI (with WEF)1:08:28 Best WEFTEC EverAbout this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Oct 6, 20251h 9m

S13 Ep 12S13E11 - Henk Ovink: "Stop the Stupidity Before Disaster Hits!"

Will we die young & rich or live older & less rich? That is why Henk Ovink is formal: We will fail on climate change if we fail on water. Wanna know why? Listen to this! 🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout out for Sciens Water's great Rethinking Water where this interview was recorded: https://scienswater.com/ #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ Global Commission on the Economics of Water Final Report: https://watercommission.org/#report My conversation with Sean Davis on PPPPs modelsMy UN Water Conference 2023 coverage: Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOs5J6VymwE Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQhz_yHN5U Day 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZZaON3Pr0c Final Coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gksQHzCYVA 🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️ Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next? 📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE 💸 Why choosing between dying "young & rich" vs "older & less rich" defines our water future - and the shocking GDP numbers that prove it 🌍 How 4,000 liters per person per day completely reframes everything we thought we knew about water justice (hint: it's not about drinking water) 🎯 The five radical missions that could save 25% of irrigation water by 2050 while actually increasing farmer incomes 💔 What really happened at the UN Water Conference that left me staying up all night with crushing disappointment - and why there's still hope 🔥 Why "stupidity pays off in the short term" is destroying our planet - and the 10-year tipping point we're racing towardsHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Oct 1, 202535 min

S13 Ep 11What the Ovivo Carve-Out Changes for Water Investment

How did SKion Water turn a $142M "apple tree" water investment into $1.8B gold with the carve out of Ovivo's Electronics division to Ecolab? Let's find out! 🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Ovivo Electronics carve-out to Ecolab: https://www.ovivowater.com/en/news/ovivo-to-sell-electronics-division-to-ecolab/ SKion Water's website: https://www.skionwater.com/en/ My conversation with Reinhard Hübner: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e1-the-7-secrets-of-the-water-company-of-the-year-you-shall-absolutely-steal LG Chem's carve out of its RO division: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFPOrr-ycFM🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️ Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next? ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 If Ovivo was a Tree 01:20 Ovivo's History 06:50 Water Investment Consequences 11:46 Water Valuations 16:54 The Rise of PE-Backed Platforms📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE 🌳 How SKion Water built a $142M acquisition into a $1.8B exit while keeping half the company - the apple tree story that proves water investment delivers 10x returns 💰 The cascade of billion-dollar water deals in 2024 that's proving once and for all that water investments outperform traditional sectors with documented 2x to 10x multiples 🎯 Why pure-play water companies massively outperform conglomerates and how the semiconductor water boom is creating unprecedented valuations 🏗️ The emergence of 20+ PE platforms actively reshaping the water sector through strategic roll-ups and the specific revenue ranges they're targeting 📊 The Water Food Chain framework that reveals exactly where the next wave of acquisitions will happen and what valuation multiples entrepreneurs and investors can expect at each levelAbout this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Sep 24, 202520 min

What Aquatech's Purchase of Koch's Li-Pro Means: Top 3 Insights

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Aquatech just acquired Koch Technology Solutions’ direct lithium extraction business - Here are my 3 key takeaways!🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ Aquatech's press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aquatech-acquires-kochs-direct-lithium-extraction-business-integrating-li-pro-dle-into-the-pearl-technology-platform-302558347.html My conversation with Devesh Sharma: https://youtu.be/inlyb_aMtzw?si=z1uTHU6GlRvmuKPl My full exploration of the Lithium World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeZJpBySIQo&t=1s 🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️ Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water 👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWaterPodcast ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 Aquatech acquires Koch Technology Solutions' DLE 00:47 The Story 04:01 The Business 07:00 The Market 11:45 EpilogueHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Sep 17, 202512 min

S13 Ep 10Water Membrane Giants REJECTED This - Now It's Changing Everything

Could this new material finally change the water membrane market (e.g.; Reverse Osmosis) for the better? Let's dig into it! 🤫 Tired of stitching together Crunchbase, overpriced reports, and "a guy who knows a guy"? I built the fix. 50 Founder Seats. Join the waitlist: leviathandata.io🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab ⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️Nala Membranes creates chlorine-tolerant water membrane technology for reverse osmosis. Founded by polymer chemists Sue Mechann and Dr. Judy Riffle, these sulfonated polysulfone water membranes withstand chlorine exposure while eliminating biofouling—reducing operating costs by 24% compared to traditional polyamide water membranes.Sue Mechann is CEO and PhD polymer chemist at Nala Membranes, pioneering the first new reverse osmosis water membrane material in 40+ years through collaborations with Virginia Tech and University of Texas at Austin.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️🛡️ Chlorine Resilience: Water membranes tolerate 1-10,000 ppm chlorine for continuous biofouling prevention and aggressive cleaning impossible with conventional membranes🧪 Novel Chemistry: Sulfonated polysulfone creates smooth-surface water membranes that resist fouling while maintaining superior chemical stability💧 Industrial Focus: Targets high-organic wastewater in agriculture, textiles, semiconductors, and mining, where traditional water membranes fail⚡ Cost Savings: Eliminates 24% operating costs through biofouling prevention, reduces pretreatment needs, and extends water membrane lifespan🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜Why do reverse osmosis water membranes fail with chlorine? Polyamide water membranes degrade rapidly with chlorine, forcing operators to choose between biofouling problems or membrane damage.What makes Nala's water membrane chemistry different? Sulfonated polysulfone material with proprietary manufacturing creates chlorine-stable water membranes with smoother surfaces than polyamide alternatives.Where are water membranes deployed first? Industrial wastewater including agricultural waste, textile processing, semiconductor manufacturing, and mining before expanding to municipal and seawater desalination.How does chlorine tolerance reduce costs? Biofouling accounts for 24% of reverse osmosis operating costs through energy, chemicals, cleaning labor, and water membrane replacement—all addressable with chlorine tolerance.What enables commercial scaling? Nala synthesizes polymers in-house and applies coating to standard substrates using established industrial techniques adapted for water membrane production, avoiding polyamide's complex waste streams - making it a promising water tech#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Nala Membranes: https://www.nalamembranes.com/ Sue Mecham's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-mecham-a34252/ The theory of Water Innovation: https://youtu.be/A36PsBc1cnc?si=YFkiE4vdj3pJRS59 Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Sep 17, 20251h 4m

S13 Ep 9S13E8 - The Good, the Bad & The Overlooked of #TeamWater

How did some of the greatest content creators raise $41.5 Million in one month for Water Access? Watch this! More #WaterTech insights? Get my free water investor database: https://investors.dww.show 🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to MentorAPM: https://mentorapm.com/How did #TeamWater raise $41.5 million to enable access to safe drinking water for 2 million people for 20 years? That's the strength of (most) of the World's most influential creators! But, as a water professional, what do I take home? Here are: 5️⃣ My 5 praises for the incredible achievements of ‪@MrBeast‬, @MarkRober and all the other members of #TeamWater 3️⃣ The 3 things I would have done differently (hey, I need to nitpick or I wouldn't be French anymore, right?) 4️⃣ The 4 overlooked extraordinary wins of that Month of Water Rallies If you want to dive deeper into the topic, check: 🙌 My conversation with 1001Fontaines💪 My incredible hour with Gary WhiteIf you want to further understand the fascinating World of water, make sure to subscribe, and let's discuss all of the above in the comments! In this episode: 00:00 TeamWater's achievements 02:27 About Me (so you know where I'm speaking from) 03:21 The Good 09:28 The Bad 15:11 The Overlooked 20:41 EpilogueHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Sep 10, 202521 min

S13 Ep 8The 3 Secret Tribes that Rule Over Water Tech Investment

Wanna know why 86% of Investors treat water tech like Portfolio Insurance? Watch this! More #WaterTech insights? Get my free water investor database: https://investors.dww.show 🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to MentorAPM: https://mentorapm.com/#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ Overlooked Newsletter by Alexandre Devez: https://alexandre.substack.com/ Paul O'Callaghan's "The Dynamics of Water Innovation" book https://www.bluetechresearch.com/events-media/book/ My deep dive into PureTerra Ventures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQhcJjYf9wA🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️ Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW 🙋 QUESTION: Should water tech embrace the "100 moonshots at $10M each" strategy that Prakash Govindan suggests, or stick with the David Ferrer playbook? ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 How are 86% below 10%? 02:06 The Ferrer/Kyrgios Analogy 04:25 Finding 1 - The Side Bet Reality 06:44 Finding 2 - The Doughnut Hole Desert 08:47 Finding 3 - The 3 Tribes of Water Tourists 13:26 Finding 4 - The Portfolio Insurance Maths 17:04 Finding 5 - The Check Size Revelation 19:07 Finding 6 - The Adjacency Map 22:35 The "Prakash Challenge" 24:53 The Updated Playbook 27:20 Free Water Investor DatabaseAbout this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Sep 3, 202528 min

S13 Ep 7This $200 Hack Makes Desalination 50% Cheaper

Ever heard of Electric Desalination Membranes that are Talking Back? Listen to this!More #WaterTech insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab⬇️ IN THIS EPISODE ⬇️Active Membrane transforms desalination membranes into electrically conductive "smart" membranes that actively repel scaling and fouling using proprietary coating technology that reduces resistivity by five orders of magnitude, eliminating traditional chemical pretreatment.Arian Edalat is a desalination engineer with 22 years operating membrane plants who exemplifies water entrepreneurship by transitioning from operator to founder, launching Active Membrane in 2022 after licensing UCLA technology.🌶️ KEY SPICES 🌶️⚡ Electrically Conductive Coating: Proprietary technology enables active control of scaling through low-voltage AC current, reducing membrane resistivity from 10^7 to 100-200 ohms/square💰 Dramatic Cost Reduction: Brackish water pilots achieved 32-60% lifecycle cost savings, reducing cleaning events from nine to three while increasing recovery from 75% to 92%🔧 Scalable Manufacturing: Custom "Spitfire" coating machines enable low-capex franchise model, allowing regional partners to establish production facilities without massive infrastructure investment🥜 IN A NUTSHELL 🥜What makes membranes "active"? Active Membrane applies electrically conductive coating to standard RO membranes, then sends low-voltage current through them to repel charged contaminants and prevent scale nucleation.How does it change desalination economics? Yuma pilots eliminated pretreatment chemicals entirely while increasing recovery to 92%, with only three cleaning events versus nine for conventional membranes, delivering 32-60% lifecycle cost savings.What's the water tech production strategy? Rather than building centralized facilities, Active Membrane developed low-capex coating machines enabling franchise-style regional production, democratizing desalination access for underserved communities under 10,000 people.#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Active Membranes' website: https://www.activemembrane.com/Send Arian some email love: [email protected] conversation with Peter Yolles (one of Active Membranes' investors): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e14-how-echo-river-capital-sees-10x-water-returns-as-too-conservativeMy interview with Prakash Govindan: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e1-an-unpopular-challenging-yet-true-take-on-venture-capital-in-waterHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Aug 20, 202555 min

S13 Ep 6S13E5 - How did a 29-year-old beat $270M Silicon Valley giants?

Making water from thin air at 1¢/liter? Listen to this!More #WaterTech insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Uravu's website: https://www.uravulabs.comConnect with Swapnil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapnil-shrivastav-374867aa/Google X's (failed) attempt at Water Tech: https://youtu.be/GxwOSIz_cckMy conversation with Peter Yolles (one of Uravu's investors): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e14-how-echo-river-capital-sees-10x-water-returns-as-too-conservativeMy exploration of Source: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s7e2-expensive-heavy-but-desperately-needed-is-source-the-future-of-drinking-water🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 Introduction 01:52 Challenges in Atmospheric Water Generation 05:08 Data Centers and Atmospheric Water Generation 09:07 Introducing: Swapnil Shrivastav15:16 Founding Story and Early Challenges 17:55 Technological Shifts and Market Focus 25:05 Desiccant Technology and Future Vision 29:20 System Design and Cost Efficiency 33:08 Business Models and Market Strategies37:39 Challenges and Future Vision 51:32 Rapid Fire QuestionsAbout this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Aug 13, 202556 min

S13 Ep 5S13E4 - 99.1% Lithium Selectivity with Zero Water Footprint?!

Wondering How to Extract Lithium Without Mining or Massive Water Use? Listen to this!More #WaterTech insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Evove's onsite lithium demonstration with Northern Lithium: https://www.evove.tech/dle-onsite-demo/Evove's Lithium website: https://www.dle.technology/Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reklawa/Joe Lowry's (excellent!) Lithium podcast: https://www.globallithium.net/podcastMy conversation with Chris Wyres: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s9e7-how-to-eradicate-dead-zones-cut-energy-needs-by-80-and-double-lithium-selectivityMy conversation with Jay Keener (Altillion): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e9-how-altillion-s-liquid-liquid-technology-redefines-resource-recovery🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 Introduction: Independence and Lithium Technology 04:15 In-Depth Discussion with Andrew Walker 08:25 Understanding DLE and Its Complexities 13:10 The Future of Lithium Extraction 29:25 Introducing Separonics: The Next Generation Technology 36:47 Lithium Extraction and Water Reuse in the Permian Basin 41:02 Ceramic vs. Polymeric Membranes 44:34 3D Printing in Membrane Manufacturing 48:14 Partnerships and Market Strategies 53:54 North American Projects and Challenges 59:37 South American Lithium Projects 01:02:02 Future Goals and Rapid Fire QuestionsAbout this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Aug 6, 20251h 10m

S13 Ep 4S13E3 - Why Ignoring Half Your Assets Makes You 20% Better

Ever wondered why Smart Utilities Let Their Assets Break? Then listen to this: It will show you how Physics beats AI in Asset Management! More #water insights? Subscribe to my newsletter, for free! https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112 🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ MentorAPM's website: https://mentorapm.com/ Connect with Tacoma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tacoma-zach-p-eng-0913514/ My interview with Amanda Siqueira from VAPAR: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e15-how-vapar-s-ai-makes-underground-pipe-inspections-seamless 🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️ Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next? ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 Introduction 01:41 AI in Water Tech: Marketing vs Reality 08:29 Asset Management vs Asset Performance Management 14:53 Tailoring Asset Management to Water 24:16 The Journey of MentorAPM 37:31 The Role of AI in Asset Management 41:12 Understanding AI Claims and Customer Trust 43:36 Predictive Maintenance and Customer Data 46:20 MentorLens: A Game Changer for Utilities 49:45 Go-to-Market Strategy and Consultant Relationships 52:01 Empowering Customers with Simple Software 01:00:55 Growth, Profitability, and Market Consolidation 01:08:02 Vision for the Future and AI Integration 01:16:07 Rapid Fire Questions #WaterTech #WaterAI #GrowthHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 23, 20251h 19m

This Google Device Could End Water Scarcity Forever (Here's Why It Won't)

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What if Google had the solution to save 1 billion people... and just threw it away? Let's find out! Google spent 4 YEARS secretly developing a device that pulls safe drinking water from thin air using only sunlight. They proved it worked. They proved it could help over 1 BILLION people without clean water. Then they just... quit and open-sourced everything in 2021. 😅 Meanwhile, billionaires like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg poured millions into competing startups trying to solve the same problem, with no better results. What made Google's own engineers walk away from technology that could change the world? As #TeamWater is about to make its comeback, there's a lot to learn here! 🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ The Google H2E Collection: https://x.company/collection/h2e/ Google's open-sourced geo layers: https://github.com/AWH-GlobalPotential-X/AWH-Geo?tab=readme-ov-file Google's open-sourced CAD drawings: https://github.com/google/h2e_technical_documentation/tree/main The Google X Team's Nature Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03900-w.pdf The thermodynamics of Atmospheric Water Generation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10293683/#:~:text=Inserting%20the%20constants%20from%20Appendix,heat%20pumps%20and%20heat%20engines Science's recent article on the topic: https://www.science.org/content/article/devices-pull-water-out-thin-air-poised-take My interview with Colin Goddard: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s7e2-expensive-heavy-but-desperately-needed-is-source-the-future-of-drinking-water 👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112 ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 Google's forgotten device 01:01 Clean Water: A Moonshot Challenge? 02:21 Google H2E 04:35 Missing the Target (by 10x) 05:45 Open-Sourcing 07:05 More competition? 08:30 The Main Problem 10:31 Giving Up?Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 17, 202512 min

S13 Ep 3S13E2 - How Hydrated Electrons DESTROY Forever Chemicals at Half the Cost

What if electron-rich Water Gas Molecules could target and destroy PFAS... for cheaper than PFAS removal technologies? Check it out! For more water tech insights, subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6884833968848474112/ 🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ H2Plus Website: https://h2plus.com/ Degradation of PFAS with Hydrated Electrons: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c01469 H2Plus Patents: https://patents.google.com/?q=(%22H2plus%22)&oq=%22H2plus%22 Ican My Due Diligence on H2Plus's Technology: My conversation with Gerald Pollack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTnqiNMolpg 🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️ Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next? ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 02:31 Understanding Restructured Water Molecules 03:31 The Technology Behind H2 Plus 09:23 Comparing Technologies: Electrochemical Oxidation and Ozone 15:45 Applications and Success Stories 20:00 Focus on PFAS Destruction 23:09 Michigan Pilot Project 28:33 Successful Trials and Studies 30:56 Explaining the Technology 34:10 Challenges and Drawbacks 37:02 Commercial Scale and Market Adoption 44:34 Future Vision and Goals 46:54 Rapid Fire Questions 51:32 Conclusion and Call to Action #WaterTech #PFASAbout this Video: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 9, 202552 min

S13 Ep 2Can H2Plus Really Destroy PFAS for 10 Cents per Gallon?

PFAS destruction for a lower cost than PFAS removal: Transformational or Questionable? Let's find out! For more water tech insights, subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6884833968848474112/ 🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ H2Plus Website: https://h2plus.com/ Degradation of PFAS with Hydrated Electrons: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c01469 H2Plus Patents: https://patents.google.com/?q=(%22H2plus%22)&oq=%22H2plus%22 Ican Cooper's PFAS cost estimates: https://nyfederation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/pdf2024/11%20CooperI.pdf GWI's PFAS market map is available on their data platform: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/ 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next? ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 The $9 Billion PFAS Game 02:07 Hydrated Electrons? 04:14 Defluorinating PFAS 05:10 Generating Hydrated Electrons 06:04 Pros and Cons of Hydrated Electrons 07:42 H2Plus' Twist on Hydrated Electrons 10:03 Does H2Plus's approach work? 10:27 At What Cost? 12:59 What's H2Plus's TRL? 14:30 My Personal Take 15:18 To Learn More 16:23 Sponsor: SimpleLab #PFAS #WaterTreatment #WaterTech 🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️ Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water 👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontWasteWaterPodcastHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 9, 202517 min

S13 Ep 1S13E1 - This Painful Failure Taught PureTerra How to Crack the Water Code

What's the Water Secret that 99% of Climate Investors are Missing? Listen to This! Wanna dive deeper into water investment? Get my FREE exhaustive list of water tech investors (that cut 2+ checks) here: https://investors.dww.show/ 🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ PureTerra Ventures' website: https://www.pureterra.com/ Connect with Gijs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsdebruin/ Drop Alex a message: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-crowell-52196a45/ Get in touch with Dylan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-perales/ Reach out to Liza: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizafaber/ Get to know Transcend: https://transcendinfra.com/ XPV Water Partners: https://xpvwaterpartners.com/ My conversation with Tom Ferguson (Burnt Island Ventures): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g-8j8ulWNA My interview with Peter Yolles (Echo River Capital): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sayph9at-kY 🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️ Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next? ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 In This Week's Episode 00:32 Fast Forward to 2033 04:11 The Origin Story 07:54 A Crazy Idea? 10:27 First Investment, First Failure 13:10 Sponsor: SimpleLab 13:47 Learning from Failure 19:22 PureTerra's Signature DD 23:41 The Entrepreneur/Investor Bond 26:25 Sponsor: BlueFoot Membranes 27:19 Water: A Difficult Market? 30:30 An inflection point? 32:41 Water: a Specialist Play 35:35 Building Track Record 37:02 The Coolest Kid 40:48 The Vision 43:58 The Mission 46:20 Conclusion #WaterInvestment #VentureCapitalHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 2, 202546 min

S12 Ep 303 Radical Solutions Transforming America's Water Crisis

3 Radical Approaches Solving Water Scarcity Today, in just one video! More #water insights? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6884833968848474112/ 🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ Black Jaguar Foundation: https://blackjaguarfoundation.org/ Tree Love: https://treelove.org/ IMTA (Mexican Institute for Water Technology): https://www.gob.mx/imta Teaser for ⁨@scienswater⁩ 's 2025 conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx4Dq7gMXSk 🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️ Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next? ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 Introduction 03:25 1 - Poor Pay $100, Rich Pay $40 14:06 2 - Skip One Flood, Save Millions 26:29 3 - $1 Trees vs €10 Trees 37:48 Take Home Message 📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🌳 How planting indigenous Amazon trees creates water corridors and helps farmers comply with Brazil's 20% reforestation law while fighting invasive grass species💧 Why Guatemala's private water company extracts from 1,200 feet deep because the first 600 feet are too polluted, and how they provide 30% of the municipality's water supply🏛️ How Mexico's sinking cathedral reveals groundwater overextraction challenges, while 70-80% of water goes to flood irrigation agriculture💰 Why the poorest communities pay $100/month for water while middle-class pays $40, and how lack of trust in tap water quality drives bottled water spending📊 How smart irrigation technology and real-time soil moisture monitoring can save millions of cubic meters by reducing just one flood irrigation event per crop cycleHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jun 25, 202540 min

92% Water Waste: How Economics Broke Our Best Solution

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Why do we choose expensive over affordable in Water? Let's use the Permian Basin's example to make a point: wastewater reuse is the way!More #water insights? Subscribe to my newsletter on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6884833968848474112🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabAnd a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣My TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/antoine_walter_what_s_the_value_of_your_poop🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE💰 How the Permian Basin produces 3.5 million cubic meters of water daily but only reuses 25% - and why the math actually favors reuse at $8.22 vs $9.55 per barrel🏜️ Why oil fields in America's driest regions dispose of enough water to fill 1,400 swimming pools daily instead of reusing it in desert conditions⚖️ The complex economics behind water reuse decisions involving treatment costs, transport expenses, mineral recovery opportunities, and earthquake liability insurance🔬 How produced water contains valuable minerals like lithium (30 ppm) and magnesium (1000 ppm) that could generate 40 cents per barrel in additional revenue🏭 Why data centers and industrial cooling operations in the Permian create new markets for treated produced waterHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jun 18, 202522 min

S12 Ep 29S12E20 - Diamidex's CEO Told Me Something Investors Don't Know

Wanna know why Big Pharma is Knocking on This French Startup's Door? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabAnd a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Diamidex's crowdfunding campaign: https://www.invesdor.com/rounds/0cd04be7-da71-4b8f-be26-6a778d2648dd?utm_campaign=c.diamidex_nr1.ex&utm_source=website&utm_medium=referral#/The 2022 Nobel Prize they leverage in their technology: https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2022/10/press-chemistryprize2022-2.pdfDiamidex's website: https://diamidex.com/Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-dukan/🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 In this week's Episode01:31 Should you invest in Diamidex?03:34 Technological Breakthroughs in Microbial Detection11:11 Development Journey and Challenges20:21 Product Launch and Market Feedback28:21 Future Prospects and Innovations32:38 Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Regulation35:57 Global Adoption and Market Strategies47:24 Business Model and Revenue Streams53:56 Future Vision and Growth Strategies59:33 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🔬 How a 10-year journey from CNRS research director to water tech entrepreneur led to a breakthrough that counts microorganisms 4-7x faster than century-old Petri dish methods🚀 Why this technology delivers results in 6 hours for E. coli instead of 24 hours and 2 days for Legionella instead of 10 days, while maintaining exact regulatory compliance💡 The secret sauce combining optics, click chemistry (Nobel Prize 2022), and machine learning that makes invisible microbes visible and countable at the micro-colony stage🏭 How major pharmaceutical and beverage companies are knocking on Diamidex's door, with one global partnership launching end of 2024 and acquisition talks already underway💰 The razor-blade business model targeting 75-80% recurring revenue from consumables, with equipment potentially given free to high-volume customers, generating €500K annuallyHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jun 12, 20251h 3m

S12 Ep 28The 3 Simple Numbers That Predict Any Water Stock's Future

I analyzed 139 publicly traded water companies and discovered a simple formula that predicts their valuations using just three parameters: position on the "boring-to-hype spectrum," percentage of digital revenue, and percentage of recurring revenue. This formula reveals systematic market mispricing that creates 8-25% annual return opportunities by exploiting Wall Street's ignorance of water industry fundamentals. Wanna find out? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabAnd a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣The Investor Database: https://investors.dww.show/My exploration of (failing) Small Cap Water Stocks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flen_vwx0kQMy conversations with Nicola Lei Ravello: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s2e13-can-we-turn-finance-astoundingly-into-the-water-sector-s-new-best-allyhttps://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s5e18-how-to-admit-value-and-actually-overcome-the-economic-risk-of-water🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 Making Money from Water Stocks? 04:39 The Key Data 07:45 Sponsor: SimpleLab 08:28 Finding 1 10:36 Finding 2 12:02 Finding 3 13:30 Finding 4 15:13 Finding 5 17:02 Finding 6 18:50 Finding 7 19:57 Bonus Finding 22:11 Sponsor: Blue Foot Membranes 23:07 Strategy 1 24:59 Strategy 2 27:07 Strategy 3 29:14 Bonus Strategy 31:57 ConclusionIn this week's episode:After analyzing 139 publicly traded water companies and uncovering systematic market mispricing, this water engineer reveals seven data-driven insights showing how water stocks trade at a 12% discount to the S&P 500 despite their defensive characteristics, with Asian companies undervalued by 50% and digital transformation creating 65% valuation premiums. The research exposes three investment strategies ranging from conservative "boring money" portfolios to aggressive geographic arbitrage plays that could potentially deliver 8-25% annual returns by exploiting Wall Street's lack of water industry expertise.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jun 4, 202533 min

S12 Ep 27S12E19 - This PFAS Removal Company's Secret to 120+ Successful Projects

Wanna learn how to comply with PFAS Removal targets with the lowest risk and without breaking the bank? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabAnd a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Mirka's email: [email protected] Vets' website: https://aqueousvets.com/homePFAS Sensing with FREDsense: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s12e18Bain Capital acquires AqueoUS Vets: https://www.baincapital.com/news/water-treatment-innovator-aqueous-vets-secures-growth-investment-bain-capital-double-impactMy conversation with Transcend (ages ago! 😅): https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/17-save-time-boost-value-and-wow-customers-in-a-snap-with-these-5-simple-ai-stepsAqueoUS Vets acquires Dixie Tanks: https://www.pehub.com/bain-capital-backed-aqueous-vets-buys-manufacturer-dixie-tank-company/🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 Introduction 01:45 Private Equity and Water Investments 04:54 AqueoUS Vets: Vision and Strategy 06:08 Innovations in PFAS Removal08:40 Concept to Commission Approach 11:22 Nationwide Expansion and Vertical Integration 15:04 Media Agnostic Solutions 21:18 Future Technologies and Market Trends 26:11 The Importance of Focus in Business Strategy 28:03 Competing with Industry Giants 31:19 Navigating US Tariffs and Local Manufacturing 33:29 The Future of PFAS Regulation and Market Growth 36:44 Bain's Role and Impact Investment 42:39 Scaling and Operational Efficiency 47:51 Rapid Fire Questions Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

May 28, 202551 min

Perrier Has 60 Days To Comply With The Law But Can't - Here's Why

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Is this the end of Mineral Water? Or just the end of Nestlé Waters? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabAnd a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Lithiated Water - Health Hack or Snake Oil? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNm9fDAAUzkPFAS in your Tap Water? Don't Panic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPLgE2ZuSqk🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 5 Million Perrier Bottles Destroyed00:53 The End of Perrier?09:28 Why Europeans Venerate Mineral Water11:01 How Perrier Kickstarted a $300B Industry12:53 The Ever Increasing Groundwater Contamination17:14 Epilogue (will Nestlé Sell?)About this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

May 24, 202520 min

S12 Ep 26Water Tech Is Worth More Than You Think: LG Chem's $700M Deal

Why is a mildly successful Water Tech company valued at almost twice the S&P500 M&A average? And how is that link to Private Equity's appetite for water companies? Let's find out!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabAnd a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Pennybacker acquires Cambrian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTWw9A3S7hUSciens Water's Take at the US Water Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrmORG1scuqIo9oW3O5rLcSe--SulfqHz🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 LG Chem's Water Solutions Sales00:28 The Story05:55 The 3 Reasons to Sell09:17 Private Equity's Appetite for Water13:57 What Now?15:49 My 4 Bolt-On Acquisitions Ideas19:06 Why This Matters (a lot!)Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

May 21, 202522 min

S12 Ep 25The Most Influential Water Summit You've Never Heard Of

Why is the Global Water Summit the Davos of Water? Watch this video and you'll find out! More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/ 🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ GWI Waterdata: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/ UltraFacility: https://www.ultrafacility.io/ 🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️ Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ 🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next? ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 The Most Influential Water Conference 02:11 1 - Water Meets Money 27:51 2 - 5 Water Analyst Picks 38:29 3 - My Take-Home from GWS 25 46:17 4 - 7 Picks from Select Experts 53:04 What's next? #WaterMeetsMoney #WaterTech About this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

May 17, 202554 min

S12 Ep 24S12E18 - How This Startup Tests PFAS 5x Faster Than Labs

PFAS testing in Water takes 1-3 months according to the AWWA. How can FREDsense make it happen in 5 Days instead without cutting corners? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabAnd a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣FREDsense's website: https://fredsense.com/Reach out to Emily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyhicks12/Check out Julie Bliss Mullen's interview on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e2-how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destructionFlashback to Meena Sankaran's appearance on the mic': https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s3e7-is-software-to-measure-water-quality-actually-a-matter-of-hardware🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 In this week's episode 01:27 The EPA vs AWWA PFAS lawsuit 04:20 The Economic Impact of PFAS Regulations 06:37 FREDsense and Emily Hicks' journey 10:51 Technical Insights 15:13 Real-World Applications and Case Studies 32:58 PFAS Market Demand and Education 36:51 Global Market Focus and Expansion 39:18 Hardware Development and Bootstrapping 45:48 Business Models and Revenue Streams 47:27 Future Vision and Technological Roadmap 54:51 Rapid Fire Questions📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🚀 How FREDsense delivers PFAS testing in 5 days vs. industry standard 5 weeks through biosensor technology💰 The bootstrapped journey from $25K water bottle crowdfunding campaign to pioneering field PFAS detection kits🔬 Why the company pivoted from arsenic and COVID detection to focusing purely on PFAS chemistry and unmet market needs🛠️ What makes on-site PFAS testing possible: polymer-based biosensors that bind and measure down to part-per-trillion levels🤝 Strategic partnerships with treatment leaders like Clarity, Axl, and Avivo for service lab rapid turnaround offeringsHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

May 7, 20251h 0m

PFAS in Your Tap Water? Don't Panic - do THIS Instead!

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Just received a PFAS Notice at home? Don't panic - let's go through it together! #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ Johns Hopkins study on PFAS in Bottled Water: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34118648/ Study on PFAS in Beer: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40272161/ The Toronto Paper on LCMS to detect PFAS at ppt levels: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac0100648 Decline in vaccine efficiency linked with blood PFAS levels: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22274686/ Increased cholesterol linked with PFAS in blood: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3116641/ Pregnancy disorders linked with PFAS: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35696844/ The AWWA vs EPA lawsuit: https://www.awwa.org/resource/pfas/ Tapscore's PFAS screening test: https://mytapscore.com/products/epa-8327-pfas-screen-water-test 10 PFAS questions answered: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dlH0RSCtH0 🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️ Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water 👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/ ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 The PFAS letter 01:23 Detecting PFAS 04:12 There's PFAS. Then what? 06:01 PFAS contamination odds 07:30 PFAS Health Impacts 08:47 3 Wrong Reactions 09:25 PFAS in Bottled Water 13:54 PFAS in Beer 14:42 Solution 1 17:57 Solution 2 19:31 The BEST Solution 22:10 Next Steps 📝 IN THIS VIDEO 💌 Why you're receiving PFAS notification letters and what they actually mean for your health and water quality 🧪 The surprising truth about PFAS in bottled water and beer, with eye-opening research revealing widespread contamination 💰 Why individual filtration costs 200 times more than community solutions, with a detailed cost breakdown of all your options 🚿 Three practical solutions to protect your family from PFAS, with one clear winner that most people overlook 🔬 How water analytics has evolved from detecting "poo in your drinking water" to measuring trace contaminants at parts per trillionHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

May 2, 202523 min

S12 Ep 23S12E17 - How Swirltex Transforms Wastewater Using Only Air Bubbles!

How can Swirltex claim to succeed where membranes always failed? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-christou-4b758043/Swirltex' website: https://swirltex.com/Peter's first appearance on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e5-how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 In this Week's Episode 01:49 Innovation in Membrane Technology04:32 Strategic Pivot and Market Focus08:39 Sales and Testing Process16:31 Client Relationships and Support21:31 Market Expansion and Partnerships25:45 Scaling and Growth Strategy30:49 Future Plans and Market Expansion40:15 Execution and Infrastructure48:18 2030 Vision📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🔄 How Swirltex's revolutionary membrane technology creates a 50/50 air-water mixture under pressure, achieving unprecedented filtration performance without traditional pre-treatment💰 Why the company's strategic pivot to standardized membrane skids builds 24% recurring revenue while targeting Food & Beverage as their primary vertical (90% of sales)🌊 How their unique testing process allows clients to see exact removal rates before proposals, solving consistency problems that plague traditional filtration technologies like DAF🚀 Inside the company's growth strategy, balancing $5M in confirmed projects while raising capital to scale from direct sales to channel partners and OEM relationships🔬 The technological breakthrough that makes their membranes excel at handling oil, grease, and colloidal materials that would quickly foul conventional membrane systemsAbout this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Apr 30, 202551 min

S12 Ep 22S12E16 - 16 Warning Signs a Founder Is About to Exit Their Water Tech Company

This simple sequence makes 83% of Water Founders Leave Early - that's what I found, investigating 1571 water tech companies and their 3356 founders!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣The Dynamics of Water Innovation Book: https://www.bluetechresearch.com/the-dynamics-of-water-innovation/Global Water Intelligence's WaterData: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/My Review of Paul O'Callaghan's book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A36PsBc1cncMy deep dive in Water Tech's growth stage investment scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqQwOC-ys4c🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 Why start-up founders matter to investors01:02 The Universal Sequence02:33 3 Red Flags that Predict Failure03:45 Methodology05:40 Sponsor06:26 1. Founders' Profile08:23 2. Fundraising Events10:06 3. Market Events12:13 4. Team Development15:02 5. Board Structure16:47 6. Future Evolution18:24 Sponsor📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🔍 The critical 5-step sequence that predicts 83% of founder departures (and how board appointments trigger the countdown)💼 Why hiring velocity is the second strongest predictor of founder exits, and what happens when a company reaches 80 employees🚩 The three red flags that doom startups after founder departures, including why losing two founders in 24 months leads to 72% failure rate💰 How fundraising impacts founder tenure and why hardware companies see 8% higher founder turnover than software startups🌐 The surprising geographical differences in founder longevity across regions and what market milestones actually keep founders engagedAbout this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Apr 23, 202519 min

S12 Ep 21S12E15 - How BlueFoot Created Unbreakable Membranes with "Just" Polyester

Ever wondered if unbreakable membranes really existed? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣Connect with Stephan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-van-hoof-bb77316/BlueFoot Membranes was spun out from VITO: https://vito.be/en🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 In this Week's Episode 01:38 The Membrane Market 04:38 Unique Features and Benefits 11:03 Stephan's Journey and Blue Foot's Growth 16:01 Commercial Strategy and Partnerships 22:44 Global Expansion Strategies 27:39 OEM Strategy and Customer Relations 32:46 Future Growth and Funding Plans 37:27 Rapid Fire Questions 📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🧠 How Blue Foot combines the best features of flat sheet, tubular, and ceramic membranes into one unbreakable solution💧 The journey from VITO spin-off to scaling a disruptive membrane technology with OEM partnerships across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia⚡ The real-world benefits of 50% lower energy consumption and compact footprint that's changing how industries approach water reuse💼 Why Blue Foot's strategic fundraising of €15 million supports their ambitious 2028 target of €40 million revenue with 100% annual growth🏭 How breakthrough membrane technology is enabling water reuse in challenging industrial applications like breweries and slaughterhousesAbout this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Apr 16, 202543 min

S12 Ep 20S12E14 - How Echo River Capital Sees 10x Water Returns as... Too Conservative!

Are 100x multiples achievable in Water Tech when no-one ever reached 10x? Peter Yolles (Echo River Capital) believes so... and he's on track to prove it!How? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabAnd a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣Echo River Capital: https://www.echorivercap.com/Reach out to Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolles/Epic Cleantec on the mic': https://link.dww.show/epicAclarity on the mic': https://link.dww.show/pfas-aclarity🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE💸 How Echo River Capital aims for 100X returns in water tech and why Peter believes it's possible within a 10-year investment window🔬 The "Three Ds" investment thesis - digitize, decarbonize, and decentralize - that guides Peter's strategy in the water technology sector🏢 Why the 20th century centralized water systems are collapsing and how new decentralized solutions represent billion-dollar opportunities🌎 How water tech companies can monetize carbon reductions through voluntary carbon markets, opening new revenue streams beyond traditional water utility customers🚀 Why Peter focuses on university spin-outs with validated technology but pre-commercial status, and how this approach shortens the path to successful exits⏰ TIME CODES ⏰02:23 The Quest for 100x Returns in Water Tech07:17 Peter's Journey from Entrepreneur to Investor09:13 Echo River's Unique Approach to Early-Stage Investments21:32 The Three Ds of Water Tech26:48 Decarbonization and Its Business Potential30:48 The Future of Water Tech Investments35:17 Is 100x Achievable?40:18 Investor Literacy in Water47:47 Future of Water Investments01:02:18 Rapid Fire Questions About this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Apr 3, 20251h 8m