Season 10

In the bustling corridors of Veolia, the buzzword isn’t just sustainable water management anymore. It’s AI. Meet Andrew Collier and his digital team, who are not just transforming water treatment but setting audacious goals to marry artificial intelligence and LLMs with Veolia’s vast network of industrial solutions.

Their ambition? To turn tens of thousands of cooling towers (and countless more assets) into data goldmines and push the envelope on how the world perceives water technology. Let’s explore it:

with 🎙️ Andrew Collier – Digital Solutions Executive at the Veolia Water Tech Zone

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In an era where automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionizing industries, wastewater management is (no longer) lagging. Kando, a wastewater intelligence company, is pioneering this shift with its AI assistant, STREAMi. This transformative tool aims to alleviate some of the sector’s most pressing issues, from workforce shortages to complex data analysis.

But STREAMi isn’t just another tech novelty—it’s a solution grounded in practical necessity and designed for real-world application. How? Let’s figure out:

with 🎙️ Ori Reshef – Chief Solutions Officer at Kando

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Who could have imagined that water treatment could be both a strategic and a sustainability-driven endeavor? (yeah, I know, you, probably, or you wouldn’t be here, but please play along!) Yet, that’s precisely the journey Kemira is on, led by Riikka Timonen, the company’s VP of New Markets and Biomaterials. In an era where environmental responsibility is increasingly intertwined with business strategy, Timonen is spearheading initiatives that might just redefine the chemical industry.

Intrigued? Let’s dive deeper into her vision.

with 🎙️ Riikka Timonen – VP New Markets & Biomaterials at Kemira

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In a world where water scarcity and climate change pose imminent threats, one company is plotting a course toward an audacious goal: providing water access to 300 million people by 2030. Grundfos, traditionally known as a pump manufacturer, is at the vanguard of this transformation, reshaping itself into a comprehensive water and climate solutions provider. How? Let’s find out:

with 🎙️ Laura Gallindo – Global Director Strategic Marketing & Communications at Grundfos

with 🎙️ Phillip Tomlinson – Digital Solutions Leader at Grundfos

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When you think of groundbreaking innovation, you probably don’t immediately think of laundry or wastewater treatment. Yet, SUDOC is turning heads by doing just that—with a new, tiny catalyst that is 100 times smaller and 1,000 times more powerful than its predecessors.

Imagine a product that makes water treatment more efficient, reduces harmful chemical use in everyday cleaning products, and cuts energy consumption by 90%: does it sound too good to be true? Well, this is what SUDOC is making happen. Wanna learn more? Let’s explore:

with 🎙️ Roger Berry – Co-Founder & CEO at SUDOC

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In the world of infrastructure, underground pipes don’t exactly get a lot of love. Hidden from view, they silently transport water, sewage, and storm runoff, serving as the backbone of our urban landscapes. But when things go wrong down there, the results can be catastrophic—think burst pipes, sinkholes, and flooded basements.

That’s the kind of trouble, VAPAR aims to fight, by leveraging the power of Machine Learning and sound commitment! How? Let’s find out:

with 🎙️ Amanda Siqueira – Co-Founder & CEO of VAPAR

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Remember the buzz at CES 2020? Among thousands of cutting-edge innovations, one stood out and took home the “Best of the Best” award: Hydraloop. This game-changing water tech company wowed everyone with its mission to combat water scarcity. So, where are they now, and what makes Hydraloop so revolutionary? Let’s dive in.

with 🎙️ Sabine Stuiver – CMO & Co-Founder at Hydraloop

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When we think of world-changing entrepreneurs, names like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Bill Gates often come to mind. But there’s another one that deserves a spot on that list: Gary White. Along with his co-founder, the Hollywood superstar Matt Damon, Gary is transforming lives by addressing one of the most pressing global issues – access to clean water and sanitation.

Surprisingly, the engine driving this transformation is not an international governmental organization but a remarkably effective charity. Let’s explore the inspiring story of how Gary White’s innovative approach is reshaping the water crisis landscape:

with 🎙️ Gary White – Co-Founder & CEO of Water.org & Water Equity

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Imagine transforming the way we extract one of the most critical elements for our green future—lithium. This is where Adionics’ cutting-edge advancements and strategic pivots could reveal the company to be a game-changer in the Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) market.

Wanna learn more? Let’s dive into it:

with 🎙️ Gabriel Toffani – CEO at Adionics

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Desalination has always been synonymous with high energy consumption and significant operational costs, but what if there was a way to make it more efficient and sustainable? Enter Ionic Solutions, a company that aims to revolutionize the desalination industry with its cutting-edge technology.

Let’s explore it:

with 🎙️ Jordan Grose – Vice-President of Commercialization at Ionic Solutions

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Water stewardship is a buzzword that’s often thrown around in corporate boardrooms and environmental conferences, but what does it truly mean? And more importantly, how do we ensure that companies’ commitments to water sustainability are not just empty promises? Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of water stewardship, the necessity of standards, and how to measure real impact:

with 🎙️ Lauren Enright – Program Manager Water Services @ SCS Global Services

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When Megan Glover co-founded 120Water in 2016, she was driven by a personal mission sparked by the Flint water crisis. As a concerned consumer and a seasoned marketing executive, she saw a glaring gap in the accessibility of water quality testing for everyday people. Fast forward to 2024, and 120Water has transformed from a consumer-focused startup to a robust B2B company, scaling its customer base by 50 times in just four years!

This incredible journey is a testament to strategic pivots, innovative solutions, and a relentless focus on customer needs, let’s explore it:

with 🎙️ Megan Glover, CEO & Co-Founder at 120Water

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Ok, water scarcity and pollution are two of the biggest challenges our world faces today, right? So imagine a technology that could dramatically reduce energy consumption, cut water rejection, and make water reuse and resource recovery simpler and cheaper. Too niche? Too good to be true? Well, we should probably look at Salinity Solutions. Let’s dig in!

with 🎙️ Tim Naughton – CTO and Founder of Salinity Solutions

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Yes I know, we just entered the PFAS removal age, so why already looking on the horizon? Well, removal is great if we stop drinking PFAS. But if the concentrated waste stream goes to landfills (and pollutes soils) or gets burnt and sent to the atmosphere, where’s the win? We’ll inevitably enter the age of PFAS destruction down the line. And you know what, it might even be a profitable move!

Let’s explore it:

with 🎙️ Fajer Mushtaq – CEO & Co-Founder at Oxyle

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Peter Christou had a water membrane epiphany in his garage in Edmonton. But a terrible timing and some financial difficulties of one of his investors basically turned him… homeless, and in the need to steal food to survive. As Swirltex has since soared and proved its worth, let’s explore the full story:

with 🎙️ Peter Christou – President & Founder at Swirltex

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In the challenging yet ever-evolving world of water tech startups, sometimes what seems like a failure can pivot into a tremendous success story! Such is the tale of SimpleLab, who initially embarked on a mission to remove arsenic from drinking water, only to discover their true calling in revolutionizing lab logistics. Let’s explore it:

with 🎙️ Johnny Pujol – CEO & Co-Founder of SimpleLab & TapScore

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In the intricate Water Tech World we explore every week, Aqua Membranes has emerged as a pioneer, fundamentally altering how spiral wound membranes are constructed by replacing traditional netting spacers with innovative printed spacer technology. This seemingly simple switch carries profound implications not only for the efficiency and sustainability of water purification systems but also for the businesses and environments they serve.

Let’s explore it:

with 🎙️ Craig Beckman – CEO at Aqua Membranes

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In the landscape of environmental innovation, where necessity drives invention, Aclarity stands as a beacon of progress, particularly in the battle against per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This formidable challenge, rooted deeply in the domain of water purification, found a formidable adversary in Aclarity—a company that pivoted from consumer-focused solutions to spearheading advancements in PFAS destruction technology. At the helm of this transformative journey is Julie Bliss Mullen, a visionary CEO and founder, whose insights and leadership have steered Aclarity through its evolutionary path from B2C to a leader in the environmental sector’s fight against PFAS.

No wonder I wanted to get my insights straight from her, hence let’s explore PFAS destruction:

with 🎙️ Julie Bliss Mullen – CEO & Founder at Aclarity

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The journey to becoming a water tech unicorn is no small feat. Simply put: it had never been done… until Gradiant achieved that billion-dollar milestone last year. Today, we’re exploring that journey and the learnings that we can all take out from this:

with 🎙️ Prakash Govindan – Co-Founder and COO of Gradiant

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Venture capital (VC) has been the lifeblood of innovation across many sectors, propelling startups from garage projects to global giants. Yet, in the nuanced and critical sector of water and water technology, VC’s role is both celebrated and scrutinized. We’ve often covered here the VC’s point of view, let’s look at the other side of the coin today:

with 🎙️ Brian Iversen – Founder & Managing Partner @ Cimbria Capital

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In today’s rapidly changing environment, water resilience has emerged as a critical aspect of sustainable development and disaster preparedness. The frequency of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and droughts underscores the importance of ensuring that water utilities can withstand and quickly recover from such events. This imperative is not just about managing a precious resource but also about safeguarding public health, supporting economies, and protecting ecosystems.

Against this backdrop, Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, stands out as a beacon of innovation and resilience. With a comprehensive approach to water resource management, Mekorot ensures the continuous supply of safe, high-quality water, even in the face of adversity.

The company’s efforts align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG6, which aims for the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, and SDG11, which focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Mekorot’s success story is not just about its technological prowess but also about its commitment to resilience, sustainability, and global cooperation, let’s explore it:

with 🎙️ Yossi Yaacoby – Vice-President of Engineering at Mekorot

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In “Water For All” David Sedlak offers a compelling exploration of the multifaceted water crises facing our world today. At a time when pessimism could easily take hold, Sedlak encourages a different view—one of optimism and innovative problem-solving.

Through a detailed examination of past and present water crises, he provides a roadmap for overcoming the challenges posed by water scarcity, pollution, and climate change. As I wanted to dive deeper into Sedlak’s insights, focusing on how small-scale solutions could be the key to securing water for all in a rapidly changing world, I sat down with him on the mic. Here’s the result:

with 🎙️ David Sedlak – Professor at UC Berkeley & Author of Water 4.0 and Water for All

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In the wake of MrBeast’s impactful 100 Wells initiative, the spotlight has turned towards the critical issue of water development in rural areas, especially within the challenging landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa. While such high-profile projects ignite conversations and inspire action, understanding the complexities of providing clean, sustainable water supplies demands a deeper dive.

Enter experts like Sean Furey and Kerstin Danert, whose experiences and insights offer invaluable lessons in navigating the multifaceted challenges of rural water supply. let’s explore the essential do’s and don’ts in the realm of water development, paving the way for more effective and lasting solutions.

with 🎙️ Kerstin Danert – Founder & Director @ Ask for Water

with 🎙️ Sean Furey – Director @ Rural Water Supply Network

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Venture Capital has long been said to not be a fit with Water endeavors. As the water sector is deemed to be conservative, success stories in water entrepreneurship were thought to be unpredictable and irrational, hence impossible to invest in. Yet, with the rise of specialized funds such as Burnt Island Ventures, all these preconceptions may well be proven wrong.

In 2022, Tom Ferguson closed Burnt Island Venture’s first fund, with the thesis to find, fund and support the best water entrepreneurs. Did he succeed in these endeavors? Why? What’s the secret sauce? What can you replicate in your investing or entrepreneurship path?

Let’s explore:

with 🎙️ Tom Ferguson – Founder & Managing Partner @ Burnt Island Ventures

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Let me write that sentence I hate: water is essential for life. But beyond hydration, what if it also played a crucial role in enhancing public health? That’s the promise of micro-dosed lithium. This trace mineral, we usually associate with mining for the battery supply chain, is now being spotlighted for its potential health benefits when present in tap water.

Research suggests that areas with naturally higher levels of lithium in water might see notable reductions in suicide rates, violent crime, and even Alzheimer’s disease. In other words, it could turn a simple, everyday act of drinking water into a key to not just physical, but also mental well-being.

Let’s explore the evidence and implications of adding micro-dosed lithium to tap water and how it could represent a groundbreaking approach to public health.

with 🎙️ Sudhir Gadh – CEO & Founder @ Third Element Water

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In an era where technology seamlessly blends with daily life, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are not just buzzwords but pivotal tools reshaping industries. The water sector, the critical component of our environmental ecosystem you know so well, is no exception.

At the forefront of this technological revolution is True Elements, a company that’s introducing the concept of “water intelligence” by leveraging the power of AI. So today, let’s dive into how AI and machine learning are not just modernizing but revolutionizing water management strategies, providing deeper insights and smarter solutions for a sustainable future. As Kimberly Nelson tells in today’s release of the podcast (you’ll find just here ⬇️): “We are just at the beginning of people starting to appreciate and understand the importance of this kind of information and intelligence.”

Let’s dive deeper…

with 🎙️ Kimberly Nelson – COO @ True Elements

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In the face of escalating water scarcity and the pressing demand for sustainable solutions, the concept of water reuse has surged from a niche environmental concern to a central economic opportunity. No longer just a conversation about conservation, water reuse has evolved into a narrative of smart economics, where the value of reprocessed water is recognized not just in terms of environmental benefits, but also in cold, hard cash.

So why is this shift happening now? As industries, municipalities, and agricultural enterprises grapple with the financial burden of water acquisition and the risks of unpredictable supply, water reuse stands out as a beacon of efficiency and reliability. The economic incentives of the water reuse revolution are becoming too potent to ignore, promising not only cost savings but also a competitive edge.

After the social dynamics of water reuse earlier this (special) week, today we dive into the economics of water reuse, uncovering the incentives that are driving its adoption at an accelerating pace. We’ll explore how this revolution is not just sustaining the environment but also swelling the wallets of those who have the foresight to invest in it.

with 🎙️ Aaron Tartakovsky – CEO & Co-Founder @ Epic Cleantec

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In an era where water scarcity is becoming an increasingly pressing issue, the concept of water reuse should emerge as a beacon of hope. But while technological advancements have made water reuse a feasible solution, there’s a critical aspect that often goes overlooked – the social dynamics influencing its adoption.

Today, we’re looking at water reuse, not from a technological standpoint, but through the lens of societal, policy, and human behavior factors that play a pivotal role in its implementation and acceptance.

with 🎙️ Austin Alexander – Vice President, Sustainability and Social Impact at Xylem

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Let’s face it: water is often taken for granted. Yet, behind every drop of clean and accessible water is an intricate network of water professionals dedicated to its management and preservation. The water industry, while crucial, is frequently overlooked when considering dynamic and rewarding career paths. Let’s explore the hidden potential and myriad opportunities within that water sector…

(Wanna get direct water job insights from a specialized head hunter? Then listen to this episode’s twin here)

with 🎙️ Kendra Morris – President Northeast Region at Veolia North America

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Happy New Year! With the start of a new year, it’s the perfect time to look at new job opportunities, especially in the water industry. This field is about to see a big change. Many experienced people are retiring, leaving room for new talent to step in. This change, often called the ‘silver tsunami,’ is a big deal for the water sector. But it’s not just about people leaving; it’s also about new chances for innovation and technology.

This is where you come in. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to shift gears in your career, the water industry offers exciting and important job opportunities. Let’s talk about all the changes happening in the water world and what they mean for jobs. From understanding the impact of retiring experts to the growing role of technology, we’ll (hopefully!) cover it all. If you’re curious about where a career in water can take you, read on!

(Wanna get direct water job insights while reading? Then listen to the dedicated podcast episode ⬇️)

with 🎙️ Lyle King – Owner & Director at Influx Search

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Let’s explore five paths a water professional can follow to reduce the water sector’s carbon impacts.

This year alone, I’ve traveled to six continents, I’ve taken 56 planes, and I’ve emitted nearly 12 tons of CO2 equivalent from that alone.

As I started having a hard time looking my kids in the eye and telling them I was doing all of that for good, I decided to compensate for my carbon emissions by planting trees! 

We’ve had that dead tree in the garden for two years now, so I could totally uproot and replace it with a couple of new ones and balance out my travels, right? 

So I looked up what gargantuan amount of CO2 a tree could absorb in a year to figure out how much I should plant in my garden, and… I have a problem.

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I dived into 23 years of M&A records in the Water Industry (and sat down with a bunch of first-hand experts 😉): 3 major trends stand out:

1️⃣ The most active players are American utility consolidators. Within the top 10 M&A fanatics, 6 respond to this description, and a 7th is also consolidating utilities (although not in the US).

2️⃣ There’s a new wave of “Water Tech Aggregators” that’s rising under the lead of SKion Water, Nijhuis Saur Industries and Evoqua Water Technologies.

3️⃣ 12 companies are playing the “Wayne Huizenga” game – super actively consolidating a very specific section of the water food chain.

with 🎙️ Tom Rooney – Chairman at Sciens Water

with 🎙️ Alex Buehler – CEO at Integrated Water Services

with 🎙️ Damian Georgino – Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson

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Dive into the microscopic world where Ginkgo Bioworks is redefining the boundaries of biotechnology, transforming cells into high-performance solutions for the water industry and beyond. In this episode, we unravel the revolutionary tech that’s turning biological cells into the next-generation toolkit for environmental sustainability.

with 🎙️ Kimberly Kupiecki – Senior Director at Gingko Bioworks

💧 Ginkgo Bioworks is the software company for biology, coding DNA to create custom cells that solve real-world problems.

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We’re diving deep into a topic that’s been swept under the rug for far too long: the media’s coverage of water issues – or lack thereof. Are journalists dropping the ball, or is the water sector failing to make its case?

with 🎙️ J. Carl Ganter – Managing Director at Circle of Blue

💧 Circle of Blue is an award-winning team of leading journalists, scientists, data experts, communications designers, and facilitators that reports challenges and solutions to global resource issues with emphasis on the fierce and growing competition between Water, food, and energy in a changing climate.

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It’s not the plastic straws! The greatest threat to the Oceans that’s living in all our homes is more discreet but much more harmful: it’s the washing machine. 30% of the plastic that enters the sea every year is actually microplastics, and a good chunk of it gets emitted when we wash synthetic fabric at home. What can and shall we do about it? Let’s find out:

with 🎙️ Adam Root – CEO & Founder at Matter

💧 Matter is an innovation company pioneering technology solutions for capturing, harvesting, and recycling microplastics

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What happens when chemistry meets purpose, and sustainability isn’t just a buzzword but a $500 million bet? That’s the riddle we dive into today, as water treatment is getting a revolutionary makeover—from purpose-driven chemistry to game-changing partnerships, all while making a bold leap into a bio-based future.

with 🎙️ Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen – President Industry and Water Segment at Kemira

💧 Kemira markets safe and sustainable chemistries that are part of a good life, ensuring hygiene, safe water, food safety, and more.

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Let’s unpack Evoqua’s intricate approach to Open Innovation – a strategy that significantly optimizes technological adoption and capital efficiency. We’ll get an expert breakdown, offering insights into strategic intellectual property development, the nuances of their merger and acquisition strategies, and why the Product Vitality Index should become your next key performance indicator:

with 🎙️ Ann Perreault – Vice President for Strategic Marketing & Growth at Evoqua Water Technologies

with 🎙️ Joshua Griffis – Director of Technology & Innovation at Evoqua Water Technologies

💧 Evoqua is a global leader in helping municipalities and industrial customers protect and improve the world’s most fundamental natural resource: water

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You may recall how we covered the Xylem Innovation Labs’ inception last year with Sivan Zamir, which led to many questions as to how they actually work! Let’s open the hood and explore how Xylem scouts the best prospects, multiplies their commercial references by 10 and propels them to new heights all of that… without taking any equity. Crazy? Let’s review:

with 🎙️ Max Storto – Lead Innovation Analyst at Xylem Innovation Labs

💧 Xylem is one of the largest water and wastewater technology company globally and follows the simple motto: “Let’s solve water”

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Is AI a force for good or a double-edged sword? In this comprehensive look, we’ll discuss everything from the ethics of AI to its transformative role in sustainability. Are you ready to understand the complexities of an “AI Sustainable Future?” Let’s dive right in:

with 🎙️ Alice Schmidt, MBA lecturer, Adviser to the European Commission, and non-profit organizations like Extinction Rebellion, Protect our Winters, and Chair of the Board of Endeva e.V.

with 🎙️ Claudia Winkler, CEO, and co-founder of Goood Mobile, Europe’s first B-Corp Certified telecom provider, and a Founding Partner of Adjacent Possible Network.

💧 Alice and Claudia had been with us for their first book “the Sustainability Puzzle,” and are back for an in-depth exploration of the AI world and its potential impact on Societal Progress and a Sustainable Future. Which is the topic of their second book: Fast Forward, written with Florian Schütz and Jeroen Dobbelaere.

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Mangrove Lithium started as a Water Technology play, yet it rapidly became evident that Lithium refining was an even stronger product market fit! Mangrove’s clever pivot was rapidly rewarded with a powerful business angel: Breakthrough Energy Ventures. What’s so sexy about electrochemical lithium refining that it attracted Bill Gates? Let’s explore:

with 🎙️ Saad Dara – CEO and Founder of Mangrove Lithium

💧 Mangrove Lithium produces battery-grade lithium hydroxide or carbonate from a wide array of raw sources

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Everybody wants to be the big dog one day! But how do you ensure staying on top once you’ve secured the number 1? That’s what we explore today, as we prove innovation to be key, at the intersection of membrane filtration, digital twins, and sustainability. Let’s wander the ever-evolving landscape of the global water industry and its pressing challenges, with a very special guide:

with 🎙️ Glenn Vicevic – CTO at Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions

💧 Veolia WTS provides Industry-leading water technology and process expertise to solve the toughest water, wastewater, and process challenges

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