The Imagine H2O Accelerator equips early-stage water startups with the resources they need to develop their solutions, commercialize their technologies, and enter new markets
With an exclusive focus on water and a zero-equity model, we provide comprehensive support that reflects the sector’s unique opportunities and challenges. We leverage our deep sector expertise and expansive global ecosystem of investors, partners, and advisors, giving startups the tools and insight to grow and scale effectively.
CivilGridcompiles utility, geotech, and other project planning data to create a comprehensive map that accelerates due diligence and design of water infrastructure projects.
Kairospace Technologies provides a clean-tech water treatment solution using gasses and nanobubbles to optimize water quality that increases agricultural outputs.
LAIIER’s wireless smart tape leak detection solution notifies property managers and owners about leakages in real-time, reducing the impact of water damage and flooding events.
Sudocis using its patented chemistry to eliminate wasted material, energy, and water in textile bleaching and other water treatment applications.
Cohort
2023
Programs participated
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Benefits
Development, access, and global visibility
The Imagine H2O Accelerator opens essential doors for early-stage water startups. With thirteen years of experience and a deep network of industry experts, customers, and investors, we provide a proven path to market for emerging technologies.
Startup Development
Connect with our network of 85+ mentors.
Attend virtual training sessions led by industry experts.
Receive personalized startup support.
Ecosystem Access
Access our global network of 81 tech adopters.
Secure funding through our pilot awards and our investor network.
Engage our portfolio of alumni startups.
Industry Visibility
Present at premiere industry events.
Leverage our online audience of 30K+ followers.
Gain credibility through IH2O’s stamp of approval.
Eligibility
Is the Imagine H2O Accelerator right for you?
The three IH2O programs serve distinct groups of entrepreneurs. The Accelerator is intended for early-stage water startups around the world. Please reach out if you have any questions about eligibility criteria.
Three things in life are guaranteed: death, taxes, and the fact that the Imagine H2O Accelerator is a must for water startups.
Suhayl Zulfiquar CEO & Co-Founder, Datatecnics
What Our Alumni Say
ImagineH2O was everything we’d hoped for and more. We chose their program over other accelerators and couldn’t be happier with our choice. Their unique, market-specific perspective is incredibly valuable and has absolutely changed the trajectory of our company for the better!
Tyler Henke CEO & Co-Founder, Ziptility
What Our Alumni Say
You can’t afford to miss this opportunity. Over less than a year, you will make more connections to mentors, industry influencers and customers than you would otherwise in five years.
Emily Mathison Product Sales and Marketing Manager, Waterworth
What Our Alumni Say
Without a doubt, being a part of the IH2O network will bring us strategic funding, additional clients and open market segments not possible without participating in the cohort. IH2O has been a pivotal milestone to scaling our business.
Megan Glover CEO & Co-Founder, 120Water
What Our Alumni Say
The content, mentors, and speakers in the IH2O program are a necessity for any water tech startup. Being a part of the program is by far one of the best decisions I have made as a founder.
Martin Gross CEO & Co-Founder, GWT
Case Study
Removing nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater using natural processes
Cohort
Imagine H2O Accelerator 2020, Urban Water Challenge IV
Focus Area
Wastewater Treatment
Dairy farms are not generally known for their sustainability, but that could change with the help of Gross-Wen Technologies. With the 2021 Accelerator Top Deployment Award, GWT will deploy a pilot project at one of the nation’s largest dairy operations to sustainably and cost-effectively recover nutrients from the wastewater—and reduce the farm’s carbon footprint. At scale, the project will produce 270 tons of dried algae, avoid 5,000 metric tons of CO2, and increase farm revenue by ~$1M every year.
Over the course of their time in the Accelerator program, GWT presented their technology to key IH2O partners such as Xylem, SUEZ, and Kurita; they also engaged with 19+ mentors in our network. In addition, when the GWT team was looking for an independent board member, we introduced them to five industry experts to consider for the role. After an extensive process, GWT selected one of our referrals and is actively discussing potential collaborations with the others.
Throughout the year, GWT gained transformational insights and connections as they expanded their customer pipeline, explored project finance, planned for strategic partnerships, and identified new market opportunities.
The Imagine H2O network and programming have been incredibly valuable to GWT as we continue to grow and refine our business model. Although we have learned several industry-specific lessons the hard way over the past several years, we would be a full year further along if we had gone through this program when we launched in 2017.
Martin Gross CEO & Co-Founder, GWT
Our Tech Adopters
Pilot with our 81 tech adopters
We create and sustain a network of industrial, municipal, and agricultural leaders that help our startups succeed.
Long-lasting chemical-free disinfection system that produces less sub-products and efficiently generates oxidants at one-tenth the concentration compared to chlorine disinfection, eliminating biofilm and preventing recontamination.
Cost-effective, cloud-based leak detection platform for water distribution networks with proprietary IOT-enabled acoustic sensors and AI-powered decision making dashboard.
We support startups throughout their entrepreneurial journey
Our programs support entrepreneurs at different stages and geographic regions. See which one is the best for you.
Imagine H2O Accelerator
The Imagine H2O Accelerator equips early-stage water entrepreneurs with the resources they need to develop their solutions, commercialize their technologies, and enter new markets.
Imagine H2O Asia unlocks access to water innovation across the region, connecting startups to new markets, partners, and pilot support from our Singapore hub.
The Urban Water Challenge provides comprehensive support for entrepreneurs who are ready to launch and scale solutions that will transform the future of water in coastal cities.
Christine Boyle leveraged Imagine H2O to take her startup from idea to exit
Cohort
Imagine H2O Accelerator 2015
Focus Area
Digital Water
Valor Water’s leadership recognized that utilities were struggling to meet conservation goals while maintaining their financial viability. In response, the company created a proactive, data-driven approach to lowering apparent water loss, reducing unnecessary meter replacement, and optimizing revenue.
Imagine H2O played a critical role in honing Valor Water’s business model and go-to-market strategy. In fact, CEO Christine Boyle met her first two investors within minutes of Water Innovation Week in 2015! These investors became her earliest and most enduring supporters; one of them later joined the Valor Water board. Another Imagine H2O judge joined the team as an advisor. At the time, the company was still a few months away from a product launch; Imagine H2O’s recognition served as a powerful third-party validation, helping Valor Water secure critical investment.
Every month, we highlight two founders from our Portfolio of 196 startups that are revolutionizing water. See the founder features below. SewerAI Meet Matthew Rosenthal, the visionary co-founder and CEO behind SewerAI, a company bringing 21st-century technology to support aging infrastructure. For most of us, wastewater infrastructure remains hidden underground, out of sight and out […]
Imagine H2O is the go-to-partner for developing, piloting and scaling water innovations. We leverage our deep sector expertise and expansive global ecosystem of investors, partners, and advisors to equip our startups with everything they need to bring their technologies to market. With an exclusive focus on water and a zero-equity model, we provide comprehensive support […]
Join the Imagine H2O team and our startups at WEFTEC! Sunday, October 1 Welcome Reception in partnership with Current and BlueTech Research Monday, October 2 Don’t Hate, Innovate: A Tour Of The 2023 Innovation Pavilion Discussion: Drivers and Roadblocks to Circular Economies Around Water Nutrients Utilities Under the Spotlight: Entrepreneurs Probe Innovation Strategies Imagine H2O’s CrocTank […]
August 25, 2023
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