The Accelerator is the leading development program for early-stage entrepreneurs around the world.
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.
The Imagine H2O Accelerator opens essential doors for early-stage water startups. With twelve years of experience and a deep network of industry experts, customers, and investors, we provide a proven path to market for emerging technologies.
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.
Water Quality (Real-Time Testing & Monitoring)
Automated, real-time, and cost-effective sensors that detect metals in water. The technology quantifies up to 31 different metals in less than five minutes and does not require any human intervention. Clients use this data to reduce chemical usage, prevent fines, and participate in proper environmental stewardship.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Drinking Water (Disinfection)
Flow-dependent doser that automatically inserts the correct amount of chlorine into the water supply to ensure it meets drinking quality standards. The technology is designed to be easy and cost-effective to produce, install, and maintain in low resource settings like Uganda.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Water Quality (Software, Automation & Analytics)
Web-based prediction system that leverages multimodal data and custom machine learning to forecast harmful algal blooms. These forecasts inform municipalities when toxic events are going to happen, helping them avoid the costs of emergency events and buying them crucial time to plan ahead.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Drinking Water (Decentralized Infrastructure)
First-of-its-kind water purification technology powered by Photo Voltaic-Thermal (PV-T) panels. The solution is 4x more efficient than standard solar panels, requires low maintenance, and can purify the most complex water types at a levelized cost of only $1/m3.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Drinking Water (Software, Automation & Analytics)
SaaS-based solution that optimizes regulatory compliance, chemical costs, and team performance for drinking water facilities. Their Decision Blue software helps customers avoid unnecessary capital projects, extend the life of current assets, improve water quality, and increase staff capabilities.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Wastewater Treatment & Reuse (Nutrient Removal)
Algae-based wastewater treatment system that helps customers meet nutrient-discharge limits while reducing their costs and carbon footprint. The technology removes nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater and converts it into fertilizer for a sustainable, easy-to-use treatment solution.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Water Quality (Software, Automation & Analytics)
Combination of sensors, satellite imagery, and algorithms to autonomously monitor an entire watershed in real-time. The solution provides water managers the data and insights needed to identify water quality problems as they arise, monitor how they are evolving, increase safety, and cut costs.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Wastewater Treatment & Reuse (Desalination)
New ceramic ion exchange membrane that helps industrial wastewater treatment facilities recover 30% more water during the desalination process without increasing the levelized cost of water treatment. The membranes are 20% more energy efficient and 50% less expensive than competitors.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Wastewater Treatment & Reuse (Disinfection)
Decentralized wastewater treatment technology that eliminates sewer overflows and basement backups during large storm events. The solution rapidly removes pollutants and disinfects harmful pathogens 16x faster than conventional systems, and its onsite treatment capabilities result in high cost savings for municipalities.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Agriculture Technology (Irrigation Optimization)
SaaS-based solution for irrigators that analyzes data from existing farming equipment and provides customized management insights on a daily basis. The technology can calculate total water use, highlight areas of poor crop health, track nutrient application, and create an irrigation schedule.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Water and Financial Services (Water Financing)
Live, online “rate study” that enables municipalities to manage utility rates in real-time. The SaaS-based platform eliminates the need for external consultants while allowing operators to understand what is happening in real-time, make smarter decisions, and increase the efficiency of their workforce.
2021
Imagine H2O Accelerator
Imagine H2O Accelerator 2020, Urban Water Challenge IV
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.
Aaron Zell
Equity Group Investments
Adam Tank
Transcend H2O
Biju George
Ampcus Inc
Chris Morrison
MorrisonWater
Christine Boyle
Xylem
Debra Coy
XPV Water Partners
Dirk Brusis
SKion Water
Gary Kremen
Valley Water
Henrik Laursen
AMI Global
Ifetayo Venner
Arcadis
Jill Hudkins
Tetra Tech
John Grant
Lemnos Advisory
Josh Haacker
OGCI Climate Investments
Michael Sesko
Frontier Farmland
Mitchell Presser
Morrison & Foerster
Nicholas Dyner
Moleaer
Nicole Neeman Brady
Renewable Resources Group
Paul Gagliardo
Independent
Peter Williams
Pivot Projects
Pierre Cote
COTE Membrane Separation
Rainoo Raj Ganeindran
Kurita
Ralph Exton
SUEZ
Reinhard Huebner
SKion Water
Rina Zell
Independent
Sivan Zamir
Xylem
Snehal Desai
Evoqua Water Technologies
Steve Kloos
True North Venture Partners
Tom Ferguson
Burnt Island Ventures
Vinod Ramachandran
Apstech Environmental Limited
Our entrepreneurs are revolutionizing how water is used, reused, treated, and accessed.
Accelerator 2020
Accelerator 2019
Accelerator 2018
UWC 2019, IH2O Asia 2022
Our programs support entrepreneurs at different stages and geographic regions. See which one is the best for you.
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.
Imagine H2O Accelerator 2015
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.
Applications open for the organization’s zero-equity accelerator and pilot funding programs With countless wildfires in the west and hurricanes in the east, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to remain hopeful about the climate crisis. Imagine H2O, a non-profit water accelerator, is working with startups to change the narrative. Imagine H2O believes that innovation and entrepreneurship can […]
Join the Imagine H2O team and our startups at WEFTEC! Sunday, October 9 Welcome Reception in partnership with Current Water Join our startups, mentors, tech adopters, and sponsors for a lively pre-weftec networking reception. This event is sponsored by Burnt Island Ventures (Invite only, reach out to our team if you are interested in attending) 5:00 […]
Water Technology Access Partnership (WTAP), a joint initiative between Imagine H2O Asia and The World Bank, kicked off its first project in Pakistan with Aquaffirm. They will collaborate with the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) to validate their patented digital sensor for real-time arsenic testing across over 200 wells in Punjab province. LEARN […]
