Maks Vrecko

LinkedIn

Company: Flaska

Location: Slovenia

Based in Slovenia, the Flaska company has a fascinating history behind its founding by Maks Vrecko. After achieving spectacular results with large fields of strawberry crops utilizing “restructured water” (a method intended to bring water stored in pipes and other containers back to its more natural, spring water state), he devised a method to create glass water bottles that contain vibrational frequencies projected to make water that is put into the bottle more like healthy spring water to enhance human and animal health.

Antoine Vuillermet

LinkedIn

Company: ePhi

Location: New York City Metropolitan Area

I am a dynamic leader who set high standards of performance and focus on ambitious results. I am motivated by challenges, achievements and the ability to make an impact for sustainability. I have proven my capabilities and business acumen in operational, strategic and commercial roles in the environmental services businesses, in US and international complex environments.

The Weekly Dive #7

Justin Bieber launches Generosity at the World Cup to offer alkaline water in refillable fountains. Amazon says it will return more water than it uses by 2030. South Korean conglomerate invests $7M in Wildtype’s cultivated salmon. The Bureau of Reclamation selected 9 water innovations to receive $1.6M. Engineers want to bury excess carbon at the bottom of the ocean. This week, we are highlighting HydroDAO’s founder Stuart Rudick. Learn about his background and why he devotes his life work to water.

Your weekly Bonus – “We need to make peace with nature.”

This week’s quote:

I feel it in the rising tide
A stirring deep within
I watch it wash away the old
I hear it call, “Begin again”

I see it in the river’s course
It moves with certainty
I watch it toss and tumble stones
I hear it call, “Be Free!”

I see it in the mountain lake
Reflecting  golden sun
I watch it ripple with the breeze
I hear it call, “Be One” 

I feel it in the gentle rain
It washes over me
The mighty ocean in the drop
Returning me to Me


What’s New with Water?

Justin Bieber Launches Generosity Water At World Cup

Generosity is a water technology company that offers alkaline water in refillable fountains worldwide.

Rolls-Royce uses hydrogen produced with wind and tidal power to test engine

The test was carried out at an outdoor site in the U.K. and used a converted aircraft engine from Rolls-Royce.

How surfing inspired me to create a company that keeps our oceans clean 

Don’t be complacent with an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality when it comes to our polluted oceans.

InfoTiles selected to trial technology in Switzerland 

BlueArk Challenge will provide InfoTiles with solution monitoring, infrastructure test sites, validation reporting and on-going support.


What’s New in the Industry?

How AWS will return more water than it uses by 2030

Getting AWS to be water positive requires new solutions and collaborations involving employees, global nonprofits, local communities, and public utilities—all with the same goal in mind: creating a better future for our planet.

South Korea’s SK Conglomerate Invests $7M in Wildtype Cultivated Salmon 

Earlier this year, Wildtype broke records by raising $100 million in Series B funding — the largest ever sum for a cultivated seafood company.

Nine projects to receive $1.69 million to test innovative water technologies

The Bureau of Reclamation is providing $1.69 million to nine projects that offer innovative water treatment technologies.

Accenture invests in KETOS to advance water intelligence real-time monitoring 

KETOS is the latest company to join engagement and investment program Accenture Ventures’ Project Spotlight.


What’s New in the Science?

Engineers Propose an Ambitious Plan to Bury Excess Carbon at The Bottom of The Ocean 

Our failure to decisively mitigate climate change is prompting researchers to examine more drastic approaches, like fertilizing the oceans to combat the massive excess of carbon dioxide in our air.

Bacterial ‘living wires’ could help protect the seas and climate 

If researchers can learn how to help the bacteria grow, these microbes might be unleashed to clean up oil spills.

This chemist uses online videos to teach about the perils of microplastics 

She talks about two main things: the risks posed by plastic pollution and how to prep for college.

Study: Corn cob cheap, effective way to clean water

CORN cobs, which usually end up in a bin or compost heap after the kernels are eaten, can be used to clean our water.


Stuart has been a top performing investment manager for four decades, “making money making a difference.” His ability to identify emerging market trends has led Stuart to invest in first mover market leaders in their early days, reflecting past returns of 5x on investment and an IRR of 20%. 

He is currently the founder and CEO of HydroDAO and the Water Innovation Advisors, which invest in global entrepreneurs creating our future leading water innovations. He was most recently founding Partner of the Mindfull Investors Venture Fund, investing in the new breed of entrepreneurs creating sustainably focused health and wellness companies. In 2015, he launched Mindfull Crowd, the first crowdfunding platform enabling accredited investors to invest in innovative businesses providing health focused solutions to the most pressing issues in our lives. He is dedicating his life as a steward, honoring Water and its key role to all life and our well being. 

He was the Founding Partner at Mindful Investors, LLC, a pioneering Private Equity fund focused on investments in healthy and sustainable consumer products companies including Seventh Generation and Organic Girl. In 1993, Stuart founded, Mindful Partners, one of the first hedge funds, generating a 20% IRR to investors over 9 years. In the 1980’s, he served as Partner at Shearson, Lehman and Associate Director at Bear Stearns. Notable investments that Stuart has been involved with over the course of his career have included: Earthlink (IPO), Saba Software (IPO), Connor Medsystems (acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $3B), Savacor Inc. (acquired by St. Jude Medical for $200M)

Stuart earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of Colorado and attended the University of Lancaster, UK and MBA program at Golden Gate University. 

Stuart’s sustainable industry Board involvement includes past Board Member of Blue Planet Network and past Chairman of Baykeeper of Northern California. He has been actively involved with B Corporation, Environmental Entrepreneurs, Cradle to Cradle Institute, Global Impact Investing Network, NRDC, Greenpeace and Rainforest Action Network.

Stuart’s daily practice includes paddle boarding, biking, Qigong and mindful living.


What’s in the Future?

‘We are at war with nature’: UN environment chief warns of biodiversity apocalypse

“As far as biodiversity is concerned, we are at war with nature. We need to make peace with nature.”

Jeanne Wang

LinkedIn

Company: China Live Ventures

I look back on my 15 years of private equity investment experience with enthusiasm. I was fortunate to work with companies in a wide range of industries from consumer products and services to B2B sectors such as online marketing and media. I enjoyed all aspects of my work: taking deep dives researching industries and competitors, originating investment opportunities, performing due diligence on companies, structuring and negotiating financial partnerships and working with management teams to build thriving organizations.

As a financial consultant, I have enjoyed a closer connection with management and the impact I can have on solving problems and streamlining processes. I have found my “superpowers” in this role to be my positive can-do attitude when faced with complex business issues, my discipline and determination to establish focused goals to grow businesses and my hardworking “get it done” approach to executing on the plan.

I am passionate about a variety of social causes including supporting and mentoring women in business, climate change and financial equity and education. I look forward to finding my next role where I can blend my joy of investing and/or consulting with my desire to make a positive impact in the world.

Brynne Weeks

LinkedIn

Company: Climate Adaptive Infrastructure

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

CAI’s VP, Water Origination, Brynne brings a decade of experience in the water and wastewater industry. Prior to CAI, she planned and developed water reuse projects at Carollo Engineers, the largest water-only consulting firm in the US, and specialized in non-potable water recycling, groundwater augmentation, and direct potable reuse for clients across California.

Gregory Wendt

LinkedIn

Company: StakeHolders Capital, Inc.

Location: Santa Monica, California

I help people see, recognize and create value.

When I discovered the paradigm of sustainable development, I saw it as a viable alternative to our current capital markets mindset as taught in university economic departments.

Ever since I have enjoyed expressing my gifts across a range of themes:

* personal development psychology
* sustainable wealth management
* regenerative economic development
* green economy
* business innovation

Now my focus is to integrate best practices for a regenerative economy.

I serve a range of clients who are investors, leaders and projects which create better thinking, tools and systems for humanity.

I am most intrigued by people and projects to evolve financial markets, social equity and economic systems to create shared prosperity and thriving for all people and all life.

Since my college days my roles and relationships have expanded with a growing circle of friends and clients who express their vision for a better world. My intensely curious mind led me to study various schools of thought from economics to computer science, biology to meditation and wisdom traditions. Then I built my expertise while working with several large and small investment banks, financial institutions and think tanks.

I am beyond grateful to the women and men who are my mentors, whose insights and gifts inspire me every day.

Today I and my circle of friends weave across the world to serve and evolve humanity through a range of economic development groups, think tanks, investment networks, families of wealth, social enterprises, indigenous groups, regenerative agriculture, social innovation, women led enterprises, etc , through our activities toward implementing the most advanced practices to achieve the sustainable development goals. Please reach out to connect anytime you feel I can add value to your efforts.

Being a Southern California native, I have celebrated living in Santa Monica since I moved here in 1983. I love creating art, savoring rare aged teas, cooking for loved ones, long walks, ocean swimming, esoteric philosophy, meditation, yoga, surfing and photography…

My aim is to express my passion for personal development and human evolution into every moment with every relationship.

Joe Wheeler

LinkedIn

Company: Bluemvmt

Location: Hingham, Massachusetts

Joe Wheeler is CEO and Founder of Bluemvmt. Bluemvmt’s Subsea Monitoring Platform (SMP) collects data from the world’s most advanced technology providers including the recently introduced Eelume Articulated Underwater IMR Robot from Kongsberg. We derive insights from a range of sensors, cameras, hydrophones and other devices deployed either near-shore, or in the deep sea. Ecological, biological and geophysical data is captured to fuel a host of SaaS-based subscription software solutions.

Eli Whipple

LinkedIn

Company: New Power Industry

Location: Berkeley, California

As a member of the winning team of the 2018 XPrize, I co-developed a novel, location-agnostic air-to-water technology that generated 2000L in 24 hours at under two cents a liter from renewable energy. As a company, we also are developing eco-industrial models for sea-plant based fuel and fertilizer systems.

Ronald Wielinga

LinkedIn

Company: WaterCampus

Location: Netherlands

WaterCampus Leeuwarden is an innovation ecosystem. Together with our network of 300 companies and over 25 research institutes we develop and implement groundbreaking water technology.

Dr Peter Williams

LinkedIn

Company: ARISE-US

Dr Peter Williams has over 35 years’ experience in helping businesses and governments adapt to, and make the most of, new technology. By background a strategy and process consultant, he was formerly the CTO of IBM’s “Big Green Innovations” unit, where he played a major role in the development of IBM’s “smarter planet” businesses in the areas of environmental management, water management, smart cities and disaster resilience: these focused on on the applications of technology to public infrastructure and public services. In focusing on disaster resilience, he was the lead author of the UN City Disaster Resilience Scorecard, now used by over 350 cities globally.

Having retired from IBM in 2018, Peter now leads the US Network of ARISE, the UN DRR’s vehicle for enabling public-private collaboration in disaster risk reduction. In this role he has expanded membership significantly and led or participated in numerous projects such as creating a community toolkit for wildfire risk reduction; a critical asset management tool; and action guides for cities trying to become disaster resilient. He also led the creation of a further UN Scorecard for the resilience of industrial and commercial real estate.

Peter was accorded the honor of being named an IBM Distinguished Engineer in 2009, and he also lectured at Stanford University for several years on Smart Cities and Communities. In addition to leading ARISE, he is also an independent consultant working on the application of information and data technologies to water, smart cities and disaster resilience with governments, vendors and NGOs; he is a regular judge on VC competitions; and he advises several start-ups. A native of the UK, he has lived in the US since 1999, and is married with three adult children. His PhD was awarded from the University of Bath, England.