Tom Ferguson

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LinkedIn

Company: Burnt Island Ventures

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Tom brings a decade of experience in water and startups to lead BIV. His start in water came as the lead author on the first CDP Water Disclosure Report in 2010, and he joined Imagine H2O in 2015 to build out the organization’s programming portfolio, which now encompasses 3 global programs vetting 500+ startups per year. Companies selected under Tom’s tenure have raised $600m+ and achieved 5 exits. He holds an MA from the University of Edinburgh, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Guillaume Féry

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LinkedIn

Company: VILVIC

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland

Guillaume is an expert in water utilities and natural resources management. His focus is on SDGs 6, 7, 9 and 11. He has more than 20 years of experience working at the crossroads of technology and water management. After having spent 10 years in water operations, he became a technology expert in the fields of data analytics, digital innovation and emerging tech for the water sector. He comes with robust experience with utilities giants (Suez, Veolia, Thames Water), global consultancies (PWC, IBM, Accenture) and international institutions (the World Bank, UNEP, AFD).

He is also an expert to the Solar Impulse Foundation in the context of the “Efficient Solutions” Label, an initiative designed to shed light on existing cleantech solutions that are both clean and profitable and have a positive impact on quality of life.

Guillaume is passionate about finding new ways of addressing the water and sanitation challenges and help speeding-up actions towards the achievement of SDG6, collaborating with a variety of stakeholders.

He strongly believes that innovation is not a slogan, but it is a process with substance. And there are plenty of ideas, opportunities, entrepreneurs and knowledge out there to revolutionize the water sector and bring life and health to all.

Motto: “Do or don’t, there is no try” – Yoda.

Drew FitzGerald

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LinkedIn

Company: 501CTHREE.ORG

Drew, along with Jaden Smith, and a handpicked team of science, engineering, public health and innovation experts, is a co-founder of 501CTHREE.org a non-profit dedicated to driving content and innovation around global, energy, water, health and shelter solutions. 501CTHREE’s first project in the pipeline are deployable water filtration systems in water crisis areas such as Flint, Michigan. Jaden and Drew’s recent tech deployment in Flint was awarded Fast Company’s Innovation Of The Year Award in the social good category.

Drew is one of the co-founders, along with Will and Jaden Smith, of JUST: a company formed to drive positive social and environmental impact in everyday items while creating sustainable awareness around energy, food and water. Their first product – JUST Water – was created to reduce both plastic utilization and emissions in single serve bottled water packaging by utilizing innovative paper packaging and bioplastics from sugarcane alternatives to petroleum. The company is also an innovator in water sourcing by engaging in the first “public-private” partnership to ensure that the spring water is ethically sourced and conserved. JUST water was recognized as the “Best Packaging Solution” at the 2018 Global Bottled Water Congress.

Drew also served as the Creative Innovation Director for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Drew helped advise the department’s mission and innovation decisions in the areas of: biomimicry, resiliency and smart cities, material science innovation, environmental systems, biological nano-scale engineering, renewable energy innovation, and artificial intelligence as pertains to optimized research outcomes in the department’s stated fields.

Drew also served as the Creative Director to The Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) at MIT. Drew’s role with the PSFC is specific to the most promising innovation in the field of nuclear and applied physics to the global energy grid: the department’s design and deployment of the world’s first affordable, compact and robust nuclear fusion power generators – now commercialized as Commonwealth Fusion Systems in Boston. When at scale, these generators provide limitless, carbon-free power to the existing global energy grid with no harmful by-products, weaponization or safety Issues.

Drew is one of the founding advisors of The Prime Coalition – a revolutionary non-profit based in Cambridge that proactively steers direly-needed philanthropic capital to early-stage, clean energy technologies. When at scale, such technologies are anticipated to reduce billions of tons of carbon emissions annually. The Prime Coalition is also currently working with the U.S. Department of Treasury to modify the United States Tax Code to legally define “climate change” as a charitable cause.

Drew served as the Incepting Creative Director of MIT President Rafeal Reif’s MIT Innovation Initiative co-chaired by Professor Fiona Murray and Professor Vladimir Bulović.

Drew previously served as the Creative Development and Innovation advisor at Dentsu US / Story Lab Group. DSLG is a development and experimentation lab innovating the way stories are told for impact amplified by Global Brand Media spends. Drew also served as a CSR and Impact advisor for the entire Dentsu Aegis Network.

Drew is an advisor to The Redford Center. The Redford Center was founded by Robert and Jamie Redford to cultivate storytelling and advocacy around climate change related issues.

Drew is on Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s LA Grand Challenge Task Force – a Partnership with UCLA and the City of LA to speed the path for more water and energy efficient innovations into the market.

501CTHREE has a strategic partnership with the United Nations Office for Partnerships

Drew is also an Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Cabinet on volunteerism and climate change.

Drew is a board member of the Environmental Media Association in Los Angeles. The EMA was formed by Norman Lear and Alan Horn in 1989 to help introduce greater environmental themes into film and television properties in Hollywood.

He is a graduate of Syracuse University.

Dr. Peter Fiske

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LinkedIn

Company: National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI)

Location: Richmond, California

Dr. Peter S. Fiske is the Director of the Water-Energy Resilience Research Institute (WERRI) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory where he leads a basic and applied research program to address critical gaps in the reliability, efficiency and sustainability of water-energy systems in California and the nation. He is also a founding faculty member of DOE’s Energy I-Corps Program where he mentors and advises early-stage energy-oriented entrepreneurs.

Prior to joining LBNL, Fiske was the Chief Executive Officer of PAX Water Technologies, Inc. from 2008 until January, 2017 when it was acquired by UGSI Inc.  PAX Water pioneered the use of biomimicry to develop innovative and energy efficient technologies for the water industry.  PAX Water won a number of national water industry awards and its iconic Lily impeller technology was featured in a major design exhibit at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 2008. Prior to joining PAX Water, Fiske was co-founder of RAPT Industries, Inc., a pioneer in the field of plasma processing of optics and semiconductors. Fiske spun the company out of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he was a staff scientist. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1994 and an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley in 2002.

Chris Fortunato

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LinkedIn

Company: CRH Ventures

Location: New York City, New York

I invest in technology-enabled and internet businesses at CRH Ventures. I have been making venture capital investments across the globe for more than 10 years and, today, I am most interested in working with entrepreneurs driving Industry 4.0 and revolutionizing the way companies manufacture, advance and distribute their products.

The Weekly Dive #18

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The US’ first grid-connected wave energy test facility is deployed. Spring and Microsoft collaborate on water innovation. Why we won’t solve the climate crisis without fixing water. Fundings flowing in California, Texas, and New York. Hypnotizing footage shows ‘Doomsday’ Glacier is melting from below. Two new forms of salt water have been discovered and could rewrite fundamental chemistry. PFAS is found on all continents except one, Antarctica. Solar powered yachts making waves. This week, we are highlighting Udi Tirosh, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors. Learn about his impressive background and why he is passionate about water.

Your weekly Bonus – What will water, climate, and pandemic preparedness look like in the future? Scientists brief the UN.

This week’s quote:

“Be like water making its way through cracks. Adjust to any object in your path and you shall find a way to flow around or through it.”

— Tao Te Ching

What’s New with Our Portfolio Companies?

Sigma Planning Corp. purchased 67,833 shares of 374Water, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCWO)

The investment fund purchased 67,833 shares of the company’s stock at approximately $192,000.

What’s New with Water Innovations?

The US’s first grid-connected wave energy test facility is coming 

PacWave is a US Department of Energy-funded, grid-connected, full-scale test facility for wave energy conversion technologies. It’s the first of its kind in the US, and construction is well under way.

Spring collaborates with Microsoft and Impact X on water innovation

The Impact X-Venture Studio has been launched to support entrepreneurs across Europe.

Watch the Fully Solar-Powered Yacht ‘Tesla of the Seas’ Travel the Ocean

Solar-powered yachts are making waves in a traditionally diesel-chugging industry.

Pew Launches Tool To Advance Marine Protected Areas In High Seas 

This new tool helps decision-makers and the public zero in on priority areas for protection.

What’s New in the Industry?

Liquid asset: why we won’t solve the climate crisis without fixing water

Understanding the relationship between water and climate is vital to addressing the climate crisis.

Texas approves $5.7M for flood resilience project

Texas approved financial assistance through the Flood Infrastructure Fund for the City of Pasadena to improve its wastewater plants’ flood resilience.

California awards $15 million for water supply, stormwater capture projects 

The state awarded funding to support stormwater capture, groundwater recharge, and water supply.

New York State approves $33M for drinking water projects 

The state approved low-cost financing and grants for eight drinking water infrastructure projects.

What’s New in the Science?

Hypnotizing Underwater Footage Shows Rapidly Melting Cracks Below ‘Doomsday’ Glacier 

New footage has revealed Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier is shrinking from below in a way scientists hadn’t expected – with melting happening rapidly along the cracks and crevasses in its base.

Sea Ice Surrounding Antarctica Hit a New Record Low, Putting Ice Shelves at Risk

With a couple more weeks likely left in the melt season, the extent is expected to drop further before reaching its annual minimum.

Two New Forms of Salt Water Could Rewrite Fundamental Chemistry 

Two newly discovered forms of frozen salt water could help scientists resolve the Solar System’s ice-encrusted moons’ mystery.

‘Forever Chemicals’ Have Been Found in Animals on Every Continent Except One 

Animals are contaminated with hazardous forever chemicals on every continent except Antarctica.

Our HydroDAO Advisors: Udi Tirosh

Udi resides in Tel-Aviv by the shores of the Mediterranean Sea where he is an executive and entrepreneur in advanced technology focusing on breakthrough water desalination and treatment technologies.

He founded and headed the Water Reuse Business Unit at IDE Technologies – leading the business case for advanced methods of membranal purification of treated wastewater. He later led the Product Management team at Fluence Corp. (ASE: FLC), promoting market adaptation for new membrane-based products for sewage treatment and seawater desalination. Udi has implemented advanced water technology pilot installations and water treatment projects in China, Philippines, India, Spain, Taiwan, Norway and USA.

Thank you Udi for your work and leadership improving the access to quality  water around the world and for your support to our HydroDAO community.

What’s in the Future?

Scientists Brief UNGA on Water, Climate, and Pandemic Preparedness 

The briefings contribute to the UN 2023 Water Conference in March and the SDG Summit in September 2023, as well as to several negotiating processes related to transformation currently underway in the UNGA.

Steven Fox

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LinkedIn

Company: Propeller

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Partner at Propeller, an early stage climate-tech venture fund that invests in and builds ocean-climate companies that use science and technology to address the climate crisis. In partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Anya Freeman

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LinkedIn

Company: Kind Designs

Location: Miami, Florida

We are addressing rising sea-levels and failing conventional seawalls by 3D Printing living seawalls that are both structural and ecological .The seawalls protect communities from flooding and storm surges. They also function as an artificial reef, sequester carbon and have built-in sensors.

Karen Frost

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LinkedIn

Company: The Water Council

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I lead three globally focused water tech innovation programs supporting startups in the industry, matchmaking and global economic development.

The Water Council is a global hub dedicated to solving critical water challenges by driving innovation in freshwater technology and advancing water stewardship.

Mike German

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LinkedIn

Company: Amorphic Tech Ltd

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Product Manager and Founder with experience taking a Technology Product from ideation to launch with $10MN in revenue and 300,000 monthly active users.

Key Accomplishments:

1. Took a water technology platform from ideation to launch with 300,000 end-users to provide people in low-income countries with access to clean water.
2. Developed business model and lead Go-To-Market strategy generating $10MN in revenue.
3. Hired, managed, and mentored 100+ engineers, marketers, product managers across the organization.