S12E18 - How This Startup Tests PFAS 5x Faster Than Labs
PFAS testing in Water takes 1-3 months according to the AWWA. How can FREDsense make it happen in 5 Days instead without cutting corners? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelabAnd a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣FREDsense's website: https://fredsense.com/Reach out to Emily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyhicks12/Check out Julie Bliss Mullen's interview on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e2-how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destructionFlashback to Meena Sankaran's appearance on the mic': https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s3e7-is-software-to-measure-water-quality-actually-a-matter-of-hardware🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 In this week's episode 01:27 The EPA vs AWWA PFAS lawsuit 04:20 The Economic Impact of PFAS Regulations 06:37 FREDsense and Emily Hicks' journey 10:51 Technical Insights 15:13 Real-World Applications and Case Studies 32:58 PFAS Market Demand and Education 36:51 Global Market Focus and Expansion 39:18 Hardware Development and Bootstrapping 45:48 Business Models and Revenue Streams 47:27 Future Vision and Technological Roadmap 54:51 Rapid Fire Questions📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🚀 How FREDsense delivers PFAS testing in 5 days vs. industry standard 5 weeks through biosensor technology💰 The bootstrapped journey from $25K water bottle crowdfunding campaign to pioneering field PFAS detection kits🔬 Why the company pivoted from arsenic and COVID detection to focusing purely on PFAS chemistry and unmet market needs🛠️ What makes on-site PFAS testing possible: polymer-based biosensors that bind and measure down to part-per-trillion levels🤝 Strategic partnerships with treatment leaders like Clarity, Axl, and Avivo for service lab rapid turnaround offeringsHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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1:00:24
PFAS in Your Tap Water? Don't Panic - do THIS Instead!
Just received a PFAS Notice at home? Don't panic - let's go through it together! #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Video #️⃣ Johns Hopkins study on PFAS in Bottled Water: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34118648/ Study on PFAS in Beer: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40272161/ The Toronto Paper on LCMS to detect PFAS at ppt levels: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac0100648 Decline in vaccine efficiency linked with blood PFAS levels: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22274686/ Increased cholesterol linked with PFAS in blood: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3116641/ Pregnancy disorders linked with PFAS: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35696844/ The AWWA vs EPA lawsuit: https://www.awwa.org/resource/pfas/ Tapscore's PFAS screening test: https://mytapscore.com/products/epa-8327-pfas-screen-water-test 10 PFAS questions answered: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dlH0RSCtH0 🎙️ PODCAST 🎙️ Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water 👋 SOCIAL MEDIA 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/ ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 The PFAS letter 01:23 Detecting PFAS 04:12 There's PFAS. Then what? 06:01 PFAS contamination odds 07:30 PFAS Health Impacts 08:47 3 Wrong Reactions 09:25 PFAS in Bottled Water 13:54 PFAS in Beer 14:42 Solution 1 17:57 Solution 2 19:31 The BEST Solution 22:10 Next Steps 📝 IN THIS VIDEO 💌 Why you're receiving PFAS notification letters and what they actually mean for your health and water quality 🧪 The surprising truth about PFAS in bottled water and beer, with eye-opening research revealing widespread contamination 💰 Why individual filtration costs 200 times more than community solutions, with a detailed cost breakdown of all your options 🚿 Three practical solutions to protect your family from PFAS, with one clear winner that most people overlook 🔬 How water analytics has evolved from detecting "poo in your drinking water" to measuring trace contaminants at parts per trillionHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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23:19
S12E17 - How Swirltex Transforms Wastewater Using Only Air Bubbles!
How can Swirltex claim to succeed where membranes always failed? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-christou-4b758043/Swirltex' website: https://swirltex.com/Peter's first appearance on the podcast: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water/s11e5-how-swirltex-nearly-crushed-its-founder-before-taking-off🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 In this Week's Episode 01:49 Innovation in Membrane Technology04:32 Strategic Pivot and Market Focus08:39 Sales and Testing Process16:31 Client Relationships and Support21:31 Market Expansion and Partnerships25:45 Scaling and Growth Strategy30:49 Future Plans and Market Expansion40:15 Execution and Infrastructure48:18 2030 Vision📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🔄 How Swirltex's revolutionary membrane technology creates a 50/50 air-water mixture under pressure, achieving unprecedented filtration performance without traditional pre-treatment💰 Why the company's strategic pivot to standardized membrane skids builds 24% recurring revenue while targeting Food & Beverage as their primary vertical (90% of sales)🌊 How their unique testing process allows clients to see exact removal rates before proposals, solving consistency problems that plague traditional filtration technologies like DAF🚀 Inside the company's growth strategy, balancing $5M in confirmed projects while raising capital to scale from direct sales to channel partners and OEM relationships🔬 The technological breakthrough that makes their membranes excel at handling oil, grease, and colloidal materials that would quickly foul conventional membrane systemsAbout this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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51:31
S12E16 - 16 Warning Signs a Founder Is About to Exit Their Water Tech Company
This simple sequence makes 83% of Water Founders Leave Early - that's what I found, investigating 1571 water tech companies and their 3356 founders!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣The Dynamics of Water Innovation Book: https://www.bluetechresearch.com/the-dynamics-of-water-innovation/Global Water Intelligence's WaterData: https://www.gwiwaterdata.com/My Review of Paul O'Callaghan's book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A36PsBc1cncMy deep dive in Water Tech's growth stage investment scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqQwOC-ys4c🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 Why start-up founders matter to investors01:02 The Universal Sequence02:33 3 Red Flags that Predict Failure03:45 Methodology05:40 Sponsor06:26 1. Founders' Profile08:23 2. Fundraising Events10:06 3. Market Events12:13 4. Team Development15:02 5. Board Structure16:47 6. Future Evolution18:24 Sponsor📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🔍 The critical 5-step sequence that predicts 83% of founder departures (and how board appointments trigger the countdown)💼 Why hiring velocity is the second strongest predictor of founder exits, and what happens when a company reaches 80 employees🚩 The three red flags that doom startups after founder departures, including why losing two founders in 24 months leads to 72% failure rate💰 How fundraising impacts founder tenure and why hardware companies see 8% higher founder turnover than software startups🌐 The surprising geographical differences in founder longevity across regions and what market milestones actually keep founders engagedAbout this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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19:20
S12E15 - How BlueFoot Created Unbreakable Membranes with "Just" Polyester
Ever wondered if unbreakable membranes really existed? Listen to this!More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/🙌 Supporters 🙌 A big thank you to my partner SimpleLab: https://link.dww.show/simplelab And a great shout-out to Blue Foot Membranes: https://link.dww.show/bluefoot#️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣Connect with Stephan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-van-hoof-bb77316/BlueFoot Membranes was spun out from VITO: https://vito.be/en🎙️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE 🎙️Podcast Channel: @dwwpodcast Main Channel: @AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-waterWebsite: https://dww.show/podcast/🙋 QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next?⏰ TIME CODES ⏰00:00 In this Week's Episode 01:38 The Membrane Market 04:38 Unique Features and Benefits 11:03 Stephan's Journey and Blue Foot's Growth 16:01 Commercial Strategy and Partnerships 22:44 Global Expansion Strategies 27:39 OEM Strategy and Customer Relations 32:46 Future Growth and Funding Plans 37:27 Rapid Fire Questions 📝 IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE🧠 How Blue Foot combines the best features of flat sheet, tubular, and ceramic membranes into one unbreakable solution💧 The journey from VITO spin-off to scaling a disruptive membrane technology with OEM partnerships across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia⚡ The real-world benefits of 50% lower energy consumption and compact footprint that's changing how industries approach water reuse💼 Why Blue Foot's strategic fundraising of €15 million supports their ambitious 2028 target of €40 million revenue with 100% annual growth🏭 How breakthrough membrane technology is enabling water reuse in challenging industrial applications like breweries and slaughterhousesAbout this Podcast:Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast, the leading podcast for water industry professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking deep insights into water tech innovation, investment trends, and strategic moves in the sector. Host Antoine Walter blends his technical expertise with sharp business acumen to deliver weekly episodes featuring candid conversations with C-suite executives, detailed analysis of major water industry developments, and practical insights for water tech startups and seasoned players alike. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
À propos de (don't) Waste Water! | Water Tech to Solve the World
❓ Ever wondered how the #WaterIndustry was reacting to our World's Water Challenges? Water Scarcity? #SDG6? PFAS? Climate Change? Circular Economy? Digitization and Smart Water?
💪 Get the Water Market pulse for free. In one hour per week, while you do the dishes!
📈 We talk water investment, water tech, water entrepreneurship and water market with entrepreneurs, thought leaders, book authors, scientists, investment funds, VCs, and C-Level experts from water majors.
➡️ Leverage their insights, advice & experience and ensure to stay on top of best practices
🗓️ Tune in every Wednesday (don't miss out! 😅)
🌐 Find all the detailed episode notes, interviews, infographics, and more at http://dww.show
Currently in its 10th Season, the "(don't) Waste Water" podcast has already welcomed around 250 guests from Water Majors (SUEZ, Veolia, Jacobs, Xylem, Kemira, Evoqua, Aquatech, SKion Water...), Scale-Ups (Cambrian Innovation, Epic Cleantec, Gradiant, Liqtech, 374Water, Gingko Bioworks...), Start-Ups (Puraffinity, KETOS, 120Water, ZwitterCo, Membrion, Source...), Universities (Berkeley, the Columbia Water Center), Investment Funds (Sciens Water, Mazarine, Burnt Island Ventures...), Business Accelerators (Imagine H2O, Elemental...), Book Authors (Seth Siegel, David Sedlak, David Lloyd Owen...) or Market Intelligence Companies (BlueTech Research, Global Water Intelligence, World Bank, OECD, Isle Utilities...). Or simply water legends like Gary White, Mina Guli or Andrew Benedek!
On the "(don't) Waste Water" podcast, I strive to make the Water Industry easy to understand for everyone, starting with water professionals, executives, and investors. Hence, he opens the microphone to seasoned, inspirational water experts to discuss their field of excellence.
No one can claim an all-around in-depth understanding of a matter as complex as Water. But piece by piece, you can rebuild the puzzle. With curiosity, patience, and passion, Antoine Walter explores topics such as Advanced Treatment Technologies, Water-Energy Nexus (Hydrogen, Lithium...), PFAS removal, Nature-Based Solutions, Wastewater Reuse, Distributed Water Treatments, Water Finance, and Water Entrepreneurship.
I actually firmly believe that regular listeners of the "(don't) Waste Water" podcast may, in the end, claim a "Water MBA!"
A particular field of interest is how innovation forms, grows and gets widely adopted in a complex and conservative field like the Water Industry. This may be one of the keys to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal n°6 - #SDG6.
Oh, and in short, about me: I'm a water engineer turned avid student of the water business, market, finance, and tech. I'm married, a happy father of three, and I'm French (nobody's perfect 😅).
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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