Water Innovators Match With Investors And Clients At Waterpitch In DC

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Entrepreneurs like ISeeChange's Julia Kumari Drapkin Pitch their Solutions to Water Challenges at WaterPitch!

WHEN: FEBRUARY 18-20, 2025

WHAT: WaterPitch! Water Startup Matching Extravaganza

WHERE: DC Water HQO, 1385 Canal St. SE, Washington DC, 20003

CONTACT: Dr. Cat Shrier, CEO, WaterCitizen, cat@watercitizen.org [mailto:cat@watercitizen.org], 202-344-7894

WaterPitch! Event Matches Water Entrepreneurs, Investors, Clients and Accelerators with Startups to Advance Innovative Solutions for Water Challenges

From across the country and around the world, water startup founders bring their innovative water solutions to DC Water in Washington, DC, February 18-20, for WaterCitizen.Org's WaterPitcht Water Startup Matching Extravaganza.

The "main event" is held Wednesday, February 19th ("Pitch Day"), starting with an "Introduction to WaterPitch!" by WaterCitizen Founder Dr. Cat Shrier and welcome remarks by DC Water VP of Strategy and Performance Matt Ries, PhD, PE, and lead sponsor Xylem's Robert Armacost. Keynote speaker Antoine Walter is host of the popular "(don't) Waste Water" podcast which, "combines in-depth analyses of which investors are funding which startups, who is making money, and what it takes to become a successful water entrepreneur - delivered with all the passion and excitement of a kid opening presents at Christmas!"

Pitch Day provides a full day of startup pitches and "reverse pitches" in which each investor, funder, client, or entrepreneur support program gives a short overview of the water challenges they focus on, what they look for in a water startup, and how to work with them or be selected as a contractor or by their investment funds or programs. Reverse pitch sessions include facilitated discussion with the audience, providing a "safe space" and educational setting for the entire water entrepreneurship community to come together. These sessions alternate with pitch sessions with up to 30 water startups sorted by solution and market, with opportunities for "all stages, all solutions, all sectors, and all startup founder types."

There are ample opportunities for presenters and attendees to talk or visit the Startup Expo during lunch and the many "connection breaks" sponsored by global water technology company Xylem. Xylem Innovation Labs Open Innovation Manager Brianne Nakamura, P.E., will provide a reverse pitch on their accelerator and other programs the company provides to support water startups.

After giving a WaterPitch! reverse pitch in 2024, DC Water's Director of Innovation, Robert Bornhofen, invited the 501(c)3 WaterCitizen to move its event to the utility's state-of-the-art headquarters, known as "HQO." Bornhofen said he was "impressed how WaterCitizen Founder and Chief Executive Dr. Cat Shrier and her team work to bring together the different people and organizations involved in Water Entrepreneurship - including entrepreneurs, investors, funding agencies, innovation-focused clients and entrepreneur support programs - into a cohesive community."

Events at HQO are managed by DC Water's own nonprofit, Blue Drop, whose mission is to benefit DC Water and its ratepayers through revenue from HQO event rentals as well as sales of Bloom, its recycled biosolids fertilizer product. Bloom will participate in the startup expo and Blue Drop President Chris Peot will reverse pitch.

The 2025 WaterPitch! has already begun for Pitch and Reverse Pitch Presenters who are joining weekly "Virtual Pitch Prep & Practice" sessions with Pitch Coach Diane Currie Sam. The WaterPitch! event app lets registered attendees and presenters connect before the event starts with profiles and virtual exhibits for Presenters.

On Tuesday, February 18th, "Prep Day" activities include presentation coaching plus clinics in startup law, storytelling, and Water in Congress before a presenters' dinner. Tickets are provided through entrepreneur support programs for startups and students attending Prep Day activities only.

WaterPitch! ends with "Policy Day," where startups and their supporters have breakfast with "Washington Insiders" before holding their own Capitol Hill Briefing with congressional staff on their solutions to critical water challenges in the national interest, how they have been supported by federal programs and challenges they face when entering highly-regulated industries consisting mainly of public agencies or large corporations, often competing with large government contractors.

Water innovations featured this year include FYLD's use of AI to manage fieldwork; Segura's real-time field testing for metals; GelPure's PFAS treatment; NamaraWater's residential smart water systems; Active Membrane's water reuse technologies; H2OConnected's toilet leak detection; Dandelion Foodsape's edible gardens; and Reyuz's Shower Funnel.

Entrepreneur Support Programs participating include DC Startup and Tech Week, Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN), and Bethesda Green. Participating clients and agencies include Veolia, Upper Occoquan Service Authority (water reclamation for Fairfax), and the USEPA. Investors include pre-seed angels through private equity, with funds focused on different types of startups including deep tech, climate tech, regulated industries, and underrepresented founders (e.g. Techstars and Citrine Angels).

Startup Pitch Registration closes Friday, February 14th at noon EST, with space for up to 30 water startups, including 10 exhibits at the Startup Expo. Attendee Registration closes Tuesday, February 18th at Noon EST

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Water entrepreneurs learn from "reverse pitch" sessions with investors, clients, and accelerators

About WaterCitizen.org:

WaterCitizen.org is a non-profit leadership development institute for water professionals and entrepreneurs who have big dreams, ambitious goals, and high aspirations to solve the biggest challenges impacting water supplies, water resources and the economy.

Media Contact
Company Name: WaterCitizen
Contact Person: Cat Shrier
Email:Send Email [https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=water-innovators-match-with-investors-and-clients-at-waterpitch-in-dc]
Phone: 202-344-7894
Country: United States
Website: http://WaterCitizen.Org

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