Water Technology Accelerators Driving Innovation and the Pilot Testing in the Great Lakes with the Cleveland Water Alliance / Freshwater Innovation Fund's Bryan Stubbs

In this Interview, we meet Bryan Stubbs who is the President and Executive Director of the Cleveland Water Alliance and the Managing Director of the Freshwater Innovation Fund, both based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cleveland Water Alliance is a Water Technology Accelerator that supports startups through testbeds and innovation challenges, while the Freshwater Innovation Fund provides critical early-stage funding to bring these water technologies to market.

ONE-LINER:

"We are a water technology accelerator that really strives to meet market demand through a series of testbeds, and our Fund builds on these technologies to invest in them and drive innovation."

Pitch/Reverse Pitch:

Don’t miss Bryan’s Overview of the Cleveland Water Alliance and Freshwater Innovation Fund, which you can find on the video from [2:43] to [3:19].

Discussion:

After the overview, we discuss:

• The resources and support provided by the Cleveland Water Alliance to startups, including non-dilutive grant funding and access to unique testbeds that allow for real-world technology trials.
• The critical role of the Freshwater Innovation Fund in bridging the funding gap for water startups, with investments ranging from $250,000 to $1 million to help scale innovative technologies.
• The challenges water startups face in getting their technologies to market, and how both the Alliance and the Fund work together to de-risk these innovations and accelerate their adoption.

Insights:

At [21:51], Bryan discusses how the Cleveland Water Alliance’s testbeds provide startups with crucial feedback and reduce the long sell cycle typical in the water sector, while the Freshwater Innovation Fund leverages this network to make informed investment decisions.

Advice:

At [42:39], Bryan advises water startups and new fund managers alike to be persistent, resourceful, and clear about their thesis, emphasizing the importance of asking for help and building strong, supportive networks.