Bringing The Power of Tornadoes to Clean Industrial Wastewater with Micronic Technologies' Karen Sorber

In this Interview, we meet Karen Sorber who is the CEO and Founder of Micronic Technologies, a Water Technology Startup based in Bristol, Virginia. Micronic Technologies is revolutionizing industrial wastewater treatment with its patented Tornadic OnePass system, which mimics the power of a tornado to clean water efficiently and sustainably.

ONE-LINER:

"Micronic Technologies is leading the way in industrial water treatment, using innovation to protect our most vital resource—water."

Pitch/Reverse Pitch:

Don’t miss Karen’s Pitch for Micronic Technologies and the Tornadic OnePass, which you can find on the video from [4:14] to [12:48].

Discussion:

After the pitch, we discuss:

• The development of the Tornadic OnePass technology, which uses the principles of a tornado to create a powerful, single-step water treatment process that can remove 99% of contaminants with 95% throughput.
• The challenges and successes of bringing this innovative technology to market, including securing $9 million in funding and 10 patents, as well as partnerships with the EPA for industrial-scale implementation.
• The diverse applications of the Tornadic OnePass across industries like cheese production, landfill leachate treatment, and mining, where it addresses specific environmental challenges such as PFAS and heavy metal contamination.

Insights:

At [18:33], Karen shares her experiences navigating the complex landscape of water technology investment, emphasizing the importance of focusing on climate tech or clean tech investors who understand the value of environmental innovations.

Advice:

At [27:31], Karen advises entrepreneurs to find their passion and stay resilient, highlighting the critical role of accelerator programs in providing knowledge, connections, and validation for startups in the water sector.