Preventing Contamination from Stormwater and Livestock with Zinc with DMRI PurAsure's Rick Latella

In this Interview, we meet Rick Latella who is the Co-Founder and President of DMR International, a Water Technology Startup based in Woodstock, Illinois. DMR International developed PurAsure™, an innovative stormwater management system designed to kill bacteria on contact in stormwater to reduce contaminated water discharge into waterways.

ONE-LINER:

DMR International Inc. created WaterGrate™ utilizing PurAsure™ Media technology powered by NOVEX-AMG® with Zinc for remediating pathogens in Urban and Rural Stormwater systems.

Pitch/Reverse Pitch:

Don’t miss Rick’s Pitch for DMR International and the PurAsure™ product, which you can find on the video from [4:04] to [9:08].

Discussion:

After the pitch, we discuss:

• The development of PurAsure™, which uses organometallic materials to kill bacteria and pathogens in stormwater, helping to reduce pollution in freshwater sources.
• The significant market opportunity for retrofitting existing stormwater systems, particularly in the U.S., where 30% of waters are polluted by stormwater runoff.
• The traction DMR International has gained, including raising $500K in investments, securing three patents, and expanding sales with early adopters in agricultural and urban settings.

Insights:

At [19:37], Rick shares his positive experiences pitching at WaterPitch events in Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., emphasizing the importance of networking and engaging with diverse stakeholders in the water sector.

Advice:

At [26:22], Rick advises other startup founders to "get out there and shake as many hands as you can," emphasizing the value of listening to potential customers and understanding their pain points to better align your product with market needs.