Protecting Olympians and Rivers with Real-Time Microbial Monitoring with VWMS ColiMinder's Wolfgang Vogl

In this Interview, we meet Wolfgang Vogl who is the Founder and CEO of Vienna Water Monitoring Solutions (VWMS), based in Vienna, Austria. The company is known for developing the ColiMinder, an innovative device for rapid and fully automated online measurement of microbial contamination in water.

ONE-LINER:

"With ColiMinder, we’re revolutionizing how water quality is monitored, ensuring safer water for everyone."

Pitch/Reverse Pitch:

Don’t miss Wolfgang’s Pitch for the ColiMinder, which you can find on the video from [4:40] to [14:38].

Discussion:

After the pitch, we discuss:

• The development of the ColiMinder, which offers a fully automated, 15-minute process for measuring bacterial contamination, replacing the traditional one-to-five-day lab procedures.
• The applications of the ColiMinder across various sectors, including drinking water, surface water, and industrial water processes, with examples from installations around the world, such as the Paris Olympics and Hong Kong's water supply.
• The importance of rapid microbial measurement in ensuring safe water reuse, process optimization, and compliance with regulatory standards, particularly in fast-changing environments.

Insights:

At [20:01], Wolfgang discusses how the ColiMinder allows water treatment plants to adjust disinfection processes in real-time, reducing the need for excessive chemical use and improving efficiency.

Advice:

At [31:26], Wolfgang advises entrepreneurs to pursue what they are passionate about, emphasizing that even if a venture doesn’t succeed economically, the experience and knowledge gained are invaluable.