Water Startups from across the country and around the world will be coming to Washington, DC, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 8:00AM – 5:00PM EST to Pitch their Water Innovations and connect with Investors, Federal Funders, and Clients at WaterPitch! The Water Startup Matching Extravaganza™ (WaterPitch.Org).
WaterPitch! is a startup-centric, high-energy, high-engagement event where Water Startups are recognized as “Heroes of Water” with the courage to take on Water’s Greatest Challenges. The Event Goal is to ensure every Pitching Startup leaves with at least one prospective Investor, Funder, Client, Partner or Program.
Each Startup provides a 6-minute Pitch for their companies, which cover a wide range of markets and solutions across 3 Sessions:
- Municipal Water/Wastewater/Stormwater, Infrastructure, Workforce/DEI, Environmental Justice, and Communications
- Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Residential Water/Wastewater/Stormwater and Environmental Remediation
- Climate, Sustainability, Ecosystem & Water Resource/Ocean Restoration, Global Water/Sanitation/Health (WASH)
Several Startups are returning from the first Water Startup Matching Extravaganza™ held during USEPA’s 2023 Water Innovation Week in Cincinnati. Said Sunfish Founder Alberto Lopez from Sunfish.AI, “You have a great audience, very focused on water, and you get very valuable feedback both in terms on what you can improve in our pitch, what people are interested in investing in, and what challenges you might encounter in your journey.”
WaterPitch! includes “Reverse Pitches” by Clients seeking water innovations, identifying their Greatest Water Challenge, what Solutions they are looking for, and how Startups can work with them. These “Voice of the Customer” presentations are invaluable for Startups to understand their potential market, plus they provide Clients with a chance to brainstorm with practical problem-solvers. Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District’s Chief Innovation Officer, Kimberly Reed, shared from her Reverse Pitch experience, “In addition to getting to connect with Startup Founders with solutions to the current challenge we presented on, we had the opportunity to learn from Startup Founders who provide solutions to challenges that we know are coming in the future.” Investors, Federal Grant Programs, and “Entrepreneur Support Programs” (e.g. accelerators) Reverse Pitch on what they are looking for, what support they provide, and how startups can work with them.
In addition to supporting all stages, markets, and solutions, WaterPitch! supports all founders, actively seeking Women and Economically-Disadvantaged Founders and Founders of Color, as well as investors who support Diverse Founders such as TechStars and Halcyon House. Attendees also are part of the process, voting for Best Pitch Awards in each Startup Pitch Session, which are awarded at the end of the program. Pitch and Reverse Pitch Presenters are supported with Virtual Pitch Prep & Practice Sessions, in-person Presentation Coaching and Clinics, and a Presenters Dinner leading up to the main event.
WaterPitch! is produced by WaterCitizen.Org and co-hosted by the American University (AU) Center for Environmental Policy, with additional support by the AU Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship, Environmental Business Ventures, Shulman Rogers NEXT Startup Law, and Redwood Climate Communications.
Further information and registration available at WaterPitch.Org.
Media Contact
Company Name: WaterCitizen.Org
Contact Person: Cat Shrier
Email: Send Email
Phone: +1 (202) 344-7894
Country: United States
Website: www.WaterCitizen.Org