The Global Commission on the Economics of Water estimates that by 2030 we will have overdrawn our freshwater reserves by 40%, with economic analysis suggesting water insecurity could cost us trillions of dollars by 2050.
As freshwater becomes increasingly regulated and scarce, companies from energy and mining to food and beauty are turning to startups to help them reduce and recycle the water they use to conduct business.
Among these startups is CarboNet, a Vancouver-based innovator of industrial water treatment that recently received $1.66 million from the federal government.
“We’re investing in the success of . . . innovative Vancouver companies so they can scale up and go global,” stated Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development. “This world-class city is home to some of our best and brightest who are pushing the boundaries in so many different exciting sectors and we’re going to bring this talent around the world.”
A 2020 Technology Impact Award finalist and entrepreneurship@UBC Climate Venture Studio stream alumnus, CarboNet’s flagship NanoNet platform generates programmable flocculants, coagulants, and targeting agents that adapt to any application, according to the B.C. cleantech.
Since developing a successful concept at UBC, CarboNet today leverages advanced chemistry to develop solutions with a wide array of applications.
“Mike had been working with polymers and noticed some weird things in how they were associating with surfactants when doing exchange experiments,” cofounder Barry Yates recalls of his cofounder Mike Carlson.
“He knew with the oil spill they’d use surfactants to break down particles, so he started working on the problem after hours, bit by bit, and eventually had some success.”
The influx of investment from PacifiCan will help CarboNet commercialize and scale its next-gen wastewater treatment product dubbed “BioFloc,” according to a statement.
A 2023 Deloitte Company-to-Watch, CarboNet was cofounded in 2016 by chief executive Yates; chief of tech Mike Carlson; chief of operations Bill Schonbrun; and chief commercial officer Amielle Lake.
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