Aquacycl
Aquacycl is a San Diego-based cleantech company that provides modular bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment systems (BETT® microbial fuel cell and SulfideFix) to industrial customers, primarily food and beverage manufacturers, under a treatment-as-a-service subscription model with guaranteed permit compliance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Aquacycl does
Aquacycl is a San Diego-area (Escondido, California) cleantech company founded in 2016 that develops modular bioelectrochemical systems for industrial wastewater treatment. Its core platform, BETT® (BioElectrochemical Treatment Technology), uses microbial fuel cells housed in 40-foot shipping containers: electrogenic microorganisms form biofilms on anodes, consume organics in wastewater, and release electrons across circuits to cathodes, generating DC electricity while treating the stream. The system is engineered to handle BOD concentrations up to 150,000 mg/L without dilution — materially above the ~15,000 mg/L ceiling of conventional anaerobic systems — and achieves 80–95% BOD removal and 70–90% COD removal. The company complements BETT with SulfideFix, a micro-aeration biological system that removes 99.9% of hydrogen sulfide from wastewater tanks without chemicals.
Aquacycl monetizes primarily through Wastewater-Treatment-as-a-Service (WTaaS), a subscription model with no upfront capital expenditure that bundles installation, 24/7 remote monitoring and control, maintenance, sludge management, and a 100% permit compliance guarantee. Customers can alternatively purchase equipment outright or commission custom builds. Pricing is quote-based, and contracts include performance and compliance guarantees. The company sells through direct enterprise field sales, channel partnerships with engineering consultants and EPC firms, and a self-serve online wastewater assessment tool that captures inbound demand.
The primary customer segment is Food & Beverage — beverage bottling, breweries, distilleries, confectionery, and crusher operations — with PepsiCo as the flagship enterprise reference. Secondary verticals include engineering consultants (channel), hydrocarbon remediation at tank terminals, manure management at CAFOs, and distributed sanitation. Aquacycl has expanded internationally with a European headquarters (Aquacycl Netherlands BV) opened in Leeuwarden in 2023, and reports cumulative operational impact of roughly 1.6 million gallons treated, 801 tons CO2e mitigated, and 288.5k kWh saved in 2024. The company is privately held, has raised approximately $14M in disclosed equity capital across a Series A and Series B, and operates with 11–50 employees.
Aquacycl firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aquacycl
- Legal name
- Aquacycl
- Website
- https://www.aquacycl.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aquacycl is a San Diego-based cleantech company that provides modular bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment systems (BETT® microbial fuel cell and SulfideFix) to industrial customers, primarily food and beverage manufacturers, under a treatment-as-a-service subscription model with guaranteed permit compliance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aquacycl industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Wastewater Treatment
- NAICS
- Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320)
- SIC
- Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Wastewater Reuse (Cooling/Process/Boiler Feed) (EUANADAM), Decentralized/Package Wastewater Systems (Small/Remote) (EUANADAE), Monitoring & Control (Dosing Systems, Remote Monitoring, Sensors) (BPABAJAK)
Keywords
Where Aquacycl is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Aquacycl business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Wastewater Treatment as a Service: Subscription-based service model providing modular wastewater treatment without upfront capital expenditure. Includes system installation, 24/7 remote monitoring and control, maintenance, and sludge management. Customers pay for treatment service with guaranteed compliance built into service agreements.
- Equipment Purchase: Customers can purchase equipment outright rather than using the service model. Service package still includes remote monitoring, maintenance, and sludge removal when required.
- Custom Solutions: Custom onsite wastewater treatment systems designed and built to fit specific facility needs. Can include new installations or upgrades to existing infrastructure.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Wastewater Treatment as a Service - No upfront costs, all-inclusive pricing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Equipment Purchase Option |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Aquacycl product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aquacycl designs, builds, and operates modular containerized industrial wastewater treatment systems based on proprietary microbial fuel cell (BETT) and Micro-Aeration (SulfideFix) technologies, delivered primarily as Wastewater Treatment as a Service (WTaaS) with no upfront capital, 24/7 remote monitoring, and a 100% compliance guarantee. The company targets high-strength wastewater producers in food & beverage, hydrocarbon remediation, manure management, and distributed sanitation.
Product overview
Aquacycl offers a modular wastewater treatment platform built around two core biological treatment products: BETT® (BioElectrochemical Treatment Technology) for high-strength organic carbon (BOD/COD) removal using microbial fuel cells, and SulfideFix for hydrogen sulfide and odor control using micro-aeration technology. Both products are housed in modular, containerized systems (40-foot shipping containers) and delivered as wastewater treatment as a service (WTaaS) with remote monitoring, guaranteed permit compliance, and performance guarantees. The products work together to address the full spectrum of industrial wastewater challenges—from high-strength organic loads to hazardous H2S gases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BETT: BioElectrochemical Treatment Technology - A modular wastewater treatment system using microbial fuel cells for high-strength industrial wastewater treatment.
- SulfideFix
Products and services
- BETT (BioElectrochemical Treatment Technology) Modular wastewater treatment system that uses microbial fuel cells housed in 40-foot shipping containers to remove organic carbon (BOD/COD) from high-strength industrial wastewater, converting chemical energy from organic matter into direct electricity via electrogenic microorganisms. Achieves 80–95% BOD removal and 70–90% COD removal, processes wastewater in 4–24 hours, and supports 800–3,000 lbs BOD removal per day per container. Designed for industrial facilities generating ultra-high-strength wastewater in food & beverage, hydrocarbon, and adjacent sectors.
- SulfideFix Floating hydrogen sulfide removal system that uses patented Micro-Aeration technology, blowing low-pressure air at the liquid–air interface rather than through wastewater. Converts sulfides and sulfates to elemental sulfur via biological oxidation, achieving 99.9% H2S removal without chemicals. Serves wastewater tanks in industrial facilities needing odor and safety risk mitigation, corrosion prevention, and air-quality compliance.
- Wastewater Treatment as a Service (WTaaS) Recurring service delivery of Aquacycl's modular wastewater treatment systems, packaged with system installation, 24/7 remote monitoring and control, ongoing maintenance, and sludge management. Customers pay a monthly subscription without owning the equipment and receive a contractual permit compliance guarantee. Targets industrial facilities that need high-strength wastewater treatment without upfront CapEx.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80-95% BOD removal rate
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Aquacycl
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Aquacycl technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Aquacycl partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- European Water Tech AcceleratorminorPartnership with European water technology accelerator program supporting market entry and growth in European markets.
- Google for Startups AcceleratorminorStartup accelerator program providing mentorship, resources, and support for technology startups.
- Imagine H2OminorWater innovation accelerator supporting startups addressing global water challenges.
- Plug and Play Tech CenterminorInnovation platform connecting startups with corporate partners for technology adoption.
- 100 AcceleratorminorSustainability-focused accelerator program supporting circular economy solutions.
- The CircularsminorCircular economy accelerator and network supporting sustainable business innovation.
- Launch AlaskaminorAlaska-based accelerator supporting climate and sustainability startups.
- Ad Astra VenturesminorVenture support organization for space and technology ventures.
- Stella LabsminorInnovation lab supporting water and sustainability technology development.
- Cleantech San DiegominorRegional cleantech ecosystem organization supporting San Diego-based clean technology companies.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Aquacycl competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Biomimetics / Electrochem Technologies: Smaller-scale bioelectrochemical and electrochemical wastewater treatment developers targeting niche industrial applications. Early-stage comparables exploring related electrochemical treatment technology paths.
Regional players
- Organica Water: Organica provides biological wastewater treatment with fixed-film reactors for industrial and municipal customers, primarily in Asia-Pacific and emerging markets. Comparable in biological treatment philosophy but focuses on municipal and Asia-Pacific deployments.
Broad incumbents
- Suez Water Technologies & Solutions: Suez provides industrial wastewater treatment, water reuse, and process water solutions to F&B, chemical, and energy customers. Its broader portfolio and global footprint compete with Aquacycl in industrial compliance and ZLD applications.
- H2O Innovation: H2O Innovation provides membrane filtration, biological treatment, and packaged wastewater systems for industrial and municipal markets. Competes broadly with Aquacycl's modular treatment offering in industrial pretreatment and reuse.
- Veolia Water Technologies: Veolia is one of the largest global water and wastewater treatment companies, offering industrial wastewater solutions, including anaerobic treatment for F&B and chemical sectors. It competes broadly with Aquacycl across industrial pretreatment and water reuse.
- Xylem (Evoqua): Xylem acquired Evoqua to become a leader in industrial water and wastewater treatment, with broad offerings in biological, membrane, and packaged treatment systems. Competes with Aquacycl across multiple industrial verticals.
Direct peers
- Cambrian Innovation: Cambrian Innovation developed EcoVolt, a bioelectrochemical industrial wastewater treatment system also using electrogenic microorganisms. It is the most directly comparable peer, serving similar F&B and industrial customers with similar biological reactor technology.
- Ovivo: Ovivo supplies industrial water and wastewater treatment equipment including biological and membrane systems for F&B, energy, and chemical customers. Comparable scope of industrial pretreatment and ZLD applications for high-strength wastewater.
- Anaergia: Anaergia offers organic waste and high-strength wastewater treatment systems including anaerobic digestion for F&B and agricultural waste. Competes with Aquacycl in high-strength organic wastewater and manure management verticals.
- Fluence Corporation: Fluence provides decentralized and packaged wastewater treatment systems (containerized MABR, MBBR) for industrial and municipal clients. Direct overlap in modular, decentralized treatment architecture serving similar F&B and remote industrial customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aquacycl social profiles
Digital presenceAquacycl financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aquacycl leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Aquacycl subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Aquacycl funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aquacycl M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aquacycl
What does Aquacycl do?
Aquacycl designs, builds, and operates modular containerized industrial wastewater treatment systems based on proprietary microbial fuel cell (BETT) and Micro-Aeration (SulfideFix) technologies, delivered primarily as Wastewater Treatment as a Service (WTaaS) with no upfront capital, 24/7 remote monitoring, and a 100% compliance guarantee. The company targets high-strength wastewater producers in food & beverage, hydrocarbon remediation, manure management, and distributed sanitation.
Is Aquacycl a public or private company?
Aquacycl is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Aquacycl founded?
Aquacycl was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aquacycl based?
Aquacycl is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aquacycl make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Wastewater Treatment as a Service is the primary driver. The others are equipment Purchase and custom Solutions.
Who are Aquacycl's main competitors?
Biomimetics / Electrochem Technologies is listed as an emerging player. Organica Water is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Suez Water Technologies & Solutions, H2O Innovation, Veolia Water Technologies and Xylem (Evoqua). Direct peers are Cambrian Innovation, Ovivo, Anaergia and Fluence Corporation.
Does Aquacycl have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aquacycl.
What industry is Aquacycl in?
Aquacycl's product category is Industrial Wastewater Treatment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAEAJ, Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems), with a secondary code of EUANADAM, Industrial Wastewater Reuse (Cooling/Process/Boiler Feed). Its NAICS code is 221320 and its SIC code is 4950.