PolyGone Systems, Inc
PolyGone Systems is a Princeton University spinout that develops patented biomimetic filtration systems and lab analysis services to capture and quantify microplastics from municipal wastewater, industrial water streams, and consumer water sources.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPrinceton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PolyGone Systems, Inc does
PolyGone Systems is a Princeton University spinout founded in 2021 by Nathaniel Banks (CEO) and Yidian Liu (COO), both Forbes 30 Under 30 fellows, that develops proprietary biomimetic filtration technology to remove microplastics from water. The company's patented "Artificial Root" filter media passively binds to microplastics in water without requiring pumps or external energy, achieving a 98% capture rate of toxic microplastics at 90% lower cost than alternative methods. Headquartered at Kearny Point, NJ, with an ISO-certified wetlab at the New Jersey Bioscience Center and partner facilities at Princeton, PolyGone employs a small team of engineers, material scientists, and chemistry specialists.
The company's product portfolio spans hardware systems and lab services. Hardware includes the PolyPod municipal filtration system (treating up to 10 million gallons per day per module in open channel environments), the PolyCartridge inline system for industrial closed-channel streams, and the PolyPad, which is under development for reservoir and riverine deployment. Complementing the hardware is a microplastics analysis laboratory service offering Fluorescence Microscopy ($399/sample), FTIR ($699/sample), and Pyrolysis GC-MS ($599/sample) characterization, alongside a bundled sampling kit at $439 per sample.
PolyGone operates a hybrid go-to-market: enterprise field sales targeting municipal water utilities, industrial facilities, and government water authorities via pilots and commercial contracts, paired with direct-to-consumer e-commerce for its testing services. The company has signed three new commercial deployments for 2026 spanning municipal, industrial water, and food and beverage segments, with $1.2 million in contracted revenue for the year. It raised a $4 million seed round in February 2026 led by FYRFLY Venture Partners at a $20 million post-money valuation, supplemented by roughly $2.5 million in non-dilutive grants and awards from NOAA Sea Grant, NJCSIT, the Edison Patent program, the Earthshot Prize, and Cleantech Open 2025 (where it was named U.S. National Winner). The ACUA pilot in Atlantic City, NJ, which has operated since September 2024 with 720 filters at 40 MGD serving 220,000 households, functions as the company's flagship deployment and proof point.
PolyGone Systems, Inc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PolyGone Systems, Inc
- Legal name
- PolyGone Systems, Inc
- Website
- https://polygonesystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- PolyGone Systems is a Princeton University spinout that develops patented biomimetic filtration systems and lab analysis services to capture and quantify microplastics from municipal wastewater, industrial water streams, and consumer water sources.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PolyGone Systems, Inc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Treatment / Microplastic Filtration
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Separation & Filtration Equipment (Filters, Centrifuges, Membranes) (IMAHAEAB), Filtration (Rapid/Slow Sand, Media, Membrane Pretreatment) (EUANABAB)
Keywords
Where PolyGone Systems, Inc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Princeton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
PolyGone Systems, Inc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Microplastic Testing Services: Lab analysis services for water testing offered to public, private companies, and government utilities. Services include fluorescence microscopy, FTIR analysis, and Pyrolysis GC-MS testing at price points from $399 per sample
- Municipal Filtration Systems: Sale and deployment of commercial PolyPod municipal filtration systems capable of treating up to 10 million gallons per day, targeting municipal water treatment facilities
- Industrial Filtration Systems: Inline PolyCartridge filtration system for industrial water streams in manufacturing, food and beverage, and other industrial sectors
- Commercial Pilots and Contracts: Revenue from contracted commercial pilots and deployments with municipalities and industrial partners; $1.2 million in revenue contracted for 2026
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fluorescence Microscopy - General Microplastics Analysis |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | General Microplastics Analysis Bundle Package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | FTIR - Advanced Microplastics Analysis |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pyrolysis GC/MS - Advanced Microplastics Analysis |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels13 records
PolyGone Systems, Inc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PolyGone Systems designs, manufactures, and deploys proprietary biomimetic filtration systems that passively remove microplastics from water in municipal and industrial settings. The company sells the PolyPod municipal filtration system and PolyCartridge inline industrial system, both powered by its patented Artificial Root Filter media that captures 98% of microplastics at 90% lower cost than alternatives. It also operates a microplastics analysis laboratory service that quantifies and classifies microplastic levels in water samples for utilities, businesses, and consumers.
Product overview
PolyGone Systems offers a proprietary ecosystem of microplastic filtration products centered around its patented Artificial Root Filter media technology. The core product portfolio includes the PolyPod municipal filtration system (treating up to 10 million gallons per day), the PolyCartridge inline system for industrial water streams, and the PolyPad (under development for reservoir environments). Complementing the hardware products is a microplastics analysis laboratory service offering tiered testing options including Fluorescence Microscopy ($399), FTIR Analysis ($699), and Pyrolysis GC/MS ($599), with a bundle package at $439. All products are designed to work with the company's recyclable filter media that achieves 98% microplastic capture efficiency at 90% lower cost than alternatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Poly Pod: Portable, high-throughput microplastic filtration system designed for open channel environments. Each module treats up to 10 million gallons per day.
- Poly Cartridge
- Poly Pad
- Microplastic Analysis Service
Products and services
- PolyPod Municipal Filtration System A modular municipal filtration system designed to autonomously intercept and recover microplastics from open channel environments. Each unit treats up to 10 million gallons per day and operates passively using gravity flow with recyclable filter media, targeting municipal wastewater treatment utilities and water authorities.
- PolyCartridge Industrial Filtration System An inline filtration system designed for closed channel industrial water streams, targeting manufacturing facilities, food and beverage operations, and other industrial water users that need to remove microplastic pollutants from process water and effluent.
- Microplastics Analysis Service A laboratory analysis service that quantifies and classifies microplastic levels in water samples using fluorescence microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and Pyrolysis GC-MS analysis, priced from $399 per sample and offered to utilities, private companies, government agencies, and consumers through an e-commerce store.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% microplastic capture rate in lab tests
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use PolyGone Systems, Inc
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PolyGone Systems, Inc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
PolyGone Systems, Inc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
PolyGone Systems, Inc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Pentair: Global water filtration and treatment company serving residential, commercial, and industrial markets. Comparable because it sells water filtration hardware into similar municipal and industrial channels and could extend into microplastic-specific filtration media.
- Pall Water: Industrial and municipal filtration specialist (part of Danaher) offering membrane and media filtration systems. Most directly comparable to PolyGone's PolyCartridge and PolyPod product lines from a technical and channel perspective.
- SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions: Major water treatment technology and services provider with global municipal and industrial footprint. Comparable as both a competitor in filtration hardware and a potential partner for deploying microplastic removal at scale.
- Xylem: Global water technology major serving municipal and industrial customers with pumps, treatment, and metering equipment. Comparable to PolyGone because it controls the procurement channels and installed base PolyGone must sell PolyPod systems into, and could trivially enter microplastic filtration.
- Veolia: World's largest water and wastewater utility and technology provider with deep municipal and industrial relationships. Directly comparable as a buyer of water treatment innovation and as a potential competitor that could bundle microplastic removal into existing O&M contracts.
Emerging players
- Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that collects and recycles plastic (including microplastic-adjacent streams) from coastal communities. Comparable mission-wise (interdicting plastic in waterways) but operates upstream of municipal effluent, making it an adjacent rather than direct competitor.
- The Ocean Cleanup: Non-profit deploying passive plastic capture systems in rivers and oceans. Comparable in mission (intercepting plastic in aquatic environments using passive systems) and in early-stage deployment profile, though focused on macroplastic rather than microplastic.
- Gradiant: Cleantech water treatment company focused on industrial wastewater and water reuse. Comparable as a venture-backed emerging player selling differentiated water treatment technology into industrial customers—a profile analogous to PolyGone's industrial expansion path.
Others
- Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with environmental water analysis offerings. Comparable as a competing provider of accredited microplastic lab services that utilities and brands use today.
- Eurofins Scientific: Global environmental testing laboratory network offering microplastic and water quality analysis services. Comparable to PolyGone's Microplastics Analysis Service business and represents both a competitive lab and a potential channel partner or acquirer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PolyGone Systems, Inc social profiles
Digital presencePolyGone Systems, Inc compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
PolyGone Systems, Inc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PolyGone Systems, Inc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
PolyGone Systems, Inc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PolyGone Systems, Inc 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 PolyGone Systems, Inc
What does PolyGone Systems, Inc do?
PolyGone Systems designs, manufactures, and deploys proprietary biomimetic filtration systems that passively remove microplastics from water in municipal and industrial settings. The company sells the PolyPod municipal filtration system and PolyCartridge inline industrial system, both powered by its patented Artificial Root Filter media that captures 98% of microplastics at 90% lower cost than alternatives. It also operates a microplastics analysis laboratory service that quantifies and classifies microplastic levels in water samples for utilities, businesses, and consumers.
Is PolyGone Systems, Inc a public or private company?
PolyGone Systems, Inc is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was PolyGone Systems, Inc founded?
PolyGone Systems, Inc was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is PolyGone Systems, Inc based?
PolyGone Systems, Inc is headquartered in Princeton, United States, in the North America region.
How does PolyGone Systems, Inc make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Microplastic Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are municipal Filtration Systems, industrial Filtration Systems and commercial Pilots and Contracts.
Who are PolyGone Systems, Inc's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Pentair, Pall Water, SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions, Xylem and Veolia. Emerging players are Plastic Bank, The Ocean Cleanup and Gradiant. Others are Bureau Veritas and Eurofins Scientific.
Does PolyGone Systems, Inc have an API?
No public API is recorded for PolyGone Systems, Inc.
What industry is PolyGone Systems, Inc in?
PolyGone Systems, Inc's product category is Water Treatment / Microplastic Filtration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAEAJ, Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems), with a secondary code of IMAHAEAB, Separation & Filtration Equipment (Filters, Centrifuges, Membranes).