What Valys does

Valys AB is a Swedish privately held company, founded in 2023 as a spin-off from Chalmers University of Technology, that develops optical sensor systems for continuous, real-time water quality monitoring. The company's core product is the Valys Optical Sensor, a patented device that measures dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and other key water quality parameters through a proprietary treatability metric that the company states surpasses conventional UV254 measurements. The hardware is complemented by software applications for granular activated carbon (GAC) saturation monitoring, coagulant dosing optimization, and an early warning system that flags risks such as disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation and sudden water quality changes.

The business model combines hardware sales of proprietary optical sensors with recurring subscription-based monitoring and analytics services. Valys targets two primary customer segments: municipal and industrial water treatment plants (the primary vertical, addressing use cases such as DOC monitoring, PFAS removal rate tracking, filter performance optimization, and coagulant dosing) and environmental agencies responsible for freshwater source monitoring. The go-to-market is a direct enterprise sales motion aimed at utility operators and municipal facilities, with pricing structured as quote-based engagements rather than publicly disclosed list rates. The company maintains a Swedish-only operating geography with its headquarters in Billdal near Gothenburg, and is supported by Chalmers Ventures as its disclosed venture investor.

Valys is led by CEO and co-founder Malin de Mare, with Professor Kathleen Murphy serving as inventor and co-founder, Chairman Niklas Wicén, and Chalmers Ventures representative Linda Hedenblom on the board. The company has won the Water Challenge 2023 entrepreneurship competition and participates in Nordic startup accelerator programs including Produktionsänglar and REACH 2024-25. As of the available data, the company has 1-10 employees, is pre-revenue with only a small disclosed seed round from Chalmers Ventures, and is recruiting a CTO to support the transition from research spin-off to commercial operations.

Name

Valys

Legal name

Valys AB

Website

https://valys.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Valys AB is a Swedish spin-off from Chalmers University of Technology that builds patented optical sensor systems for real-time water quality monitoring at municipal and industrial water treatment plants and environmental agencies, combining hardware sales with recurring monitoring services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Quality Monitoring Sensors

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Monitoring, Sensors & Instrumentation (SCADA-integrated analyzers, probes, samplers) (EUANAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Monitoring & Control (Dosing Systems, Remote Monitoring, Sensors) (BPABAJAK), Water Quality Monitoring (Surface Water, Stormwater, Drinking Water) (EUAHACAC), Adsorption & Taste/Odor Control (GAC/PAC, Air Stripping) (EUANABAF), Data Management, LIMS & Compliance Software (ELN, eDMS, reporting automation) (EUANAJAE)

Keywords

• Water quality monitoring
• Optical sensor technology
• Water treatment analytics
• Real-time environmental monitoring
• DOC monitoring sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Gothenburg

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Optical Sensor Systems: Sale of proprietary optical sensor hardware for water treatment monitoring. Sensors are deployed at water treatment plants to provide continuous real-time monitoring of water quality parameters.
2. Real-time Monitoring Services: Ongoing data monitoring and analytics services complementing the hardware, providing actionable insights for water treatment optimization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Valys sells a patented optical sensor that continuously and in real time monitors Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), GAC saturation, PFAS removal, and other water quality parameters at municipal and industrial water treatment plants. The hardware is paired with software applications for GAC management, coagulant dosing optimization, and early warning of contamination events, replacing manual sampling and lab testing with automated continuous insights. Customers are primarily water treatment plants and environmental agencies in Sweden.

Product overview

Valys offers a real-time water quality monitoring platform built around its patented optical sensor technology. The core product is the Valys Optical Sensor, which provides continuous monitoring of DOC and other water quality parameters. This hardware is complemented by software applications including GAC Management for monitoring filter saturation and PFAS removal, Coagulant Dosing Optimization for chemical efficiency, and Early Warning Systems for proactive contamination detection. The platform replaces time-consuming manual sampling and lab testing with automated, real-time insights for water treatment plants and environmental agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Valys Optical Sensor A state-of-the-art patented optical sensor providing continuous, real-time monitoring of DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) and other key water quality parameters for municipal and industrial water treatment plants. Surpasses conventional UV254 measurements with a proprietary water treatability parameter, replacing manual sampling and lab testing with automated continuous insights.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Chalmers University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off from 20 years of research at Chalmers. The technology was developed through academic research and transitioned into commercial application through this partnership.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Mettler-Toledo: Mettler-Toledo manufactures analytical and process measurement instruments used in laboratory and industrial water testing; its spectrophotometric and sensor products compete in adjacent water quality segments.
• Hach (Danaher): Hach is the dominant supplier of water quality analytical instruments and reagents to municipal and industrial water utilities, with a broad portfolio that overlaps Valys's DOC and process monitoring applications.
• Xylem: Xylem is a major global water technology company with a broad analytics portfolio (including S::can and YSI brands) addressing the same DOC, organics, and water treatment monitoring customers as Valys.
• Endress+Hauser: Endress+Hauser provides process analytical instrumentation, including optical sensors and UV-based measurements for water and wastewater, and serves many of the same utility and industrial customers as Valys.
• ABB Measurement & Analytics: ABB supplies process analyzers and sensors (including optical and UV-based devices) used by water utilities and industrial customers, competing in the broader online water quality monitoring space.
• Yokogawa Electric: Yokogawa offers process analytical instruments and water quality solutions used by industrial and utility customers, with capabilities that overlap Valys's online monitoring and dosing optimization offerings.

Direct peers

• S::can (Xylem brand): S::can (now part of Xylem) is a long-established provider of UV/Vis-based optical sensors for real-time water quality monitoring in drinking water and wastewater — the closest direct analogue to Valys's optical sensor approach.
• Analytical Technology Inc. (ATI): ATI designs and manufactures online water quality monitors and gas detectors for municipal drinking water, wastewater, and industrial applications, with overlapping real-time monitoring and dosing control capabilities.
• SWAN Analytical Instruments: SWAN is a specialized supplier of online water quality analyzers and sensors for drinking water, ultrapure water, and wastewater — directly overlapping with Valys's real-time monitoring use cases.

Emerging players

• Real Tech Inc. Real Tech provides real-time UV-based water quality monitoring sensors and software for municipal and industrial customers, making it a comparable emerging sensor specialist with similar target applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/valysab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Valys