WaterStart

What WaterStart does

WaterStart is a Las Vegas-based nonprofit innovation accelerator founded in 2013 as a public/private partnership between Nevada state agencies (Governor's Office of Economic Development, Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation), research institutions (Desert Research Institute on behalf of the Nevada System of Higher Education), and water authorities (Southern Nevada Water Authority, Truckee Meadows Water Authority), subsequently joined by the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance. The organization operates a demand-driven model that matches water-related priorities identified by utility partners with technology companies offering solutions, runs co-funded pilot trials that de-risk innovation for technology vendors, and reinvests a portion of commercial revenue back into Nevada's economy.

The core technical infrastructure is the H2O TechConnect platform, an open innovation portal that manages the Request for Proposal process, displays technology priorities across seven categories (agriculture, commercial, drinking water, environmental, microbial detection, smart water networks, and wastewater), and publishes case studies from completed pilots. Complementing the platform, WaterStart operates the Channels for Water Innovation (CHANNELS) affiliated entity to engage philanthropic foundations and impact investors, and produces the annual "Building a WaterWise Economy" policy report in collaboration with GOED and SRI. The technology itself is not proprietary AI or software IP, but rather a structured matching and pilot facilitation process — Syrinix (intelligent pipe monitoring), Klir (permitting management), and atmospheric water generation technologies have been deployed via the platform, with documented outcomes including the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix net-zero water pilot.

WaterStart generates revenue through a hybrid nonprofit model combining recurring membership fees from government agencies, public and private companies, and academic institutions, project-based co-funding arrangements with technology partners (who commit to reinvesting commercial revenue into Nevada through employment or investment), and philanthropic/impact investing support channeled through CHANNELS. Primary customer segments are water management agencies and utilities (largest segment, including SNWA, TMWA, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, EBMUD, Anglian Water) and water technology companies seeking validation and market entry; secondary segments include corporations with ESG goals, academic institutions (UNLV, ASU), and government economic development bodies. Since inception, the organization has evaluated 450+ technologies, launched 51 funded projects with $4.6M deployed, achieved a 72% pilot-to-adoption rate among utilities, created 180 jobs, and generated $33M+ in economic impact in Nevada.

Name

WaterStart

Legal name

WaterStart

Website

https://waterstart.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WaterStart is a Las Vegas-based nonprofit founded in 2013 that connects water utilities, technology companies, and economic development partners to commercialize water technologies via its H2O TechConnect platform and co-funded pilot programs, primarily serving Nevada and select global utility partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Innovation Acceleration Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Water-Smart Irrigation & Water Stewardship (Drip/Micro, Scheduling, Water Harvesting) (AFAGAMAD)

Keywords

• Water innovation accelerator
• Water technology piloting
• Nonprofit innovation programs
• Water utility partnerships
• Open innovation platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Historically structured as a membership organization where each member brings critical resources. Members include government agencies, public and private companies, and academic institutions.
2. Project Funding: WaterStart offers project funding for technical evaluation and business development. Companies commit to reinvesting a portion of commercial revenue generated from supported technologies back into Nevada through employment or investments.
3. Channels for Water Innovation (CHANNELS): Philanthropic foundations and impact investing community support viable technology solutions through this affiliated entity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WaterStart is a Nevada-based nonprofit innovation accelerator that identifies water-related priorities from partner utilities and agencies, recruits matching water technology companies through a global RFP process, co-funds pilot trials, and disseminates outcomes through the H2O TechConnect open innovation platform. It also operates the Channels for Water Innovation (CHANNELS) initiative to engage philanthropic and impact-investor funding for viable water solutions.

Product overview

WaterStart operates as a nonprofit innovation accelerator offering a suite of interconnected programs rather than a traditional product company. The core offering is the H2O TechConnect platform, an open innovation portal that manages the Request for Proposal process, displays technology priorities across seven categories, and showcases validated technology providers and project case studies. Complementing the platform, WaterStart operates the Channels for Water Innovation (CHANNELS) initiative to engage philanthropic and impact investing partners, and runs a Pilot Program that co-funds technology trials with partner organizations. The organization also produces the annual Building a WaterWise Economy report to guide Nevada policy on water and economic development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• H2O TechConnect Open innovation and knowledge-sharing platform for WaterStart's water technology ecosystem; manages the Request for Proposal process, displays water technology priorities across seven categories (agriculture, commercial, drinking water, environmental, microbial detection, smart water networks, wastewater), and showcases validated technology providers and project case studies from pilot programs. Targeted at water utilities, technology companies, and ecosystem partners.
• Channels for Water Innovation (CHANNELS) Affiliated WaterStart initiative that engages philanthropic foundations and the impact-investing community to support viable water technology solutions. It channels capital and partnerships toward water innovation projects identified through WaterStart's priority-matching process.
• Pilot Program Co-funded pilot program that enables water technology companies to trial and validate solutions with partner water utilities and agencies; participating companies commit to reinvest a portion of commercial revenue back into Nevada's economy through employment or investment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72% of funded pilots adopted by utilities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, founding and supporting.

• SRIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborated with WaterStart and GOED on Building a WaterWise Economy 2024 report exploring economic growth intersection with water management
• Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Founding partner of WaterStart in 2013; collaborated on Building a WaterWise Economy 2024 report with SRI; provides economic development alignment for water technology commercialization
• Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Founding partner of WaterStart in 2013
• Desert Research Institute (DRI)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Founding partner of WaterStart in 2013 on behalf of Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE); provides research expertise and science that matters
• Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Founding partner of WaterStart in 2013; Board Chair John Entsminger serves as General Manager; operates pilot programs including F1 water conservation, permitting management with Klir, and pipe monitoring with Syrinix
• Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Economic development partner joining WaterStart effort
• Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partner water authority with Board representation; provides water utility perspective and pilot opportunities for Reno area
• Anglian WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based water utility partner; provides international perspective; Board member Shaunna Berendsen serves as Former Chief Innovations Officer
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor water utility serving 26 public water agencies and nearly 19 million people; provides technology priority identification and pilot opportunities
• East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater utility serving 1.4 million East Bay customers; provides technology pilot and testing opportunities
• UNLVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing UNLV Innovation Incubator and economic development collaboration; source of team members and research capability
• One Drop FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater-focused foundation supporting viable technology solutions through CHANNELS initiative
• Wells FargosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting water innovation ecosystem
• B&E FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner supporting water innovation initiatives
• Arizona State UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner through futuresengine program

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• WaterReuse Association: Nonprofit trade association advancing water recycling and reuse. Comparable to WaterStart as a nonprofit water innovation advocate, though focused on a narrower water reuse subcategory.
• water.org: Global nonprofit addressing water access and sanitation through financing and partnerships. Compares to WaterStart as a water-focused nonprofit with utility/government engagement, though water.org focuses on access rather than technology commercialization.
• Water Research Foundation: Research-focused nonprofit that funds and manages water research for utilities. Comparable as a nonprofit water innovation intermediary, though focused on research rather than commercial technology validation.
• Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN): Global industry organization promoting smart water network technologies. Compares to WaterStart as a convening and knowledge-sharing body for water innovation, with a more international and technology-specific focus.
• Water Foundry: Water strategy advisory founded by Will Sarni, who also serves as Executive Director of WaterStart's CHANNELS initiative. Closely related operationally and strategically, with overlapping leadership and founder involvement.
• WaterAid: Global nonprofit focused on water access, sanitation, and hygiene. Adjacent in mission (water resources) but operates a much larger international NGO model rather than an innovation accelerator.

Broad incumbents

• Xylem: Global water technology company serving utilities and industrial customers with a broad portfolio of water solutions. Comparable to WaterStart only at the periphery: Xylem is a commercial market participant that may consume or compete with technologies in WaterStart's portfolio.
• Veolia North America: Large water and wastewater utility operator with extensive municipal contracts. Adjacent to WaterStart only as a major water stakeholder that adopts or co-develops technologies flowing through accelerator pipelines.

Direct peers

• US Water Alliance: Water sector nonprofit that convenes utilities, government, and industry stakeholders around water policy and innovation. Comparable to WaterStart in its role as a neutral convenor bridging water innovation and adoption.
• Imagine H2O: Water innovation accelerator that runs a portfolio program and provides visibility to water startups, directly comparable to WaterStart's H2O TechConnect platform and pilot facilitation model. Both serve the same demand-driven accelerator niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 WaterStart