Water Works

What Water Works does

WaterWorks is a Detroit-based, privately held online investment platform operated by WWF Holdings, Inc. and its three wholly-owned subsidiaries — WWF Securities LLC (an SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA/SIPC member), WWF Platform LLC, and WWF Crowd LLC. The platform connects accredited investors with private placement securities offerings under Regulation D, Rule 506(c), spanning two distinct verticals: water technology investments (via the Freshwater Innovation Fund launched in partnership with Cleveland Water Alliance in February 2023) and Detroit neighborhood real estate development (via the WeBuilDetroit sub-brand covering Corktown, Midtown, and Riverfront projects). Core technology is a digital marketplace at wtrwrx.com where investors can browse offerings and self-direct investments; no proprietary technology platform features, AI/ML components, or APIs are disclosed in source materials.

WaterWorks generates revenue through two primary streams: transaction-based closing or success fees received from issuing companies upon successful private placement offerings (the dominant model, since the broker-dealer does not charge retail investors direct brokerage fees), and platform/professional services fees paid by issuers for listing and investor access. Pricing is entirely transaction-based and varies by offering (e.g., Corktown Townhomes carries a $25,000 minimum investment). The go-to-market motion is sales-led, relying on direct investor communication, the website, an email newsletter, and the CWA ecosystem partnership for deal-flow sourcing; WWF Securities representatives (President & CCO Lon Johnson, General Securities Principal Patrick Davis, and Representative Charles Sell) support investor inquiries by phone and email. The customer base is bifurcated: accredited investors on the demand side and early-stage water technology companies plus Detroit real estate developers on the issuer side. As of the latest site content, no active investment opportunities are listed.

WaterWorks operates from its headquarters at 1 Park Ave #1707, Detroit, MI, with a secondary office at 350 Madison Ave supporting WeBuilDetroit operations. The company has 1-10 employees (three named registered representatives), was founded in 2021, and has raised only $141,965 in disclosed funding (September 2021, investors undisclosed). No institutional PE/VC backing is referenced in source materials, and no M&A, product launches beyond the existing sub-brands, or leadership changes have been disclosed.

Name

Water Works

Legal name

WWF Holdings, Inc.

Website

https://wtrwrx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WaterWorks is a Detroit-based, SEC-registered broker-dealer platform (WWF Securities LLC) that connects accredited investors with private placement offerings in early-stage water technology companies and Detroit neighborhood real estate development projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Investment Platform

NAICS

Other Financial Vehicles (52599)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Private placement securities
• Alternative investment platform
• Water technology investing
• Broker-dealer services
• Accredited investor marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private Placement Securities Distribution: WWF Securities LLC does not directly charge retail investors fees for brokerage services. Instead, fees are indirectly assessed through the structure of private securities offerings, disclosed in respective offering documentation (e.g., PPM). The broker-dealer receives closing or success fees from issuing companies associated with offerings. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Platform Services to Issuers: The platform provides services to issuers (companies seeking capital) including investment platform access, deal listing, and investor matching services, with fees paid by the issuing company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

WaterWorks runs an SEC/FINRA-regulated online platform (wtrwrx.com) that lists and distributes Regulation D Rule 506(c) private placement securities to accredited investors. Offerings are concentrated in two verticals: equity in water technology companies and debt/equity in Detroit real estate development projects, sourced via branded programs such as WeBuilDetroit and the Freshwater Innovation Fund.

Product overview

WaterWorks is an investment platform ecosystem consisting of a core platform for water technology investments and real estate, backed by a registered broker-dealer. The WaterWorks Platform (https://wtrwrx.com/) serves as the primary investment marketplace, while WWF Securities, LLC provides the regulatory broker-dealer infrastructure for securities offerings. WeBuilDetroit extends the platform into Detroit real estate development investments, and the Freshwater Innovation Fund offers venture capital exposure to early-stage water technology companies through the Cleveland Water Alliance partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WeBuildDetroit: A Detroit real estate investment platform connecting investors with development opportunities in Detroit neighborhoods
• Freshwater Innovation Fund

Products and services

• WaterWorks Investment Platform (wtrwrx.com) Online platform that lists and distributes Regulation D Rule 506(c) private placement securities to accredited investors, with offerings spanning water technology and Detroit real estate.
• WeBuilDetroit Branded program offering private placement securities in Detroit real estate development projects (e.g., Corktown Townhomes with a $25,000 minimum), connecting project sponsors with accredited investors.
• Freshwater Innovation Fund Water technology investment vehicle developed with the Cleveland Water Alliance, providing accredited investors access to vetted water-sector issuers via Regulation D offerings.
• WWF Securities Broker-Dealer Services SEC-registered, FINRA-member, SIPC-member broker-dealer subsidiary that provides regulated solicitation, compliance, and transaction services for Regulation D offerings distributed via the WaterWorks platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 technology trials, tests and demonstrations completed through Accelerator Testbeds

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2023WaterWorks launched the Freshwater Innovation Fund in partnership with Cleveland Water Alliance. CWA founded in 2014 with the goal of creating impact on water quality while building the regional economy. CWA built a technology advancement ecosystem of 100+ water industry organizations, 30+ utilities, and 20+ research institutions. CWA created Accelerator Testbeds enabling water innovators to test, trial, pilot, and demonstrate technologies in real-world environments. Over 40+ technology trials completed since launching. WaterWorks leverages this ecosystem for deal flow in water technology investments.
• FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority)coreOthersFINRA is a self-regulatory organization that authorizes broker-dealers and governs their conduct. WWF Securities LLC is a FINRA member firm, subject to FINRA rules and oversight for securities regulation compliance.
• SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation)coreOthersSIPC protects customers of SIPC-member broker-dealers when the firm fails. WWF Securities LLC is a SIPC member, providing investor protection for securities held in customer accounts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SeedInvest: SeedInvest is an online venture capital and private investment platform operating a registered broker-dealer focused on Regulation D offerings to accredited investors. Directly comparable on broker-dealer + online accredited-investor model.
• AngelList (AngelList Venture / Rolling Funds): AngelList operates online private investment and fund vehicles for accredited investors with deal-flow infrastructure and compliance tooling. Comparable as a digital private-market platform serving venture and alternative investments.
• Republic: Republic is a private investment platform offering Regulation D, Rule 506(c) private placements to accredited and non-accredited investors. Like WaterWorks, it operates as a tech-enabled intermediary connecting issuers with investors, and serves as the closest direct competitor on platform model and target investor.
• YieldStreet: YieldStreet is an alternative investment platform offering access to private market opportunities (real estate, marine, legal finance) to accredited investors. Comparable on the niche-themed accredited-investor private placement model with platform fees and minimums.
• Masterworks: Masterworks is a regulated alternative investment platform offering fractionalized blue-chip art investments to accredited investors under Reg D. Comparable to WaterWorks as a niche-vertical accredited-investor platform with embedded fees and minimum subscription sizes.
• StartEngine: StartEngine is a leading online private investment platform with FINRA-registered broker-dealer infrastructure (StartEngine Primary) offering Reg D, Reg A+, and Reg CF offerings. Comparable to WaterWorks in broker-dealer + online private placement model.
• Crowdcube: Crowdcube is an online equity crowdfunding and private investment platform primarily serving UK investors, with private placement offerings across multiple verticals. Comparable as a digital private placement / accredited investor platform with comparable compliance and fee structure.
• Wefunder: Wefunder is an equity crowdfunding platform using Regulation Crowdfunding and Reg D to connect retail and accredited investors with private company offerings. It is directly comparable to WaterWorks on online private placement distribution, accredited-investor onboarding, and transaction-fee monetization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/waterworksfund

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Water Works