Washington, D.C. – May 12, 2025 – AquaAction is making waves in water innovation with the official launch of its U.S. headquarters at Bedrock’s Urban Tech Xchange (UTX) in Detroit, Michigan.
President Soula Chronopoulos unveiled the expansion at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, joined by newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and leaders from the City of Detroit and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
With a proven track record of scaling water tech businesses that drive both economic and environmental impact, AquaAction’s move to the United States marks a pivotal step in accelerating cross-border collaboration.
By establishing a presence in Detroit, AquaAction is better situated to connect leading-edge water technology startups to the real-world challenges that transcend borders, such as drought, pollution, and aging infrastructure.
AquaAction estimates that the U.S. expansion should generate over a $1 million CDN in capital investments each year with hundreds of new jobs created.
This expansion builds on the success of AquaAction’s first-ever international Great Lakes AquaHacking Challenge with Northwestern Michigan College, which brought together over 200 water tech innovators from across the U.S. and Canada and supported them with mentorship opportunities and thousands of dollars in seed funding.
AquaAction has already helped scale more than 100 water technology companies, generating over $200 million CDN in annual revenue and saving the equivalent of 38,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools of freshwater.
AquaAction will be based at Bedrock’s Urban Tech Xchange (UTX) innovation platform, enabling exploration for water tech innovators to deploy breakthrough solutions across its various developments and operations. This could include opportunities to integrate with Bedrock projects such as the emerging innovation, technology and life sciences district on the Gratiot Site in Detroit.
“Now more than ever, cross-border collaboration is essential to securing our freshwater future,” said Chronopoulos. “Launching our U.S. headquarters was a natural next step as we continue to build a strong ecosystem of entrepreneurs and partners committed to solving the world’s most pressing water challenges.”
Chronopoulos will also highlight the announcement during her keynote address at the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) Annual Conference with participation from delegates from the Government of Quebec.
Quotes
“AquaAction's expansion to Detroit highlights the type of innovative U.S.-Canada partnerships that can be harnessed to tackle shared challenges. These cross-border collaborations strengthen our economic ties and support the next generation of freshwater entrepreneurs."
- Pete Hoekstra, U.S. Ambassador to Canada
““Michigan is home to 20 percent of the world’s fresh water and a spirit of grit that solves problems and grows our economy,” said Governor Whitmer. “We’re thrilled to welcome AquaAction to Detroit as a partner in preserving our lakes, rivers, and waters, and helping more families ‘make it’ in Michigan. Let’s keep working together to drive entrepreneurship and innovation so we can build a bright future for the state we love.”
- Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan
“I’m proud to welcome AquaAction and its network of water technology leaders to Detroit. There is no better place to be in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence region: Detroit is fully aligned with AquaAction’s mission to build a freshwater-secure future. Here, pioneering companies — working to solve some of the most pressing challenges — will find the partnerships, resources, and infrastructure they need to grow, scale, and thrive.”
- Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit
“Innovators continue to recognize the Detroit Region as a place where they can work with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes and across industries to develop the latest technologies,” said Maureen Donohue Krauss, President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership. “Sharing a border and the Great Lakes with Canada, our region is uniquely positioned for AquaAction as it looks to drive water-related innovation.”
- Maureen Donohue Krauss, CEO, Detroit Regional Partnership
“We welcome AquaAction to the Urban Tech Xchange and the thriving innovation ecosystem in Detroit. Establishing its U.S. presence in downtown will not only help contribute to the forward momentum already underway, but to the many opportunities to drive collaboration, talent attraction and business development across the region.”
- Kofi Bonner, Bedrock CEO
“Today marks a milestone not just for AquaAction, but for the future of freshwater. By launching our U.S. headquarters in Detroit, we’re expanding our mission to empower young innovators to tackle one of the planet’s most urgent challenges — the freshwater crisis — through bold, technology-driven solutions. Canada and the U.S. share more than a border; we share watersheds, values, and a responsibility to lead. This cross-border collaboration represents the kind of united action our water demands, and I’m proud that AquaAction is helping to catalyze it.”
- François de Gaspé Beaubien, Founding Chair, AquaAction
Quick Facts
- AquaAction empowers innovators and entrepreneurs to develop and deploy cutting-edge water technologies that drive sustainable solutions for water security. Through leadership development, coaching, and industry partnerships, we accelerate the growth of water-focused startups, foster collaboration, and champion water technology and innovation as pillars of economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and national security.
- The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the premier forum for attracting foreign direct investment into the United States. With participation from senior U.S. federal officials, governors, mayors, and global investors, it is a powerful stage for showcasing our commitment to the U.S. market and our belief in Detroit as a key hub for innovation and growth.
- AquaAction’s Impact since 2016:
- 100+ active water tech companies
- $200M+ in annual revenues
- $65M+ capital raised
- 400+ green jobs created
Contact
Oliver Anderson
Head of Communications and Growth
Oliver.anderson@aquaaction.org
