Detroit, Michigan, September 23, 2026—AquaAction is proud to launch its first US wave in Michigan, with ten water-tech companies selected for the new AquaEntrepreneur Michigan program. Officially launching today, the program will support the commercialization of promising solutions that address our most pressing freshwater challenges.
The selected Entrepreneurs are Accelerated Filtration, Inc., AmHyTech Inc., DMR International Inc., Geomind operating as Lacuum, Green Steel Environmental, Myconaut, Nucleic Sensing Systems, Radmantis, Sequestro, Inc. and Subtidal, Inc.
AquaAction welcomes the ten selected Entrepreneurs. From left to right, back row: Soula Chronopoulos (AquaAction), Rick Latella (DMR International Inc.), Robert Huber (Radmantis), Rick Penn (Accelerated Filtration, Inc.), Kevin Payne (Sequestro, Inc.), Ryan Iacovacci (Myconaut), Jonathan Teaford (Green Steel Environmental), Scott Burr (Accelerated Filtration), Will Kitchen (AquaAction). Front row: Reza Ghazfar (AmHyTech), Soraya Katoozian (DMR), Jonathan Weyhrauch (Capture Tech, of AquaEntrepreneur Quebec 2026), Delaney Keating (AquaAction), John Austin (keynote speaker, of Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College). Not pictured: Geomind operating as Lacuum, Nucleic Sensing Systems (NS2), Subtidal, Inc.
The first wave was announced at the Michigan Blue Economy Summit, held in partnership with AquaAction and the University of Michigan-Flint. The full-day summit connected leaders across sectors to define the priorities, challenges and opportunities towards the vision of growing an innovative freshwater economy.
“Congratulations to all the companies selected for AquaEntrepreneur Michigan,” said Soula Chronopoulos, President of AquaAction, in her remarks at the Summit. “There is growing momentum around freshwater as a major driver of economic growth, resilience, jobs and competitiveness and, with the right supports, at the right time, these ten innovators can play a key role in this tremendously important effort to build a thriving blue-tech economy in the Great Lakes region.”
These Entrepreneurs will participate in an intensive, ten-month program, receiving customized coaching, technical guidance and guaranteed opportunities to pilot their technologies in real-world settings, aiming to transform promising innovations into commercial successes.
“It’s an essential moment for Michigan to define its place in the Blue Economy,” said Delaney Keating, AquaAction’s Director of Programs and Operations, United States. “We are so excited to be a part of the greater mission to serve freshwater, to develop rapid commercialization pathways, and to collaborate with the many partners already working on the ground.”
The Michigan program relies on its core strategic partners, such as the Michigan economic Development Corporation, Urban Tech Xchange, the University of Michigan Office of Economic Development and Community Engagement, the Friends of the Rouge, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the Great Lakes Water Authority and the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority, who will support the deployment of these new technologies to help the Entrepreneurs scale their businesses.
The new Michigan program is a critical component of AquaAction’s binational work in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region. As announced in July 2026, AquaEntrepreneur Michigan is the first US expansion of AquaAction’s flagship commercialization program, which has already helped 72 companies land 550 pilot projects and generate a total of CAD$260 million in annual revenues, creating lasting jobs and supporting economic growth by helping local businesses succeed.
AquaEntrepreneur Michigan is supported by the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) through a Maritime Innovation Grant.
Meet the companies selected for AquaEntrepreneur Michigan 2026
Accelerated Filtration develops VelRay X, an automated filtration and concentration technology designed to efficiently treat industrial water and wastewater with highly variable levels of suspended solids.
AmHyTech is developing an innovative approach to ammonia storage at ambient temperature and pressure, designed to enable safer and more practical handling for maritime, industrial and agricultural applications.
DMR International develops PurAsure™, an innovative water treatment platform that helps control pathogens and biofilms across stormwater, wastewater, industrial and agricultural applications, with minimal maintenance requirements.
Lacuum develops autonomous amphibious robots that help water managers monitor, map and maintain shallow freshwater environments, improving operational efficiency while generating valuable, repeatable environmental data.
Green Steel Environmental transforms steel industry by-products into cost-effective materials that remove phosphorus and sulfur from wastewater, helping protect waterways while advancing a more circular economy.
Myconaut
Myconaut develops site-specific biological remediation solutions for PFAS and other contaminants, combining natural systems, advanced testing and field validation to address complex environmental challenges.
Nucleic Sensing Systems develops field-ready biosensors that enable rapid, on-site detection and measurement of pathogens, toxins, harmful algal blooms and invasive species, bringing advanced water monitoring directly to the water’s edge.
Radmantis combines underwater imaging, artificial intelligence and robotics to detect and manage aquatic species, supporting applications ranging from aquaculture and conservation to hydropower and maritime operations.
Sequestro develops ArborSORB™, a renewable, wood-based filtration material designed to remove PFAS from contaminated water and provide a scalable alternative to conventional treatment materials.
Subtidal provides solar-powered water-quality monitoring buoys and analytics that help communities continuously track harmful algal bloom risks and better understand the environmental conditions driving them.
Quick Facts
AquaEntrepreneur’s impact to date:
- 72 companies supported
- 550+ Pilot projects and contracts
- The equivalent of over 140,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water saved
- CAD $50M in new public and private contracts
- CAD $260M+ revenue generated
About AquaAction
At AquaAction, we develop leaders to protect and restore our most vital resource: freshwater. We empower people, from young innovators to community advocates, to protect and restore freshwater through innovation, advocacy, and conservation. By supporting entrepreneurship, advancing education and awareness, and driving policy change, we help communities build resilience and ensure access to clean water for generations to come. Our mission is simple yet profound: a generation of leaders safeguarding freshwater for the health of people and the planet.
Contact
Bridget Wayland
Director of Communications and Media Relations, AquaAction
bridget.wayland@aquaaction.org
