Montreal, QC – June 4, 2026 – On June 3rd, AquaAction proudly announced the 12 companies that will be taking part in the Quebec 2026 edition of its flagship commercialization program, AquaEntrepreneur. The announcement took place at Espace Ax.c in Montreal, Quebec’s innovation hub, as part of an event highlighting the vibrancy of the province’s water technology ecosystem.
Group photo: The AquaAction team and entrepreneurs from the latest edition of AquaEntrepreneur Québec 2026
Representing several regions across North America, the selected companies took the stage alongside AquaEntrepreneur alumni and program partners to present innovations addressing pressing water-related challenges. As part of AquaEntrepreneur, they will participate in an intensive 10-month program focused on commercialization. They will benefit from personalized coaching, support in securing pilot projects, connections with implementation partners, and access to strategic resources to accelerate their growth.
AquaEntrepreneur’s mission is to help launch contracts or pilot projects while paving the way for expansion into international markets. Since 2022, the program has supported the growth, development, and long-term impact of water technology companies.
“Water is not just a resource: it is central to our economic stability and national security. Today, the world is at a critical turning point,” said Soula Chronopoulos, President of AquaAction. “With AquaEntrepreneur, we are taking concrete action to identify and accelerate technologies capable of addressing these very real challenges.”
Fireside chat with Simon Beauchamp, CEO, Aquatech Service des Eaux du Québec,
and Soula Chronopoulos, President, AquaAction
AquaEntrepreneur is the only program in Quebec dedicated exclusively to the commercialization of innovative water technologies. It facilitates direct links between startups, SMEs, and municipal and industrial partners committed to reducing their water-related impact on the climate. Last year, the Quebec government reaffirmed its support by announcing a $1.5 million investment over three years to support the program’s expansion.
Quotes
“For four generations, our family has been guided by the belief that water is one of our planet’s most precious resources and that safeguarding it is a shared responsibility. Through AquaEntrepreneur Quebec 2026, we are investing in the talent, ingenuity, and determination of Canadian innovators to accelerate the development and deployment of practical solutions that protect, restore, and sustainably manage our freshwater resources. By supporting these entrepreneurs, we are helping build a future where innovation drives environmental resilience and lasting prosperity for generations to come.”
— François de Gaspé Beaubien, Founding Chair of the Board, AquaAction
“At Ovivo, we firmly believe that accelerating water technology starts with its practical implementation in the field. AquaEntrepreneur 2026 plays a key role in bringing together innovative companies with industrial and municipal stakeholders capable of testing, adopting, and refining their solutions. We are proud to contribute to this AquaAction program and to support these entrepreneurs who are providing tangible solutions to critical challenges facing our infrastructure and our environment.”
— Pierre-Marc Sarazzin, Chief Investment and Development Officer, Ovivo
“As part of our commitment to innovation, Aquatech Services des Eaux is proud to support AquaEntrepreneur Québec 2026. By facilitating access to pilot projects, we help bridge the gap between innovation and real-world applications. This collaboration allows us to actively support the emergence of new solutions capable of bringing about lasting change in water treatment practices.”
— Simon Beauchamp, President and CEO, Aquatech Services des Eaux du Québec, HELIOS Group
“As we all know, there are many water-related challenges right now, both here and elsewhere. AquaEntrepreneur 2026 highlights what Quebec’s ecosystem is capable of achieving when it rallies around such fundamental issues. For Réseau Environnement, this is exactly the kind of initiative we support, to back local entrepreneurs who are turning these challenges into sustainable solutions.”
— Mathieu Laneuville, President and CEO, Réseau Environnement
Panel featuring testimonials from alumni and program partners, from left to right: Anne-Pascale Richardson, Director of Programs, AquaAction Patricia Dorne, Director of Coaching, AquaAction, Alain Phaneuf, President, Phaneuf International, François Bordeleau, CEO, C3E, Benoit Balmana, General Director, IVEO.
The companies of AquaEntrepreneurs 2026
AQUARTIS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Jean-François Lamy
Addresses the lack of municipal infrastructure by enabling urban buildings to treat their wastewater directly on-site, without relying on the municipal system. Unlike traditional autonomous systems, it reduces water consumption by up to 50% and eases the strain on aquifers. It also ensures the effective removal of phosphorus, microplastics, and persistent pollutants (PFAS), ensuring safe discharge even in sensitive environments.
CAPTURE TECH
Jonathan Weyhrauch
Restores water and soil ecosystems by transforming pollution and biomass residues into measurable ecological benefits. Capture Tech develops deployable biofiltration tools and monitoring methods that enable communities to capture nutrients and contaminants, measure improvements, and repurpose the recovered materials into circular soil restoration products, thereby reducing waste and strengthening watershed resilience.
CONSILIENCE
Cesar Pedrosa Soares & Sam Lucy Behle
Develops embedded artificial intelligence technology designed to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure. Their solution enables real-time detection and tracking of invasive species, while generating actionable alerts to speed up decision-making and on-site response.
ÉAU (ÉCOSYSTÈMES ALIMENTAIRES URBAINS)
Pierre Daigneault & Benjamin Laramée
Develops integrated aquaponic systems that produce fish, fruits, and vegetables without any water discharge. By adopting a circular approach, the company minimizes waste and optimizes resource use. Backed by proprietary technologies and scientific expertise, ÉAU offers a sustainable and accessible solution to boost local food production.
EMO3
Dave Gilbert
Develops scalable, custom-designed ozone purification systems for treating water and air in industrial, municipal, and aquaculture settings. Without the use of chemicals or toxic residues, ozonation eliminates bacteria, viruses, and contaminants at the source—offering industries and municipalities an environmentally friendly, high-performance, and cost-effective alternative to conventional treatment methods.
ENVIREAU-PLUS ZRL
Philippe Hussenet
Eliminates liquid effluent from construction sites and finishing work at the source through closed-loop cleaning solutions (ZRL—Zero Liquid Discharge). Whereas conventional practices discharge pollutant-laden water into municipal sewer systems, Envireau-plus marks a clear break from this approach: zero effluent, zero unnecessary consumption of drinking water.
HOOLA ONE – TRAITEMENT DES EAUX
Jean-David Lantagne
Develops a compact, modular, and mobile wastewater treatment solution designed for deployment directly at the source in industrial settings. Easy to install and operate, it improves treatment performance, reduces equipment and chemical requirements, and simplifies sludge management. By treating water on-site, the Hoola One – Water Treatment solution alleviates pressure on municipal infrastructure while offering industries a flexible, high-performance, and economically viable alternative.
INSIGHTSOLVER SOLUTIONS INC.
Michael Albo
Develops an explainable AI solution that transforms operational data into actionable insights to optimize water management. Their technology identifies the factors driving overconsumption, wastewater discharge, and efficiency losses, thereby helping operators reduce water usage, improve effluent quality, and stabilize industrial processes.
LAKEWATER NUTRIENT CAPTURE INC.
Joel Weber
Develops a mobile, barge-mounted system that captures phosphorus directly from contaminated lakes and reservoirs. The technology uses recoverable filters made of iron nano-oxyhydroxide to remove dissolved phosphorus, then recycles it on-site into calcium phosphate, a useful product in agriculture. By reducing the risk of harmful algae blooms at the source, it lowers drinking water treatment costs and secures the water supply for communities.
ONEKA TECHNOLOGIES
Camille St-Pierre & Dragan Tutic
Transforms the ocean into a sustainable source of fresh water using patented technologies powered exclusively by renewable energy. With zero GHG emissions and no environmental impact, its systems provide coastal communities and industries facing water shortages with a reliable, carbon-free water supply solution. By drawing water directly from the sea, Oneka Technologies offers a practical, high-performance, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional desalination infrastructure.
ROBONOTIC INC.
Véronica Romero & David Caron
Develops an AI-driven solution for the early detection and mapping of invasive species, including zebra mussels. Compatible with underwater cameras, it automates analysis to improve accuracy, accelerate interventions, and reduce costs, while supporting a preventive approach.
SOLUTIONS SIMPLICITI CANADA INC.
Adeline Du Peloux
Develops smart solutions based on connected sensors and real-time monitoring to optimize water management. Its technology combines automated irrigation with continuous network monitoring, enabling reduced water consumption, lower pollutant discharge, and improved infrastructure performance at a lower cost.
Quick Facts
-
AquaEntrepreneur’s impact to date:
- 61 companies supported
- 554 pilot projects and contracts
- Over $49 million in new public and private contracts
- Over $70 million in new investments received
- 19x return on investment
- 663 jobs created
- 32 patents
- 1,225 hours of coaching
- The equivalent of over 140,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water saved, according to water impact reports compliant with ISO 14046
- Studies predict that the global water technology market will reach $600 billion by 2030 and could reach $1 trillion. This positions water technology among the largest, most stable, and infrastructure-related growth markets worldwide, attracting an increasing number of institutional and infrastructure-focused investors.
- Partners facilitating access to pilot projects:
- IVÉO – Connects Quebec municipalities with innovative solutions as a neutral intermediary, facilitates pilot deployments, and ensures joint follow-up between cities and companies.
- Réseau Environnement – Showcases companies ready for pilot projects through high-visibility events such as the “Dragon’s Den”-style competition.
- Centre des Technologies de l’eau (CTEAU) – Supports the structuring of pilot projects and provides independent scientific validation to facilitate municipal adoption.
- Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative – Provides access to over 400 municipalities and regional water summits.
- Aquatech, Services des Eaux du Québec Inc (Groupe Helios) – Enables participants to access concrete pilot projects within a network of 200 water treatment facilities across Quebec.
- Centre d'excellence en efficacité énergétique (C3E) – Supports the commercialization and internationalization of AquaEntrepreneur companies with an energy impact.
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
Mélanie Fontaine
Senior Manager, Media and Communications
Melanie.Fontaine@aquaaction.org
