Imagine H2O, a nonprofit supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in the water sector, and Grundfos, the global leader in advanced pump solutions, yesterday announced Grundfos’s sponsorship of Imagine H2O’s Food and Agriculture Program. The partnership was announced at WEFTEC, the world’s largest annual water quality exhibition.

The program, Imagine H2O’s fifth to date, is a competition that seeks to identify and support emerging water businesses whose primary value proposition improves water use, treatment, supply, or discharge in the Food and Agriculture sector.

“Imagine H2O is honored to partner with a company that is globally recognized as a water innovation leader,” said Scott Bryan, the organization’s COO. “Grundfos’ contribution to our program will enhance our value proposition to water entrepreneurs and startups.”

“We believe business competitions like these will fuel the innovation engine and accelerate water technologies solutions for tomorrow,” said Henrik Skov Laursen, director for Grundfos Silicon Valley. “Food, water and energy is high on our agenda, and with this year’s theme we believe the opportunity is now to bring startups to the table.”

“Grundfos is keenly focused on fostering innovative water technologies that facilitate solutions to water scarcity, as well as associated energy and food production issues. We believe that team efforts and great networks will help solve issues – this is also why Grundfos is part of the BlueTechValley initiative together with other leading companies in California,” Laursen added.

Imagine H2O’s annual business plan competition attracts a global field of entrepreneurs and features a judging panel of leading water experts. The winning companies enter Imagine H2O’s Accelerator Program where they receive professional resources and market insight.

Since its inception in 2008, Imagine H2O has:

● Attracted over 300 water startups from more than 15 countries to its competition program

● Provided over $1 million of in-kind services and cash awards to more than 35 new businesses

● Helped its portfolio companies attract over $30 million in investment from angel investors, venture capital funds and project finance funds

● Offered campus water entrepreneurship and leadership workshops to over 1,000 students

Through this partnership, Grundfos is engaged in the competition programming and will support the

acceleration and implementation phases.”