How do you survive six years on "just" grants while hiring a team, running 15 pilots, pivoting from B2C, and succeeding in PFAS Destruction at scale where many failed? Aclarity did it! Wanna find out how and how spectacular acceleration was around the corner? Listen to this episode! More #water insights? Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/ #️⃣ All the Links Mentioned in this Episode #️⃣ Aclarity's website https://www.aclaritywater.com/ Julie Bliss Mullen's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieblissmullen/Julie's Email julie.mullen@aclaritywater.comMy conversation with Sivan Zamir (Xylem Innovation Labs) https://dww.show/passing-the-baton-how-to-bring-innovation-to-market-faster-more-reliably/My conversation with Max Storto (Xylem Innovation Labs) https://dww.show/growing-10-wonder-kids-from-5-to-50-clients-with-0-equity-xylems-weirdest-move/Tom Ferguson on my mic (aka Julie's VC) https://dww.show/the-secret-formula-for-profit-in-water-tech-venture-capital/Another take on PFAS Removal with SuperCritical Water Oxidation (374Water) https://dww.show/is-supercritical-water-oxidation-a-solution-for-pfas-energy-more/Electrochemical removal of PFAS and more with Axine Water https://dww.show/the-best-industrial-wastewater-treatment-system-is-the-one-you-forget/An early take on this mic' on Micropollutant removal with Oxyle https://dww.show/how-to-solve-a-global-challenge-in-an-easy-affordable-innovative-and-efficient-way/Julie's independent Board Member, Wayne Byrne (on my mic', of course!) https://dww.show/four-successful-exits-and-counting-whats-next-disrupting-uv-disinfection/Full blog article: https://dww.show/how-aclarity-bootstrapped-its-journey-from-b2c-to-pfas-destruction/?️ Subscribe and Listen to the Don't Waste Water Podcast HERE ?️ Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dwwpodcast Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AntoineWalterDWW Smartlink: https://smartlink.ausha.co/dont-waste-water Website: https://dww.show/podcast/ ? SOCIAL MEDIA ? LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewalter1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwwpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoineWalter7 ? QUESTION: What would you like me to cover next? ⏰ TIME CODES ⏰ 00:00 In This Week's Episode 02:18 Why is Aclarity a Water Tech "Cool Kid"?04:22 Are we doomed with PFAS?05:35 If PFAS is in 98% of people's blood, is it really dangerous? 06:43 Aclarity's elevator pitch08:06 is Aclarity competing with Ion Exchange and Activated Carbon?09:55 is Aclarity 10-50x better than competition?11:40 Aclarity's founder story14:09 The hints that nudged Julie to create Aclarity15:30 Turning academic research into a business16:48 Delegating your "baby" as a water tech founder18:53 Key Learnings from the first 3 Years in Business19:45 Aclarity's first prototype23:33 How to pick your niche26:27 How to partner with Big Groups27:46 How did big water companies find Aclarity?29:29 Working with Xylem vs Working with De Nora31:15 Bootstrapped by design?32:57 How to survive 6 years with $2 Million34:45 Handling a first VC as a Water Tech Start Up38:28 How a Seed Investor accepts next funding rounds41:15 Does company valuation matter for a water tech founder?44:15 What's next in the PFAS Removal landscape?46:30 How much does it cost to remove PFAS?47:55 Aclarity's Business Model48:57 Does Aclarity solve all kinds of PFAS?53:42 What will the EPA regulation on PFAS change?58:35 Could Aclarity be acquired? By whom?01:01:38 Rapid Fire Questions01:05:31 7 Insights to Act On (right now!)#WaterTech #WaterUnicorn #WaterEntrepreneurship About this Podcast: Welcome to the (don't) Waste Water podcast! In each episode, Antoine Walter from DWW Media shares water, wastewater & water entrepreneurship stories. This show will teach you the water industry like you've never seen it. If you're asking how the water sector will overcome the water crises ahead, this video is for you.