ClimateHaven Water Innovation Hub

Water Innovation hub

about

COMMERCIALIZATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF ADVANCED WATER TECHNOLOGIES TO ADDRESS CRITICAL WATER CHALLENGES.

The Water Innovation Hub is a collaborative initiative led by ClimateHaven to accelerate the development and deployment of breakthrough water technologies. Launched in partnership with the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) at the Yale Innovation Summit in May 2025, the Hub provides startups with real world testing environments, funded pilot opportunities, and direct engagement with utility operations.

The Hub has since expanded through strategic partnerships with Xylem, a global leader in water technology, and Continua, a firm specializing in industrial digital transformation and data integration. Together, RWA, Xylem, Continua, and ClimateHaven connect early stage entrepreneurs with the stakeholders and operational expertise needed to validate and scale new solutions, from municipal pilots to commercial deployment.

By combining utility insight, corporate leadership, digital integration expertise, and startup innovation, the Water Innovation Hub serves as a bridge between emerging technologies and real world water systems. Its mission is to help founders prove impact in operational environments, strengthen collaboration across the water ecosystem, and bring forward solutions that improve the resilience of water infrastructure.

Partners

Innovation Challenges

Each year, the Water Innovation Hub partners with utilities, corporates, and researchers to co-develop challenge themes that address real operational and market needs. By aligning innovators with end users through structured validation and pilot opportunities, the Hub accelerates technology deployment.

2026 Innovation Challenge

In partnership with Xylem, we are working with global startups that turn industrial wastewater from a cost center into a resource-rich asset. Six finalists are now in an eight-week Innovation Sprint with the Hub and Xylem advisors to understand what it takes to scale solutions. Two startups will then be selected to pilot.

2026 Finalists

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Recovers iodine and lithium from produced water and industrial brines.

Low-cost desalination for the toughest brines.

Mine-specific microbial communities that improve copper recovery from low-grade ores.

Turns industrial wastewater into ultrapure water and solids, cutting costs and enabling resource recovery.

Vacuum membrane distillation for critical mineral recovery and brine concentration.‍

A scalable source of water security, producing water from the air.

2026 Themes

Energy Recovery

Technologies that isolate and extract lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements from industrial water streams, including produced water, acid mine drainage, and desalination brines.

Critical Minerals Recovery

Solutions that capture, upgrade, store, or optimize thermal energy lost across industrial cooling loops and process wastewater.

2025 RWA Innovation Challenge

The 2025 RWA Innovation Challenge, developed with the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA), sought innovative solutions for rapid water quality testing, infrastructure inspection, and lead pipe detection. Nucleic Sensing Systems (NS2) was selected as the inaugural winner for its real-time, in-situ biological monitoring technology, which can help utilities detect emerging threats and protect public health.

Innovation Challenges

Selection Criteria

Technical Readiness: Preference for TRL 5 or higher (working prototypes tested in relevant environments)

Commercial Viability: A credible and well-articulated pathway to market adoption and demonstrated customer demand

Integration Potential:imal disruption: Founding teams with the technical and operational depth required to scale.

Team Expertise: Founding teams with the technical and operational depth required to scale.

The Opportunity

Innovation Challenge Finalists: 4–6 selected startups will participate in a structured, 2-3 month Innovation Sprint. This intensive process provides direct access to Xylem mentors to validate technical fit and refine commercial pathways. Pilot Awardees: Following the Sprint, two startups will be selected to deploy their technology in real-world testing environments.

2026 Xylem Innovation Challenge

The 2026 program marks a strategic expansion into energy recovery and supply chain security. In partnership with Xylem, we are seeking global startups building technologies that transform industrial wastewater from a cost center into a resource-rich asset by capturing unrecognized value.

Critical Minerals Recovery

Technologies that isolate and extract lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements from industrial water streams, including produced water, acid mine drainage, and desalination brines.

Energy Recovery

Solutions that capture, upgrade, store, or optimize thermal energy lost across industrial cooling loops and process wastewater.

Applications Are Now Closed

Thank you to all the innovators who applied to the 2026 Xylem Innovation Challenge. Applications are now under review. Stay tuned for the announcement of selected finalists and upcoming program updates.

read request for proposals

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Driving Sectoral Transformation

Innovation in action

Validating in the Real-World

By partnering with strategic corporate and utility entities, the Hub de-risks emerging technologies through pilots that leverage industrial infrastructure, operational resources, and technical expertise to validate scalable solutions.

Accelerating Technologies

The incubator accelerates world-class academic research into commercial applications by equipping startups with the mentorship, technical resources, and investor networks necessary to scale within the water sector.

Driving Sectoral Transformation

The Hub drives ecosystem-wide transformation and informs sector investments by sharing critical insights from pilots and publications like the Water Tech Landscape Report.

Advisory council

Guided by a world-class network of cross-sector experts, the Advisory Council accelerates the commercialization and deployment of advanced technologies to solve critical water challenges.

Advisory Council

The hub thrives on cross-sector collaboration, guided by a world-class network of experts advancing innovation across the water industry. Commercialization and deployment of advanced water technologies to address critical water challenges.

Max Storto

Xylem

Konstantine Drakonakis

Connecticut innovations

Peter Yolles

Echo River Capital

Satish Rao

Tech, Venture and Industrial Advisor

Jennifer Garson

Waypoint Strategy Group

FAQ

Should I apply if my technology doesn't fit the listed focus areas?

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Yes. The focus areas are illustrative, not exhaustive. If your solution addresses energy recovery in industrial water-intensive settings and you see a credible path to engagement with Xylem's operations or customer base, apply and explain the connection in your own terms. ClimateHaven also maintains a pipeline for future program cycles that may be a better fit.

Will I retain rights to my IP?

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Yes. Startups retain full ownership of their IP throughout the program. Any collaboration or data-sharing will be governed by a mutual agreement developed prior to engagement.

What technologies are eligible?

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We welcome applications across the full spectrum of energy recovery relevant to industrial water and wastewater settings—waste heat recovery hardware, high-temperature heat pump systems, thermal optimization software, Energy-as-a-Service models, thermal battery storage, thermochemical heat transformation, and adjacent technologies. If your solution addresses thermal energy efficiency at the intersection of industrial water infrastructure, we encourage you to apply.

What stage of technology readiness are you looking for?

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TRL 5 or higher preferred which means having a working prototype or platform tested in a relevant environment. We will consider earlier-stage companies if the founding team has compelling domain expertise and a clear path to readiness.

Can international startups apply?

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Yes. Companies can be based anywhere globally. Sprint modules are conducted virtually, with an in-person kickoff encouraged. Selected Innovation Challenge Winners should expect on-the-ground availability during the Sprint kickoff and any pilot deployment. There is no long-term relocation requirement.

What does it mean to be an Innovation Challenge Winner to Xylem?

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Being selected as an Innovation Challenge Winner means Xylem and ClimateHaven have identified your company as a credible and relevant solution for challenges within Xylem's operational context or customer base. It provides structured, hands-on access through the Sprint and positions you for Pilot Awardee consideration. It is not a commercial agreement or financial commitment from Xylem.

Is the Sprint a paid engagement?

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No. The Sprint is a structured customer discovery and technical validation process. Its value lies in the depth of access, multi-customer interactions, milestone-driven coaching, and the commercial relationships it generates.

How are Pilot Awardees selected?

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Two Pilot Awardees will be selected following the Sprint based on Sprint performance, deployment use case viability, and pilot partner availability. Selection is made by a panel comprising ClimateHaven and Xylem leadership.

What if I complete the Sprint but am not selected as a Pilot Awardee?

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You will receive a documented roadmap outlining the specific conditions and milestones needed to reach pilot readiness, along with active support through partner introductions, investor connections, and future program cycles.

Latest feed

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Six Startups Selected as Finalists of the Xylem Innovation Challenge

Water Innovation Hub

October 15, 2026

Innovation And Affordability: What Drives Water Utilities To Pilot New Solutions

Water Innovation Hub

July 22, 2026

Wastewater: Treating It Right

Water Innovation Hub

July 14, 2026

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