BREW Seeks Applicants for Next Round of Seed Funding

Feb. 27, 2015
Up to eight winners will be selected by June 23 to participate in Round III beginning in September

The BREW, a place-based global seed accelerator for water technology startups led by The Water Council, is launching Round III of the program. The application process opens March 1 at 8 a.m. CST and will accept applications from around the world through March 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Up to eight winners will be selected by June 23 to participate in Round III beginning in September.

The Water Council and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC), a demonstration of Milwaukee and Wisconsin’s reputation as a global epicenter for water-related research and industry, created the BREW.

The BREW accelerator program debuted in 2013 and is managed by The Water Council. Startups with commercialization potential will receive up to $50,000 in investments in exchange for a small percent of equity. Past winners of The BREW include businesses focused on water quality and quantity, from sensors and laboratories to software and hydropower. This year, startups with agriculture water solutions are strongly encouraged to apply. During the 12-month accelerator program, winning entrepreneurs receive:

  • A suite in the Global Water Center for 12 months;
  • Business model and operations training through The Water Council and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW) Institute for Water Business;
  • Access to faculty and students from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) School for Freshwater Sciences and Marquette University;
  • Access to the Global Water Center’s Flow Lab;
  • Mentorship from dozens of area water technology experts, plus direct access to BREW Preferred Partners, including: WIPFLI, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, University of Wisconsin-Madison Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic, and Global Water Center Executive in Residence;
  • Attendance to conferences and pitch sessions with The Water Council;
  • Access to investment capital funding sources;
  • Access to Pilot Project funding; and
  • One-year membership to The Water Council providing access to the water technology network.

The focus of The BREW is to unleash unique water technology startups, expand Milwaukee’s Global Water Hub by accelerating results, inspire action to create further opportunity in the water industry, and disrupt the status quo.

The Water Council and a separate panel of global expert judges rank entries using multiple criteria including commercialization potential. Grants will fund startup costs, which could include lab supplies, research and product development expenses, and professional services.

Participants in Round II graduate at the Water Summit on June 24 at The Pfister in Milwaukee. Batch II graduates include: Cadens LLC, Hydro-Lite, Pellucid Water, pHinding Solutions, WatrHub and Wellntel.

Source: The Water Council

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