WaterVent
34 EDITIONS // GLOBAL TRACK RECORD

Past Forums of
Venture Matching.

From Berlin to San Francisco – since 2010, WaterVent has been the premier stage for water tech innovators to meet the world’s most relevant investors.

// OFFIZIELLE ANERKENNUNG

Certificate of Honor: The Mayor of San Francisco, David Lurie, honoring us on the occasion of our 32nd WaterVent on October 24th, 2025.

Left to right: Ulf Leonhard, Mayor David Lurie, Jonathan Storper, Partner Hanson Bridgett LLP (Sponsor)

Ulf Leonhard

Initiator of WaterVent

VIEW FULL CERTIFICATE (PDF) ↗
// Germany HUB
May 5th, 2026

Potsdam Forum

Located at the Fraunhofer IAP Conference Center, our 33rd forum welcomes 25+ expert speakers in water technologies, investments and applications.

Foto

// DETAILED SCHEDULE (MAY 5th, 2026)

08:30
Checkin
10:00
Welcome
  • Ulf Leonhard (Watervent)
  • Agnes von Matuschka (CEO Potsdam Science Park)
10:15
Welcome by Partners
  • Alexander Fritsch (Aqseptence Group GmbH)
  • Sebastian Specht (Geschäftsführer/Managing Director, BÜFA Cleaning GmbH & Co. KG)
  • Günter Mösslein (Mösslein GmbH)
  • Dr. Dominik Zimmermann (EWD Environment Water Development GmbH)
  • Andreas Bichler (Dehoust GmbH)
FOLLOWING
Panels & Experts

Exact timing follows

  • Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Thomas Rauschenbach (Fraunhofer Alliance SysWater)
  • Dr. Jörg Nowak (ORCA Consulting Group GmbH) – "Lessons learnt from 15 years of water tech investments"
  • Dr. Arnt Baer (Gelsenwasser AG (Utility))
  • Victoria Edwards (Fido Tech Ltd (UK))
  • Xavier van Slooten (Pure Terra Ventures (Netherlands))
  • Gerben Hardeman (Aquatech (Netherlands))
  • Alejandro Sturniolo (Aqua Positive | Water Stewardship)
  • Paloma Akerman (Autodesk Water Infrastructure)
  • Philipp Raichle (Xylem)
  • Hans-Ulrich Buchholz (L'Oréal – Environmental Compliance, Water, Waste Water, Biodiversity)
  • Felix Schröder (BRYCK Startup Accelerator)
  • Pascal David Fischer (Israel Trade, AgriTech & WaterTech)
  • Christian Hellmund (Clarion Solicitors - City of Leeds/Leeds Univ.)
  • Mark Barker (WEX Global)
  • James Z. Li (E. J. McKay (Investment Bank))
  • Kevin Li (Eton Walk for Water charity)
  • Henk Nieboer (Aquius Capital)
  • Elena de la Vieja Molina (Aqua Advise)
INNOVATORS
Startups

Presenting startups as per may 10th. Some 15 further expected.

  • Aqua Alarm AS – Hasse Storebakken
  • Fluidion – Dan Angelescu
  • GRAPHEAL – BOUCHIAT Vincent
  • Harmony Desalting – Christine Kleffner
  • HYB Hydro-Berlin GmbH – Paul Knöll
  • Jolt Tech – Leon Rizzi
  • Kawo – Burak Adali
  • Luper Technologies B.V. – Daan Jansen
  • Pluvion GmbH – Phillip Grimm
  • Sim-peller – Kwasi Safo Ayirebi
  • Spectromarine – Girts Ozolins
  • Taikoa Innovations – Kasper Hildén
// US HUB
OCTOBER 24, 2025

San Francisco Forum

Our strategic expansion into the US tech ecosystem. A dedicated session for international water tech startups looking for California-based venture capital and industrial pilots.

// DETAILED SCHEDULE (OCT 24, 2025)

08:00
Welcome, coffee & croissants
09:00
Welcome Address
  • Allison Schutte & Jonathan Storper (Hanson Bridgett LLP)
  • James Adducci (Janney Montgomery Scott) | Read Bio (PDF)
  • Sally Gutierrez (USEPA ret.), Denys Visser (Johnson Screens)
  • Günther Mösslein (Mösslein Water), Ulf Leonhard (Watervent)
09:30
Investors & Experts in Water

Intro by Nidhi Menon (Imagine H2O)

  • Tom Joseph (XPRIZE), Dr. Cat Shrier (WaterCitizen)
  • Kobe Nagar (7Environmental), Timur Davis (Munich Re Ventures)
  • Clara Drysdal & Peter Yolles (Echo River Capital)
10:00
Water Technology Innovators I

Intro by Charlie Walker (GWI)

  • David Balsar (MEKOROT®), David Locke (XPRIZE)
  • Watergenics, Pure Bluetech, Active Membrane, Airjoule
  • 1Watermark, NALA Membranes, Atrium Energy, Biota, GreenPebble
11:20
Water Technology Innovators II

Intro by Judith Herschell (GWA)

  • Remote: Carolina Sánchez Badini (Cycle H2O)
  • Aqaix, Noah Water solutions, Moses West Foundation, Paniclean
  • Solinas Technologies, INFINIREL, Tomorrow Water, AMS, Mars Materials
12:30
Keynote: Daniel Lurie
Mayor of San Francisco
12:50
Success Stories in Water
  • Greg Newbloom (Membrion), Aaron Tartakovsky (Epic Cleantec)
  • Remote: Victoria Edwards (FIDO AI)
  • Shannon Knee (Cetos Water), Paula Kehoe (SFPUC)
14:15
Innovators III & Remote Pitches

Intro by Jim Lauria (Mazzei Injector)

  • Holland Sensor, NanobOx, Mermade, Jolt Solutions, Fraunhofer IGD, Aruna, H2OLL
15:15
Corporate Water Users
  • Daniel Benitez (Veralto), Dr. Nathan Wangusi (BlueCredits)
  • Volkmar Kunerth (EDAMS), Alex Kopelyan (IndieBio)
  • Will Sarni (Earth Finance)
16:15
Innovators IV

Intro by Sally Gutierrez & Bryan Stubbs (CLEWA)

  • Water Harvesting Inc., Renewable Ocean Energy, XCellAssay, Gneuton, Divirod, Treetoscope, Agrinoze, Kira
17:15
Banking & Legal Framework

James W. Adducci (Janney Montgomery Scott) on Market Readiness.
Hanson Bridgett LLP on IP & Founding in California.

18:30
Reception on roof deck
// INDUSTRIAL HUB
MAY 12TH & 13TH, 2025

31st WaterVent: BÜFA Group

Hosted at the BÜFA headquarters in Oldenburg. This edition was custom-tailored for BÜFA’s business scopes, focusing on new chemistry, materials, and sustainable process technology.

// MONDAY, MAY 12TH — CET

12:00
Check-in
13:00
Welcome
  • Sebastian Specht, MD, BÜFA Cleaning GmbH & Co. KG
  • Stephan Göttke, Corporate Venturing BÜFA Holding
  • Ulf Leonhard, Watervent
13:30
Start-up Block 1

Introduction: Mark Felstead, Dutch Cleantech

  • Niclas Andersson, Untap! former Airwater2all AB
  • Dr. Liviu Mantescu, Watergenics
  • Florian Rohde, instrAction GmbH
  • Vincent BOUCHIAT, GRAPHEAL
  • Nicola Rubini, Rivercleaning Srl
  • Richard Eckl, Energyminer GmbH
  • Wouter De Weirdt, Tectero BV
  • Dennis Prausse, nerou
14:30
Panel – Investment in Water
  • Ulf Leonhard, Watervent (Recommendations for Startups)
  • tbd, PureTerra Ventures
  • Mark Felstead, Dutch Cleantech
  • Sead Bajrovic, Water Impact Partners
  • Felix Schröder, BRYCK Startup Accelerator
  • Dr. Volker Zang, Rödiger Vacuum (Aqseptence Group)
  • Günter Mösslein, Mösslein GmbH
15:00
Break
15:30
Start-up Block 2

Introduction: Peter Oksen, WIPO Green (UN)

  • Dr. Estelle Clerc, CellX Biosolutions AG
  • Gabi Wolkinson, BioCastle Water Technologies
  • Johann Barklach, Variolytics
  • Stéphane Ghenassia, PlanctoLab et PlanctoPolis
  • Polina Aman, NanoFract GmbH
  • Félix BOGLIOLO, Via Marina S.A.R.L.
  • Oliver Richard Flettner, ION Deutschland GmbH
  • Paloma Zanelli, Ainwater
16:30
Start-up Block 3 - Americas via Teams

Introduction: Günter Mösslein & Dr. Cat Shrier (WaterCitizen)

  • Marty Hayek, Namara Water
  • Ameet Chaudhury, Aruna Innovation
  • Marc Andelman, Mespilus Inc.
  • Joseph Studholme, Hydronos Labs
  • Len Bland, Nano Gas Environmental
17:30
Feedback & Wrap-up
18:00
Reception, Dinner & Networking

Option: Factory Visit (BÜFA Group)

21:00
End of first day

// TUESDAY, MAY 13TH — CET

09:00
Check-in, Coffee, Snacks
09:30
Welcome by BÜFA Cleaning GmbH & Co. KG
09:40
Introductions
  • Sahl A. Salam, Roland Berger London
  • Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Thomas Rauschenbach, Fraunhofer-IOSB
10:00
Start-up Block 4 via Teams
  • Sandeep Sarkar, Need Inovation (India)
  • Zeev Fisher, Mapal Green Energy Ltd. (Israel)
  • Isabella Palmgren, Mimbly (Sweden)
  • Matthew Black, Shower Canary Ltd (New Zealand)
  • Lorraine Raby, GEOTERRA Image (Portugal)
  • Timo Dilly, Sustainable Water Infrastructure Solutions GmbH
  • Harry Brooksbank, Nafura Advanced Technologies
  • Mads Nedergaard, SenArch ApS
11:00
Success Stories

Introduction: Aquius Capital (Thomas Peutz, Henk Nieboer)

  • Richard Bruins, FerrTech
  • Mathias Fickenscher, H20 GmbH
  • Robert Andersson, Aquarobur
11:45
Start-up Block 5

Introduction: Dr. Arnt Baer, Gelsenwasser AG

  • Doris Korthaus, Korthaus Pumpen GmbH
  • Stephan Mangold, Unda GmbH
  • David Din and David Rast, Olb
  • Dr. Ralf Wendt, Unique Clear UG
  • Alexander Ubl, STREAMETRIC
  • Johannes Büker, Hydronauten GmbH
  • Erwin Meijboom, Slow Mill Sustainable Power BV
12:45
Feedback & Wrap-up

Comments by BUEFA Group & Remarks by Ulf Leonhard

13:15
End of forum
// EVENT PARTNERS
STRATEGIC PARTNERS // NETWORK
Aqceptence Group
BÜFA
Cannobe
Global Water Advisors
Janney
Moesslein
SWAN
US-Saudi Water Summit
Water Pitch
Water Citizen
// HISTORY
OCTOBER 25, 2024

30th WaterVent Berlin

Chamber of Commerce (IHK) Berlin.

APRIL 24, 2024

29th WaterVent Berlin TXL

Urban Tech Republic, Infocenter Berlin TXL.

OCTOBER 11, 2023

WaterVent Cincinnati

US Mid-West session in cooperation with Waterpitch.

2018 — 2019

Philadelphia Series

Two successful editions focused on the US East Coast water market.

// AUDIENCE

Global Demographics

Investors and entrepreneurs are the two largest groups participating in WaterVent matching events.

Participant Groups Entrepreneur Origins
// ZOOM ARCHIVE

Webinar History

• Nov 10th 2022 // Mar 31st 2022

• Nov 18th 2021 // Sep 29th 2021

• May 11th 2021 // Mar 25th 2021

• 2020: 7 Sessions (May to December)

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