Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator Selects Five Breakthrough Startups to Address Critical Water Challenges
$500,000 in grant funding awarded to technologies driving economic growth and technological advancement in the Great Lakes
CHICAGO, Ill. - The gener8tor Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator (GLIA) today announced its newest cohort of water technology startups, selected to receive $100,000 in non-dilutive grant funding and participate in an intensive three-month program designed to accelerate domestic innovation while strengthening American technological leadership.
The accelerator, supported by the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), represents a strategic investment in American small businesses that are developing sovereign technological solutions to address water challenges facing our nation's communities and industries. Over its four-year lifecycle, this technology commercialization program will invest in 60 high-potential startups, projected to create more than 150 new jobs in the water technology sector and generate approximately $36 million in follow-on funding.
"The Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator is an exciting next step in the strategic partnership between gener8tor and NOAA," said Zack Baize, NOAA Ocean Enterprise Program Manager. "By empowering local innovators and prioritizing domestic solutions, we're ensuring American communities maintain control over the critical technologies that impact their water resources."
The selected startups are addressing challenges that drive economic growth and technological advancement in the Great Lakes region, focusing on practical solutions that deliver measurable results while supporting regional communities:
Dirac Labs: Quantum sensors that provide navigation in GPS-denied waters while detecting contaminants and monitoring underwater infrastructure.
Enspired Solutions: Award-winning PFAS destruction technology that integrates with existing water treatment systems at defense, industrial, and municipal sites.
Gybe: Real-time water quality monitoring system that provides continuous, basin-wide visibility to detect and anticipate contamination issues before they escalate.
NS2: Autonomous DNA & RNA analyzer that acts as a "smoke alarm" system for bacteria and pathogens without expensive and delayed lab testing.
Sunfish: Portable underwater autonomous vehicles that inspect complex underwater environments to identify infrastructure vulnerabilities and contamination sources.
Unlike typical accelerators, the Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator offers small cohort sizes; personalized mentorship; and direct connections to hundreds of industry experts, corporate partners, and investors. This focused approach enables participants to achieve in three months what typically takes a year. Over the next four years, this program will engage more than 500 entrepreneurs and create over 1,000 connections between its startups and its network of investors and mentors.
"This program reflects our commitment to American technological leadership in the Great Lakes region," said Ryan Jeffery, Senior Managing Director at gener8tor. "By investing in these domestic innovators, we're ensuring that solutions to our water challenges are developed here at home, by those who understand local needs and priorities."
The accelerator has established partnerships with key regional organizations, including the Northern Michigan Blue Economy Consortium; the Cleveland Water Alliance; the Great Lakes Observing System; and more than 50 venture funds, universities, and non-profits across the Great Lakes region. These partnerships strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and support entrepreneurs in scaling and implementing their technologies.
"These five companies represent the best of American innovation and entrepreneurship," said Soham Dalal, Managing Director for GLIA. "Their technologies will not only address critical water challenges but will also create quality jobs while strengthening our technological independence."
Entrepreneurs with water technology solutions addressing Great Lakes challenges are encouraged to apply for upcoming cohorts. Applications for the next cohort are currently being accepted, with detailed information available at www.gener8tor.com/greatlakes.
Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator Spring 2025 Cohort
Quantum sensors that provide navigation in GPS-denied waters while detecting contaminants and monitoring underwater infrastructure.
Co-Founder & CEO: Sanket Deshpande | sanket@diraclabs.com | diraclabs.com
Award-winning PFAS destruction technology that integrates with existing water treatment systems at defense, industrial, and municipal sites.
CEO: Denise Kay | denise.kay@enspiredsolutions.com | enspiredsolutions.com
Real-time water quality monitoring system that provides continuous, basin-wide visibility to detect and anticipate contamination issues before they escalate.
CEO: Sara De Moitié | sara@gybe.eco | gybe.eco
Autonomous DNA & RNA analyzer that acts as a "smoke alarm" system for bacteria and pathogens without expensive and delayed lab testing.
CEO: Edgar Rudberg | ed@ns2co.com | ns2co.com
Portable underwater autonomous vehicles that inspect complex underwater environments to identify infrastructure vulnerabilities and contamination sources.
CEO: Alberto Lopez | alberto.lopez@sunfish.ai | sunfish.ai
About gener8tor
gener8tor fosters innovation ecosystems through its accelerator programs, venture funds, and skills-based workforce initiatives. With a strong track record of supporting high-growth companies, gener8tor has expanded across the U.S. and internationally, building partnerships with governments, corporations, and economic development organizations to drive entrepreneurship and economic impact. gener8tor operates venture capital funds and accelerators in more than 40 communities across 26 states and three countries.
