LA Utilities Are Careful for a Reason. New York Built a Way In. The largest water utility in the country has to be careful with what it adopts. The Environmental Tech Lab is how startups get to test inside it anyway. Applications close October 23.
LA A Trillion Dollars Hiding in Plain Sight, with Burnt Island's Tom Ferguson Water had no dedicated seed fund until 2020. Tom Ferguson on the S-curve, $11B in 2025 exits, and what running the first water VC actually costs.
LA Why Water Can Never Be Organic, with Loonen's Clara Sieg USDA Organic only certifies what's grown, and water isn't grown. Clara Sieg on sourcing, treatment, and what actually separates one bottle from another.
LA Water Is a Soup: What's Really in Your Tap Water with Zach Hamilton It still contains things the EPA has no mandate to remove. Zach Hamilton on PFAS, reverse osmosis, and why filtration has to happen at your tap.
LA Alec Ajnsztajn on Destroying PFAS, Not Just Filtering It Materials scientist Alec Ajnsztajn on CoFlux, the reactor that destroys PFAS forever chemicals into fluoride and CO2, instead of just capturing them.
LA Why the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Turns Green A pool chemistry expert explains why the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool keeps turning green, and what its 1920s design got fundamentally wrong.
LA Newsha Ajami on AI Data Centers and Water Stanford water expert Newsha Ajami on why AI data centers strain local water, a US national water strategy, and water's hidden role in the economy.
LA Robert Strand on Cinema, PFAS, and Water Policy Robert Strand explains how the World Water Film Festival uses cinema to drive water policy, fight PFAS contamination, and pursue UN Water partnership status.
LA Cold Fusion, Deuterium, and the Future of Water: Pure Water Northwest's Cydian Kauffman Pure Water Northwest's Cydian Kauffman on why power grid failures threaten clean water, and how cold fusion could turn seawater into a combined energy and drinking water source.
LA She Grew Up in Uganda. Now She's Engineering Its Water Future Ravi Kurani talks with Dhwani Bhatt, chemical engineering student at Northeastern and Engineers Without Borders project lead, about building a solar-powered water distribution system for 4,000 people in rural Uganda and what real charity work looks like.
LA He Scaled a $500M Product. His Advice for Water Tech? Slow Down The engineer who scaled Mirror from startup to Lululemon's $500M acquisition shares why water tech founders need to slow down, think like product managers, and stop building before they know their customer.
LA Building Houses from Grass and the Rise of Climate Tech Media Ravi Kurani sits down with Josh Dorfman, CEO of Supercool and co-founder of Plantd, to explore how renewable grass is replacing plywood in 90,000 American homes — and the climate tech innovations that are actually winning.
LA The end of "free" water in Las Vegas "We've exited the era of free, abundant water." Rich Sloan (WAVR Technologies) discusses the invisible "thirst" of the AI revolution and how biomimicry—inspired by Australian tree frogs—is being used to harvest industrial water directly from thin air.
LA Beyond the Flush: The Secret Life of Your Wastewater Ravi Kurani In this episode of Liquid Assets, Ravi Kurani sits down with Jay Bernas, CEO of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD), to explore how one of the most innovative utilities in the world is turning "waste" into a high-value asset. Jay pulls back the curtain
LA Why AI and Tech Need Water to Survive Ravi Kurani In this episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani sits down with Sivan Zamir, VP of Innovation & Venture at Xylem, to pull back the curtain on the massive, invisible machine that keeps the modern world running. Sivan challenges the abstract concept of "the cloud" and
LA Harvesting the Flying Rivers: Atmospheric Water Generation in the Heart of the Amazon Ravi Kurani In this episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani sits down with Ana Livi, Partner at O Amazon Air Water, to explore a business model that challenges our perception of value, hydration, and conservation. Ana reveals how her company is harvesting the "breath of the trees"
LA The Invisible Emissions in Wastewater: Tackling Fugitive Gas and Aging Assets Ravi Kurani In this episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani sits down with Alexis de Kerchove, Senior Director for Client Sustainability at Xylem, to dismantle the myth that climate mitigation is a financial burden for water utilities. Alexis argues that the road to Net Zero is actually paved with
LA Breaking the Forever Bond: How Smart Materials Are Solving the PFAS Crisis Ravi Kurani As news cycles light up with warnings about "forever chemicals" lurking in our rain, soil, and bloodstreams, the water industry faces a massive paradox: the very chemicals we rely on for semiconductors, rockets, and green tech are poisoning our water supply. In this episode of Liquid
LA Designing Homes for a Water-Scarce Future Ravi Kurani As cities face record droughts, rising energy costs, and mounting pressure to decarbonize, a new global movement is redefining what it means to live sustainably, without compromise. In this episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani sits down with Gregory Holliday, Director of the 50 Liter Home Coalition,
LA The Internet of Water: How Droople Is Making Every Drop Smart Ravi Kurani As buildings, cities, and industries grapple with rising costs, aging infrastructure, and the invisible waste flowing through every pipe, a new generation of startups is redefining what it means to manage water. In this episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani sits down with Ramzi Bouzerda, founder and
LA Rethinking Compliance: Faster, Smarter Metals Testing for Safer Water Ravi Kurani As utilities brace for customer requests, regulatory pressure, and aging infrastructure, waiting weeks for a single ICP lab result can turn urgent decisions into costly delays. In this episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani sits down with Jose Robert Castro, founder and CEO of Segura, to unpack
LA Empowering the Next Generation: Addressing the Water Workforce Crisis Explore the hidden challenges facing the water industry as we discuss the urgent need for new talent, climate resilience, and technological advancements with environmental engineering student Clara Hallgarth. Discover why the future of water management is at a critical crossroads.
LA From Micro Reactors to Nano Bubbles: Water Tech Innovations Driving Sustainability and Resilience Ravi Kurani Imagine a future where off-grid nuclear micro-reactors power water desalination in remote villages, microscopic nano bubbles cleanse water without harsh chemicals, and nations launch bold programs to secure water for generations. That future is unfolding now. Around the world, water innovators are leveraging technology and policy
LA Is Your Tap Water Safe? Why Millions Are Now Testing Their Drinking Water at Home Ravi Kurani For decades, Americans have assumed that tap water, especially in major cities, is reliably safe. But growing public mistrust, aging infrastructure, and underregulated contaminants are changing the way we think about water at home. From lead pipes in historic neighborhoods to chemical runoff in rural wells, the question
LA Micro Nuclear Reactors: Powering Off-Grid Water Access and Climate Resilience Remote and climate-vulnerable areas often lack reliable power for essential water infrastructure. Discover how cutting-edge micro nuclear reactors could provide a breakthrough solution for off-grid water access and greater climate resilience, while busting the old myth.
LA Decentralized Desalination: How Nona Technologies is Reinventing Sustainable Water Treatment Ravi Kurani "Using less water means there's more water for more people and Drinking Seawater has never been easier?" In this episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani dives into a game-changing approach to sustainable desalination with guest Bruce Crawford, CEO and co-founder of
LA Tiny Bubbles, Big Impact: How Nano Bubble Tech is Transforming Water Cleaning Ravi Kurani “Water already contains what we need—we just help it do its job better.”– Natsumi Every year, trillions of gallons of water are used to clean homes, hospitals, and industrial facilities—often with harsh chemicals that strain both human health and the environment. But what if the answer
LA The Future of Coral Reefs & Ocean Acidification Ravi Kurani Every second, our oceans undergo rapid transformation due to climate change, pollution, and human intervention. While coral reefs may seem like distant, beautiful ecosystems, they play a crucial role in protecting our coastlines, regulating marine biodiversity, and supporting economies across the world. In this episode of Liquid Assets,
LA The Future of Water: Desalination, Sustainability, and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Ravi Kurani With water scarcity becoming an ever-growing challenge across the globe, many countries are turning to desalination, wastewater treatment, and sustainable water management as solutions. But how viable are these technologies? Can desalination truly provide affordable, large-scale drinking water? And how does Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision
LA The Water Crisis Hidden in the LA Fires Ravi Kurani Every year, California faces a brutal cycle of wildfires, but this time, the stakes are higher than ever. The Palisades and Eaton Fires have destroyed over 12,000 homes, burned 40,000 acres, and displaced 100,000 people. But beyond the visible destruction, there’s another crisis unfolding—
LA How Modular Systems are Solving America’s Water Infrastructure Crisis Ravi Kurani Every two minutes, a sewer main breaks in the United States, creating an unprecedented challenge for businesses and municipalities alike. As our aging water infrastructure continues to crumble, companies are taking matters into their own hands, leading to a revolutionary shift in how we approach water treatment and
LA From Da Vinci to Ozone: The Art and Science of Water Storytelling Ravi Kurani Did you know that water isn't just vital for life but also has its own story to tell—a story that could solve some of the world’s biggest challenges? Yet, this narrative often goes unheard, leaving opportunities for change untapped. In this episode of Liquid
LA The Water Workforce Desert Ravi Kurani Did you know that the water industry is grappling with a looming talent crisis that threatens critical services we take for granted every day? With seasoned professionals nearing retirement and a disheartening lack of newcomers, this episode of Liquid Assets dives deep into the root causes and innovative
LA Why We're Closer To Stopping Climate Crisis Ravi Kurani Picture this. Humanity is on a collision course with a climate crisis. But what if I told you we already have 80% of the solution to stop it? Sounds hopeful, right? But we're not out of the woods yet. Climate change is one of the most
LA Zero-Waste Construction and The Future of Water Recycling Ravi Kurani Construction is one of the largest global industries, driving urban transformation and environmental challenges; and water is at its heart. Every day, construction sites around the world consume millions of gallons of fresh water and generate toxic runoff, silently contributing to water scarcity and pollution. From paintbrushes to
LA Rethinking Water: How Urban Reuse and Innovative Tech Can Transform Our Cities Ravi Kurani "By connecting technical knowledge with indigenous wisdom, we can become smarter and wiser about how we manage our water resources." — Kyle Pickett As the world grapples with an escalating water crisis, the need to rethink our approach to water management has never been more urgent. With
LA How Smart Technology is Revolutionizing Wastewater Management Ravi Kurani Transforming wastewater management isn't just about technology; it's about orchestrating a symphony of insights, collaboration, and action to secure a sustainable future for our most precious resource: water. The global water crisis is more pressing than ever, with 75% to 80% of the world&
LA Innovative Financing for Climate Solutions and Water Infrastructure | Liquid Assets Podcast Ravi Kurani Innovative financing models are essential for the development and scaling of sustainable infrastructure, particularly in the climate tech sector. Traditional funding methods often fall short, leaving breakthrough technologies struggling to achieve large-scale deployment. To address this challenge, new approaches are emerging that enable climate tech innovators to
LA Exploring Water Tech Innovations and Policies: Insights from Ravi Kurani Ravi Kurani Water is 50 years behind. There are definitely learnings in future technologies around infrastructure like Energy and TeleCom that water can draw inspiration from. In this special crossover episode, our very own Ravi Kurani, host of The Liquid Assets Podcast and founder of water diagnostics company Sutro, shares
LA From Taps to VCs: How This Water Rebel is Flooding Silicon Valley with H2O Startups Ravi Kurani Water scarcity is the new oil crisis, but Silicon Valley is asleep at the wheel In a world grappling with water scarcity and climate change, innovation in water technology has never been more crucial. Yet, the water sector faces unique challenges in attracting investment and fostering entrepreneurship. In
LA Navigating the Complex World of Fresh and Saltwater Management and Law Ravi Kurani In an era of climate change and increasing water scarcity, understanding water policy has never been more crucial. From California's ongoing drought to the East Coast's flood-drought cycles, water challenges are reshaping our world. But did you know that water laws change drastically
LA Addressing Global Water Scarcity: Innovative Solutions with Tess Russo from the Gates Foundation Ravi Kurani "Empowering communities with innovative water management is the solution for a resilient future." Water scarcity and effective management are critical global challenges, particularly in agriculture-dependent regions like Punjab, India. In this compelling episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani engages with Tess Russo, a Senior
LA Water Scarcity: Transforming the Linear Water Economy into a Circular Model Ravi Kurani Water scarcity is an increasingly pressing global issue, exacerbated by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and climate change. Traditionally, our water usage follows a linear model: we extract water from the environment, treat it for various purposes, and then release the wastewater back into the environment. However,
LA Water Scarcity: A Looming Global Crisis in Need of Innovative Solutions Ravi Kurani "Grand proclamations vanish in the shadows of inaction; simple, sustainable solutions hold the true power." Water, the elixir of life, is becoming an increasingly scarce resource worldwide. With growing populations, urbanization, and climate change exacerbating water stress, finding sustainable solutions to address water scarcity has become
LA The Future of Digital Water: AI, IoT, Cybersecurity Trends & Challenges Ravi Kurani The water industry is in the midst of a digital transformation, powered by cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping how we manage this vital resource. From artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) to advanced data analytics, the realm of digital water solutions is revolutionizing water conservation,
LA The Secrets To Success in the Water Treatment Industry and PFAS Ravi Kurani This PFAS issue is going to be the legacy water contamination problem we grapple with for the next 50 years. In the ever-evolving world of water treatment, innovation is the driving force behind efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. This captivating episode of the Liquid Assets podcast takes
LA Solving the Water Crisis: Harvesting Infinite Water from the Sky Ravi Kurani "Every great movement must experience three stages; ridicule, discussion, and adoption. And right now, when it comes to harvesting invisible water from the sky, we are at the early stage" What if we could harvest an unlimited supply of water from the sky itself, then purify
LA How Water Organizations Can Alleviate the Water Messaging Problem Ravi Kurani Clear communication is a make-or-break issue for water utilities and agencies hoping to earn customer trust, support and keep the entire world interested in matters related to "Water". Yet, little is being talked about water, and even when water is being talked about, the
LA Water Chronicles and The Shocking Truth About The Global Water Crisis Ravi Kurani "Water is the lifeblood of human civilization – yet its critical importance is often overlooked." In this thought-provoking episode of Liquid Assets, host Ravi Kurani has an in-depth discussion with Peter Gleick about humanity’s past, present and future relationship with that precious resource. Peter
LA Turning Wastewater Into Gold - Catalyzing A Water Reuse Revolution Ravi Kurani "Water Recycling is one of the ways to make a difference on the Planet with Every Flush" As global populations expand rapidly, water demand is projected to exceed supply by over 30% in 20 years. Yet today, just 5% of wastewater is recycled worldwide, representing a
LA Understanding the Landscape of Industrial Water Sales Ravi Kurani "Trust, understanding, and quality are the cornerstones of successful sales in the world of water testing" Exploring the intricacy of water treatment and customer engagement, this episode of Liquid Assets delves into the crucial role of technical expertise and relationship-building in navigating the complex waters
LA From Drops to Waves: Rethinking Our World's Water Dynamics "How do we mass manufacture civilization? It's through figuring out how to build cities in chunks that are distinct modules, like cells in a body and that is what water decentralization is." Buckle up for a cerebral joyride stretching possibilities for water, technology, business and beyond.
LA Behind the Glamour, a Sobering Water Crisis "2 billion people, one in four, live without access to clean water, with women and girls spending 200 million hours every day walking miles for it." New York Fashion Week features cutting-edge clothing against a backdrop of glitz and glamor. But behind the scenes, millions of women
LA Future Proofing Our Cities "We're designing New York City over and over like it was back in the 1900s. This needs to change" The infrastructure underpinning our modern lives often goes unnoticed, yet fundamental systems like water, energy, and transportation require constant innovation. On this episode of Liquid Assets, host
LA Human-Centered Design & Water "The problem with water wasn't technical. The problem was water was all around consumer issues, accessibility, affordability..." It is a no-brainer that clean water is a fundamental necessity for a healthy life, however, so many people do not have access to this. In this episode
LA Invisible Threats: PFAS & Clean Water "PFAS are known as the forever chemical because they don't degrade. They don't degrade in the environment, and they don't degrade in your body." PFAS chemicals are an emerging environmental threat, yet these toxic "forever chemicals" persist worldwide. In this
LA Redefining Our Relationship with Water We're 70% water by mass and 99% by molecule, we could effectively call our species Hydro Sapiens. Stuart Rudick, an advocate for water, emphasized its central role in life and his journey from a windsurfer concerned about pollution to an investor in water-focused firms like HydroDAO and
LA Synthetic Craft: Engineering the Future of Biology-Based Water Sensors What role does synthetic biology play in ensuring the safety and quality of our water supply? David Lloyd, the CEO and co-founder of FREDSense Technologies, and host Ravi Kurani discuss FREDSense's mission and the role of synthetic biology in their work. He explains how FREDsense uses synthetic
LA Seeing the Unseen: Satellite Imagery in Water Management Solomon Vimal from Geothara and Liquid Assets host, Ravi Kurani, discuss Solomon's journey in using satellite imagery and data science to address water security challenges. He shared insights into his experience in high-performance computing and his work in the automotive industry. Solomon explained how his passion for
LA The Energy-Water Nexus Listen on: * Spotify * Apple Podcasts * Google Podcasts Professor Shon Hiatt (USC Marshall School of Business) and host Ravi Kurani navigate the intricate nexus between energy, agribusiness, and water's pivotal role. Highlighting the urgency of sustainable practices, he critiqued traditional lithium extraction methods that rely on vast water evaporation
LA Water: A Critical Tool for Climate Adaptation Listen on: * Spotify * Apple Podcasts Jon Lane, chair of the scientific program committee at World Water Week in Stockholm, and host of Liquid Assets, Ravi Kurani discussed the integral connection between water and climate change, and the necessity to address these issues in tandem. He stressed the need for effective
LA Digitizing Water with Samuel Ian Rosen Samuel Ian Rosen, the founder and CEO of Tap, and Ravi Kurani discuss Samuel's vision for creating transformational change in the water industry by building a digital network to address challenges in the water sector. Samuel shared how Tap began as a software company to revolutionize the water
LA Environmental Monitoring for Drought and Flood Prevention In this episode of Liquid Assets, James Logan, the water segment leader at AEM (Advanced Environmental Monitoring), discussed the importance of environmental monitoring in understanding and mitigating water risks. Host, Ravi Kurani, and James talk about how AEM specializes in this field, comprising approximately 50% of their overall business. James
LA Modern Agriculture & Ceres Imaging with CEO Ramsey Masri Ramsey Masri, the CEO of Ceres Imaging, discussed the company's role in revolutionizing modern agriculture through the use of data and technology. Ceres Imaging was born out of Stanford University and aims to simplify and streamline the everyday job of farmers by synthesizing complex data into actionable insights.
LA Sustainability & Environmental Impact in the Water Chemical Industry: A conversation with HASA CEO, Chris Brink In this episode of Liquid Assets, Chris Brink, the CEO and President of HASA, discusses the company's work in producing sodium hypochlorite for recreational water treatment, primarily for swimming pools. He talks about the importance of communicating the value of their products and how they are not just
LA A Guide to Building a Greener 401K with Zach Stein from Carbon Collective In this episode of Liquid Assets, Zach Stein, the co-founder of Carbon Collective, discusses sustainable investing and the importance of aligning personal and environmental stability. He talks about building better 401Ks that are greener and how his company helps individuals and businesses invest in ways that are aligned with
LA The Intersection of AI and Water: Insights from Varuna CEO Seyi Fabode Seyi Fabode, a visionary co-founder of Varuna, a trailblazing startup revolutionizing water utility operations with data, unveils his profound insights into the US water utility landscape, the riveting history of water crises, and the urgent call for cutting-edge innovations. In this eye-opening discussion, Fabode illuminates the pathway
LA Water Security: Challenges and Opportunities. An Interview with USAIDs James Winter James Winter, a Water Security and Hygiene Advisor at USAID, shares insights into his work in international development. He underscores the significance of a user-centric approach to product development, especially in the field of water, sanitation, and hygiene. Winter discusses the role of services in generating income and fostering
