Building any organization is hard. Building a nonprofit, community place-based organization in an industry you are new to, and then doing it so well that the government gives you well into nine figures to lead a regional economic engine over the next 10 years, is really hard. But Alaina Harkness is genuinely that impressive. And it's super clear she's only just getting started.

After stints at the MacArthur Foundation, the Brookings Institution, and RW Ventures, she took over Chicago-based Current, where our very own Steve Kloos chairs the board, in 2019. And from the very first time I met her, it was clear they had a very talented leader indeed at the helm. This conversation shows you why I thought that and that I was 1,000% right. She's awesome. Please enjoy my conversation with the wonderful Alaina Harkness.

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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205

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Alaina Harkness discusses her transition into the water sector to lead Current, emphasizing the value of "interstitial" organizations that connect innovators to complex water problems. She explores the Midwest's shift from taking water abundance for granted to treating it as a vital economic asset amid growing industrial demands. Alaina also breaks down the strategy behind winning a $160M NSF grant for Great Lakes RENEW to build a circular blue economy, the importance of hiring "T-shaped" teams, and the unique realities of leading a nonprofit scale-up like a startup.

00:00 - Introduction

02:33 - Why Alaina Harkness Joined Current

06:02 - How Chicago Became a Water Innovation Hub

12:01 - Why Connectivity & Collaboration Drive Better Innovation

15:12 - Leading Current Through Rapid Growth & Industry Change

17:07 - Why Water Security Is Becoming an Economic Priority

19:52 - How Data Centers Are Reshaping Water Infrastructure

24:14 - The Strategy Behind Current’s $160M NSF Grant Win

29:55 - The Startup Lessons Behind Building a Water Innovation Ecosystem

35:56 - Inside the NSF Regional Innovation Engine Vision

42:41 - Long-Term Thinking, Investment & the Future of Water

48:01 - The Best Advice for Water Entrepreneurs

Links:

Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/

Alaina Harkness: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-harkness/

Current: https://currentwater.org/about-us/

Great Lakes RENEW: https://greatlakesrenew.org/

SM Material

Key Takeaways:

"Fall in love with the problem. Let it motivate you every day. Don't be seduced by one solution."

"There's a humility in knowing nothing. Valuing the expertise to ask the right question is crucial."

"Regional economic development is not a thing. It's fundamentally competitive, a zero-sum game."

"We have to confront the physical and material realities of our world. It's starting to get priced into banking."

"The number one skill in fundraising is to clearly and authentically speak to the vision."

"We have a paradox of abundance. It's easier and cheaper for us to use our drinking water for industrial purposes."