I owe what I get to do every day here in a job I love to many people, but Scott Bryan really helped. In 2015, he took a chance on me to become the VP of Programming at Imagine H2O running the Accelerator, and it was a learning curve which laid the groundwork for what we do here at BIV. Scott is one of the most important figures in early stage water. Since 2010, he has built Imagine H2O into the premier accelerator for water entrepreneurs running three annual programs, and they announced their first pilot fund last year. All of this adds up to an enormous and rapidly growing degree of impact in water as the companies they backed and supported have revolutionized everything from groundwater management to flood insurance. 

Please enjoy my conversation with Scott Bryan. 

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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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Scott Bryan, President at Imagine H2O, joins Tom today to discuss the evolution of the water technology ecosystem. Together, they start by taking a look at how the early days were characterized by business plan competitions before the subsequent shift to emphasizing team strength, execution ability, and customer-centric approaches. Scott then goes on to highlight Imagine H2O's evolving selection process, the critical role of pilot projects, and the importance of impact measurement. Noting that water is a less polarizing issue than climate, allowing it a degree of stability, today’s episode also explores philanthropy in the water sector and Imagine H20’s focus on Asia, before wrapping it all up with Scott’s sage advice for water entrepreneurs.

00:00 - Imagine H2O’s Role in Water Innovation

02:19 - Why Water Has Lagged Behind Clean Tech

04:08 - Early Challenges in Water Entrepreneurship

05:40 - What Makes a Water Startup Succeed?

07:30 - The Hidden Dangers of Fundraising Success

09:41 - Key Milestones in Water Innovation Growth

11:17 - How COVID Shifted the Water Tech Landscape

13:17 - Why Most Accelerators Fail at Water Startups

15:15 - The ROI of Water Startup Accelerators

16:14 - Measuring Impact in Water Innovation

17:45 - Why Water Needs Standardized Impact Metrics

18:31 - The Unique Challenges of Running a Water Nonprofit

19:34 - The Role of Philanthropy in Water Innovation

20:24 - Why Climate Funders Must Care About Water

22:46 - How Water Ties Into Public Health and Equity

25:20 - Why Pilots Are Critical for Water Startups

28:12 - How the Water Innovation Pilot Fund Works

30:40 - Expanding Water Tech Innovation Internationally

32:24 - Key Lessons from Imagine H2O Asia

33:48 - Hiring the Right Talent for Water Startups

35:12 - The Future of Water Tech Investment

36:20 - Why Water Is a Bipartisan Issue

38:22 - What Entrepreneurs Must Know About Water Policy

40:11 - The #1 Advice for Water Entrepreneurs

Links:

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

Scott Bryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmilesbryan/

Imagine H2O: https://www.imagineh2o.org/

SM Material

Key Takeaways:

"Water is a trillion-dollar industry. It's the future of the world's most valuable resource."

"Philanthropy in water is changing. It's not just about wells anymore. We need sophisticated impact engines."

"There are four pillars: climate, health, equity, and efficiency. They guide our work and impact."

"Water is not as polarizing as climate. It's a bipartisan issue. We must manage resources better."

"Take the check from people who know the space. Measure value in burritos, not just equity."

"We need to standardize metrics in water. The math is all over the place. Precision is key."

"Imagine H2O Asia is a base to think regionally. It's about testing business models faster."

"We need to think beyond a 10-month accelerator. It's a long journey, and we're here to help."