Milwaukee-based A.O. Smith Corp. is seeking freshwater entrepreneurs and startups to support as part of a new global technology challenge through The Water Council’s Brew Corporate program.
The water heater manufacturer announced the challenge during the opening of the ninth annual Water Summit in Milwaukee today and is targeting those with ideas in water purification, water heating or sensors.
Companies selected to participate in the program will receive a minimum of $50,000 investment from A.O. Smith, 12Â months of tuition in the Brew accelerator program, a suite in the Global Water Center for up to 12 months, additional training and mentoring benefits and a one year membership with The Water Council.
In water purification, A.O. Smith is looking for higher efficiency reverse osmosis technologies to prevent fouling and scaling; cost effective salt- and additive-free water softening technologies; and advanced residential and light commercial water treatment technologies for the removal of heavy metals, organic chemicals and microbiological contaminants.
The water heating emphasis seeks technologies that improve the energy efficiency of non-powered atmospheric gas-fired water heaters and technologies/products that increase thermal energy storage in water heaters without reducing the life of the heater.
The company is looking for cost effective, real-time heavy metal sensor technologies and advanced water flow sensor technologies for micro to medium flow applications.
A.O. Smith announced in March that it would be partnering with The Water Council in its pledge to train 75 startups in the coming years.
Interested companies should apply by July 20. Applications will be reviewed by A.O. Smith personnel, The Water Council senior staff and subject matter experts. For more information, visit www.brewcorporate.com.
The A.O. Smith partnership is The Water Council’s second corporate training partnership. Veolia announced three winners  earlier this year of its own corporate training partnership.
