Imagine H2O, a nonprofit organization empowering people to turn water challenges into business opportunities, launched its fifth annual competition for water businesses. This year’s program advances innovations that improve water use, supply, and treatment in commercial agriculture and food processing.

Promising Water Businesses and Innovators Encouraged to Apply

The program is open to entries from October 1 through November 15 and features tracks for early-stage and growth-stage water businesses. An expert panel of industry veterans and investors will review the entries and select the top companies that demonstrate commercial promise. Each entrant will receive written feedback from the judging panel. The winners and finalists will be eligible to receive cash awards, in-kind services and access to Imagine H2O’s Business Accelerator. The final results will be announced on World Water Day in March 2014.

Access to Customers

The competition features a Beta Partnership Program that will connect the winning innovations with commercial customers in the Food and Agriculture Sector. The BlueTech Valley, an Imagine H2O Accelerator Hub Partner, will assist in convening a selection of commercial growers and processors in California’s Central Valley that will meet with the competition’s top companies to discuss beta customer relationships.

About Imagine H2O

Imagine H2O’s annual programs identify promising water entrepreneurs and startups with innovative solutions to water challenges. Previous programs include Water Efficiency (2009), the Water-Energy Nexus (2010), Wastewater (2011) and Consumer Innovations (2012). Imagine H2O’s Accelerator Program supports the winning entrepreneurs as they turn their ideas into transformational solutions. The winners and finalists from previous programs have collectively raised over $30 million in early-stage financing.

Sponsors and foundations supporting the organization include Wells Fargo (Headline Sponsor), the California Water Foundation, the Stiefel Family Foundation and Cooley LLP. The Water Environment Federation is a competition sponsor and will feature the winners at the WEFTEC ’14 Innovation Showcase in New Orleans.

To learn more about Imagine H2O’s global ecosystem for water innovation and connect with water innovators from around the world, please visit www.imagineh2o.org.