AquaAction Launches Michigan Program to Scale Water-Tech Startups

Supported by the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform Maritime Innovation Grant, the initiative seeks to replicate the success of AquaAction’s original model. Since 2022, that framework has assisted 61 companies in securing 550 pilot projects, driving combined annual revenues exceeding $200 million. The Michigan program offers participants tailored technical coaching and guaranteed real-world testing environments, a combination AquaAction President Soula Chronopoulos describes as a vital catalyst for growth.

Local partners, including the Great Lakes Water Authority and the Port of Detroit, will provide the operational settings necessary for these deployments. For the state, the program serves as a strategic pillar for the Michigan Maritime Strategy, focusing on economic resilience and the sustainability of the Great Lakes. Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan, noted that the collaboration creates a necessary pipeline between public-sector needs and private-sector ingenuity. Interested entrepreneurs can now apply via the program's official portal to join the inaugural cohort.