Takeaways

• Emerald Technology Ventures has raised €60 million in the first close of its Global Water Fund II.
• The fund will invest in startups developing innovative technologies for water resilience, treatment, and reuse.
• Backed by investors like Veralto, Ecolab, SKion Water, and Oxy Technology Ventures, the fund targets a total size of €150–€180 million.

Emerald Technology Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on industrial sustainability, has announced the first close of its Global Water Fund II with commitments totaling €60 million (USD $69 million). The fund aims to back startups offering breakthrough water solutions that tackle some of the most urgent global water challenges.

The Zurich-based firm is targeting a total fund size of between €150 million and €180 million, continuing its strategy of driving innovation across the full water value chain. Its first Global Water Fund, launched in 2020, closed at $100 million and drew investment from major players such as Temasek, Microsoft, and Ecolab.

Global Water Fund II will focus on early- to growth-stage companies developing technologies for water infrastructure, advanced treatment and reuse, digital monitoring and automation, and innovations addressing emerging contaminants. By investing across sectors and regions, Emerald aims to enhance water resilience and sustainability in an era of growing climate and infrastructure stresses.

“As climate and infrastructure shocks intensify, resilience in our water systems is essential,” said Dr Helge Daebel, Partner at Emerald. “From smarter monitoring to advanced treatment, digital and AI-driven technologies are unlocking new efficiencies and insights. Yet, they also remind us of water’s critical role in enabling innovation itself, from cooling the very data centers that power these tools to sustaining life and industry alike.”

Read More: Is Water Sustainable? Understanding the Reality and Solutions for Future Generations

The first close attracted anchor commitments from Veralto Corporation, a global leader in water analytics and treatment, and Ecolab, which provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions. Other notable investors include SKion Water and Oxy Technology Ventures.

Melissa Aquino, Senior Vice President and Chief Segment Officer of Water Quality at Veralto, emphasized the need for collaboration to address global water challenges.

“We believe that safeguarding one of the world’s most vital resources – water – requires both collaboration and innovation that is sustainable. Our anchor investment reflects our deep commitment to accelerating breakthrough technologies that address the urgent realities of water scarcity, treatment, and reuse. By partnering across sectors, we are not only investing in solutions – we are helping build a future where water sustains people, communities, and the planet we share.”

The launch of Global Water Fund II underscores the increasing investor focus on climate resilience and sustainable resource management. As water scarcity intensifies worldwide, solutions that enable efficient use, treatment, and reuse of water are becoming central to environmental, industrial, and economic strategies.

Also Read: 5 Ways For Businesses To Conserve Water

Emerald’s continued expansion into the water innovation space positions it as a key player in driving sustainable technology adoption, not just to secure water for industries and communities, but to enable a more resilient future.

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Source: ESG today