GRUNDFOS NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 8, 2013
CONTACT: Helen Mubarak
Public Affairs Coordinator
Grundfos North America
hmubarak@grundfos.com
Ivy Nguyen
Outreach Coordinator
Imagine H2O
ivy@imagineh2o.org
Imagine H2O Partners with Grundfos to Support Food and Agriculture Program
CHICAGO —Imagine H2O, a nonprofit supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in the water sector, and
Grundfos, the global leader in advanced pump solutions, yesterday announced Grundfos’ sponsorship of
Imagine H2O’s Food and Agriculture Program. The partnership was announced at WEFTEC, the world’s largest
annual water quality exhibition.
The program, Imagine H2O’s fifth to date, is a competition that seeks to identify and support emerging water
businesses whose primary value proposition improves water use, treatment, supply, or discharge in the Food
and Agriculture sector.
“Imagine H2O is honored to partner with a company that is globally recognized as a water innovation leader,”
said Scott Bryan, the organization’s COO. “Grundfos’ contribution to our program will enhance our value
proposition to water entrepreneurs and startups.”
“We believe business competitions like these will fuel the innovation engine and accelerate water
technologies solutions for tomorrow,” said Henrik Skov Laursen, director for Grundfos Silicon Valley. “Food,
water and energy is high on our agenda, and with this year’s theme we believe the opportunity is now to bring
startups to the table.”
“Grundfos is keenly focused on fostering innovative water technologies that facilitate solutions to water
scarcity, as well as associated energy and food production issues. We believe that team efforts and great
networks will help solve issues – this is also why Grundfos is part of the BlueTechValley initiative together with
other leading companies in California,” Laursen added.
Imagine H2O’s annual business plan competition attracts a global field of entrepreneurs and features a judging
panel of leading water experts. The winning companies enter Imagine H2O’s Accelerator Program where they
receive professional resources and market insight.
Since its inception in 2008, Imagine H2O has:
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Attracted over 300 water startups from more than 15 countries to its competition program
Provided over $1 million of inkind services and cash awards to more than 35 new businesses
Helped its portfolio companies attract over $30 million in investment from angel investors, venture
capital funds and project finance funds
GRUNDFOS NEWS RELEASE
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Offered campus water entrepreneurship and leadership workshops to over 1,000 students
Through this partnership, Grundfos is engaged in the competition programming and will support the
acceleration and implementation phases.”
ABOUT IMAGINE H2O:
Imagine H2O inspires and empowers people to solve water challenges and turn them into opportunities. We
offer annual competitions for water innovation with focused, specific challenges including Water Efficiency
(2009), WaterEnergy Nexus (2010),Wastewater (2011) and Consumer Innovations (2012). In addition to
awarding cash prizes for the best ideas, the Imagine H2O Accelerator helps participating entrepreneurs turn
their plans into gamechanging, realworld solutions. To learn more about Imagine H2O’s global ecosystem for
water innovation and connect with water entrepreneurs from around the world, please visit
www.imagineh2o.org or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT GRUNDFOS:
With an annual production of more than 16 million pumps, Grundfos is the global leader in advanced pump
solutions and a trendsetter in water technology, specializing in circulator pumps for heating and air
conditioning as well as centrifugal pumps for industrial applications, fire protection, water supply, wastewater
and water treatment. In addition to pumps, Grundfos produces standard and submersible motors as well as
state-of-the-art electronics for monitoring and controlling pumps. Since its inception in 1945, the company has
flourished from one small factory in Bjerringbro, Denmark to a global corporation comprising more than 80
companies and over 18,000 employees. In 2012, Grundfos reported net revenues totaling $4 billion.
This year, the company celebrates its 40th anniversary in the United States. In North America, Grundfos
employs more than 1,600 people – 1,300 in the U.S. alone – and is continually expanding its regional expertise.
Grundfos North America maintains operations, sales and service facilities in Olathe, Kan.; Allentown, Pa.;
Fresno, Calif.; Brookshire, Texas; Aurora, Ill.; and Indianapolis. In Canada, Grundfos has a sales facility in
Oakville, Ontario, and in Mexico, the company operates a manufacturing facility in San Luis Potosí and sales
offices in Monterrey and Mexico City.
High on the company’s corporate agenda is an active commitment to improving the environment. Grundfos
contributes to global sustainability by pioneering technologies that improve quality of life for people and care
for the planet. For more information, visit www.grundfos.us, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
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