Enspired Solutions Receives Funding Commitment for Revolutionary PFAS Removal Technology
EAST LANSING, Mich. –– Enspired Solutions, a woman-owned and led cleantech science firm headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan, has successfully closed on the first tranche of a $2.5 million Seed Series financing round to support the final stages of field pilot testing and commercialization of PFASigator, a revolutionary technology designed to destroy harmful PFAS chemicals in the environment.
The financing round was led by investors Worthington Industries and Michigan Rise. CEO and co-founder, Denise Kay, Ph.D., expressed her confidence that the technology would reduce the global burden of PFAS on water resources.
"The support we've received from our investors continues to increase confidence in our ability to commercialize this technology and reduce the global burden of PFAS on water resources," says Kay. "This will benefit the environment and improve the health and well-being of people around the world."
PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemicals widely used in various industries, including manufacturing, firefighting, and food packaging. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in the human body over time. Studies have linked exposure to PFAS to a range of health effects, including cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, and immune system dysfunction. As a result, there is growing concern about the widespread presence of PFAS in water resources and the need to develop effective methods for their removal.
“Many technologies attempting to destroy PFAS were initially designed for different purposes," says Kay. "Our solution is more efficient and effective."
Unlike other PFAS destruction technologies that rely on energy-intensive, high-pressure, and high-temperature processes, the PFASigator system uses a patented reductive defluorination chemical process. This process breaks PFAS compounds down into harmless component parts and non-toxic byproducts in an unpressurized and non-thermal process, which is more energy-efficient and has no toxic byproducts.
The PFASigator system has been shown to destroy over 99% of total regulated PFAS in groundwater and landfill leachate samples, and Enspired Solutions has a commercial-scale system ready for field tests this summer.
"This recent round of funding allows us to focus our efforts on accelerating the field pilot testing and commercialization of PFASigator," says Kay.
Enspired Solutions is headquartered in the VanCamp research and development center owned by the Michigan State University Research Foundation in East Lansing, Michigan, and the company looks forward to making a positive impact on water resources and benefiting the health of all.
CONTACT:
Sarah Meyer
sarah.meyer@enspiredsolutions.com
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About Enspired Solutions
Enspired Solutions is a woman-owned and led cleantech science firm headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan. The company is focused on developing and commercializing innovative technologies to solve critical environmental challenges, including the removal of harmful PFAS chemicals from water resources. Enspired Solutions' proprietary PFAS removal technology, PFASigator, uses a patented reductive defluorination chemical process that is more efficient, effective, and environmentally friendly than other PFAS destruction methods.
About Worthington Industries
Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR) is a leading industrial manufacturer with a focus on providing innovative solutions to customers across various industries, including automotive, energy, retail, and construction. The company is North America's top value-added steel processor and produces laser welded solutions and electrical steel laminations that provide lightweighting, safety-critical, and emission-reducing components to the mobility market. Worthington also serves the global hydrogen ecosystem with its onboard fueling systems and gas containment solutions. The company manufactures market-leading consumer products sold under brand names, including Coleman®, Bernzomatic®, and Balloon Time®. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington operates 52 facilities in 15 states and nine countries, sells into over 90 countries and employs approximately 9,000 people.
About Michigan Rise
Michigan Rise is a wholly owned venture capital subsidiary of the Michigan State University Research Foundation, operated in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Michigan Rise supports early-stage technology startups across Michigan with debt, equity and purchase order financing, coaching, and other assistance.