Membrion, a pioneering ceramic desalination membrane innovator, has successfully completed a $20 million Series B1 funding round, marking a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionize industrial water management. The round was anchored by leading climate-tech and materials investors, including Pangaea Ventures, PureTerra Ventures, Ecolab Inc., and W. L. Gore & Associates, alongside participation from The Lewis Family Office and existing investors Safar Partners, Lam Research, Indico Ventures, and Giantleap Capital.
This latest round brings Membrion’s total funding to $43 million since its founding, underscoring strong investor confidence in the company’s vision to transform industrial wastewater from a costly burden into a valuable, reusable resource. The funding will enable Membrion to scale production, expand its commercial footprint, and accelerate deployment of full-scale installations across critical industries such as semiconductors, food and beverage, and energy.
Driving a New Era of Industrial Water Circularity
Founded by Greg Newbloom, Membrion is at the forefront of addressing one of the world’s most pressing challenges — water scarcity and waste. Industrial processes globally produce billions of gallons of wastewater each year, much of which remains untreated or is too costly to recycle. Membrion’s ceramic desalination membranes are changing that paradigm, allowing manufacturers to recover up to 98% of their wastewater, even in harsh chemical or high-temperature environments.
By integrating Membrion’s technology into their operations, industrial customers can reduce water consumption, lower disposal costs, minimize chemical waste, and achieve faster regulatory compliance, all while improving profitability and sustainability outcomes.
“I’m thrilled to welcome a group of new investors who share our conviction that water circularity and resource reclamation are essential to building a better world,” said Greg Newbloom, founder and CEO of Membrion. “Their commitment accelerates our momentum as we continue to deploy more full-scale industrial installations that are already saving customers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. With this support, we’re advancing our mission to make sustainable wastewater treatment both possible and profitable. Protecting our planet and enabling better economics can go hand in hand.”
Pangaea Ventures: Investing in Planetary and Economic Impact
Leading the round, Pangaea Ventures is known for investing in hard technologies that deliver measurable environmental and economic value. Their participation underscores the strategic and scalable potential of Membrion’s technology to drive systemic change across global industries.
“Pangaea has closely followed Membrion’s progress for several years,” said Sarah Applebaum, Partner at Pangaea Ventures. “The company is at an exciting commercial inflection point, as the market is waking up to the value that technologies like Membrion can bring to industrial customers — not just in cost savings, but in meaningful operational gains. With each deployment, Membrion reduces water consumption, chemical waste, and energy use while delivering tangible ROI for their customers.”
Applebaum emphasized that Membrion’s technology aligns with Pangaea’s thesis of investing in deep-tech solutions that solve critical climate and resource challenges. By combining material science innovation with scalable deployment strategies, Membrion is uniquely positioned to make industrial water reuse mainstream.
Ecolab: Partnering to Advance Circular Water Management
Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water treatment, hygiene, and digital solutions, joined the round as a strategic investor, aligning its global sustainability goals with Membrion’s mission to recover and reuse industrial wastewater.
“As a global leader in water, we are committed to accelerating a circular approach to industrial water management to capture both business and sustainability benefits,” said Calvin Emanuel, Vice President and General Manager, Sustainable Growth Solutions at Ecolab. “We are proud to support Membrion’s innovation and the potential of their ceramic desalination membranes to recover and reuse water, reduce waste, and protect vital resources for future generations.”
Ecolab’s partnership will enable Membrion to access global distribution channels, technical expertise, and industrial networks, accelerating adoption of the company’s ceramic membranes in large-scale manufacturing facilities.
PureTerra Ventures: Continuing Commitment to Water Innovation
PureTerra Ventures, a Netherlands-based venture capital firm specializing in water technology, reaffirmed its confidence in Membrion by participating again in this latest round. PureTerra brings deep sector expertise in commercializing early-stage water innovations and scaling them globally.
“We at PureTerra Ventures are excited to support Membrion as they build on their technical and commercial progress and attract new partners to continue to accelerate towards a promising future,” said Nic Pannekeet, Managing Partner at PureTerra Ventures. “Membrion represents exactly the type of technology that aligns with our investment philosophy — one that bridges the gap between environmental impact and business performance.”
W. L. Gore & Associates: Materials Science Meets Water Technology
Global materials science leader W. L. Gore & Associates, known for innovations such as GORE-TEX®, joined the funding round through Gore Ventures. The company’s backing highlights the synergies between advanced material science and industrial water resilience.
“At Gore, we are focused on applying material science to have a positive impact on society,” said Ed Rubin, Venture Fund Leader for W. L. Gore & Associates. “Membrion’s ability to efficiently recover wastewater in extreme industrial environments is a natural fit for Gore Ventures. We’re excited to support Membrion in scaling deployments with partners and setting a new standard for resilient, resource-efficient operations.”
Transforming Industrial Water Management
Membrion’s membranes stand out for their durability, chemical resistance, and cost efficiency. Unlike conventional polymer-based membranes, Membrion’s ceramic materials can withstand extreme pH levels, temperatures, and fouling environments — conditions that typically degrade other filtration systems. This makes them ideal for industries such as semiconductors, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and food processing, where wastewater is complex and often laden with harsh contaminants.
By reclaiming and reusing up to 98% of process water, Membrion helps facilities reduce dependency on freshwater sources while minimizing discharge and environmental impact. Once deployed, the systems integrate seamlessly into existing infrastructure, expanding capacity, ensuring compliance, and improving overall resilience.
The company’s installations are already proving their value, with several industrial customers saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in water, waste, and energy costs.
A Growing Market Opportunity
Global demand for sustainable water technologies is surging, driven by climate change, water scarcity, and tightening environmental regulations. According to industry estimates, the industrial wastewater treatment market is expected to exceed $200 billion by 2030, presenting a massive opportunity for scalable, cost-effective solutions like Membrion’s.
With the new funding, Membrion plans to expand manufacturing capacity, grow its team, and increase commercial deployments across North America and beyond. The company also aims to deepen collaborations with global industrial leaders to bring circular water systems to scale.
A Vision for a Circular Water Future
As industries face mounting pressure to meet ESG goals and sustainability mandates, Membrion’s technology provides a clear pathway toward water circularity — transforming wastewater from an environmental liability into an economic asset.
“With this funding and the support of such visionary partners, we’re not just scaling a technology — we’re scaling a movement,” said Newbloom. “A movement toward a world where every drop of water is used wisely, reused responsibly, and treated as the precious resource it truly is.”
