AI Startup Nyad Raises $1.3M to Protect Water Infrastructure as Wastewater Operators Retire

While training for a triathlon in her home in the UK, Virginia Szepietowski (in featured photo) “experienced really poor water quality firsthand” while trying to find clean and safe bodies of water to swim in. After diving into (pun intended) into the wastewater world, she realized a problem right away.

Wastewater operations are our “final line of defense” between toxins and our waterways. But the industry is in the middle of navigating the “silver tsunami,”  the mass retirement of an aging Baby Boomer workforce that is taking decades of institutional knowledge with it. That is leading to a true workforce shortage.

Alabama is experiencing this problem acutely, as wastewater facilities are losing experienced operators fast. Nearly half expected to retire in the next decade and no real plan to preserve the expertise walking out the door.

Alongside her fellow British entrepreneur and now fellow founder Christopher Braithwaite, Szepietowski is on a mission to change that by empowering wastewater operators with Nyad.

Meet Nyad

Nyad (which borrows its name from the Greek god for river guardian) works as a decision support and AI-powered tool that gives the “next generation of operators the tools they need to run a plant that is safe, efficient and compliant,” says Szepietowski.

This is not about replacing operators, but rather giving them “the world’s most experienced operator in their pockets” to help them with their daily work.

It is all about ensuring operators have “the support they need to protect public health and protect the environment,” Szepietowski added.

Funding The Future Of Clean Water

To grow, Nyad announced today it has closed a $1.3 million in oversubscribed pre-seed funding. The round was led by Boost VC, with participation from Draper Associates, Halogen Ventures, Ollin Ventures, Apprentis, First Avenue Ventures, and strategic angel Troy Wallwork.

“The founders of Nyad are going to make the world a better place, starting with wastewater, an incredibly overlooked problem,” said Adam Draper, Founder of Boost VC.

Szepietowski, who worked in law and consulting before jumping into the WaterTech space, said it is refreshing to work in an industry that “touches something real” and to have “investors on our cap table who really get the importance of water and critical infrastructure.”

Building In Birmingham

Nyad is no stranger to the Birmingham tech scene, having gone through the Techstars Founder Catalyst WaterTech & Sustainability program.

Szepietowski found herself once again in Alabama the day after receiving her 0-1 Visa, taking the stage for the Halogen Ventures’ pitch competition. That kickstarted the rest of the pre-seed round.

Nyad has also intentionally set up their headquarters inside Innovation Depot, Birmingham’s tech hub. For Szepietowski, the city’s collaborative spirit has been as valuable as any resource, serving as a place, she says, where “everybody is actually rooting for you.”