OceanWell, a Los Angeles-based water technology company, has secured $11 million in Series A funding to scale its innovative deep-sea water farm technology. Backed by Kubota Corporation, a century-old leader in water infrastructure, the family office of Jon Hemingway (Carrix Ports), and Charles McGarraugh, a former head of metals trading at Goldman Sachs, OceanWell aims to revolutionize desalination with a sustainable, energy-efficient approach. The funding will help launch California’s first water farm pilot in partnership with Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) and accelerate global expansion.

The company’s modular deep-sea water farms leverage ocean pressure at depths of 400 meters to drive reverse osmosis desalination. Each pod, engineered for durability in harsh underwater environments, produces up to one million gallons of potable water daily while consuming 40% less energy than traditional desalination methods. Unlike conventional processes, OceanWell’s system eliminates toxic brine disposal, ensuring minimal environmental impact on marine life and the ocean floor.

OceanWell's breakthrough technology offers ultra-clean water by filtering out salts, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and PFAS. Each pod requires 1.5MW to pump water to the shore, making it both scalable and cost-effective. This approach addresses critical water scarcity issues without compromising ecological integrity.

The global demand for water has surged by 1.7 times since 1970, while supply has declined by 50%. Experts warn that by 2050, up to 5 billion people could lack access to clean drinking water due to increased demand from agriculture, industry, and climate-induced challenges like droughts and floods. OceanWell’s pods provide a sustainable solution to this crisis, with plans to develop 15 water farms worldwide.

OceanWell's first water farm in California, established in collaboration with LVMWD, seeks to supply fresh drinking water to communities recovering from years of severe drought. The company has already tested its prototypes at the U.S. Navy’s Deep Ocean Simulation Facility and collaborates with 24 state water authorities in California.

Kubota Corporation’s involvement aligns with its mission to address global water scarcity through innovative solutions. Eiji Yoshioka, Director and GM of Kubota’s Water and Environment Infrastructure Division, emphasized the importance of OceanWell’s technology in creating a sustainable water circulation loop. Japan, an island nation facing water scarcity challenges, highlights the relevance of such technologies for global application.

“Our goal is to provide reliable, utility-scale freshwater solutions to meet the needs of communities worldwide,” said Robert Bergstrom, Founder and CEO of OceanWell. “We are grateful for the expertise of our investors as we scale operations and expand our reach.”