Hypersoniq, a Delft-based electrochemical sensor technology company, has successfully secured €1.1 million in a seed funding round to accelerate the development and commercialization of its advanced water quality sensors. The funding consortium includes Impact Investor VP Capital and Thematic Technology Transfer funds from Smart Industries and Netherlands Enabling Water Technology (NEW).

The company’s patented technology aims to solve the significant challenges European industries face with wastewater and process water quality. Industrial sectors currently rely on slow, inefficient manual sampling methods, which lead to delays in obtaining actionable insights. These delays can cost industries millions of euros annually and hinder their ability to meet environmental regulations. Hypersoniq’s real-time, online electrochemical sensors, combined with machine learning and new materials, offer fast and actionable insights, optimizing processes, reducing environmental impact, and lowering costs.

Joris van Aken, CEO of Hypersoniq, emphasized the critical need for real-time monitoring, particularly in the Netherlands, where the country is facing the worst water quality in the EU. He said, “Real-time online insights into water quality have never been more important. With the support from this funding round, we can accelerate our research and product development to bring our groundbreaking sensors to market.”

The funding comes three months after the company received a €2.5 million investment from UNIIQ, an investment fund focused on the proof-of-concept phase. The latest injection will help Hypersoniq further develop its sensors to target industries struggling with wastewater treatment and water safety monitoring.

Hypersoniq’s initial focus is on industrial wastewater treatment, with a pilot project scheduled for early 2025. The pilot will aim to improve a wastewater treatment plant by providing real-time monitoring of pollution levels. This will help reduce the use of treatment chemicals, improve process control, and decrease costs, contributing to a smaller carbon footprint and better regulatory compliance. In addition to wastewater, the company’s sensors also have applications in the food and beverage industry and in early-warning systems for drinking water safety.

Co-Founder and CTO Gijs Vermeij noted, “Translating these electrochemical sensing technologies from the lab to practical applications requires expertise across various disciplines, including materials science, electrochemistry, water technology, and AI. This funding allows us to expand our team and take major steps toward commercializing our technology.”

The funding round also highlights the support of VP Capital, an investment firm with over 150 years of experience in the textile industry. The firm focuses on sustainable progress and investments in areas such as biodiversity, climate change, and social equality. Mathijs van der Knaap of VP Capital shared his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “Hypersoniq stands out with its innovative and sustainable approach to addressing global water quality challenges. Their solutions deliver measurable results that improve water standards. We are proud to support their mission and contribute to improving water quality worldwide.”