Gradiant

Gradiant provides end-to-end water treatment solutions for complex industrial wastewater, positioning itself as a comprehensive solutions provider in the environmental technology sector. The company was founded in 2013 as a spinout from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by Anurag Bajpayee and Prakash Govindan. Both founders, who grew up in India, were motivated by their experiences with water scarcity. Their doctoral research at MIT laid the technical foundation for the company; Govindan developed a desalination process mimicking the rain cycle, which became Gradiant's first proprietary technology, Carrier Gas Extraction (CGE). Bajpayee, now the CEO, and Govindan, the COO, have backgrounds in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, where they met.

The company's business model is centered on designing, building, and operating water treatment facilities, often employing flexible arrangements like Design-Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (DBOOT) and Water-as-a-Service (WaaS). This approach allows industrial clients to outsource their water management needs. Gradiant generates revenue through project execution and long-term service agreements. The company serves a diverse B2B client base in essential industries that require high-purity water, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and critical minerals. Notable clients include TSMC, Micron, Pfizer, GSK, Coca-Cola, and Rio Tinto. Initially focused on wastewater from the oil and gas sector, Gradiant has since expanded its market focus.

Gradiant has a portfolio of proprietary technologies designed to reduce water usage, reclaim resources, and renew wastewater. Key technologies include Carrier Gas Extraction (CGE), a thermal evaporation system; Selective Contaminant Extraction (SCE); and Free Radical Oxidation (FRO) for removing organic compounds. The company integrates its physical systems with SmartOps, a digital platform that uses AI for process control and optimization. A significant development is its technology for Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), which boasts a high recovery rate for lithium from brines, a critical component for the battery industry. Having reached a $1 billion valuation, the company has secured over $400 million in funding from investors such as Centaurus Capital, BoltRock Holdings, and Warburg Pincus, which fuels its global expansion and R&D efforts.

Keywords: water treatment, wastewater management, industrial water solutions, desalination, resource recovery, cleantech, brine concentration, zero liquid discharge, water reuse, environmental technology, semiconductor water, pharmaceutical water, Direct Lithium Extraction, Water-as-a-Service, Anurag Bajpayee, Prakash Govindan, MIT spinout, sustainable water, critical minerals recovery, advanced oxidation process, SmartOps AI, Carrier Gas Extraction