Membrion, a Seattle start-up specializing in the production of special membranes for wastewater treatment, increased $3 million in the early series a financing round.
The 5-year-old spinach at the University of Washington plans to double the size of its Seattle manufacturing plant and hire 10 people.
Membrion’s ceramic desalination membrane can be used to treat wastewater from toxic manufacturing processes and remove salts and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and copper.
The film is made of silica gel, just like what’s in a beef jerky package or a small bag at the bottom of a new shoebox.
Founded by Greg newbloom, a chemical engineering expert as CEO, the company has been committed to the filtration technology used in fuel cells and seawater desalination systems for many years.
Newbloom said that membrion’s customers are Fortune 100 companies headquartered in the United States, involving microelectronics, automobile, food and beverage, oil and gas industries.
“Although this looks like a different set of applications, the common theme is that they consume incredible water, and they face increasing financial and social pressure to improve water management,” nublum said.
He said that membrion’s technology has proven to be economical in dealing with harsh and complex wastewater streams.
“For example, we are currently carrying out a pilot project with a Fortune 50 semiconductor company in the southwest, which is trying to remove copper from the wastewater, but the water is too hard and almost melts other membranes,” neublum said, adding that customers spend a lot of time and money transporting the wastewater away from the site.
Membrion previously raised $6 million in its oversubscribed round a financing, which ended in March 2020. So far, the startup has raised $10.5 million, plus $3 million in undiluted grants.
Last fall, in order to help fight the spread of COVID-19 -19, Membrion is committed to converting its technology into a spray form that can be used for masks.
“When we are ready to increase production, vaccine availability is increasing and infection rates are decreasing,” neublum said. “Based on cost and complexity, not to mention deviating from our core market focus, we decided not to seek opportunities.”
Membrion currently employs 16 full-time employees. The company recently appointed Scott Hefner as its chief revenue officer.