COVID-19 UPDATE
Fresno State and the Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center are complying with the COVID-19 recommendations issued by the California State University Office of the Chancellor and the shelter in place emergency order issued by the City of Fresno.
The WET Center facilities will be closed until further notice. The health and safety of our clients, staff, and families is our first priority. We will monitor the situation closely and keep you updated. Our team will be working remotely and will still be able to assist you. Please feel free to email us at bluetechvalley@mail.fresnostate.edu with any questions or concerns.
Feelings of uncertainty may be overwhelming for entrepreneurs and small business owners at a time like this. The following article may provide valuable information to help you through this unprecedented time.
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| Membrion awarded $6M in funding |
Valley Ventures IV alumni, Membrion Inc., just raised $6M in
new funding that will aid in increasing access to fresh water at a lower cost. Membrion Inc. creates membranes out of silica gel material(s)
that are typically found in “the little packets in your new shoes or beef jerky packets.” These membranes allow for a higher-performing desalination process that can also purify pharmaceuticals,
wastewater, and other types of liquids. CEO of Membrion, Greg Newbloom compared the technology to that of a coffee filter,
but for molecules. “With this funding, we’re thrilled to move from
the lab to commercial production, develop a new manufacturing
facility and ramp up production for customers,” said Newbloom.
Read the full press release here.
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The WET Center has Office Space Available!
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| Need office space for your venture? Look no further! The WET Center has office space available for our members. To inquire about membership and potential office space availability and rentals, click here. |
| World Ag Expo PowerPoint Recap! |
| Missed out on any Irrigation Seminars at the World Ag Expo? Just want a refresher? View PowerPoint presentations from select seminars here! |
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Agtech acquisition alert!
Israeli fertilizer company, ICL, has acquired Growers Holdings, a farming platform that provides farmers, agronomists, and other professionals with better decision-making capabilities.
How to store renewable energy: Is water the answer?
Can water be used to store renewable energy in a cost-effective way?
This article from European Scientist offers intriguing possibilities.
Fresno State #AgTechDay Showcase
Fresno State’s AgTech Day Showcase was hosted by the WET Center!
Read the article for more information.
The role of impact investors in early stage agtech investing
A growing number of venture capitalists are doubling down on
technology to harmonize agriculture and nature.
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AQUAOSO Technologies participated in the online Radicle Growth Challenge at World Agri-Tech Summit!
All Power Labs, a BTV venture, has partnered with The Skysource/Skywater Alliance to win a Water Abundance X PRIZE
Waterhound Futures won the second round of The Water Council's tech challenge.
BoxPower featured in MicroGridKnowledge
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*Events subject to cancellation/rescheduling as professional recommendations regarding COVID-19 emerge
EPIC Symposium| April 1-2, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
Applications to pitch are due February 7, 2020. Pitching is open to all who have received CalSEED grants or are a member of BTV or any of our six cluster hubs - just another benefit of being a member of our BTV innovation cluster!
Startup Monterey Bay Tech Meetup | April 14 | Seaside, CA
Meet aspiring entrepreneurs, get news about what's happening with local startups, get help, and get inspired!
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Introducing Dropcopter, a 2018 Valley Ventures Cohort III graduate! Dropcopter is a company that uses drone technology to expedite crop pollination in California. The company has won awards for their pollination solutions.
Since its graduation from Valley Ventures two years ago, Dropcopter has expanded its business to other states and countries. Matt Koball of Dropcopter said that “The Valley Ventures program… assessed and quantified our business needs. We received guidance… that gave us a great start on developing a customer base.”
Check out our Valley Ventures website to see all the companies from past cohorts and how to apply for Cohort IV! |
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CalTestBed
Award Amount: $8.8M
Application opens: NOW!
Cowo Campus Accelerator
Award Amount: $20K
Application opens: March 2020
CEC Clean Energy and Technology Grant Programs
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 20, 2020
Cleantech Open Accelerator
Award Amount: $75,000
Application deadline: April 19, 2020
Special Research Grants Program Aquaculture Research
Award Amount: $200-300K
Application deadline: April 22, 2020
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Phase II
Award Amount: $12M
Application deadline: May 27, 2020
NSF: Inclusion Across the Nation
Award Amount: $100,000
Deadline: July 13, 2020
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Team Builders LLC | Fresno, CA
Water Treatment/
Distribution Operator
Team Builders LLC | Visalia, CA
Agronomy Support Tech
Click here to view a full list of job postings on our website!
Want to learn more about our BlueTechValley accelerator, Valley Ventures? Watch this video for more information!
Have questions about Valley
Ventures? Click here!
Bakersfield | Chico | Fresno | Humboldt | Monterey Bay | Sacramento | Truckee
The WET Center now has an
Instagram! Follow us @/wetcenter
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
BTV Video Library
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