H2Ok Innovations Raises $12M Series A for AI-Powered Sensors That Disrupt and Transform CPG Manufacturing
This funding comes as H2Ok Innovations' technology is already being used by major global CPG and hyperscale data center companies to accelerate production and prevent downtime. This capital will support efforts to rapidly scale AI in manufacturing by productizing disruptive technology into an instantly deployable solution, enabling faster Clean-in-Place (CIP) and product changeovers.
Founded in 2021 by sister and brother team, Annie and David Lu, H2Ok Innovations helps customers run faster factories by removing slack and detecting errors early through continuous monitoring, AI optimization, and closed-loop control system integration. H2Ok Innovations' technology easily installs into existing piping and instrumentation standards, delivering measurable returns instantly.
The company's technology ingests 1 million data points per second, giving customers like Unilever, AB InBev, The Coca-Cola Company, and Danone real-time monitoring that recaptures previously wasted production time, water, energy, and chemicals. Motivated by the fast realization of ROI, AB InBev, the world's largest beer company, is currently scaling H2Ok to all six geographical zones and all global breweries in the coming years.
"Post-COVID food and beverage manufacturers are besieged by supply chain constraints, rising costs, evolving safety standards, and shifting consumer demands,' said Annie Lu, CEO of H2Ok Innovations. 'Our turnkey solution gives manufacturers production time back to address these macro challenges and still drive innovation. We're excited to bring science-backed proprietary sensors and industry-focused AI that delivers both the sustainability and speed that manufacturers need to thrive in today's environment.'
'Instead of reacting to waste, manufacturers use our technology to proactively perfect their processes, which in turn generates less waste,' said David Lu, CTO of H2Ok Innovations. 'Our customers leverage our technology to routinely cut CIP and production changeover time by 15 percent and reduce water, energy, and chemical usage between 10 to 20 percent. With H2Ok's game-changing technology, manufacturers build the next generation of sustainable factories that simultaneously save them time and money.'
'H2Ok Innovations is a great example of how the 100+ Accelerator helps scale transformative technologies in large global supply chains,' said Maisie Devine, Executive Director, 100+ Accelerator. 'Their ability to demonstrate measurable impact quickly and across critical industrial processes has positioned them for success. We're proud to have supported their journey and excited to see their continued growth.'
Greycroft's Jim Moffat, former Global CEO of Deloitte Consulting, will also be joining the board of H2Ok and brings his expertise in enterprise strategy and business scaling to support H2Ok's growth.
"H2Ok Innovations is focused on transforming industrial operations by applying AI in ways that can drive immediate, measurable results," said Dana Settle, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Greycroft. "We're proud to support Annie and David as they scale their vision globally and aim to advance both efficiency and environmental sustainability."
Headquartered at Greentown Labs in Somerville, MA — North America's leading cleantech innovation community, H2Ok is a woman-founded startup backed by top-tier investors such as Greycroft, Construct Capital, 2048 Ventures, and Flybridge Capital. Recognized for its innovation and impact, H2Ok was named Unilever's 2023 Startup of the Year supplier and received AB InBev's 2024 Cheers Award for outstanding startup partnership.
About H2Ok Innovations
H2Ok Innovations is transforming how food and beverage factories run by using its in-line sensors and turnkey AI solution to unlock lost production time. H2Ok's patented spectral sensors continuously monitor fluid signatures to optimize Clean-In-Place (CIP), product changeovers, and prevent costly errors before they cause downtime. Our AI solution absorbs expert intuition into machine learning models and helps manufacturers instantly run faster, cleaner, and more profitably.
Deployed in factories across six continents and trusted by global leaders like AB InBev, The Coca-Cola Company, and Unilever, H2Ok is redefining what it means to unlock your faster factory.
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- Chicago Tribune
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