Hey Everyone, I’m grateful to all your support in launching Echo River Capital in 2022. We’ve made big strides towards the goal of living in freshwater harmony with nature by supporting amazing founders with remarkably transformative ideas.
Here’s what we accomplished in the last year.
Transferred 12 angel investments into Echo River Capital at cost with a current multiple over 2X.
Made follow-on investments into Epic Cleantec and Uravu, both taking off at multiples of their initial valuations. Epic has deployed the first gray and blackwater on-site wastewater treatment systems in San Francisco, and is now entering the agricultural arena. Uravu is rapidly scaling their atmospheric water generation in India serving industrial and commercial customers like beverage companies to help them create products using 100% renewable water and energy.
Backed Hohonu, an exciting global platform tracking and predicting changes in sea level rise and surges. It’s active across the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines and across Oceania. In addition to installing its own low-cost sensor network, Hohonu has integrated many of NOAA’s sensors as well. You can check out the water-level dashboard here.
Invested in Waterplan, a Y-Combinator company that identifies and addresses operational water risk of Fortune 500 companies. Many companies are now establishing water-neutral and water- positive goals, and Waterplan supports their efforts to accomplish these critical efforts.
Made a new investment in Kairospace Technologies, which is treating water and wastewater with chemical-free innovations for indoor and outdoor agriculture. There is exciting potential of reducing fertilizer applications and resulting runoff with a team that is breaking boundaries and applying physics in novel ways.
Wrote checks into three other water tech companies that will be announced soon. So 2023 is already shaping up to be an exceptional year of growth and opportunity.
With Much Appreciation
Early-stage investing is a team sport. I’m excited every day to work with and support the founders who have placed their trust in Echo River to be partners, and who are making significant progress towards a more sustainable water future. I’m grateful for Echo River’s LPs, operating advisors, co-investors, Scott Kitchens at Cole-Frieman & Mallon, the team at Carta, virtual assistant Jacey Tsosie, and Scott Keith of Keith Design Group. I’m especially thankful to my wife Jill and our family for their support.
Look for our next post with watertech predictions for 2023!
– Peter
If you have any questions or comments, please connect with Peter directly at peter@echorivercap.com and (415) 203-0432. Here's to a future of water abundance.
About Echo River Capital Echo River Capital is a seed fund advancing water technology for global impact based in San Francisco. Echo River invests in emerging technologies to digitize, decarbonize and decentralize the water cycle to improve human health, the environment and climate resilience. Peter Yolles, General Partner, is the former co-founder and CEO of WaterSmart.com, which was acquired in 2020. Peter adds strategic value with 30 years of operating experience in the water industry along with a Yale MBA in finance and a Master's in water science, policy and management.
Peter Yolles
General Partner
+1.415.203.0432