Nevada Nonprofit Partners with State Government to Scale Water Technology

Strategic Insights -

A Nevada-based nonprofit, WaterStart, is partnering with the state government to accelerate water technology innovation and commercialization. The organization, founded to drive water innovation and support economic development, has been working closely with the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) for over a decade. WaterStart will issue a series of Requests for Proposals over the next few years, seeking technologies to address specific issues such as leak detection, alternative water sources, and energy-efficient cooling systems. This partnership aims to leverage the expertise of WaterStart and GOED to identify and develop technology solutions nationally and globally.

Key Takeaways:

  • WaterStart, a Nevada-based nonprofit, has been working with the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) to drive water innovation and support economic development for over a decade.
  • The organization has partnered with the National Science Foundation's Futures Engine in the Southwest, led by Arizona State University, to strengthen water-technology innovation in the region.
  • WaterStart and GOED will issue a series of Requests for Proposals to seek technologies that address specific issues, including alternatives to pressure-driven membranes, leak detection, and next-generation cooling systems.
  • The partnership aims to leverage the expertise of WaterStart and GOED to identify and develop technology solutions nationally and globally.
  • Organizations like WaterStart help facilitate public-private partnerships to address key existential challenges faced by the state of Nevada.
  • WaterStart's pilot program focuses on accelerating technology readiness levels, with GOED providing funds to incentivize new companies to move to the state or existing companies to utilize new technologies.

Statistics:

  • $1.8 million: The amount invested by the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) in WaterStart, drawn from the American Rescue Plan, the Nevada Knowledge Fund, and a 2023 grant from the Governor's Finance Office.
  • 10 years: The duration over which GOED and WaterStart have been working together.
  • 2024: The year in which WaterStart collaborated with research institute SRI to offer recommendations on a "waterwise economy."
  • 3 areas: The priority areas identified by WaterStart for the Requests for Proposals, including alternatives to pressure-driven membranes, leak detection, and next-generation cooling systems.

Sources:

  • the Las Vegas Sun (Las Vegas, Nev.), November 2025
  • Tribune Content Agency, LLC
  • Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) official statement
  • WaterStart official statement