Acquaint
“At Acquaint, we focus on assessing the condition of water pipes. These are the types of transport pipes that carry water over long distances – drinking water or waste water, for example. By way of our technology, we can determine the state and condition of such systems and assess the maintenance required to keep them up to speed. Our satisfied customers include drinking water companies and waterboards, both nationally and internationally,” Rudy says.
Their technology enables clients to make informed decisions about maintenance and replacement. “We can identify the weakest link in a chain, so public utilities can replace or repair in a timely and precise manner. This is valuable because if repairs are not carried out in time, the consequences can be catastrophic. These are often large-diameter pipes that are important for water supply or sanitation. Imagine how, if you don't maintain them properly, you could be without water for a long time if a pipe fails,” Rudy under scores the relevance of their work.
Global impact
Both founders come from the oil and gas sector, where they did similar work for those industries. They founded Acquaint to transfer their knowledge and expertise to the water and waste water sectors. Rudy: “In order to do so adequately, we needed significant technological adaptations and development. Together with Wetsus, a Leeuwarden-based scientific research institute for water technology, we were able to develop the technology needed to make a difference in the water industry.”
He adds, “In a wider sense, we are proud of and thankful for the collaboration we have with parties in the Netherlands and beyond. You need partners and customers, especially in the early stages, that are willing to give you the confidence to try things out, to test them, to fail, and then also give you the opportunity to correct those mistakes. Teaming up with partners driven by a common goal of developing meaningful technology is so valuable.”
In the end, the technology that they have come up with is great for entrepreneurs in the water industry, but also for public health and sustainability goals. “I believe that it is intrinsically sustainable when you can optimize the lifespan of these types of piping systems,” Rudy says. “Also, good sanitation and water supply are crucial for prosperity. So I think that if we didn't have such systems, our quality of life would be completely different. I am extremely proud that we can have such a global impact from Friesland.”
Perfect timing
Acquaint participated in the 2018 BeStart program. Rudy recalls, “At the time, we had a very good idea and we were technically capable of developing it, but we didn’t have so much experience in the water sector and, also, some of our entrepreneurial skills were lacking. I think BeStart ultimately helped usto gain a far better understanding of what we wanted to do and what was needed to make it a success. Is there a market? How big is it? How to position our selves in clean tech? BeStart encouraged us to really ponder these and similar questions. The timing was perfect for us.”
They gained important insights and increased their awareness of what sustainable technology can mean in the world and what kind of impact you can create with it. “We definitely made that a bigger part of our story afterwards. Until then, we had little experience in cleantech. Our time at BeStart helped us enormously to establish a strong proposition, which obviously fueled our efforts to bring it to market. You are pulled out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life and put in that helicopter, giving you an overview from above. Based on that, you can make a solid plan and keep your goals in mind,” Rudy summarizes their time at BeStart.
“Also, we were part of a great cohort that included likeminded companies with whom we are still in contact. The northern Netherlands has a thriving community around sustainable technologies and climate tech. BeStart certainly brought that to life for us and it’s served us well,” he says.
