Membrion, a Seattle-based innovator in ceramic desalination membranes, announced the closing of a $20 million Series B1 funding round. The investment was anchored by Pangaea Ventures, PureTerra Ventures, Ecolab Inc., and W. L. Gore & Associates, with participation from The Lewis Family Office and existing backers including Safar Partners, Lam Research, Indico Ventures, and Giantleap Capital.
The new round brings the company’s total funding to $43 million since its founding and positions Membrion to expand deployment of its sustainable wastewater treatment systems at a commercial scale.
Membrion’s technology enables manufacturers to reclaim and reuse up to 98% of industrial wastewater, reducing both environmental impact and operational costs. Its flexible, modular ceramic desalination membranes are designed to handle extreme industrial conditions, allowing facilities to recover clean water and valuable minerals while maintaining regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. These systems have already delivered measurable savings for customers, cutting costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
The Series B1 funding will accelerate Membrion’s ability to scale production and expand globally. The company’s technology has gained strong momentum as industries face growing regulatory, environmental, and supply chain pressures to improve water efficiency. By transforming wastewater into a reusable resource, Membrion is helping industries move toward water circularity—a model where waste streams become sources of value and sustainability aligns with profitability.
Lead investor Pangaea Ventures—known for backing breakthrough “hard tech” companies focused on planetary and economic impact—emphasized that Membrion is at a key commercial inflection point as industrial customers increasingly recognize the benefits of sustainable water technologies. Ecolab, a global leader in water management and digital sustainability solutions, noted that the partnership aligns with its mission to advance circular water systems that protect vital resources. PureTerra Ventures, an early investor with deep expertise in water innovation, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Membrion’s next phase of commercial growth. Meanwhile, W. L. Gore & Associates—renowned for its advanced materials science—underscored the strategic fit between its innovation capabilities and Membrion’s scalable solutions for water reclamation in energy- and resource-intensive industries.
With this new infusion of capital, Membrion plans to deploy additional full-scale installations across sectors such as semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing, where water reuse and resource efficiency are increasingly critical. The company’s growth underscores a broader trend across industrial markets: the convergence of sustainability, cost efficiency, and resilience as key drivers of operational strategy.
KEY QUOTES:
“I’m thrilled to welcome a group of new investors who share our conviction that water circularity and resource reclamation are essential to building a better world. Their commitment accelerates our momentum as we continue to deploy more full-scale industrial installations that are already saving customers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. With this support, we’re accelerating our mission to make sustainable wastewater treatment both possible and profitable. Protecting our planet and enabling better economics can go hand in hand.”
Greg Newbloom, Founder and CEO of Membrion
“Pangaea has closely followed Membrion’s progress for several years. The company is at an exciting commercial inflection point, as the market is waking up to the value that technologies like Membrion can bring to industrial customers, not just in cost savings, but in meaningful operational gains. With each deployment, Membrion reduces water consumption, chemical waste, and energy use while delivering tangible ROI for their customers.”
Sarah Applebaum, Partner, Pangaea Ventures
“As a global leader in water, we are committed to accelerating a circular approach to industrial water management to capture both business and sustainability benefits. We are proud to support Membrion’s innovation and the potential of their ceramic desalination membranes to recover and reuse water, reduce waste, and protect vital resources for future generations.”
Calvin Emanuel, Vice President and General Manager, Sustainable Growth Solutions, Ecolab
“We at PureTerra Ventures are excited to support Membrion as they build on their technical and commercial progress and attract new partners to continue to accelerate towards a promising future.”
Nic Pannekeet, Managing Partner, PureTerra Ventures
“At Gore we are focused on applying material science to have a positive impact on society. Membrion’s ability to efficiently recover wastewater in extreme industrial environments is a natural fit for Gore Ventures. We’re excited to support Membrion in scaling deployments with partners and setting a new standard for resilient, resource-efficient operations.”
Ed Rubin, Venture Fund Leader, W. L. Gore & Associates
