Nyad, an AI software company focused on wastewater operations, announced the commercial launch of its decision support platform alongside $1.3 million in oversubscribed pre-seed funding. The round was led by Boost VC and included participation from Draper Associates, Halogen Ventures, Ollin Ventures, Apprentis, First Avenue Ventures, and strategic angel Troy Wallwork.
The Birmingham, Alabama-based company said its platform is designed to help wastewater treatment plant operators manage increasingly complex systems as the industry faces a rapidly shrinking workforce. Nearly half of the U.S. wastewater workforce is expected to retire within the next decade, creating a growing knowledge gap as utilities deal with aging infrastructure, tighter regulatory requirements, and rising operational complexity.
Nyad’s software aims to preserve and extend operator expertise by providing real-time biological insights and troubleshooting support. The company said the system helps teams diagnose problems earlier, maintain regulatory compliance, and operate facilities more safely and efficiently.
Nyad is already working with wastewater utilities across the United States, ranging from large metropolitan systems to smaller rural plants, highlighting the broad impact of workforce shortages across the sector.
The company was founded in 2024 by British entrepreneurs Virginia Szepietowski and Christopher Braithwaite after they experienced poor water quality while training for triathlons in the United Kingdom. The founders later established headquarters at Innovation Depot in Birmingham, Alabama, after identifying early customer demand through pilot programs in the region.
Nyad has also received support from several innovation initiatives, including the Techstars Founder Catalyst Program in collaboration with the University of Alabama and the Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator powered by gener8tor.
The newly announced funding will support hiring, customer acquisition, and continued product development as the company expands its commercial footprint across the United States.
KEY QUOTES
“Operators are the final line of defense for public health and the environment. As experience retires out of the industry, we need tools that support operators in the moment when decisions matter most.”
Virginia Szepietowski, Co Founder And CEO, Nyad
“The founders of Nyad are going to make the world a better place, starting with wastewater, an incredibly overlooked problem.”
Adam Draper, Founder, Boost VC
“We at Halogen Ventures are incredibly excited to invest in Nyad. The team is building a category defining tool at the intersection of AI and wastewater with a clear vision for where the market is headed. We see their software as not only a game changer, but soon to be a necessity for wastewater everywhere.”
Jesse Draper, Founder, Halogen Ventures
