Current and Nomadic Venture Partners Launch Pilot Pathway Program for Mining Water Technology

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Current and Nomadic Venture Partners Launch Pilot Pathway Program for Mining Water Technology

Mentorship program to support startups developing water-related innovations for the mining industry

CHICAGO, IL, May 14, 2025 - Nomadic Venture Partners and Current, Chicago's nonprofit water innovation hub, together announce the launch of the Mining Water Tech Pilot Pathway Program to support startups developing water-related innovations for the mining industry.

The program is focused on accelerating water technology solutions focused on water and critical minerals, and on guiding early-stage companies toward pilot readiness. Over three months, Nomadic Venture Partners and Current will provide targeted coaching, strategy sessions, and connections with industry stakeholders to help startups make progress toward real-world pilot opportunities with mining corporations, a key step toward commercialization. The program is structured to support companies developing solutions in three key areas: resource recovery, water efficiency, and mine water treatment.

According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2022, industry and energy sectors account for 19% of global freshwater withdrawals. With demand for critical minerals increasing worldwide, the mining industry faces mounting pressure to address its water footprint.

"Critical minerals power the technologies we rely on daily," said Alaina Harkness, CEO of Current and Great Lakes ReNEW, which in January 2024 was awarded up to $160 million over 10 years from the U.S. National Science Foundation to develop and grow a water-based regional innovation engine. "We can't afford to flush valuable resources like critical minerals down the drain. Our breakthrough idea is to focus on new ways of recovering and reusing critical minerals and industrial wastewater, ultimately to strengthen national security and competitiveness."

The program aligns with Nomadic Venture Partners' focus on early-stage venture capital investments in solutions decarbonizing foundational industries like mining, manufacturing, and heavy-duty transportation. "Critical minerals are essential to powering the modern economy, but the water stress associated with their production is an urgent challenge," said Batchimeg Ganbaatar, General Partner at Nomadic Venture Partners. "This program is about accelerating the technologies that will help ensure that water stewardship and critical minerals development advance together."

The Mining Water Tech Pilot Pathway Program is supported in part by the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Build to Scale Program (ALN 11.024) and is part of Current's NSF-funded Regional Innovation Engine, Great Lakes ReNEW.

Applications are open until May 23, 2025 at 11:59 pm. Participants will be selected for a program kickoff on June 9, and the program will run through September 12, 2025.

For more information or to apply, visit: www.nomadicvp.com/pilot.

About Current

Current is an independent nonprofit water innovation hub, founded in Chicago in 2016. Our mission is to grow a circular blue economy, accelerate water innovation, and solve pressing water challenges. We bring together corporations, advocates, researchers and governments to develop water management policies and test new technologies- projects that would be too risky or even impossible without sustained collaboration. Current has helped to raise more than $58 million to support water innovation and economic development in the region; launched the first real-time water quality monitoring tool for Chicago waterways; drafted a blueprint to build a thriving blue economy in Illinois, and supported the commercialization of more than 40 water startups. Learn more.

About Nomadic Venture Partners

Nomadic Venture Partners is a Chicago and Denver-based venture capital firm investing in pre-seed to series A companies delivering the Metals Transition while decarbonizing mining, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. The escalating demand for metals and critical minerals, propelled by national security imperatives, the energy transition, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data centers, necessitates more efficient and sustainable supply solutions. NVP aims to support founders developing digital and light hardware technologies that enhance the speed of production, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Learn more.