Cleantech venture capital pioneer Emerald Technology Ventures has invested into StormHarvester, a SaaS machine-learning and analytics company that helps wastewater utilities optimize the management of their sewer networks and assets while significantly reducing pollution.
The £8.4M (USD $10.2M) round, which was led by YFM Equity Partners (YFM), will help StormHarvester expand its product range and sales and marketing capabilities. The funding will also accelerate the company’s growth into new markets, including Australasia and North America, while strengthening its presence in the UK.
Headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, StormHarvester launched its automated water management software platform in 2019. The SaaS-based platform uses machine learning and rainfall prediction to help wastewater utilities prevent avoidable flooding and pollution through proactive maintenance using a prediction and anomaly detection approach. By identifying issues early, StormHarvester enables utilities to take corrective action before pollutants are released into waterways, making a meaningful contribution to environmental protection.
Since its launch – the first of its kind in the UK – the business has experienced significant growth. StormHarvester’s machine learning engine is being used by wastewater utilities across the UK to detect sewer blockages and pumping station anomalies, as well as to identify inflow and infiltration in the sewer networks. This has led to measurable reductions in the frequency of pollution incidents, helping utilities comply with stringent environmental standards while safeguarding local ecosystems.
StormHarvester won its first formal tender in 2019. Since then, the business has grown rapidly, onboarding 75% of UK water utility companies onto the platform and employing a 50-strong team. This widespread adoption reflects the urgent need for smarter solutions to address urbanization, climate change, and population growth, all of which are placing unsustainable pressure on wastewater systems.
“Expensive-to-replace networks, urbanization, climate change, and population growth are putting a huge strain on wastewater systems, and this has resulted in increased flooding and pollution. StormHarvester’s AI solution is solving these problems, identifying issues before they happen and facilitating proactive intervention. Our technology not only improves operational efficiency for utilities but also plays a critical role in reducing pollution, protecting vital water resources, and supporting a healthier environment,” said Brian Moloney, CEO of StormHarvester.
“Having been the first to market in the UK, the StormHarvester team has carved out a market-leading position, expanding to meet ever-growing demand from the utilities sector. The company is now focused on international expansion, and we are excited to be supporting its scale-up. More importantly, we are immensely proud to be associated with a company that is making a tangible difference in reducing pollution and safeguarding our natural waterways. By enabling utilities to proactively manage their networks, StormHarvester’s technology is setting a new standard in environmental stewardship and sustainability,” said Mike Clarke, YFM Partner.
“Utilities today face a slew of challenges from aging infrastructure to resource & funding gaps, however the most daunting are the impacts of climate change, including increased flooding and subsequent pollution events,” said Clayton MacDougald, the Emerald Investment Director who will join StormHarvester’s Board of Directors. “StormHarvester has proven they have the cutting-edge solutions to help customers proactively reduce these events, manage their infrastructure, and gain invaluable insights into improved operations in an efficient manner. Emerald is excited to partner with the amazing team at StormHarvester and lead-investor YFM as the company continues to solve these ever-growing climate issues around the globe.”
