H2Ok Innovations, the Boston-based startup turning AI and inline sensor tech into a manufacturing game-changer, just announced a $12.42 million Series A round led by Greycroft, with participation from 2048 Ventures and Construct Capital.
Founded by sibling co-founders Annie and David Lu, H2Ok delivers patented inline sensors and AI-powered control platforms that help global manufacturers like AB InBev, Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Danone reduce changeover times, cut waste, and boost factory speed—all without retrofitting existing infrastructure.
From Startup to Strategic Scale
H2Ok’s system plugs into standard industrial piping and streams over 1 million data points per second, enabling real-time decision-making and closed-loop automation. The impact? Factory floors reclaim production time while slashing resource use—including 15% reductions in Clean-in-Place (CIP) and changeover time, and 10–20% reductions in water, energy, and chemical use.
“Post-COVID, manufacturers are facing existential pressure,” said Annie Lu, CEO. “Our tech gives them time back and unlocks sustainable innovation at the same time. We’ve built a platform where science, AI, and instant deployment converge to solve some of the industry’s biggest challenges.”
With this new capital, H2Ok will productize its platform for rapid deployment, enabling broader adoption of AI in industrial operations and scaling its clean, intelligent factory vision across more sectors.
Already Trusted by Industry Giants
AB InBev—one of H2Ok’s first enterprise adopters—is now scaling the solution across all global breweries. Unilever awarded H2Ok Startup of the Year for 2023, while the 100+ Accelerator named it a standout success story in transforming supply chain sustainability.
“Instead of reacting to waste, we help manufacturers perfect processes in real-time,” said David Lu, CTO. “The result is less downtime, more uptime—and a more sustainable factory of the future.”
Greycroft and Deloitte Alum Join for the Next Phase
Along with leading the round, Greycroft’s Jim Moffat, former Global CEO of Deloitte Consulting, will join the board. His deep experience in enterprise scaling and digital transformation is expected to accelerate H2Ok’s commercial and operational footprint.
“H2Ok isn’t just innovating in cleantech—it’s redefining what’s possible in AI-powered industrial optimization,” said Dana Settle, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Greycroft. “Annie and David are building something transformational at the intersection of efficiency, sustainability, and speed.”
