Puraffinity appoints new CEO and secures £6.73 million to accelerate global growth

Puraffinity, a start-up focused on developing precision technologies for the removal of toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water, is poised for significant growth following the appointment of Vincent Caillaud as its new CEO and the acquisition of £6.73 million in investment from BGF.

Mr Caillaud brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the water sector, having previously served as CEO of Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, a major global unit within Veolia, the world’s largest water, energy, and waste management company.

The appointment of Mr Caillaud will enhance market access for Puraffinity's technologies, allowing founder Henrik Hagemann to concentrate on advancing the company’s market-leading technological innovations as Chief Product and Innovation Officer.

BGF’s investment completes Puraffinity’s £16.93 million Series A funding round, joining existing investors Octopus Ventures, HG Ventures, Kindred Capital, Verve Ventures, and Universal Materials Incubator Co (UMI), a specialist fund in materials science.

This funding will facilitate the scaling up of production for Puraffinity’s patented PFAS-capturing material, ‘Puratech®’, in response to increasing demand across multiple sectors. It will also support the development of new commercial applications utilising Puraffinity’s patented technologies.

Founded in 2015 by Henrik Hagemann and Gabi Santosa and spun out from Imperial College London, Puraffinity offers a unique solution to the global PFAS crisis. Its technology consistently and reliably removes PFAS from water more cost-effectively than conventional methods.

Puraffinity’s precision technologies position the company at the forefront of combating PFAS, substances that have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer. Developed in the 1940s, PFAS are resistant to water, grease, and oil, leading to widespread industrial use. However, these same characteristics make them difficult to eliminate, earning them the nickname ‘forever chemicals’. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, PFAS have contaminated water supplies worldwide, with an estimated 97 percent of people testing positive for PFAS in their bodies.

In response to growing concerns, international regulators are considering bans or limits on PFAS levels in drinking water to address the estimated €16 trillion annual costs associated with environmental remediation and healthcare.

Puratech, Puraffinity's breakthrough adsorbent media, offers versatile applications with a customisable plug-in solution compatible with existing water treatment systems. It can also be tailored to capture specific PFAS compounds, helping global users comply with varying regulatory standards.

Moreover, Puratech utilises green chemistry technology, resulting in 60% lower carbon emissions during manufacturing compared to traditional petroleum-based products, according to Systemiq 2022.

“Bringing in a respected industry leader like Vincent, along with investment from BGF, highlights Puraffinity’s significant progress and the remarkable potential of the business,” said Henrik Hagemann, founder and Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Puraffinity. “This new management structure will enable me to focus on enhancing our existing technologies and creating new product roadmaps, secure in the knowledge that our business development is in capable hands with Vincent as CEO.”

Vincent Caillaud, CEO of Puraffinity, stated, “We are excited to join BGF’s expanding network of climate tech start-ups as we continue our mission to provide PFAS-safe water globally. With BGF’s expertise in accelerating breakthrough technologies, we look forward to significantly enhancing our commercial capabilities and expanding the global reach of our patented PFAS-removal solutions.”

“Puraffinity is well-positioned to realise its vision of providing PFAS-safe water to one billion people by 2030,” said Luke Rajah, investor at BGF. “We are thrilled to support Puraffinity as it embarks on a new phase of rapid global growth, taking meaningful steps toward improving water safety. BGF has built a strong reputation for identifying and supporting early-stage companies that offer technologies with substantial potential and significant societal benefits.”

More information online