Watercycle Technologies Expands to MENA After $5.6 Million Series A

UK-based climate tech company Watercycle Technologies secured $5.6 million in a Series A investment round to fund its expansion into the MENA region. The investment was led by Par Equity, with participation from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Aer Ventures, and the University of Manchester Innovation Factory.

Founded in 2020 by Dr. Ahmed Abdelkarim and Sebastian Leaper, Watercycle Technologies specializes in sustainable mineral recovery, offering solutions for the critical raw materials needed to transition to a Net Zero future. Their technology recovers essential minerals from waste streams while also producing clean, drinkable water as part of a circular economy model.

The company’s proprietary systems are already in use in global markets, with applications ranging from brine mining to battery recycling. Watercycle's technology is designed to address the growing supply risks of critical minerals, such as lithium, by recovering valuable materials from waste and brine.

The new funding will allow the company to scale its operations, increase the deployment of its technologies, and expand into the MENA region, where the company is in talks with various entities to apply its systems in seawater desalination projects.

Watercycle already has produced over 100 kg of battery-grade lithium carbonate from its pilot system. This milestone was achieved with a mix of private investment and grant funding. The company also secured an Innovate UK Investor Partnership grant, which recognises the innovative nature of its technology.