MICHIGAN RISE FUNDS BLUECONDUIT, TECHNOLOGY THAT IDENTIFIES LEAD SERVICE LINES AND PREVENTS LEAD CONTAMINATION IN WATER SYSTEMS
EAST LANSING, Mich. –– Michigan Rise has expanded its portfolio in GovTech and CleanTech with an investment in BlueConduit, headquartered in Ann Arbor. BlueConduit has developed an innovative SaaS platform that uses predictive modeling to accurately identify lead service lines (LSL). The platform provides automated reporting tools for municipalities to fulfill mandatory reporting requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"The BlueConduit team is making a big impact toward preventing lead contamination in public water systems by working with hundreds of municipalities across the country," said Prem Bodagala, Director at Michigan Rise. "This investment aligns with our commitment to partner with teams advancing technologies that address environmental challenges and prioritize public health."
BlueConduit’s unrivaled infrastructure analytics solution is helping municipalities meet the October 2024 LSL inventory requirements set by the Inflation Reduction Act. BlueConduit leverages advanced technology, data science expertise, and partner strategy to perform this crucial inventory efficiently and accurately, enabling municipalities to identify and prioritize the replacement of LSL, address environmental challenges, and safeguard public health.
"We are incredibly grateful for Michigan Rise's investment," said Lorne Groe, CEO of BlueConduit. "Their support will accelerate our mission to create a positive, lasting impact on communities."
BlueConduit is establishing a strong foothold in the market and plans to extend the capabilities of its platform beyond LSL to encompass various city-wide infrastructures, including water and other utilities. A significant advantage of the platform is the continuous data science support provided to its customers. Additionally, the platform provides a holistic solution via regulatory compliance and reporting indefinitely, offering features such as disclosure through a public map, customer notifications, tracking of water filter distribution, securing funding for LSL replacement, facilitating water testing, and enabling effective resident communication.
About Michigan Rise
Michigan Rise is a wholly owned venture capital subsidiary of the Michigan State University (MSU) Research Foundation, operated in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Michigan Rise provides early-stage funding to innovative companies that have the potential to transform industries and create jobs in Michigan.
About BlueConduit
BlueConduit, the pioneer in using data science to find lead pipes, has applied machine learning models across over 200 communities and water systems in over 20 U.S. states and in Canada. The BlueConduit smart service line inventory and replacement platform provides address-by-address predictions that enable utilities to locate lead in greater than 80% of attempted replacements, accelerate the removal of lead and lower the cost per successful replacement. The EPA included BlueConduit’s work and predictive modeling in its Service Line Inventory Guidance.