As colored rivers meandered through the Indian subcontinent, Antony Cyril Arulrajan could not help but feel sorrow as did many Indians. The enormous dye and textile industry that the Asian country houses was the root of this environmental problem. New legislation is now in place reducing the impact of this industrial waste, but waste it still is. Compelled to help, our engineer armed with both knowledge in wastewater and material science devised a solution. The prototype of which is up-and-coming, all with a financial and entrepreneurial push from NEW-ttt.
Though the flow of vibrant rivers cutting through the land sounds like an idyllic environment, nothing could be further from the truth. In the recent past, India with its large textile industry required an equally large dye and pigment sector that generated and dumped their waste in the precious rivers. Now, all dye waste must be solid and as a result, is not dumped into the rivers anymore. It still is waste, as this complex hodgepodge is hard to recycle.
Antony, during his PhD, felt that sometimes his findings were not applicable in the short term. But having witnessed the problem, he saw an opportunity instead – to be of direct help. Antony studied Chemistry before he did his PhD in water treatment and compound-separating membranes. So, he felt he had the perfect culmination of background knowledge to face the challenge.
At Wetsus, at the WaterCampus where Antony studied, an opportunity arose too. Yearly, also part of NEW-ttt, a Business Development Course and a Business Challenge are organized. Herein, participants are challenged to pitch (and design) their companies to a jury. They get tips and tricks in return from experienced entrepreneurs. And in Antony’s case, even more chances to pursue his business idea.
Having met Ronald Wielinga, Antony was scouted for NEW-ttt aid. He pitched a product that could separate the differently charged paint salt particles. It landed him a spot in the intensive entrepreneurial course VentureLab – that baptizes its participants in the full business world.
“VentureLab showed me a whole other side of talking about science, in an entrepreneurial manner. You learn to be more approachable about your research. It’s an exciting way to talk. It taught me good communication skills,” Antony exclaims. “It gives you courage.”
And he earned even more from his experiences in Groningen. “I had an interview, a bit like this one actually, about my company idea over in Groningen. And that eventually landed at the desk of an experienced entrepreneur that was willing to form a partnership with me.”
Now, armed with his own new knowledge, a kick-start from NEW-ttt, and an experienced partner, Antony could map out his plan of attack. “We now finished setting up a B.V., and I visited a couple of factories in India to see what they would need in situ. We built a cell, supported by research space in the WAC and materials from Wetsus, and improved its efficiency, at least for a part, from 20 to 60%. All that is left as of now, is finding more investors, intensifying further R&D, and finishing the prototype.
Wil je ook succes behalen?
Interested to become successful too?
Please contact Ronald Wielinga our manager entrepreneurship via +31 6 121 38 876 or r.wielinga@watercampus.nl or read more below.
