AquiSense Inc. Year in Review
The past year brought significant growth and new achievements for AquiSense. Throughout 2025, we strengthened our position in the industry, advanced key projects, and reached important milestones, including our 10-year anniversary. As we look back on the year, we are proud of the progress we have made and the momentum we carry.
A New Chapter
At the beginning of the year, AquiSense took a bold step forward. We completed a full employee and investor buyout of the company from our former parent company, and emerged as an independent, privately held company. We are now officially AquiSense
Incorporated, majority owned by our employees, and external investors. With this transition comes renewed autonomy and a clearer focus on expanding our impact across disinfection markets around the world.
Fueling Growth
In April 2025, we secured our Series A funding round, led by Burnt Island Ventures, with additional investment coming from the Kentucky Keyhorse Capital fund and previous seed
investors. These funds continue to accelerate our growth across multiple sectors including municipal and industrial water treatment.
Certifications & Regulatory Milestones
We reached a major milestone with one of our flagship products: the PearlAqua Kilo. Completing certification to the rigorous standards of NSF International/ANSI/CAN 61-2024
and validation under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s UVDGM guidance. Marking a major moment in validating UV-C LED water treatment technology for
large-scale public water applications. This opens the door for much broader adoption of LED disinfection by municipalities and industrial water applications globally.
Recognition & Awards
– In 2025, AquiSense celebrated its 10-year anniversary, a milestone that highlighted a decade of innovation, impact, and continued leadership in UV-C LED disinfection technology.
– AquiSense was honored as the 2025 Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM) “Manufacturer of the Year” in the Small Business category. A tribute to our commitment to quality, sustainability, and impact in the Commonwealth.
– Our CTO and co-founder, Dr. Jennifer Pagán, received the 2025 Bayh-Dole Coalition “American Innovator Award: for her pioneering work in the UV-C LED water disinfection industry. Culminating with a trip to Washington to speak with representatives of Congress and North Carolina to emphasize the importance of a mercury-free future for water treatment.
Global Footprint
Throughout 2025, AquiSense continued expanding the reach of its UV-C LED portfolio
– We surpassed 510,000 installations worldwide, a milestone that reflects both the maturity of our technology and growing industry confidence in LED based disinfection.
– We launched a pilot with a prominent Norwegian drinking water utility, deploying a PearlAqua Kilo for municipal treatment in Europe. This marked out first installation of this scale overseas and demonstrated the readiness of LED technology for large public water systems.
– Several PearlAqua Kilo units were installed at a major beverage plant in Europe, supporting high-volume production with reliable and sustainable LED disinfection.
– We completed the build phase of the world’s largest UV-C LED project to date with a major utility in the United Kingdom, a milestone that underscores the expanding role of LED technology in large municipal treatment networks. Installation is expected in Q1 of 2026.
– We also cultivated a strong backlog for our 2026 pipeline or large-scale systems, positioning AquiSense for continued growth and wider global deployment.
– The rest of our product range continued to serve the residential, commercial, industrial, pharmaceutical, and research spaces. Demonstrating the versatility and proven performance of UV-C LED disinfection.
Why This All Matters
As global regulators tighten restrictions on mercury-based disinfection under the Minamata Convention, UV-C LED technology is rapidly gaining traction. AquiSense stands at the forefront, committed to delivering mercury-free, chemical-free, energy-efficient solutions.
Looking Ahead
– Expand global reach, especially in municipalities that are transitioning away from mercury-based systems.
– Fortify collaborations with utilities, municipalities, and commercial partners worldwide.
– Maintain momentum through R&D and certifications to ensure our systems remain at the forefront of safety, performance, and regulatory compliance.
– Increase global education on the benefits of UV-C LED technology and support the goals of the Minamata Convention as the world moves away from mercury-based disinfection.
– Continue to support and advocate for the end of the RoHS mercury exemption with our industry allies as a part of the UVSAFE coalition. Of which we were founding members of.
Thank you to everyone who helped make 2025 a landmark year for us, including our customers, supporters, investors, and of course our amazing team. We are more motivated than ever to deliver safe and reliable clean water solutions for everyone.
