BREW 2.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Wondering if BREW 2.0 is right for you?

“I learned a lot about streamlining our business, reaching out to clients and collaborators, and working as a start-up within the water sector. If you’re a start-up in the water space, I cannot recommend BREW 2.0 and our friends at The Water Council enough.”
Igor Mrdjen, Founder at BloomOptix LLC

Who is an ideal candidate for brew 2.0?

Optimal candidates are market-ready or in market with early sales and primed for growth — past the traditional accelerator stage. The program focuses on businesses with products and components related to water quality and quantity, including water and wastewater, agriculture, watershed management, hydropower, sensors, data management and other software solutions. Click here to see past participants.

BREW 2.0 programming is all tactical and practical, providing the cohort with useful, growth-focused training. We will NOT waste your valuable time.

What can participants expect from the programming?

Invited cohort companies will participate in targeted virtual sessions such as go-to-market strategy, sales training, startup culture training, marketing, a pitch refinement session and much more. The program culminates in an in-person week in Milwaukee with a public pitch day and investor event. Customized matchmaking is conducted for each cohort company. The experience will be practical, directly applicable to your business, and full of invaluable connections and exposure.

The program is overseen by Karen Frost, The Water Council’s vice president of economic development and innovation. We are pleased to work with experts from Thales Water Advisors, a leading water strategy and finance advisory firm, and sponsors including Beckhoff Automation and Xylem.

What is the timeline for BREW 2.0?

Applications open in the fourth quarter for the next calendar-year cohort. Judging and selection take place in February, and cohort invites will be sent in March. Programming entails virtual sessions in April and May and an in-person week in June, culminating in a live Demo Day event that is broadcast to investors worldwide.

What does the application process look like?

Companies apply online and share about their business, value proposition, differentiators, growth opportunities and more. We invite a diverse group of industry, business and startup ecosystem experts to evaluate applications on factors such as:

  • addressable market potential
  • legal and business model factors
  • readiness for a post-accelerator and potential to benefit from the program

Select participants are invited to an online interview, and the top 10 candidates are invited into the program.

What is expected of BREW 2.0 participants?

Selected companies make a commitment to fully participate in the program. We won’t waste your time and we don’t want you to waste ours. We promise that your time will be respected and that your takeaways will be exponential to the time you give.

Is there a fee to apply or participate in BREW 2.0?

No, there is no cost for application or participation other than travel expenses. We are glad to offer a high-value, no-cost program through the support of our sponsors.

Will I receive an investment or funding from BREW 2.0?

Participants do NOT receive funding or investment for participating in BREW 2.0 but will make many valuable connections to potential customers, partners and investors throughout the program.

“We understand that our time is valuable, and we don’t really apply to accelerators anymore. The BREW goes so far beyond that. It really helps you with market penetration and understanding the landscape.”
-Jon Grant, Sentry 

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