As the global economy grapples with worsening water scarcity and rising environmental scrutiny, one MIT-born startup founded by Anurag Bajpayee is scaling up its ambitions—and its footprint—by turning wastewater into opportunity.
Gradiant Corp., a Boston-based water technology company founded in 2013, is rapidly becoming a key player in the industrial water treatment market. The company has developed a suite of proprietary technologies that help manufacturers reduce freshwater use, recycle wastewater, and meet tightening environmental regulations. Backed by more than 280 patents and a growing roster of Fortune 500 clients, Gradiant is now plotting its next phase: a deeper push into Asia and Europe, and a potential public offering.
Gradiant’s rise comes at a time when multinational corporations face unprecedented pressure to cut their environmental footprints. Water, once taken for granted in industrial planning, is now a boardroom-level concern. Whether in chip fabrication or pharmaceuticals, clean water is critical—and increasingly scarce.
From Lab to Market
Gradiant’s origins lie in research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Anurag Bajpayee, who holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from MIT, developed a novel desalination technique called Carrier Gas Extraction (CGE) during his doctoral studies. The technology mimics the natural rain cycle to purify water with lower energy inputs than traditional membrane-based systems.
Together with fellow researcher Prakash Govindan, Bajpayee co-founded Gradiant in 2013 to commercialize that innovation. The company’s early focus was on industrial water reuse, particularly for clients in water-stressed regions or with stringent discharge requirements.
Today, Gradiant offers a broader suite of solutions, including Selective Contaminant Extraction, advanced brine concentration, and digital monitoring platforms. Its end-to-end systems are now deployed in more than 2,500 facilities across 25 countries.
Anurag Bajpayee: The Engineer Behind the Vision
Anurag Bajpayee’s journey from academic researcher to CEO underscores a broader shift in how scientific innovation is driving practical, scalable solutions to global problems.
Bajpayee studied mechanical engineering at the University of Missouri before completing his graduate studies at MIT. His doctoral research in thermal and membrane-free desalination techniques laid the foundation for Gradiant’s technology stack.
Bajpayee’s leadership at Gradiant reflects a blend of technical depth and business strategy. “Our mission is to enable industrial facilities to treat and reuse water sustainably, reducing their environmental footprint and operational costs,” he told MIT News earlier this year. He has consistently emphasized that Gradiant is not simply a technology licensor, but a full-scope solutions provider—designing, building, and in many cases operating systems on behalf of clients.
As climate challenges mount, Bajpayee believes companies will need to treat water not as a utility, but as a strategic resource. “The world is starting to act like it understands that,” he said in a 2024 industry panel discussion. “And we’re here to help industries move faster.”
Under his leadership, Gradiant has scaled rapidly while retaining its engineering-first ethos. The company now employs more than 500 people worldwide and maintains a strong research and development pipeline focused on AI-driven water analytics and high-recovery reuse systems.
Growth Curve Steepens
Gradiant’s revenue has more than doubled annually in recent years, according to company executives. In the first half of 2024 alone, it secured over $500 million in new orders, fueled by demand from sectors such as semiconductors, food and beverage, biopharma, and mining.
Among its marquee clients are Micron Technology, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and STMicroelectronics. Gradiant designs, builds, and operates water recycling plants on behalf of its customers—a full-stack approach that offers both flexibility and long-term performance guarantees.
In 2023, the company raised $225 million in Series D funding, pushing its valuation past $1 billion.
“Gradiant is one of the few companies in the water space that’s figured out how to scale technology profitably,” said one investor familiar with the firm. “They’re solving a problem that’s only getting worse.”
Strategic Geography
While Gradiant’s headquarters remain in Boston, its operational strategy is increasingly international. With a historical presence in Asia, the company has also expanded its footprint in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe—regions facing severe water stress and tightening environmental policies.
In the United Arab Emirates, Gradiant is helping desalination plants increase water recovery rates. In Singapore and Taiwan, it works with semiconductor manufacturers to treat and recycle ultra-pure water.
“Asia is a growth engine for us—not just because of water challenges, but because of how aggressively industries are investing in resilience,” said COO Prakash Govindan in a 2024 press release.
The company is also investing heavily in its digital infrastructure, integrating AI and IoT tools to help clients monitor water quality, flow rates, and recovery performance in real time—critical capabilities for industries with tight operational tolerances.
Competitive Landscape
Despite its momentum, Gradiant operates in a competitive and fragmented market. Global giants like Veolia, Xylem, and Suez still dominate much of the water services sector. However, Gradiant’s specialization in complex, high-recovery industrial applications—where many off-the-shelf solutions fall short—has given it a niche advantage.
In 2023, Gradiant was named “Water Company of the Year” by Global Water Intelligence. The following year, it was awarded “Water Technology Idol,” further solidifying its reputation as a leader in innovation.
“Their tech isn’t just clever; it’s bankable,” said a consultant who has worked on multiple Gradiant installations. “That makes them more than a tech startup. They’re a global infrastructure player with real staying power.”
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, Gradiant is exploring new sectors—including municipal water reuse and hydrogen production, both of which require advanced water treatment solutions at scale.
Still, Bajpayee remains cautious about expansion for its own sake. “We’re not chasing growth for growth’s sake,” he said. “We’re focused on high-impact applications where we can bring real value to customers and communities.”
If Gradiant can maintain its innovation pace and global execution, it could become a defining player in the industrial water tech sector.
But as the cost of inaction on water becomes clearer, Gradiant’s pitch is no longer just technical—it’s existential.
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