Venture Opportunity: Make ‘Forever Chemicals’ Finite

Build a venture that turns PFAS destruction from a growing environmental challenge into a permanent solution.

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals”, are synthetic compounds that resist heat, water, oil and chemical breakdown. Existing treatment technologies can remove PFAS from water, but often leave behind a concentrated waste stream that still needs to be managed.

The opportunity is to build a venture around a technology designed to destroy PFAS rather than simply move them downstream.

HighTechXL has developed the technology together with partners and is now looking for founders to turn it into a scalable deep-tech company.

THE SOLUTION: From removing PFAS to destroying it

The technology combines non-thermal plasma with purpose-built bubble, foam and interfacial reactor designs. The approach creates highly reactive conditions designed to break down PFAS compounds without heating the entire water volume to extreme temperatures.

Why this technology?

Broad-spectrum potential: Designed to address a wide range of PFAS compounds, including short-chain PFAS and TFA.

Modular by design: Designed as a destruction step that can integrate with existing concentration and treatment infrastructure.

IP in development: HighTechXL and its partners developed the technology. We are now looking for founders to turn it into a scalable deep-tech company.

THE OPPORTUNITY: Build the venture that closes the PFAS destruction gap

Industrial emitters and water treatment plants are expected to be the first target markets, with further opportunities across groundwater remediation, wastewater treatment and decentralised soil remediation.

Where it can make an impact:

Industrial water
Destruction of PFAS in industrial treatment flows.

Water & wastewater treatment
A destruction step to complement existing concentration technologies.

Groundwater remediation
Treatment of contaminated groundwater where PFAS removal alone is not enough.

Soil remediation
Potential applications for contaminated industrial, military and fire brigade sites.

Existing concentration technologies can remove PFAS from water, but the resulting concentrated PFAS stream still needs to be destroyed or disposed of. This creates an opportunity for a dedicated destruction technology that can become the next step in the treatment chain.

Who will build this?

Venture CEO / CBO: A commercially driven founder with experience selling environmental, industrial water or waste-treatment technologies.

Relevant experience includes relationships with engineering firms, utilities and public-sector stakeholders, navigating regulation-driven markets, and raising deep-tech and non-dilutive funding.

CTO / Plasma Systems Architect: A technical founder with expertise in non-thermal plasma physics, mechanical engineering, pulsed power or reactor engineering. The role is to take the technology from bench scale towards field-deployable systems.

Experience with scale-up, independent analytical validation and environmental permitting is highly relevant.

WHAT WE BRING: Build it with HighTechXL

Structure program: During the program, you will validate the problem you want to solve, consolidate your team, find the right business model, develop the proof of technology and reach investor readiness. All this in collaboration of HTXL team.

Venture Journey: Interactive guidance through the milestones to help you prepare in each phase of the program and its gate moments.

Free office space: Once the program starts you will be able to use HTXL’s office space and meeting rooms to work with your team and have private meetings.

1-1 Sessions: During the program, your venture will benefit from 1:1 sessions covering business, team, finance, legal, technology, subsidies, supply chain and more. These sessions help you stay on track and move the venture forward.

Network Access: You will get access to the deep-tech startup ecosystem. Including HTXL partners and beyond.

Visibility: The right connections matter. HTXL creates opportunities for ventures to get noticed. You can connect with talent, investors and industry players who can help you grow.

Workshops: You will be invited to participate in a variety of workshops addressing topics such as team dynamics, market validation, supply chain, venture branding, media training, subsidies and more.

PreSeedXL Fund: You will have the opportunity to receive pre-seed investment from our HighTechXL Fund during the program once the venture has successfully passed the relevant gate moments.

Pre-seed and Seed Fundraising Support: We will introduce you to investors within our ecosystem and support you with fundraising and term sheet negotiations.

Equity Split / Cap Table Structure: Founders and HighTechXL build the venture together as co-founders, sharing both the opportunity and the risk. Individual founders retain a significant ownership stake in the company, while HighTechXL is equally committed to the venture and invested in its success. The specific cap table and equity allocation are discussed and agreed privately on a 1:1 basis, depending on the venture and deal structure.

Want to go deeper?

Download the full Venture Opportunity onepager to explore the technology, market opportunity, founder roles and venture-building model in more detail.

Ready for your next adventure?

If you see yourself as the founder of this venture, we’d love to hear from you! !mail Ximena at ximena@hightechxl.com and mention this venture opportunity to start the conversation for our Fall 2026 cohort.