Tough Tech Fast Five: Via Separations' Shreya Dave

Fast Five with Tough Tech Leaders highlights the founders and builders commercializing Tough Tech breakthroughs that have the potential to change the world. Today, we hear from Shreya Dave , Co-Founder and CEO of Via Separations .

1. What problem is Via Separations working to solve? How are you doing it?

Separations are critical to manufacturing products and materials we use every day, but consume 10% of the world’s energy and are the largest source of U.S. industrial emissions. Via Separations delivers electrified membrane filtration systems to customers that augment or replace existing thermal separations, reducing costs and energy by up to 90%.

2. At scale, what impact will your Touch Tech solution have for everyday people?

Via’s technology lowers the embodied carbon of the products and materials we use every day - like food packaging, paper towels, and fuel powering our vehicles and homes.

3. What does Tough Tech mean to you? How is this industry ‘tough’?

Tough tech means taking big swings at big problems and doing things that no one has done before. Proving and selling new technologies to risk averse industrial customers is difficult, and first of a kind (FOAK) unit economics can pose financing challenges. Yet Tough Tech companies & investors persevere to deliver real world impact at scale.

4. Why is Massachusetts the right home for your Tough Tech company? What unique opportunities exist here?

As an MIT spinout and Greentown Labs alumni, Via has benefited immensely from the world-class universities, talent, and innovation ecosystem here in Massachusetts. The funding opportunities available through MassCEC and other entities has been catalytic to our growth.

5. What’s one piece of advice that you’ve either received or would give to another Tough Tech innovator about navigating tough challenges?

Have the confidence you are building something impactful and the humility to learn from those around you!