🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, founder edition.
Today, we are talking to Adam Tank of Transcend Infrastructure
In this episode, some of the biggest ideas we discuss are:
His Decision to Join Transcend Infrastructure
Importance of Efficient Tools in Water/Wastewater Engineering
Role of AI in Water Industry Innovations
Global Water Management Trends and Approaches
Contrasting Water Treatment Strategies in the UK and US
Automation in Water and Wastewater Treatment
Public Demand and Awareness in Industry Innovation
Future Trends in Water Infrastructure
Technology's Role in Addressing Climate and Infrastructure Challenges
Career Opportunities in Critical Infrastructure Fields
The Impact of Digitization and AI on Industry Practices
The Intersection of Climate Tech and Water Management
In short, prepare to nerd out about water. It’s epic 🤩
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The Guest: Adam Tank
Industry Expertise: Adam Tank is a prominent figure in the water infrastructure sector, with over 15 years of experience. He started out his career in food production, where water usage and waste were a big topic. Overall, he didn’t enjoy it, so he went to business school and ended up working at GE Water. There he had his first foray into entrepreneurship as an intraprenuer with GE after he won an internal pitch competition. The Idea: robots that repair water pipes from the inside. Through GE, he had a connection that ended up introducing him to the people he’d Co-Found Transcend Infrastructure with.
Professional Journey: He decided to help Co-Found Transcend Infrastructure as a stand-alone company in 2018. Having already founded companies, the big push to make the leap came after hearing the CEO of Black & Veatch say publicly they were seeking software to help improve the design speed.
Focus on Innovation: Adam has always had an interest in innovation. His experience founding companies, along with the the original 2012 buzz around AI, made the move to co-found Transcend easy. Adam is very bullish on innovation in the Water Infrastructure space to create a more sustainable world.
The Company: Transcend Infrastructure
Infrastructure, Generative AI, Design, Water,
One-liner: Slashing 30 and 60% of design time and Improving Sustainability for Water Infrastructure using Generative AI Design Software.
Function: Transcend Infrastructure is a Generative AI Design software, with a current focus on Water Infrastructure.
Origin: Transcend started as an internal tool at Organica as a way to help increase the speed of designing so they could bid on projects faster. Organica specializes in developing more efficient wastewater infrastsructure, hence Transcend’s initial focus on that space.
Problem / Solution: Designing Water Infrastrcuture is currently very maual, and can take months just to create 30 and 60% designs. With Transcend, 30 and 60% designs can be generated in hours saving time for engineering consultancies, utilities, and even investors. Saved time means more flexibility to try out more efficient and sustainable infrastructure designs.
📝 Show Notes:
Topics
2:00 How Adam Ended Up in the Water
6:30 From Investor to Entrepreneur
8:20 First Company, Pipe Robots
10:00 Transcend's Tech
11:45 Who Uses Transcend
12:30 Before and After Transcend
17:20 Why Current Infrastructure is Bad
19:30 Spin-Out of Organica, the MVP
23:40 Taking the Leap to Transcend
26:25 The Future of Water Infrastructure / the UK vs US Utilities
28:45 Future: Proactivity, Automation, Digitization, Active Consumers
30:35 Why To Choose A Critical Infrastructure Careers
32:20 Founder Advice: Find the right team, Remember WHY You Do What You Do, Be Passionately Curious
34:15 Importance of Curiosity & Intentionality in Career
Links
Connect with Adam | Adam’s Website | Transcend Infrastructure Website
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🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see you all next episode!
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