Simon Olivier: How Cycle H2O is Accelerating Water Innovation | Make Water Work 030

What does it take to actually scale innovation in water?

In this episode of Make Water Work, Isaac Pellerin and Megan Glover sit down with Simon Olivier, leader of Cycle H2O, an impact fund focused on accelerating water technology.

Simon shares the personal moment that pulled him into the water space...and how it led to building a venture fund designed to solve one of the industry’s biggest challenges: getting real solutions to scale.

The conversation dives into what makes water different from other industries, why progress can feel slow, and how the right combination of capital, partnerships, and strategy can unlock faster adoption.

They also explore:

• Why Simon invests in “aspirin, not vitamins” — solving urgent, critical problems

• The role of strategic investors in helping startups scale beyond just funding

• Why water innovation is lagging — and how other industries offer a roadmap forward

• The growing importance of water security, reuse, and decentralized systems

• How data centers, energy, and manufacturing are quietly reshaping water demand

• What separates successful founders — and the mistakes to avoid early

Simon also highlights emerging technologies in areas like real-time water monitoring and PFAS treatment, and shares why Canada is becoming a global hub for water innovation.