Ann Arbor SPARK Invests $150,000 in Sequestro to Advance PFAS Water Treatment Technology

Ann Arbor SPARK today announced a $150,000 investment in Sequestro, Inc., an Ann Arbor-based startup developing a bio-based material designed to remove PFAS - commonly known as "forever chemicals" - from contaminated water.

The investment will help Sequestro transition from laboratory innovation to pilot-scale manufacturing and early customer validation as the company prepares to commercialize its technology.

A University of Michigan spinout, Sequestro is developing a cellulose-based adsorbent material made from abundant, renewable feedstocks such as wood residuals. Designed to serve as a replacement for conventional filtration media, the material has demonstrated the potential to remove PFAS from water more quickly and efficiently than existing technologies while lowering treatment costs.

PFAS are a class of synthetic chemicals used in thousands of consumer and industrial products. Because they do not readily break down in the environment, they have become a growing public health and environmental concern, driving increased demand for new water treatment solutions as federal and state regulations continue to tighten.

"PFAS contamination is one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing communities today," said Mike Flanagan, vice president of Capital Programs at Ann Arbor SPARK. "Sequestro is translating promising University of Michigan research into a practical solution with significant commercial potential, and we're excited to help the team move this technology from the lab into the marketplace."

The funding will support the purchase of pilot-scale manufacturing equipment, process engineering and production optimization, materials for field testing with customers, and business development activities that will help prepare the company for commercial deployment.

Sequestro was co-founded by Dr. Juergen Koller, an experienced process chemist focused on scaling specialty chemical manufacturing, and Dr. Anne McNeil, a professor at the University of Michigan and inventor of the company's core technology.

"Innovation only matters when it improves people's lives. At Sequestro, we're working toward a future where every family can trust the water coming from their tap. We believe that means solving environmental problems without creating new ones, which is why our PFAS capture technology is built from renewable, bio-based materials designed to deliver both high performance and long-term sustainability," said Koller, CEO and co-founder of Sequestro. "Ann Arbor SPARK's investment allows us to accelerate that vision by moving ArborSORB™ from the laboratory into real-world applications, where it can make a lasting difference for communities across Michigan and beyond."

The investment was made alongside co-investors including the University of Michigan's MINTS/MUICF, Northern Michigan Angels, SPARK Michigan Angels, and several additional investor groups.

Sequestro's initial commercial focus is on environmental remediation firms and filtration manufacturers, with longer-term expansion into industrial effluent treatment and municipal drinking water. The company is redefining how PFAS is removed from water by moving beyond conventional activated carbon and ion exchange resins. As regulatory requirements continue to expand, the company aims to provide water treatment providers, remediation firms, and filtration manufacturers with a high-performance, sustainable alternative to conventional PFAS treatment media.

Ann Arbor SPARK's investment is part of its ongoing commitment to supporting innovative startups that address significant market challenges while strengthening Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem.