NSF Convergence Accelerator — Reverse Site Visit Agenda
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U.S. National Science Foundation
Convergence Accelerator 2023 Cohort
Phase 2, Year 1 Reverse Site Visit

Measuring and Mitigating Land Management Impacts on In-Stream Water Quality with Sensor-Informed Data Fusion and Community-Led, Climate-Financed Riparian Restoration

March 14, 2026 — 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Track: Future Water Systems  |  Award: 24C0011  |  PI: Evan Thomas
Virridy

Virridy develops an integrated convergence framework combining continuous environmental sensing (the Lume platform), machine learning analytics, carbon-finance mechanisms, and regulatory co-design to accelerate adoption of nature-based watershed solutions. The project operates across nine countries with programs spanning drinking water treatment, precision irrigation, and watershed restoration. The Lume sensor—the first single-unit fluorimetric sensor for continuous microbial water quality monitoring using Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) technology—provides real-time E. coli risk estimation with 75%+ accuracy and >94% categorical accuracy with site calibration. Carbon credits are generated under Gold Standard, Verra VCS, and Regen Registry methodologies, with approximately $18M in credit sales contracts executed and projections of over 3 million credits and 5 million people reached by 2030.

Time (ET)Presentation TopicPresenter(s)
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Introductions
 Program Director
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
I. Overview
  • Project vision and convergence approach
  • Three integrated components: sensing, carbon finance, policy
  • Intellectual merit: SiPM detector advantage (12,000x responsivity over photodiode competitors), sensor validation results, life-cycle accounting frameworks
  • Team composition and multi-sector partnership network
 Evan Thomas
(PI / CEO)
10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Q&A
 Panel
10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
II. Project Accomplishments & Plan for Year 2
  • Sensing: Lume v1.2 development, 500+ field validations, ML models (>90% balanced accuracy on Seine), global E. coli dataset (10M+ observations), submitted manuscript
  • Carbon finance: $18M in contracts, 78,000+ credits issued to date (Rwanda 41,576, Kenya 12,384, Wisconsin 24,143), Water Mission Tanzania ~100K purchase, VM0042 Turkey/Mexico expansion
  • Policy: SB24-037 enacted in Colorado, CDPHE 3-year pilot framework approved, national WQT comparative analysis (95%)
  • Deployments: 4 contracts in implementation (Boulder, Manchester Bay, Fort Myers, Melbourne), USAF procurement (1–2 Lume v1.2), 8+ sites in discussion, Veralto strategic partnership under negotiation
  • Competitive: Only direct competitor Proteus ($561K revenue) displaced on H2NOW Chicago; market consolidation (In-Situ/Veralto $435M, Chelsea/Kraken $615M)
  • Year 2: Scale to 10,000+ hectares, move pilots from concept to motion, complete USAF modifications, advance $20M fund
 Evan Thomas
Danny Wilson
(CTO)
Alex Johnson
(CSO)
11:30 – 11:50 a.m.
Q&A
 Panel
11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Break
12:05 – 12:30 p.m.
III. Broader Impacts
  • Public health: 29–49% diarrhea reduction (peer-reviewed RCTs), 5.6x cost-benefit ratio
  • Global reach: 9 countries, 300K+ children in Rwanda schools, 3M+ students in Kenya, $35M USAID DRIP initiative (repair time 214 → 26 days)
  • Scientific infrastructure: 39 publications (Lancet, Nature, STOTEN, Water Research, ES&T Water), 4 patents + 1 pending, global E. coli database (10M+ observations)
  • Economic: 180x more data points at comparable cost vs. grab sampling; complements IDEXX Colilert ($201M market)
  • Environmental justice: Affordable continuous monitoring for disadvantaged communities near impaired rivers
 Evan Thomas
Laura MacDonald
(Int'l Carbon Programs)
12:30 – 12:45 p.m.
Q&A
 Panel
12:45 – 1:00 p.m. Break
1:00 – 1:20 p.m.
IV. Sustainability Plan
  • Dual revenue: Lume SaaS ($200/mo/site) + carbon credit generation and sales
  • Competitive moat: Only SiPM-based TLF sensor; replaced Proteus on H2NOW Chicago platform
  • Market: $5.7B → $9.1B by 2030 (8.1% CAGR); sector consolidation validates commercial value
  • Veralto partnership: Under negotiation with owner of In-Situ ($435M), Hach, and OTT HydroMet — potential global distribution channel
  • Blended capital: NSF + $8.5M equity + $18M credit contracts + $20M fund in development with Total Impact Capital
  • Self-reinforcing model: Policy frameworks → monitoring demand → carbon market financing → sustained scaling without grant dependence
 Evan Thomas
Alex Johnson
1:20 – 1:35 p.m.
Q&A
 Panel
1:35 – 1:40 p.m. Break
1:40 – 2:00 p.m.
V. Partner Testimonials
  • Sam Malloy — NSF ASCEND Engine: Lume deployment partnership and collaborative water quality monitoring
  • Christel Valentine — Veralto Corporation: Strategic partnership discussions and market alignment (In-Situ, Hach, OTT HydroMet)
  • John Simon — Total Impact Capital: $20M investment fund development and carbon-credit financing strategy
 Sam Malloy
Christel Valentine
John Simon