NALA Membranes is a technology company.
NALA Membranes has raised $700K across 1 funding round.
NALA Membranes has raised $700K in total across 1 funding round.
NALA Membranes has raised $700K in total across 1 funding round.
NALA Membranes's investors include Blu Venture Investors, Good Growth Capital.
NALA Membranes (also referred to as NALA Systems) is a technology company developing next-generation reverse osmosis (RO) membranes that are chlorine-resistant and biofouling-resistant, targeting water-intensive industries like food & beverage, oil & gas, microelectronics, and textiles.[1][2][3] These membranes solve the limitations of 40-year-old polyamide-based RO technology by enabling chlorine-based cleaning without degradation, reducing operating costs by up to 24%, minimizing energy use, cleaning cycles, and replacements while expanding treatable water sources amid global water scarcity.[1][2][4] The company serves industrial water treatment systems for desalination, wastewater reuse, and purification, with products demonstrating competitive flux, salt rejection, broad pH range (2-12), and chemical resistance; their MVP membranes reached TRL6 in 2024, with pilots in India and discussions in the USA, Australia, and South America.[2]
Founded in 2018 and based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, NALA has secured NSF SBIR funding, raised $1.2M toward a $3M convertible note for commercialization, and transitioned rapidly from lab-scale to commercial manufacturing of 40" spiral-wound elements.[2][3][4][6] This positions them for growth in a market driven by regulations, water shortages, and sustainability demands, lowering barriers for low-income communities and enabling water recycling.[5]
NALA Membranes was founded in February 2018 by mother-daughter duo Sue Mecham, Ph.D. (CEO and President) and Judy Riffle, Ph.D. (Chief Technical Officer), both experts in advanced materials.[3][4][6] Riffle, a professor at Virginia Tech, invented the core polymers—ionic poly(arylene ether sulfone)s—in collaboration with Professor Benny Freeman at the University of Texas at Austin, addressing the water crisis exacerbated by population growth, industrial demands, and outdated RO tech that wastes 20-30% of freshwater.[4][5] Mecham, motivated by unsustainable water extraction rates doubling since the 1960s, co-founded the woman-owned business in RTP, NC, to commercialize these innovations.[2][3][5]
Early traction included NSF SBIR funding (NSF-1843587) in 2021 for chlorine-resistant membranes promising 20-30% OPEX savings.[4] By 2024, they advanced from TRL4 to TRL6, producing commercial-scale sheets and elements via contract manufacturers, launching an MVP pilot on textile wastewater in India, and identifying further global pilots—pivotal steps toward market entry.[2][6]
NALA's membranes stand out from traditional polyamide RO tech through patented sulfonated polysulfone materials offering:
These enable proactive water management for industries, with rapid commercialization via pilots and partners.[2][6]
NALA rides the global water crisis trend, where regulations and scarcity drive industrial wastewater reuse and desalination amid exponential population/industrial growth outpacing renewable resources.[2][3][5] Timing is ideal: aging polyamide dominance creates a ripe market for innovation, with NSF-backed tech aligning with sustainability goals like reduced freshwater waste ($14B annual global cost) and lower GHG emissions.[4][5][6] Market forces favoring NALA include high water users (e.g., food/beverage, oil/gas) needing reliable, low-risk systems, plus expansion to new sources via broader pH/chemistry tolerance.[2]
They influence the ecosystem by jumpstarting RO evolution—lowering entry barriers for underserved communities, enabling recycling (e.g., Western U.S. wastewater), and fostering a platform for nanofiltration/desalination breakthroughs, potentially growing the industry.[2][5]
NALA is poised for commercialization breakout, scaling manufacturing, expanding pilots across continents, and securing full $3M funding to integrate into industrial systems—targeting sales growth in high-demand sectors.[2][6] Trends like stricter water regs, climate-driven scarcity, and ESG pressures will accelerate adoption, with their platform enabling customized membranes for emerging needs like mineral separation.[2][5] Influence may evolve from disruptor to category leader, driving RO innovation, cost reductions, and global freshwater access—transforming a stagnant field into a dynamic one, much like their membranes revitalize water systems.[1][4]
NALA Membranes has raised $700K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $700K Seed in March 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2022 | $700K Seed | Blu Venture Investors, Good Growth Capital |