Pierre Côté is arguably the most successful inventor and technologist in the industrial wastewater space. He has two ubiquitous technologies under his belt - the hollow fiber membrane and the membrane bioreactor, or MBR - and a third technology well on the way to becoming ubiquitous: the membrane aerated biofilm reactor, or MABR. Pierre is not only brilliant and a wonderful person, he is totally focused on finding practical solutions to persistent problems that are affordable and implementable. Pierre is now at it again with a new technology for dealing with nutrient pollution via an inexpensive algae biofilm process being brought to life through AlgaFilm, our 7th investment in our Second Fund. He is a profoundly thoughtful, modest, and wise man, and his advice for technical founders is particularly on point. Please enjoy my conversation with the great Pierre Côté.

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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205

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Inventor Pierre Côté discusses the iterative process of invention, stressing that ideas arise from real-world problems and pressure. He details the origin of his latest venture, AlgaFilm, which evolved from failed prototypes into a novel biofilm system, and advises technical founders to focus on solving a customer's whole problem rather than just their specific technology. For success, he says entrepreneurs must build strong, diverse teams, find a market "wave" (like new regulations) to ride, and have a bit of luck on their side.

00:00 - How Inventors Solve Real-World Water Challenges02:34 - Why Innovation Requires Pressure, Curiosity, and Iteration05:12 - Cross-Disciplinary Thinking and Customer-Driven Design08:09 - The Origin Story Behind AlgaFilm’s Algae Biofilm System10:32 - How the Algae Forest Reinvents Nutrient Removal14:18 - Lessons from Past Water Tech Failures and Breakthroughs18:10 - Navigating Startup Constraints vs. Corporate Innovation21:31 - Commercializing Water Tech with a Whole-Solution Mindset25:16 - Why Cost Modeling and Competitive Awareness Matter28:43 - Staying in Water: Motivation, Mentors, and Market Realities32:15 - Future Trends: Climate Resilience, AI, and Smarter Infrastructure35:01 - Final Advice: Build the Right Team and Catch the Right Wave

Links:

Burnt Island Ventures: https://www.burntislandventures.com/

AlgaFilm: https://algafilm.com/

Pierre Côté: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-c%C3%B4t%C3%A9-5291a226/

SM Material

Key Takeaways:

"Ideas don't come in a vacuum. You need to be exposed to problems. Start by looking for problems."

"Inventions come to fruition through iterations. Risk-taking and mistakes are part of the process."

"Introverts live in their heads, thinking about problems more than extroverts. Curiosity is key."

"Algae can do interesting things, but existing processes are either too large or complex and expensive."

"Focus on building a strong team. Include expertise outside your field for diverse solutions."

"Express objectives as goals, not means. Focus on solving problems, not just creating products."

"Limited funding in startups forces focus on pain points. It's a positive constraint."

"Find early adopters excited about new technology. Treat them well to ensure mutual success."