Caillaud, who brings over 20 years of experience in the water industry, previously served as CEO of Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, part of the global leader in water, energy, and waste management, Veolia. His leadership is expected to enhance Puraffinity’s market access and drive the company’s growth. With Caillaud at the helm, Puraffinity’s founder, Henrik Hagemann, will shift his focus to product development and innovation as Chief Product and Innovation Officer.

BGF’s investment marks the completion of Puraffinity’s £16.93 million Series A funding round, which includes support from Octopus Ventures, HG Ventures, Kindred Capital, Verve Ventures, and materials science specialist fund Universal Materials Incubator Co (UMI). This funding will fuel Puraffinity’s plans to scale production of its PFAS-capturing material, Puratech, to meet rising demand across various sectors. It will also enable the company to explore new commercial applications for its technology.

Founded in 2015 by Henrik Hagemann and Gabi Santosa and spun out of Imperial College London, Puraffinity addresses the escalating global problem of PFAS contamination with a more efficient and cost-effective solution than conventional treatments. PFAS, widely used since the 1940s due to their resistance to water, grease, and oil, are notoriously difficult to break down, earning the nickname "forever chemicals." Linked to a range of health issues, including cancer, these chemicals have contaminated water supplies worldwide, with 97% of people estimated to have PFAS in their bodies.

Puratech, Puraffinity’s patented adsorbent media, offers a customisable, plug-in solution that integrates with existing water treatment systems. It can be tailored to capture specific PFAS compounds, helping users meet various regulatory standards across global markets. In addition to its versatility, Puratech is produced using green chemistry techniques, cutting manufacturing carbon emissions by 60% compared to traditional petroleum-based alternatives, as highlighted by Systemiq’s 2022 report.

As international regulators explore limits on PFAS in drinking water, Puraffinity’s scalable technology positions it at the forefront of tackling the estimated €16 trillion annual costs associated with PFAS-related environmental damage and healthcare.

Henrik Hagemann, founder and Chief Product & Innovation Officer at Puraffinity, said: “Attracting such a respected water industry figure as Vincent, alongside investment from BGF underlines not only the progress Puraffinity has already made, but the incredible potential of the business. The new management structure will allow me to focus on accelerating our existing technologies and developing new product roadmaps, confident that Puraffinity’s business development is assured with Vincent as CEO.”

Vincent Caillaud, CEO of Puraffinity, said: “At Puraffinity, we are delighted to join BGF’s growing network of climate tech startups as the company continues on its mission of providing PFAS-safe water to the world. With BGF’s expertise in helping start-ups in breakthrough technologies achieve transformational growth, we look forward to meaningfully expanding our commercial capability and extending the global reach of our patented PFAS-removal solutions.”

Luke Rajah, investor at BGF, said: “Puraffinity is well-positioned to fulfil its vision of bringing PFAS-safe water to one billion people by 2030. BGF is thrilled to work with Puraffinity as it enters a new phase of rapid, global growth, taking a meaningful step towards enhancing water safety. BGF has developed a strong reputation for identifying and providing early-stage support for companies creating technologies which not only have huge potential but offer huge societal benefits.”