University spinout to launch water quality app for UK and US waters
Plymouth University spinout Molendotech is launching a water quality app for the UK and US in October. It will use data from its rapid E coli testing kits to map water quality and create predictive models, addressing pollution concerns.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
Molendotech, a UK university spinout known for its rapid bacterial water testing device, is developing an app to provide real-time water quality maps for Britain and the US. This initiative comes as public concern grows over water pollution and sewage spills, with the app aiming to offer more frequent and immediate data than traditional lab testing.
Imagine you want to know if the water at your favorite beach is safe to swim in, but you have to wait days for grown-ups to send a sample to a lab. A company called Molendotech, started by smart people from a university, has made a special gadget that can tell you if there are yucky germs like E coli in the water in just 15 minutes! Soon, they're launching an app that will show you a map of water safety, like a traffic light, so you know if it's green (safe), amber (be careful), or red (don't swim!). It's like having a super-fast water detective in your pocket.
Analysis
Molendotech, a spinout from the University of Plymouth, is poised to revolutionize water quality monitoring with its innovative technology. The company's core offering is a portable device, Bactiquick, which rapidly detects harmful gram-negative bacteria like E coli, Pseudomonas, Legionella, and salmonella in water. Unlike traditional methods that require samples to be sent to labs and take days for results, Molendotech's test provides real-time data within 15 minutes by detecting endotoxins released when bacteria break down. This speed and portability are critical in addressing the growing public health crisis stemming from water pollution and sewage spills, which have led to numerous reports of illness among beachgoers in the UK.
The company's planned app, launching in October in both the UK and US, represents a significant leap forward. It will collate daily water test data with environmental factors like rain and tidal flows, leveraging artificial intelligence to build predictive models of water quality. This proactive approach could enable individuals, local authorities, and water companies to make more informed decisions about water use, potentially preventing illnesses and improving public safety. The app's traffic light system, indicating risk levels based on UK and EU water quality thresholds, makes complex data accessible and actionable for a broad audience.
Molendotech
Molendotech's journey from a university research project to a commercial entity underscores the potential of academic spinouts to tackle real-world problems. Founded in 2018 by Professor Simon Jackson, the company developed its initial test partly in response to personal experiences with waterborne infections. This direct connection to the problem has likely fueled the company's commitment to creating user-friendly and effective solutions.
The company's handheld Bactiquick device, launched in May 2025, has already demonstrated significant market traction. Sales revenue surged from a few thousand pounds monthly to a peak of £94,000 in May, marking a nearly 30-fold increase within a year. This rapid growth indicates a strong demand for faster, more accessible water testing solutions, particularly as public awareness and concern over water pollution intensify.
£2.4m
The financial backing Molendotech has secured highlights investor confidence in its technology and market potential. The company has received £1.4m in grant funding from Innovate UK and other sources, demonstrating governmental and institutional support for its innovative approach. This initial funding was crucial for research and development, enabling the refinement of their testing kits and the development of the upcoming app.
Recently, Molendotech successfully raised an additional £860,000 from investors, including the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund, Exeter-based venture capital firm QantX, and private investors. This latest funding round brings the total investment raised to £2.4m. The capital is earmarked for international expansion into North America, New Zealand, and Australia, signaling ambitious growth plans and a belief in the global applicability of their water quality solutions. This investment not only validates Molendotech's business model but also provides the necessary resources to scale its operations and reach a wider market.
Simon Jackson
Professor Simon Jackson, the chief scientific officer and founder of Molendotech, brings a wealth of expertise in environment and human health from Plymouth University. His background as an inflammatory diseases specialist, with research focused on bacteria linked to sepsis, provides a strong scientific foundation for the company's innovations. Jackson's personal experience with his stepdaughter falling ill after swimming further underscores the practical impetus behind his work, transforming academic research into tangible public health tools.
Jackson's insights into the limitations of current water testing regimes are central to Molendotech's value proposition. He notes that standard testing, often conducted only once a week, takes 24 to 48 hours for results, leading to outdated information. Molendotech's rapid testing addresses this critical gap, providing real-time data that can accurately reflect dynamic water conditions. His observations, such as Bactiquick sometimes contradicting official Environment Agency ratings due to testing infrequency, highlight the need for more continuous and immediate monitoring, especially with emerging threats like Vibrio species in warming waters due to climate change.
Key points
- Plymouth University spinout Molendotech is launching a water quality app for the UK and US in October.
- The app will use data from Molendotech's rapid bacterial testing kits, which detect E coli and other harmful bacteria in under 15 minutes.
- The company's handheld device, Bactiquick, provides real-time results, contrasting with traditional lab tests that take 24-48 hours.
- Molendotech has raised £2.4m in total investment, including recent funding for expansion into North America, New Zealand, and Australia.
- The initiative aims to address growing concerns over water pollution and sewage spills, which have led to numerous reports of swimmer illnesses.
The launch of Molendotech's app could significantly improve public health by providing real-time, accessible water quality data, enabling individuals and authorities to make informed decisions about water use. This innovation could also drive further investment and development in environmental technology, fostering a more proactive approach to pollution management and potentially creating new jobs in the green economy.
Despite its potential, the app's effectiveness could be limited by the frequency and geographical spread of testing, as well as the willingness of various stakeholders to adopt and share data. There's also a risk that the predictive models, while advanced, might not always accurately capture rapidly changing environmental conditions, leading to false positives or negatives that could erode public trust.
