As part of our recent trade mission, AquaAction led a delegation of water tech entrepreneurs to Flint, Michigan, where they engaged with students and faculty at the University of Michigan – Flint. This inspiring visit connected experienced innovators with aspiring changemakers, showcasing how bold ideas can become breakthrough solutions for local water challenges.
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The mission’s core objective was to promote the AquaHacking Binational 2026 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Program: a flagship, award-winning program designed to empower youth-led water innovation across Canada and the United States. Flint, a city that understands the urgency of clean water access, proved to be a powerful setting for this recruitment effort.
The AquaHacking 2026 Binational Program offers a 7-month journey of mentorship, seed funding, and strategic networking. Through a panel discussion hosted by the university, AquaAction entrepreneurs shared real-world examples of impact, from removing pollutants in drinking water, to preventing invasive species and protecting ecosystems from extreme weather. Students were invited to imagine the difference they could make in their own communities.
Throughout the visit, our delegation felt a deep sense of pride, purpose, and partnership from everyone they encountered in Flint. No one embodied that more than Mayor Sheldon Neeley who joined the panel and showed his support. Similarly, Flint’s economic development leaders showed their dedication to building sustainable, community-led solutions and clean water technology. Their warm welcome supported the secondary goal of the delegation to explore opportunities for local partnerships in Flint.
AquaAction met dozens of bright, driven students ready to take action. To them and to all communities with stories of water resilience: get ready! Registration for the AquaHacking Binational 2026 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence program opens early next year.
Let’s build a water secure future together.
