05/14/2026
The , through the WISE Accelerator, was honored to support WaterPitch 2026, hosted by Water Citizens at DC Water Headquarters — a dynamic three-day program that brought together innovators, founders, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders dedicated to shaping the future of sustainable water solutions. 💧🌍
We extend our sincere appreciation to keynote speaker Chris Kanik, CEO of Smart Cups and to Dr. Cat Shrier for leading and inspiring this impactful initiative. We are grateful to Water Citizens, all speakers and participants, as well as our dedicated WISE volunteers and WUST Marketing Team for making this collaboration a success.
WaterPitch 2026 featured an outstanding lineup of presenters and contributors, including Ian Fisk, Susan Ginsburg, John Armin, Doug Hood, Rick Latella, Patrick Ho, Seeman Saeed, Kobe Nagar, Chris Bennett, Michael O’Brien, Kaylee Perea, Lorraine Spradley Simpson, and many others driving innovation across the global water sector.
For our WUST professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs, the highlight was seeing Priya Kothari, Executive Director, WISE Accelerator, and Dr. Touhid Bhuiyan, Assistant Director, School of IT, deliver a powerful reverse pitch. More than introducing the WISE Accelerator, they demonstrated how WUST bridges the gap between bold ideas and market-ready ventures — empowering innovators with the mentorship, resources, and ecosystem needed to thrive.
The event was also attended by WUST Marketing Director, Mr. Jose Ortega , Financial Aid Advisor, Jessica Ambrocio, members of the WISE Accelerator team, dedicated WUST volunteers, and student leaders who actively contributed to the success of the program. Special appreciation to: Mavis Cornelia, Khelen Bay, Monique Pereira, Fabliha Rudhmila, Iris Alemán .
At the , we remain committed to empowering innovation, advancing water entrepreneurship, and supporting the next generation of changemakers creating sustainable impact worldwide. 🚀
