World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) works directly with companies free of charge to help them expand internationally and grow in San Diego, supported by San Diego Regional EDC’s 150+ private company and public agency investors. Since 2015, WTCSD’s MetroConnect export accelerator has assisted 110 San Diego companies in turning $1 million in export grants into $106 million in new international sales, 552 new international contracts, and 28 new offices around the world.
We sat down with Orianna Bretschger, CEO of MetroConnect VII finalist Aquacycl, to discuss the company’s industrial wastewater treatment and its recent international growth through its time in MetroConnect.
Tell us about Aquacycl and its mission.
Aquacycl provides industrial wastewater treatment as a service to help companies reduce operational costs, mitigate climate impacts, and support healthy watersheds and communities worldwide. Our products and services guarantee permit compliance, greenhouse gas mitigation, reliable performance in variable production environments, and operational savings.
Aquacycl is revolutionizing the treatment of challenging industrial wastes generated from food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, and petrochemical facilities, with a total serviceable market opportunity approaching $100 billion, and our existing clients include PepsiCo and other global enterprises in food, beverage, and chemical production.
Why did you apply to be in MetroConnect?
Aquacycl applied to be in MetroConnect for the wide variety of business resources and export support the program provides. We hoped to expand our international presence, particularly in Mexico and Europe, where industrial water challenges are rapidly growing and sustainability regulations are tightening.
How did MetroConnect help your company?
As a growing company, the support and resources MetroConnect has provided have been invaluable. For example, we were able to use the program’s grant in order to cover some of the broker fees associated with the export of our system into Mexico.
We also leveraged MetroConnect to access valuable international business resources that helped us strengthen our export readiness and better navigate the complexities of international shipping and compliance.
What is on the horizon for Aquacycl’s international growth?
Aquacycl intends to accelerate sales in the EU due to the region’s increasingly strict regulatory framework and emphasis on circular economic initiatives. We will also continue to grow sales within the tequila and mezcal distilling regions of Mexico to help customers avoid business risk through water reuse initiatives.
What advice would you give to companies interested in growing internationally and participating in MetroConnect?
The advice we would give other companies beginning to grow internationally is to understand and take advantage of the suite of great resources MetroConnect offers. We also recommend companies keep export manifests short and simple to speed up inspections and avoid extra shipping or border fees.
On June 5, Aquacycl is pitching to win $25,000 toward international growth:
Your turn: Grow your international sales with MetroConnect, too!
Like Sunday Golf, apply to join MetroConnect VIII, and receive an export grant, expert advising, workshops, regional mentors, and more.
The application takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Plus: Learn how 110 MetroConnect alumni, including Dr. Bronner’s, Blue Sky Network, EDDY Pump, and White Labs, leveraged the program to drive 66 percent average export growth and 45 percent average revenue growth.