As human critical infrastructure churns out more data than ever, big things hinge on effectively using it for smarter decisions. Black & Veatch and five promising startups it now will partner with see solutions in all things digital, from intelligent automation and real-time data analytics to AI-powered outcomes that unlock a new era of transformation.
Black & Veatch has chosen the cohort of forward-thinking entrepreneurs for its 2026 BV IgniteX accelerator. The mission: hone and ideally market digital project delivery, asset management and sustainable infrastructure innovations that could help tomorrow’s infrastructure owners optimize operations, boost resilience and workforce productivity, untap new value from data and accelerate digital evolution.
As part of the award-winning, 16-week program demonstrating the rigor of the Black & Veatch culture of innovation, participants collaborate with the company’s subject matter experts who provide consultation and support in co-developing, piloting and marketing their new technologies.
Along the way, the startups get mentorship, access to the company’s sweeping industry network, product testing opportunities, pitch development coaching and introductions to clients, suppliers and investors. The program culminates with a showcase in which the entrepreneurs present their solutions, value propositions and market opportunities.
This iteration of program now in its seventh year sought companies working in AI-enabled project delivery, digital twins for planning, optimization and resilience, immersive intelligence to empower the workforce, and decision-ready data for modern infrastructure.
At a time of breathtaking change and complexity in the critical infrastructure we all depend on, digital innovation must keep pace to make sure power and water systems meet tomorrow’s challenges.”
- Scott DeGeeter, vice president of Infrastructure Advisory solutions at Black & Veatch
“It’s exciting to collaborate with these early-stage companies to evolve the way sustainable infrastructure can be designed, built, operated and maintained throughout the lifecycle. It takes a bold vision.”
“Digital innovation is redefining what’s possible for infrastructure, and the ability to turn data into faster, smarter decisions will be essential.” added Donnie Ginn, executive vice president of the integrated water and environmental business at Black & Veatch. “This year’s IgniteX cohort is bringing forward technologies that can help enterprises improve resilience, increase efficiency and unlock greater value from their infrastructure investments. We’re proud to help accelerate that innovation.”
Here are the five 2026 BV IgniteX accelerator participants, chosen from more than 100 applicants (up 31% from 2025) from two dozen states and 13 countries:
EQUA AI’s AIMMS is an autonomous AI OS that helps critical infrastructure and industrial teams get assets back online faster. When equipment fails, AIMMS intelligently handles all the digital work from fault to fix, so downtime drops, every technician operates like a veteran and every repair makes the next one faster.
KETOS is an AI + patented hardware-driven water intelligence company building the continuous-evidence layer for a water-constrained world. KETOS combines proprietary smart sensing technologies and robotics, real-time analytics and predictive intelligence to help industrial, agricultural and municipal operators optimize profit and loss (P&L), and manage water-quality risks before they become compliance or safety events. The platform has helped customers avoid billions in regulatory fines while protecting water for millions of people worldwide.
PAGE Technologies provides real-time intelligence for water and land systems using proprietary sensors, automated sampling and AI-powered analytics, helping organizations optimize operations, reduce waste and build more resilient infrastructure.
Torus ingests entire project data including P&IDs, SLDs, specs, equipment lists and drawings to build a live engineering knowledge model. Then it uses that model to agentically draft deliverables such as single-line diagrams, cable schedules and equipment lists, delivering 10x productivity gains on billion-dollar capital projects.
Utilyst builds Utility Brain, an on-premises AI platform that helps water, energy and industrial utilities predict equipment failures and preserve operator knowledge — without ever sending data to the cloud.
Over the seven years of BV IgniteX, more than 800 companies have applied to take part, and Black & Veatch has provided millions of dollars in grants, in-kind services and investments to selected companies.
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