Indian American Dhileep Sivam named CEO of Aquagga, a PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ destruction startup

Aquagga, a “forever chemicals” destruction startup, is set to accelerate growth and commercialize its technology by welcoming its new Indian American Chief Executive Officer, Dhileep Sivam.

Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Aquagga went through rigorous testing and on-the-field experiments in the last few years to perfect its PFAS removal technology. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used in various industrial and consumer products, and known for their high resistance to degradation, earning them the name “forever chemicals.” 

PFAS have been linked to long-term health and environmental hazards; to combat these growing concerns, Aquagga was launched and their destruction devices claim to remove 99% of PFAS present in contaminated water. 

Originally founded by Chief Operations Officer Chris Woodruff, Chief Technology Officer Brian Pinkard, and former CEO Nigel Sharp, who stepped down in August; Aquagga brought in Shivam at an “exciting juncture” in their journey, the company said in a statement, highlighting Shivam’s expertise in clean and sustainable technology commercialization. 

Shivam previously served as Scientific Director and Chief of Staff at Intellectual Ventures, reporting to former Microsoft CTO Nathan Myhrvold for nearly a decade. He also led sustainability efforts at Bill Gates’ energy research initiatives and held key roles at Gates Ventures, Breakthrough Energy, and the University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute. 

Shivam’s vast experience in both research and entrepreneurship made him the ideal candidate to lead the cleantech startup. With Shivam’s vision and leadership, Aquagga is ready to meet growing global demand for PFAS destruction systems, the company shared.

“I am thrilled to join Aquagga during such an exciting time for the company,” Shivam said in the press release. 

“Aquagga has built a strong foundation with promising technology, efficient resource use, and a passionate, talented team. I look forward to working together to advance our mission of eliminating harmful chemicals from the world’s water supply.”

COO Woodruff added: “Dhileep’s track record in cleantech innovation aligns perfectly with our values of curiosity, professionalism, and a relentless commitment to social and environmental impact. We’re excited to build on our past successes as we step into 2025 and beyond.”

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Taxonomy

• PFAS