Toronto-based cleantech startup Xatoms has secured $3 million in pre-seed funding to advance its solar-powered water purification technology that combines artificial intelligence and quantum chemistry to tackle global water challenges.
The round includes $2 million in venture capital, led by Quantacet—Canada’s foremost quantum-focused VC firm—and $1 million in cumulative non-dilutive funding. Other participants in the round include Genesis Ventures, the Business Development Bank of Canada’s Thrive Lab, League of Innovators, Capital Angel Network, BoxOne Ventures, and angel investors such as Viral Nation co-founder Joe Gagliese and Resonance co-founders Evan Kubes and Alex Challans.
Founded in 2024 by Diana Virgovicova, Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou, and Shirley Zhong while at the University of Toronto and Western University, Xatoms develops next-generation materials that purify water using light.
The company’s proprietary solution can remove pathogens, chemical pollutants, heavy metals, and persistent contaminants in just 30 minutes using either sunlight or LED light—without requiring heavy infrastructure. Designed for use in industrial sites, Indigenous communities, remote regions, and emerging markets, the technology aims to make clean water accessible where traditional systems fall short.
“We started Xatoms with one mission: to use our innovative discovery technology to create materials which can tackle the world’s toughest climate challenges,” said Virgovicova, who serves as CEO. “This funding will allow us to scale our pilot programs, grow our technical and manufacturing teams, and partner with more communities and industrial stakeholders ready for sustainable change. This mission is especially urgent in the face of ongoing water crises affecting Indigenous communities across Canada.”
Chloe Archambault, partner at Quantacet, highlighted the team’s execution and the broader implications of its computational platform. “Xatoms is tackling a pressing need and is a great example of how quantum science can drive transformational change for humanity,” she said.
Genesis Ventures partner Stergios Anastasiadis called the Xatoms platform “a lethal combination” of chemical engineering and quantum science, praising the founding team’s capabilities in both technology and business. Sévrine Labelle of BDC’s Thrive Lab echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the potential impact on underserved communities: “Their solution is very much needed, especially in Indigenous communities and remote regions.”
Xatoms has already attracted international acclaim, with accolades including Forbes 30 Under 30 North America, the 776 Climate Fellowship, and recognition from Google for Startups’ AI for Nature Accelerator. With a growing pipeline of pilot programs and partnerships spanning industry, government, and community sectors, the company is entering a pivotal growth phase aimed at reimagining how the world treats water.