Meet the founder: eClean technologies

Meet Ngarie Scartozzi the founder of eClean Technologies, one of the companies in our 2021 Cohort A.

eClean Technologies, founded by Ngaire, has developed a bioreactor device that works to remove nitrates, phosphates, and other chemical and biological contaminants from waterways, Ngaire has extensive knowledge in this space, which she’s accumulated during her time completing her PhD and while developing filters for different applications over the past 15 to 20 years. While in Australia, she worked creating biological filters for an R&D company to commercialise water technology in aquaculture as part of the wastewater environment sector.

During this time, Ngarie noticed a global dramatic decrease in water quality. A massive issue, especially considering that by 2025 half of the global population will be living in water-stressed areas.

Being Māori and considering herself kaitiaki, or a guardian of natural resources – taonga, she is driven to apply her talents to help create a more sustainable environment. This passion is part of eClean’s mission as well as contributing to solving the global water quality problem.

However, not everyone has held sustainability in the same light which has posed a challenge for eClean. Finding that, while investors like the tech, corporates and industry partners are reluctant to commit to making a difference to the environment.

Ngarie doesn’t let this impact on eCleans mission though, channeling the mentality that innovation takes time, especially if you want to do it right. Choosing to prioritise and stick firmly to the direction of eCleans innovation.

Her vision is to see eClean Technology in waterways and farms across the world and to be working in eClean’s R&D team developing different technologies and applications in the environment sector. She believes that the environment is something you don’t forget about as it’s in your face all the time.

“The work I am doing is part of my lifelong journey. I’ll always be doing this in some way or another.”