The Stream (with Will & Tom)

Building & selling a water software company for $1 billion – Colby Manwaring on life after the exit

• Will Sarni & Tom Freyberg • Season 8 • Episode 4

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On this episode of The Stream podcast, Will and Tom are joined by the brilliant Colby Manwaring, the former CEO of Innovyse, the chair of Envirosuite and the director of many other companies, who orchestrated a landmark $1 billion acquisition in the water technology sector. 

In this episode, he shares his entrepreneurial journey, from shifting from mechanical to civil engineering to building a successful software company. 

Learn valuable insights on:

  • Building a High-Growth Tech Company: Discover Colby's strategies for scaling Innovyse and navigating the complexities of mergers and acquisitions.
  • The Human Element of Business: Gain valuable perspectives on leadership, team building, and fostering a strong company culture.
  • Investing in Water Technology: Understand the growing investment landscape in the water sector and the potential for innovation.


Many will know Colby from his role leading Innovyse’s growth, acquiring companies in the build up to eventually being brought for a record $1 billion US dollars. Alongside Xylem’s purchase of Sensus for $1.7 billion, and then it’s subsequent acquisition of Evoqua for a staggering $7.5 billion, the Innovyze deal was a landmark sale and has certainly catalysed investor interest in the digital water space and the birth of new digital and AI companies.

Colby has been in the unique position of sitting both sides of the fence: as the buyer of companies but also as the company being bought.

We loved this episode and speaking with Colby, and hope you enjoy too. 


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We’re delighted you can join us on this voyage of discovery, as we journey down The Stream.

Special thanks to this season's sponsor, Raymond James.

And our charity partner, Frank Water.

And thanks to our knowledge partners: British Water, WWF, Water Alliance, DCU Water Institute, SurplusWater25, Earth and Environmental Science at Berkeley Lab, Water Foundry and Atlantean Media.