Martin Gross

Martin Gross is the co-founder and CEO of GWT, a company developing proprietary algae-based technology to remove foulants from water. GWT's primary focus is on wastewater treatment facility applications, with ongoing experimentation in industrial settings. Alongside his work leading GWT, Martin teaches part-time as a professor, where go-to-market strategy for climate tech companies is central to what he covers in the classroom.

With over a decade of experience building GWT, Martin brings a rare combination of hands-on startup leadership and academic rigor to the climate tech space. His ability to translate complex commercialization frameworks into practical guidance reflects both his entrepreneurial background and his experience in the classroom.

On The Grove podcast by Earth Onward, Martin joined host to discuss GWT's ten-year journey, the commercial applications of algae-based water treatment, and the strategic thinking required to scale a climate tech company. Drawing on the same frameworks he teaches his students, he offered grounded insight into what it takes to bring an environmental technology from early concept to real-world adoption. The conversation explored how GWT is positioning its technology across municipal and industrial markets, and what founders in the climate space should consider as they build toward growth.