Pani Clean, Inc. has been named the overall Best of the Midwest winner at the inaugural Iowa Startup Week, receiving $25,000 in non-dilutive funding and in-kind services to support its growth.

The competition drew approximately 200 startup applicants across six categories. Thirty semifinalists advanced to pitch in Des Moines, with one finalist from each category selected to compete for the overall award. Pani Clean won the Clean Tech and Energy category before earning the Best of the Midwest title following founder and CEO Dr. Joun Lee’s final pitch.

Pani Clean develops modular electrochemical technology that converts nitrate pollutants in wastewater into ammonia for fertilizer while recovering water for reuse. Following a successful pilot demonstration with stainless steel industry wastewater, the company has begun its path toward commercialization in the sector. By transforming pollution into useful resources, Pani Clean aims to help industrial facilities reduce wastewater treatment costs, conserve water, and support a more circular economy.

The award recognizes the potential of Pani Clean’s approach to address two connected challenges: nitrate contamination in water and the need for sustainable fertilizer production. These challenges affect communities and businesses throughout Iowa and around the world.

Pani Clean congratulates its fellow finalists, whose innovations address challenges across technology, healthcare, agriculture, financial services, and workplace safety:

• OpsCompanion — Kenneth Eversole: Developing device-level security for AI agents, helping organizations monitor and control agents’ actions in real time.
• Koos Medical Innovations — Dr. Maggie Koos: Innovating isolation gown design to make protective apparel faster and easier to use while supporting healthcare worker safety.
• Poultry Patrol — Jack Killan: Bringing robotics to poultry farms to support flock monitoring, bird welfare, and farm performance.
• Donevia — Eli Christiansen: Helping banks and credit unions use AI-powered automation and insights to improve customer follow-up, reduce application abandonment, and increase loan and deposit conversion.
• SparkDefy — Boluwarin Ojo: Creating inclusive personal protective equipment, beginning with hair protection for welders with long, thick, textured, or protective hairstyles.

Pani Clean extends its heartfelt thanks to Iowa Startup Week leaders Diana, Kaylee, Tej, and Safiya; judges Rachel Formaro, Taufeek Shah, and Casey Niemann; and the entrepreneurial community that made the event possible.

The company also thanks its team, advisors, and partners, along with the University of Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC), for helping guide its journey from research toward commercialization.