This is CDR: Avnos' H2O-Positive, Hybrid Direct Air Capture with Will Kain

​​In this episode of This Is CDR, we are pleased to welcome Will Kain, Founder and CEO of Avnos, to discuss the company’s unique Hybrid Direct Air Capture (HDAC™) system—an innovation that sets a new bar for efficiency and sustainability in the DAC space.

​Unlike traditional DAC approaches that require large amounts of heat or water, Avnos’ HDAC technology uses a passive moisture-responsive material to first capture water from the air, then employs that harvested water in a subsequent CO₂ separation process powered by a low-temperature heat source. This two-step, no-liquid sorbent system enables Avnos to achieve carbon removal that is net water-positive—a critical advantage in a world increasingly shaped by water stress.

​Avnos recently opened a new R&D and pilot testing facility in Bridgewater, NJ, a major step forward in advancing and scaling this novel approach to carbon removal and clean water generation. In this session, Will will walk us through the science behind HDAC, Avnos’ commercialization strategy, and what’s next as the company begins field deployments with major partners like Shell and the U.S. Department of Energy.

​Join us to explore how hybrid thinking—and a sharp focus on resource efficiency—might shape the future of direct air capture.

​About our Guest

​Will Kain is the Founder and CEO of Avnos. spent nearly 10 years in leadership positions with early-stage cleantech companies before helping to launch Rusheen Capital Management. Most recently, Will was VP of Corporate Development at NanoH2O, a global provider of reverse osmosis membranes that leverage nanotechnology to lower the cost of desalination.

​At NanoH2O, Will was responsible for launching commercial and manufacturing operations in China, raising capital, strategic planning, and analysis, and led the transaction team in the company’s sale to LG Chem. As VP of Corporate Finance at Altra Biofuels, he oversaw more than $300M in project-level financing for the company’s 4 ethanol facilities. Will started his career with UBS Investment Bank in New York, after taking his BA in Economics and Government from the University of Virginia.