Omen AI adds liquid know-how in $16 million Aquatic Labs acquisition
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Omen AI has acquired competitor Aquatic Labs in a $16 million cash-and-stock deal to enhance its real-time water monitoring capabilities for data centers. This acquisition addresses the growing water consumption of US data centers, which currently use up to 19 billion gallons annually and are projected to triple that usage within five years. Omen AI, founded in 2024, develops sensors to detect valve failures and bacterial growth, while Aquatic Labs specializes in testing water alkalinity. By combining these technologies, the merged entity aims to provide a comprehensive view of fluid health, reducing the need for manual laboratory testing. The primary value proposition is increased uptime, as accurate monitoring prevents operators from unnecessarily dumping water and shutting down expensive equipment. Omen plans to integrate both technologies into a single sensor by early next year, targeting chips consuming 250 to 300 MW of power initially. Despite skepticism surrounding AI infrastructure spending, founders remain confident in the market's long-term demand for efficient cooling solutions.
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