Rhea Machado 🇩🇪
- 2025
- Jul 26
- 10 min read
Updated: Sep 1
''Either you decide about your life, or life decides for you''
Rhea is the Founder of Porelio - A Deep Tech Startup Developing Next-Generation Adsorbent Materials To Remove Persistent Chemical Pollutants Like The So-Called “Forever Chemicals” PFAS From Industrial Streams And Wastewater. She has taken the challenge to answer our 20 Truth Questions, For us to gain some insight, And learn the Truth about the person behind the venture.
My TRUTH Story:
1. INTRODUCE YOURSELF IN THE THIRD PERSON TO A CROWD OF 10,000+ PEOPLE?
Rhea is half Greek, and half German originally from Hamburg. Sh's the Founder of Porelio, a deep tech startup working on advanced materials to remove chemical pollutants from industrial streams.
Her background is in process engineering, with a PhD from BasCat the BASF-TU Berlin joint lab, where she got hooked on the idea of turning lab-scale breakthroughs into scalable, real-world solutions.
These days, She's focused on scaling climate-relevant tech (without getting lost in the hype).
Outside of work, She's a mom, a partner, and currently trying to survive the joys of renovating a rooftop apartment in Berlin.
2. WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A TRUTH FOUNDER?
To me, a Truth Founder is someone who builds from a place of clarity about the problem, the why, and their own limits.
It’s not about chasing the trendiest pitch or pretending to have all the answers. It’s about staying grounded, asking uncomfortable questions, and being okay with slow, real progress over hype.
Truth Founders don’t just want to build companies, they want to build things that matter, and they’re willing to do it the hard way if that’s what it takes.
3. WHAT EVENT OR EVENTS HAPPENED TO YOU THAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A FOUNDER?
There wasn’t one big aha moment. It was more of a slow build. What really made the difference was being surrounded by the right people at the right time. Mentors who challenged my thinking, teammates who believed in the idea, and a few key conversations that pushed me to take the leap. That network gave me the confidence to stop waiting for perfect conditions and just start building.
4. WHAT IS YOUR MORNING ROUTINE & RITUAL? My mornings are a mix of movement and motherhood. Two days a week, I start with a workout to clear my head and get some energy flowing. The rest of the days are all about my two-year-old daughter, making her breakfast, getting her ready, and bringing her to Kita. It’s not always smooth, but it grounds me and reminds me why I’m building in the first place.
5. WHAT MANTRA,QUOTE,LINE OR PHRASE DO YOU SAY OFTEN TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE YOURSELF? A phrase I often come back to is: “Either you decide about your life, or life decides for you.”
It’s something I first heard from a woman I admire deeply, and it’s stuck with me ever since. For me, it’s about taking ownership, stepping up when change is needed and not waiting for perfect conditions.
I believe in personal agency, but also in the importance of solidarity and a society that gives people real chances through a strong social system. It's not about going it alone, it’s about showing up and doing your part.
6. WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT YOUR VENTURE? PFAS: short for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are a group of synthetic chemicals used in everything from non-stick cookware and waterproof clothing to industrial processes and firefighting foams. They’re designed to be extremely durable, which makes them useful but also nearly impossible to break down in the environment. That’s why they’re often called “forever chemicals.”
The problem? PFAS accumulate in water, soil, and even our bodies. They've been linked to serious health issues like cancer, hormonal disruption, and immune system problems. They're already found in drinking water worldwide, and current treatment methods are often too expensive, inefficient, or generate toxic waste themselves.
At Porelio, we’re tackling this with next-gen adsorbent materials that efficiently capture PFAS from polluted streams making industrial processes cleaner and helping prevent long-term damage to people and the planet.
7. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THE ONE TO MAKE YOUR VENTURE A SUCCESS?
I believe I’m the one to help make this venture a success because I bring both deep technical knowledge and a clear sense of what’s needed to drive the business forward.
I understand the science, but I’m equally focused on how to translate it into something real and scalable. That said, I’m not doing it alone and I wouldn’t want to.
Our team is the most important part of this journey. What really keeps us moving is the combination of our complementary skills and the trust we’ve built. I also naturally invest in meaningful connections, and over time that’s created a strong network of people who genuinely support us and want to see us succeed.
8. WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR VENTURE? ( START WITH: IMAGINE A WORLD... WHAT IF... WE WILL BE... )
IMAGINE A WORLD where industrial processes no longer leave behind invisible, long-lasting toxins like PFAS - where clean water isn’t a luxury but a given, and chemical pollution is no longer the price we pay for progress.
WHAT IF the materials we use to clean our environment were as advanced and intelligent as the systems that polluted it in the first place?
WE WILL BE the company that makes this possible - by delivering high-performance adsorbents that help industries clean up their streams without creating new problems downstream.
Success means seeing our materials used at scale, preventing harm before it happens, and showing that deep tech can solve deep problems without compromise
9. ANSWER THESE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU LIKE - I BELIEVE... I DON'T BELIEVE... I believe that science should serve people, not just publications.
I believe in building things that matter, even if it takes longer.
I believe in deep collaboration within teams, across industries, and with society.
I believe that clean water should be a basic right, not a technical challenge.
I believe in personal responsibility, but also in solidarity and shared systems that lift everyone.
I believe that trust and authenticity are underrated business tools.
I believe in asking uncomfortable questions early, before the market forces you to.
I believe that good technology needs great timing and even better people.
I don’t believe in quick fixes to systemic problems.
I don’t believe that being the loudest voice makes you the most credible.
I don’t believe that deep tech and clear storytelling are mutually exclusive.
I don’t believe that you can do meaningful work without being challenged or without growing.
10. WHAT'S ONE DECISION YOU MADE AS A FOUNDER THAT COMPLETELY CHANGED THE COURSE OF YOUR JOURNEY? One decision that completely changed the course of our journey was choosing to focus on PFAS first. We always had a clear vision for how we wanted to use our technology to tackle complex chemical pollution but narrowing in on PFAS as the first application brought sharp focus and urgency.
It helped us position ourselves more clearly, build stronger traction, and connect with partners who feel the same urgency we do. That choice has shaped almost everything about how we operate right now and it was the right call.
11. WHAT DO YOU REGARD AS YOUR GREATEST SUCCESS PERSONALLY & AS A FOUNDER? Personally, my greatest success was finishing my PhD while pregnant and breastfeeding. Balancing the intensity of research with becoming a mother was one of the hardest and most transformative experiences of my life. iIt taught me resilience in a very real way.
As a Founder, it was building the first-of-its-kind pilot scale for our high-tech adsorption materials. Our innovation isn’t just in the adsorbents themselves which have long been known to be top-performers but in how we produce them.
The traditional methods were too expensive and couldn’t scale beyond lab quantities. Cracking that challenge was a major breakthrough and laid the foundation for everything we’re doing now.
12. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY? What I like most about myself is my ability to build deep, lasting friendships and stay grounded in family especially while doing the intense, often chaotic work of building a startup.
That focus helps me keep perspective. It reminds me of what really matters, and how lucky I am to have a strong support system. That sense of connection is what helps me stay resilient through uncertainty and failure. It keeps me anchored, no matter what’s happening on the business side.
13. WHAT'S ONE THING YOU CAN IMPROVE ABOUT YOURSELF, AND WHY DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE NOT DONE IT BY NOW?
One thing I could improve about myself is being more structured in my daily work. As a business developer, I’m constantly jumping between different tasks and fields, and while I manage to get things done, I sometimes wish for more clarity and flow in how I organize my day. Strict routines don’t come naturally to me, and I’m still searching for the tools or systems that really fit the way I work. The truth is, the pain isn’t strong enough to force a big change, so I’ve built just enough structure to keep things moving, but not the kind I’d ideally like to have.
14. WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED OR GIVEN, OR BOTH?
The best advice I’ve ever received was: “If you want to become a scientist-entrepreneur, you have to sell a vision not just your results.” That shifted how I thought about translating research into impact. Solid data is important, but it’s not enough. People need to believe in where you're going, not just where you are.
The best advice I’ve given is that making mistakes is okay as long as you learn from them.
Becoming an entrepreneur, especially coming from science, means constantly stepping into unfamiliar territory. You have to be willing to swim in deep waters without being paralyzed by uncertainty. That’s where real growth happens.
15. ON A SCALE FROM 1 TO 10 - 10 BEING THE BEST. HOW WELL DO YOU THINK YOU AND YOUR TRUTH STORY IS CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD BY YOUR COMMUNITY? ( WHY NOT 10? )
I’d say a solid 8. I think our community really gets what we’re building and why it matters, especially those who’ve followed us from the beginning.
We’ve done a good job laying the foundation. That said, there’s still room to push the vision even further to bring more people along and help them see not just what we’re doing now, but what’s possible in the long run. I’m excited to keep refining that story and making it resonate even more.
16. WHO DO YOU MOST ADMIRE AND WHY?
I most admire my father most. He came to Germany from Greece as an 8-year-old boy, starting not from zero, but from what felt like minus five, given the conditions he faced. He showed me what it means to build a life from scratch with persistence, inner strength, and real self-belief. But he also taught me the power of thinking strategically. From a young age, he showed me how to negotiate, how to build strong, logical arguments, and how to hold my ground. Those lessons have shaped the way I approach challenges as a founder and as a person.
17. DESCRIBE YOUR VENTURE - ELEVATOR PITCH STYLE?
Porelio is a deep tech startup developing next-generation adsorbent materials to remove persistent chemical pollutants like the so-called “forever chemicals” PFAS from industrial streams and wastewater.
Our materials are highly efficient, regenerable, and most importantly scalable, thanks to a breakthrough in production. Unlike traditional cleanup technologies, we’re not only more effective we’re on track to be significantly more cost-efficient. We’re cleaning up water to protect ecosystems and ensure a healthier future for humankind.
18. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT MISSION STATEMENT OR MESSAGE + MARKET FIT FOR YOUR VENTURE?
At Porelio, our mission is to safeguard water and health by developing scalable, high-performance adsorbent materials that eliminate persistent pollutants like PFAS from industrial streams and wastewater. We combine deep science with practical engineering to deliver solutions that are not only effective, but economically and environmentally sustainable.
Industries across chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and water treatment are under increasing pressure due to tightening PFAS regulations both in the European Union and globally. Within the next two years, much stricter limits will apply to PFAS in drinking water and industrial discharge.
Companies that fail to comply risk not only heavy fines, but also legal liability for individual managers and potential shutdowns of water systems. The challenge is especially urgent when it comes to short-chain PFAS, these compounds are highly mobile, difficult to capture, and notoriously resistant to conventional treatment methods.
Existing solutions are often too expensive, generate hazardous waste, or can't scale effectively. Porelio addresses this gap with next-generation adsorbents that are regenerable, efficient even for short-chain PFAS, and scalable due to a breakthrough in production. We’re not just offering a better filter, we’re enabling industries to stay ahead of regulation, reduce long-term risk, and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future.
19. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO UNWIND AFTER A LONG WORK DAY?
To unwind after a long workday, I spend time with my family and friends - That’s what really helps me disconnect and recharge. I also love cooking; it’s one of the few moments where I can focus on something simple, creative, and completely offline. It brings me back to the present moment.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU TREATED YOURSELF TO AND WHAT DID YOU CELEBRATE? That's a good question. The last thing I treated myself to was a dinner at a nice sushi restaurant in January to celebrate the legal foundation of our company. It felt like an important milestone taking a moment to acknowledge the work behind it and the journey ahead.
BONUS QUESTION: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTING YOU ON YOUR AMBITIOUS JOURNEY?
Thank You for your love, your support, and also for the tough advice and honest criticism. It’s not just the encouragement that keeps me going, but the people who challenge me to think deeper and do better. I’m incredibly grateful to have you with me on this journey.
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