Diana Virgovicova started dreaming about making a big scientific breakthrough as a youth. On a backpacking trip in her teens, she saw the black, waste-filled rivers of Mumbai and decided she wanted to help clean the world’s water.

Back home in Slovakia, she connected with researchers investigating photocatalysts – materials that have long been used with ultraviolet light to purify water. Within a few years, she had taught herself to use quantum chemistry software and modelled a new type of photocatalyst that only needs visible light to work.  

Virgovicova turned down offers from other universities to study electrical and computer engineering at U of T. In 2023, midway through her degree, she co-founded Xatoms, a startup that uses artificial intelligence and quantum chemistry to speed up photocatalyst discovery. So far, the company has attracted almost $4 million in investments and grants. 

Writer Megan Easton spoke with Virgovicova in January, days after she returned from the 2026 World Economic Forum, where she shared Xatoms’ vision with global leaders.

What was it like attending the World Economic Forum in Davos?
Xatoms was invited as a winner of the forum’s Water Resilience Challenge. I had a quick chat and photo with Prime Minister Mark Carney after he spoke. I told him about Xatoms, and we talked about the possibility of photocatalysts cleaning polluted water in Indigenous communities in Canada.

What was your key message at Davos?
Water contaminants are becoming more complex not only to detect, but to destroy. And the world can’t wait for the water to get better. We need innovative solutions now. Xatoms analyzes water contaminants and creates customized photocatalysts to eliminate them. 

When did your interest in science and discovery begin?
I knew I was going to like physics before I even knew what it was. I started reading books about cosmology around age nine. 

Of all the world’s crises, why water pollution?
More than two billion people don’t have access to clean water, and that leads to a lot of diseases. Women and girls spend hours a day collecting clean water instead of getting an education.

What was different about the water purifying molecule you first discovered at 17?
Photocatalysts had been around for 40 years, but they were UV-activated. I modelled a molecule that uses visible light – sunlight or LED light – to break down pollutants in water and make it safe. It’s more affordable and convenient because it doesn’t require expensive UV reactors.

Why U of T, and how has it nurtured the growth of Xatoms?
The university is world-renowned for its research. And I received full funding through the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship. U of T’s startup resources, such as UTSC’s BRIDGE accelerator and UTM’s SpinUp wet lab incubator, have been instrumental for Xatoms. We now have 11 full-time employees and a patent-pending discovery engine.

What is Xatoms focused on now?
We’re combining AI and quantum chemistry to speed up the discovery process and determine which potential photocatalysts are most durable and efficient in absorbing light. We turn the most promising ones into powder in our lab and test them. Over the last six months, we’ve discovered 25 more patentable photocatalysts.

How does this photocatalyst powder work?
The powder coats water filters or is added directly to polluted water. It can be reused for months, which saves money. Before, our photocatalysts only broke down organic contaminants. Now they can also neutralize heavy metals in water.

What has been most challenging about running a startup as a student?
You need to deal with a lot of rejection and rely on your gut in some situations. You don’t learn these things in school.

Has being a young woman entrepreneur added to the challenges?
There aren’t many women starting ventures in deep tech, where we’re using science-based technology solutions. And only about two per cent of venture capital goes to companies founded by women. So, of course, there are some biases against female founders, and there’s some caution around investing in young, first-time founders. Building credibility took time. Winning different innovation competitions and learning to communicate clearly and confidently to potential investors helped.

You travelled a lot with your mom when you were young. Did that experience help prepare you for now?
My mom doesn’t speak English, so I was doing almost all the planning. Figuring out where we’d sleep each night and how to get from point A to point B taught me to execute quickly under pressure. I also learned to be not afraid to ask for help when I needed it.

What keeps you up at night as CEO?
The responsibility to keep the company running for our employees and their families. It’s a whole different set of concerns from when we were three student co-founders. With clients in textiles, mining and agriculture, and as we expand into pilot water purification programs in Canada, the U.S., and developing countries, that responsibility only grows.